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TRAIN TRAVEL

The ten best destinations by direct night train from Austria

Want to explore Austria’s neighbouring countries? Then consider travelling by night train to some of Europe’s most exciting destinations.

Published: 10 February 2022 12:12 CET
Updated: 2 July 2023 14:22 CEST
The ten best destinations by direct night train from Austria
Travellers no longer need to show a 3G proof to enter Austria. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

The return of the night train in Europe has been a welcome development for many people that like to travel but are concerned about the impact of flying on the environment.

Plus, with Austria’s convenient Central European location, there are currently around 30 night train routes in every direction out of the country and from several different Austrian cities. 

As we head into spring, here are ten European cities that can be reached by night train from Austria.

The timetables and ticket prices mentioned in this article were correct at the time of writing but could change. All ticket prices are for a one-way journey.

Berlin

The Nightjet overnight service by ÖBB (Austria’s national railway system) has a direct route from Vienna to Berlin in Germany. The service takes around 12 hours departing from Vienna Central Station (Hauptbahnhof) at 10.10pm, arriving in Berlin at around 10am the next morning.

The train travels north east out of Vienna to the border with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, before transiting through Poland and into Germany.

Ticket prices range from €90 for a Sitzwagen (a seated carriage) to €140 for a Schlafwagen (sleeping carriage).

Paris

From Vienna, travellers can reach Paris Gare de l’Est train station in 14 hours with the Nightjet. The service runs on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 7.40pm and ticket prices range from €110 to €195.

This route travels west out of Vienna and stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Salzburg before crossing into Germany.

Rome

The Nightjet runs daily from Vienna to Rome with stops at Wien Meidling, Wiener Neustadt, Bruck, Leoban, Knittelfeld, Friesach, Klagenfurt and Villach. The train leaves Vienna at 7.23pm and arrives in Rome at 9.10am.

Ticket prices start at €40 for a seat and go up to €130 for a sleeping carriage.

ÖBB also runs a Nightjet service from Munich to Rome that picks up passengers in Salzburg at 10.02pm and arrives in Rome at 9.10am. Ticket prices for this route range from €70 to €150.

A woman walks her dog past the Colosseum in Rome on May 8, 2020.

Rome can be reached by night train from Vienna and Salzburg. Photo by: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP.

Zurich

The ÖBB Nightjet service to Zurich in Switzerland operates daily, leaving Vienna at 9.27pm and arriving in Zurich at 8.20am the next morning. Ticket prices range from €45 to €140.

This service stops at several other train stations in Austria, including Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Amstetten, Linz, Wels, Attnang-Puchheim, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Landeck-Zams, Bludenz and Feldkirch.

Alternatively, Magyar Államvasutak (MÁV) – Hungary’s national rail operator – runs an overnight service between Vienna and Zurich, which leaves Vienna at 11.27pm and arrives in Zurich at 8.20am. There are no sleeping carriages on this route and ticket prices start at €50.

Similarly, a Nightjet service runs daily from Graz Central Station to Zurich. The train leaves Graz at 10.26pm and arrives in Zurich at 9.20am. This route includes the option to load a car or motorbike on the train between Graz and Feldkirch from €39.90.

Brussels

Overnight train services operate between Vienna and Brussels Midi (the main train station in Brussels) on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The train leaves Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives in Brussels at 9.54am, stopping at Brussels Nord seven minutes earlier.

Before leaving Austria, the service stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels. The train then travels through Germany before reaching Brussels.

Ticket prices start at €70 and go up to €160.

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Ljubljana

The Nightjet train service from Salzburg Central Station to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city, is operated by HŽ Putničkim prijevozom, Croatia’s national rail operator. The final destination is Zagreb in Croatia.

Trains between Salzburg and Ljubljana run daily, setting off from Munich, and the service stops at Schwarzach-St.Veit and Villach before crossing into Slovenia. It leaves Salzburg at 1.40am and arrives at Ljubljana at 6.20am. 

Ticket prices start at €19.90 for a seated carriage. There are no reclining or sleeper carriages on this route.

Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is just five hours from Salzburg by night train. Photo by: Blaž Gostinčar / Pexels.

Amsterdam

From Kufstein in Tyrol, travellers can take the Nightjet service to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The train leaves Innsbruck at 8.44pm and stops in Kufstein at 9.35pm before crossing into Germany. It arrives in Amsterdam at 9.59am.

Additionally, a daily Nightjet service leaves Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives in Amsterdam at 9.59am. This route stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels.

