Austria, a small landlocked country in the middle of Europe, has a lot of sights to see.
Here's how to swiftly and simply explore Austria breathtaking mosaic of highland valleys, mountain-encased lake districts, and history-stacked cities using public transportation, whether you begin in the country's cultural capital, Vienna, or in the alpine Innsbruck.
Austria nine federal states are connected by a network spanning over 5000km (3107 miles), according to national operator ÖBB. High-speed Railjet (RJ) trains are ideal for traveling across the nation; faster Xpress (RJX) trains only make stops at major city stations, such as Hauptbahnhof. Free wi-fi, comfortable seating, luggage racks, power outlets, a restaurant car, and areas designated for families and quiet people are among the facilities.
Vienna to Linz (1 hour, 15 minutes) and Salzburg (2.5 hours) are connected by two Railjets every hour, while Vienna to Graz (2 hours, 35 minutes) and Vienna to Klagenfurt (3 hours, 55 minutes) are connected by one Railjet every hour. The second-fastest options are Intercity-Express (ICE) trains, and ÖBB Nightjets (NJ), which depart Vienna in the evening and arrive in Innsbruck early in the morning, which can save money on lodging.
The slower trains are the regional (R), regional express (REX), intercity (IC), and cityjet (CJ), which stop or switch between smaller towns en route to the major cities. Regional capitals and the surrounding provinces are connected by S-Bahn (S) trains.
A stand-alone intercity route is planned by private rail operator WESTbahn from Vienna's Westbahnhof station to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Bregenz. Although the supersaver and flexible tickets are frequently less expensive than the ÖBB equivalent fare from Hauptbahnhof, the high-speed, double-decker trains are equipped with comparable amenities.
The regions surrounding the federal cities are connected by regional operators VOR in Lower Austria, Vienna, and Burgenland; ÖOVV in Upper Austria; Salzburg Verkehr in Salzburgerland; Verbund Linien in Styria; and Kärntner Linien in Carinthia.
Tickets are available from the driver when you board, but it's advisable to book ahead for popular routes and during the ski season.
However, you need to show a physical Vignette toll sticker (10 days/€4.60, two months/€11.50, or one year/€38.50) or obtain a digital sticker online to drive on Austria motorways. In all provinces, pay-and-display parking zones are designated by street signage.
Speed limits are as follows: on motorways (Autobahn), 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways and open roads (Bundesstrasse), and 50 km/h (31 mph) in residential areas. Drive on the right and overtake on the left. Legal requirements include having your driver's license and insurance documents with you at all times, having a first aid kit and a high-vis jacket in your car with you in case of an emergency, being required to wear seatbelts, and being accountable for any passengers under the age of 14 (including those in child seats).
Here's how to swiftly and simply explore Austria breathtaking mosaic of highland valleys, mountain-encased lake districts, and history-stacked cities using public transportation, whether you begin in the country's cultural capital, Vienna, or in the alpine Innsbruck.
Ride Austria high-speed rail system by train
Vienna and Innsbruck are connected by nonstop domestic flights, which take about one hour. However, rail travel is an eco-friendly alternative that is readily available, reasonably priced, and dependable in Austria.Austria nine federal states are connected by a network spanning over 5000km (3107 miles), according to national operator ÖBB. High-speed Railjet (RJ) trains are ideal for traveling across the nation; faster Xpress (RJX) trains only make stops at major city stations, such as Hauptbahnhof. Free wi-fi, comfortable seating, luggage racks, power outlets, a restaurant car, and areas designated for families and quiet people are among the facilities.
Vienna to Linz (1 hour, 15 minutes) and Salzburg (2.5 hours) are connected by two Railjets every hour, while Vienna to Graz (2 hours, 35 minutes) and Vienna to Klagenfurt (3 hours, 55 minutes) are connected by one Railjet every hour. The second-fastest options are Intercity-Express (ICE) trains, and ÖBB Nightjets (NJ), which depart Vienna in the evening and arrive in Innsbruck early in the morning, which can save money on lodging.
The slower trains are the regional (R), regional express (REX), intercity (IC), and cityjet (CJ), which stop or switch between smaller towns en route to the major cities. Regional capitals and the surrounding provinces are connected by S-Bahn (S) trains.
A stand-alone intercity route is planned by private rail operator WESTbahn from Vienna's Westbahnhof station to Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Bregenz. Although the supersaver and flexible tickets are frequently less expensive than the ÖBB equivalent fare from Hauptbahnhof, the high-speed, double-decker trains are equipped with comparable amenities.
Where and how to purchase tickets for intercity trains
Reserve ÖBB trains at train stations or online. Standard fare tickets allow for departure time flexibility, but advance-purchase Sparschiene tickets with a set time typically save half or a third of the price. Reservations for seats are recommended for popular intercity routes or on busy travel days and times, as they incur an additional €3.00 per way. Regional trains allow you to bring your bike for free; however, long-distance trains require you to purchase a special ticket to secure a spot in the designated bike zone (2nd class carriage).Get discounted tickets for an endless journey.
