Sit back and relax as you glide along some of Austria's most scenic routes, leaving behind the stress of busy roads and the noise of planes overhead, all while keeping your carbon footprint to a minimum. Train travel is becoming more and more popular every year.
Luckily, Austria is a great destination for a train holiday. Austria is one of the top three countries in the world with the highest number of train trips per year per inhabitant.
We invite you to travel like a local and make the most of your stay in Austria!
HOW TO TRAVEL IN AUSTRIA
Once travelers have set foot in Austria, travel can often be done entirely by rail: many trains go directly to the city center, and also operate in rural areas. There are two main railway companies in Austria: ÖBB Austrian Railways and Westbahn, the first of which operates throughout the country, and the second on main routes.
Trains are known to be one of the simplest and most convenient ways to travel between major cities in Austria. The journey from Vienna to Salzburg takes less than 2.5 hours, with trains leaving up to four times per hour. The journey from Salzburg to Innsbruck will take you less than 2 hours. The journey from Vienna to Graz takes 2 hours 38 minutes, and from Graz to Innsbruck it takes about 6 hours. These trips are made from a comfortable seat that often includes Wi-Fi and other perks. Frequent train schedules provide flexibility when on holiday: Austrian trains have a 95% punctuality rate.
To make travel even more convenient, many regions in Austria offer guest cards and travel passes, which often include free or discounted use of public transport in the region. You can also book the Sparschiene (ÖBB) ticket, which offers discounted travel within Europe and Austria, or the WESTsuperpreis (Westbahn) ticket for domestic travel. Travelers following the Interrail trend can book the Interrail Austria Pass for a month's domestic travel or the Global Pass, which still includes a visit to Austria.
SCENIC TRAIN ROUTES YOU NEED TO KNOW
The train allows you to see some of the best regions of Austria. Grab a window seat to admire the scenic views, and head to the towns along the way to experience the culture and beauty that each individual region has to offer.
From Vienna to Graz via Semmering< /strong>
This journey takes 2 hours 30 minutes and takes you through the Semmering mountain pass, offering stunning views of the mountains, valleys and villages around every corner. Equally famous are the route's historic engineering achievements, including tunnels, bridges and viaducts - you won't be bored along the way. The train runs 17 times a day and takes you to Graz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Arlberg Train Ride
This journey, connecting Tyrolean Innsbruck and Bludenz in Vorarlberg, takes travelers through stunning alpine scenery, lush valleys and chocolate box villages, and also includes the famous Arlberg Pass (a 10 km long tunnel / 6 miles). Other attractions are the Trisanna Bridge, 200 m long and 90 m high, and the Paznaun region, a resort center surrounded by three-thousand-meter mountains. Sit on the right side and get the best view! Travel time ranges from 2 to 3 hours depending on the train.
From Salzburg to Innsbruck via Bischofshofen
Passengers on this two-hour journey routes enjoy postcard-perfect mountain scenery, ancient bridges, sparkling rivers, hilltop monasteries and picturesque towns such as Zell am See, while boarding and disembarking the train at a UNESCO heritage site.
Source: austria.info
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