Ticket prices range from €100 to €170.

Split

From June 3rd to September 23, a Nightjet service connecting Vienna and Split in Croatia will operate on Tuesday and Friday, including vehicle transportation. Travellers in Austria can also board the train at Wien Meidling, Wiener Neustadt, Bruck/Mur and Graz.

The route is operated by Slovenske železnice (Slovenian Railways) and offers both seating and sleeper carriages. Ticket prices range from €40 to €120.

Hamburg

Overnight trains between Vienna and Hamburg run daily. The service departs Vienna at 8.13pm and arrives at Hamburg Central Station at 8.50am. The route stops at Wien Meidling, St. Pölten, Linz and Wels before crossing into Germany.

This service offers seating, reclining and sleeper carriages with ticket prices ranging from €80 to €180.

Krakow

A daily Nightjet service runs between Vienna and Krakow in Poland, leaving Vienna Central Station at 10.10pm and arriving in Krakow at 5.46am. Vienna is the only stop in Austria for this route.

The service is operated by Polskie Koleje Państwowe (Polish State Railways). Ticket prices start at €49 and go up to €84.

Essential German words for train travel

Hauptbahnhof – main train station

Zug – train

Sitzwagen – seated carriage

Schlafwagen – sleeping carriage 

Liegewagen – reclining (chair) carriage

Einzelfahrschein – one-way ticket

Rückfahrschein – return ticket

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TRAIN TRAVEL

Austria’s ÖBB announces new train timetable for summer

ÖBB is using the summer for extensive construction work in eastern Austria. There will be a new timetable on some routes.

Published: 30 April 2024 14:57 CEST
Austria's ÖBB announces new train timetable for summer

ÖBB is using the summer for construction work in the country’s east. A new timetable will apply on some railway lines in Vienna and Lower Austria from June 29th to September 2nd, the Austrian rail company announced on Tuesday.

There will be no trains between Floridsdorf and Praterstern. Instead, a rail replacement service with buses will be provided. A reduced train service is available between Praterstern and Liesing. Wiener Linien will accept ÖBB tickets on selected alternative routes.

Trains on the REX1 line (Floridsdorf—Gänserndorf —Břeclav route) will be diverted at longer intervals via Vienna Stadlau and Vienna Simmering. All other trains north of Vienna start and end in Floridsdorf or are cancelled.

READ ALSO: The seaside destinations you can reach without a car or plane from Austria

The trains on the S1 line with the destination and departure station Marchegg are cancelled between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Marchegg. A rail replacement service will be set up between Vienna Süßenbrunn and Gänserndorf. The S1 trains travelling to/from Gänserndorf every hour according to the annual timetable will be extended to/from Marchegg.

Timetable changes will occur on the southern line between Vienna and Wiener Neustadt Hbf. Trains will not run on the section between Bad Vöslau and Leobersdorf, and long-distance trains will be diverted.

Those on the CJX9 line start and end at Vienna Central Station and will be diverted between there and Wiener Neustadt. Therefore, the stops in Vienna Matzleinsdorfer Platz and Baden will be cancelled.

Replacement buses

ÖBB is organising rail replacement services with buses for the following route sections: 

  • Leobersdorf – Bad Vöslau
  • Leobersdorf – Mödling for the suburban trains
  • Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Felixdorf for trains on line R95
  • Wiener Neustadt Hbf – Wien Liesing (for the night-time closure from 23:25 to 04:00)

The Railjet and CAT connections and the Vienna Airport Lines buses will continue to run to Vienna Airport. There will be timetable changes on the S7 line. Trains on the REX7 line will be cancelled. From Fischamend to Wolfsthal, trains will be replaced by buses.

ÖBB launches information campaign

To offer passengers planning security and to inform customers comprehensively and promptly about rail replacement services, alternative routes and timetables, ÖBB is launching a comprehensive information campaign in May, the company added. 

Advertisements in daily and district media, information posters at railway stations, customer guides, and distribution campaigns for a particular information folder before and during the closure period will help travellers find the proper connection. 

READ ALSO: Five European cities you can reach from Austria in less than five hours by train

Municipalities and residents affected by construction work are informed electronically or by post about disruptions such as noise, dust and increased lorry traffic on construction site access roads.

Travellers can find information on the timetable at www.oebb.at, www.oebb.at/baustellen, 05-1717 and on the SCOTTY mobile app. Information on the Vienna S-Bahn upgrade can also be found at www.s-bahn.wien.

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