Vienna by rail: the back story

About Vienna by rail: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Vienna Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Vienna sits where the railways of western and central Europe meet those of the Danube and the Balkans. From Wien Hauptbahnhof, ÖBB Railjets run to Budapest every hour and to Munich and Prague every two hours; Nightjet sleepers run to Rome, Venice, Zurich, Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam; and from Budapest a new line is opening south to Belgrade. See our full page: Vienna by rail.

Budapest and Belgrade

ÖBB says trains run from Vienna to Budapest every hour. From Budapest, the rebuilt line runs south through Kelebia to Subotica, Novi Sad and Belgrade; the Serbian section is open, and international trains between Budapest and Belgrade are expected with the December 2026 timetable change. See the ULTIMATE Belgrade guide’s page on the Belgrade–Budapest train.

Sleepers to the west and south

Nightjet sleepers connect Vienna with Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Dresden, Rome, Florence, Venice, Zurich, Amsterdam and, three times a week, Brussels (nightjet.com).

Book ÖBB Sparschiene fares early: they open up to six months ahead.

Day trains

Railjets run every two hours to Munich and to Prague, twice a day to Venice by the new Koralm Railway, and several times a day to Zurich (oebb.at).

The Alps

Railjets run west through Salzburg and Innsbruck towards the Arlberg; see the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts guide.

Our advice: check the timetable on oebb.at on the day you travel; engineering works change journeys.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Vienna by rail: the back story before you go.