Travel · By rail
Vienna by rail: Budapest, Belgrade, the Alps and the sleepers of Europe
Vienna stands where the railways of western Europe meet those of the Danube and the Balkans. Here is what runs from the city today, checked against ÖBB and Nightjet on 25 October 2026, and where the new line to Belgrade stands.
Updated October 2026
Wien Hauptbahnhof
Wien Hauptbahnhof is Vienna’s main through station, run by ÖBB, and the departure point for most long-distance and international trains: the Railjets to Budapest, Munich and Prague and the Nightjet sleepers. It is on metro line U1, a few stops from Stephansplatz. The Westbahnhof, on the U3 and U6, is used by WESTbahn trains to Salzburg.
Vienna to Budapest
ÖBB says you can travel by train from Vienna to the Hungarian capital every hour. In Budapest, the Railjets use Keleti, the city’s great eastern station, on metro lines M2 and M4.
Our advice: buy ÖBB Sparschiene tickets early; there is a limited number on each train, and they open up to six months ahead.
The Budapest–Belgrade train (ULTIMATE Budapest)
On to Belgrade on the new line
South of Budapest, the railway to Belgrade has been rebuilt as a fast line through Kelebia, Subotica and Novi Sad. The Serbian section is open: fast trains run from Beograd Centar through Novi Sad to Subotica. In Hungary, the rebuilt line from the border at Kelebia to Budapest carries freight while passenger trains are still replaced by buses; domestic Hungarian trains are expected first, and international trains between the two capitals with the December 2026 timetable change.
Our ULTIMATE Belgrade and ULTIMATE Budapest guides follow the line in full: the stations, the border, tickets and four routes from Vienna and Budapest down to Belgrade and on towards Skopje and Athens.
Our advice: until the through trains run, allow a full day for the Budapest–Belgrade leg.
The Belgrade–Budapest high-speed train (ULTIMATE Belgrade) The same journey on our Budapest guide
Munich, Zurich and Prague by day
ÖBB says Railjets run every two hours to Munich from Vienna and Linz, and every two hours direct to Prague. Railjets also run direct to Zurich through Salzburg, Innsbruck and the Arlberg. In the 2027 timetable, from 13 December 2026, ÖBB says Vienna–Munich RJX trains will be diverted via Passau during construction work, and that works on the western line may lengthen journeys to Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Zurich.
Check the timetable on oebb.at on the day you travel.
Venice and Italy
ÖBB says two Railjets a day take passengers from Vienna and Graz to Venice, and that the new Koralm Railway now makes the journey faster. Nightjet sleepers run from Vienna to Venice and to Rome by way of Florence.
In the 2027 timetable, Nightjet says the Vienna–Venice sleeper will not run from 24/25 May to 11 July 2027, and that on 5–6 May and 28–29 August 2027 the Vienna–Rome sleeper will run only to and from Bologna, because of construction work in Italy.
Nightjet: sleep your way across Europe
ÖBB’s Nightjet links Vienna overnight with Hamburg, Hanover, Berlin, Dresden, Rome, Florence, Venice, Zurich, Amsterdam and, three times a week, Brussels. Trains carry seats, couchettes and sleeping cars; the new-generation Nightjet runs on some routes, among them Zurich, Rome and Amsterdam (nightjet.com).
Nightjet tickets for the 2027 timetable are already on sale, up to 360 days ahead for direct Nightjet services; book on nightjet.com or oebb.at.
By rail to the Alps
The Railjets west run through Salzburg and Innsbruck towards the Arlberg, towards St Anton and Lech Zürs; Kitzbühel and Mayrhofen in the Zillertal are in Tyrol too. Closer to the city, the Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage site, climbs over the pass south-west of Vienna, and the Semmering Base Tunnel beneath it is due to carry its first trains in 2030 (ÖBB-Infrastruktur).
See the ULTIMATE Ski Resorts guide for the resorts, their lifts and how to reach them.
ULTIMATE Rail Journeys: Vienna and the Semmering St Anton Kitzbühel Lech Zürs Mayrhofen
Christmas markets by train
In December, the Railjet to Budapest and the direct train on to Zagreb make a three-city Christmas market journey; see our page for the dates and trains.
Christmas markets by train: Vienna, Budapest and Zagreb
Bratislava, the Wachau and the airport
ÖBB regional express trains run twice an hour to Bratislava, in about an hour. Trains run to Melk and Krems for the Wachau. The City Airport Train links the airport with Wien Mitte non-stop in about 21 minutes.
Tickets
Book ÖBB trains and Nightjets on oebb.at or nightjet.com, and Hungarian trains with MÁV. Sparschiene fares are limited and sell out; flexible tickets cost more but can be changed.
Our advice: check the timetable on the morning you travel; engineering works change journeys, especially in 2027.
Questions and answers
How often do trains run from Vienna to Budapest?
Every hour, according to ÖBB.
Can I go on by train from Budapest to Belgrade?
The new line is open on the Serbian side, from Subotica through Novi Sad to Belgrade; in Hungary, passengers still use replacement buses for now, and international trains between Budapest and Belgrade are expected with the December 2026 timetable change. See our Belgrade guide’s page on the line.
Is there a sleeper train from Vienna to Rome or Zurich?
Yes: ÖBB’s Nightjet runs from Vienna to Rome by way of Florence, to Venice and to Zurich, as well as to Hamburg, Berlin and Amsterdam.
Which station do trains to Budapest and Munich leave from?
Wien Hauptbahnhof, on metro line U1.
Sources: oebb.at, nightjet.com, infrastruktur.oebb.at and cityairporttrain.com (checked 25 October 2026); the Budapest–Belgrade status follows our Belgrade and Budapest guides. Timetables change: always check before you travel.