Single-day Leisure Tickets provide the same benefits, but they are only valid within a single state or region. City Tickets are valid for one to seven days and allow unlimited travel on public transportation, including regional R, REX, CJX, and S-Bahn trains, trams, and buses in the city core zone. But these passes aren't good for trains operated by Railjet, Eurocity, Intercity, D, or Nightjet.Austrian subway systems
The metro system in Vienna, the only city in Austria, is a fantastic way to get to know the areas around the historic center. On weekdays, the five metro lines (U-Bahn) operate from 5 a.m. to midnight, and on Fridays and Saturdays, they run nonstop. There is currently work being done on a sixth line. Station announcements are also in English, and maps are legible. Wheelchair accessibility is available at every station.Europe's most picturesque train routes
The most famous train trip in the nation is definitely the 41km (25 miles) UNESCO Semmeringbahn, which crosses a 19th-century viaduct and winds through the mountainous Semmering Pass between Gloggnitz in Lower Austria and Mürzzuschlag in Styria. Other noteworthy lines are the Zillertalbahn steam locomotive, the longest narrow-gauge railway in Austria stretching from St. Pölten to Mariazell via the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park, the steepest rack and cog railway in the nation, the Schafbergbahn at St Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut.Use cable cars and funiculars to traverse the mountains.
Trekking is one way to get across undulating valleys and scramble to top views, but Austria is best known for its fleet of funicular, lift, and gondola cable cars that whisk you from the ground to the vista in a matter of minutes. Mountain regions can have anywhere from six to twenty summer operations outside of the ski season. Still, two exceptional experiences are the Dachstein-Gletscherbahn full-glass panorama gondola in Styria and the Hintertuxer Gletscher cable car in Tirol. Use the discount or free travel offered by city, regional, and resort cards, or pay at the cable car station.Explore more of Austria with a bus
The largest transportation network in Austria, Postbus (a division of ÖBB), links difficult-to-reach locations on alpine passes, lake region byroads, and hiking and biking trailheads. It is frequently combined with a rail transfer.The regions surrounding the federal cities are connected by regional operators VOR in Lower Austria, Vienna, and Burgenland; ÖOVV in Upper Austria; Salzburg Verkehr in Salzburgerland; Verbund Linien in Styria; and Kärntner Linien in Carinthia.
Tickets are available from the driver when you board, but it's advisable to book ahead for popular routes and during the ski season.
Travel accessibility in Austria
Wheelchair spaces, accessible restrooms, train boarding ramps, and information announcements in both German and English are available on Railjet, Intercity, and EuroCity services. ÖBB's online form allows you to request station and onboard mobility services for specific journeys. In major Austrian cities, public transportation is accessible to all, and approximately 400 train stations have mobility aids such as ramps and lifts.Discover Austria by bicycle
Both Salzburg and Vienna offer public bike rental programs. You can hire mountain bikes, road bikes, and e-bikes all over Austria (Intersport is a major outfitter); however, you'll need to find out which gondola routes let you bring bikes on board. Some rental bike shops in Passau, Germany (over the border), the starting point of the Danube Cycle Path, let you return your bike to Vienna some 300 kilometers (185 miles) later.Take a ferry to explore the rivers and lakes.
Along the Danube, there are passenger ferry services and boat tours that run between Passau, Linz, Wachau, and Vienna. In the Salzkammergut region of Austria, there are also regular boat services available on several larger lakes, such as Wolfgangsee, Hallstätter See, and Achensee in Tirol. Additionally, you can go swimming in the largest lake in Austria, Neusiedler See in Burgenland, and the Wörthersee in Carinthia.While on a road trip, make your own schedule.
Once you get off the highways, Austria offers some of the most breathtaking road trips. Arguably two of Austria best roads are the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which hairpin bends through the Hohe Tauern National Park, and the Romantic Road, which connects Vienna to the Wachau Valley vineyards and the Salzkamemrgut lake district. From our selection of the nation's top road trips, pick your favorite.However, you need to show a physical Vignette toll sticker (10 days/€4.60, two months/€11.50, or one year/€38.50) or obtain a digital sticker online to drive on Austria motorways. In all provinces, pay-and-display parking zones are designated by street signage.
Speed limits are as follows: on motorways (Autobahn), 100 km/h (62 mph) on expressways and open roads (Bundesstrasse), and 50 km/h (31 mph) in residential areas. Drive on the right and overtake on the left. Legal requirements include having your driver's license and insurance documents with you at all times, having a first aid kit and a high-vis jacket in your car with you in case of an emergency, being required to wear seatbelts, and being accountable for any passengers under the age of 14 (including those in child seats).