Transport > Europe > Train travel > Train travel in Austria
Train travel in Austria
Austrian trains are an efficient way of seeing the country with frequent connections between the major cities and international destinations like Budapest, Bratislava, Ljubljana, Venice, Basel, Prague and Munich. Most of the busier services are operated by the state-run ÖBB (Österreichischen Bundesbahnen), although private railways operate many of the smaller routes.
When you take a trip over 101km you can break your journey at various stations en route taking up to two months to complete the trip, however shorter trips must be completed on the same day.
If you're going to some small village on a slow local train you may need to push a button to alert the driver to stop at the next station.
As in Germany train stations are often abreviated Bf (bahnhof) and Hbf (hauptbahnhof) on maps and signs. Arrivals and departures are indicated on signs within the station - Ankunft is arrival and Abfahrt means departure.
Austria's convenient location in the heart of Central Europe means that it's included in many different rail passes including both Eurail and Interrail. Austria also has its own railpass, which is a good value travel option if you want to explore Austria in depth.
If you want to save money on individual tickets, the VORTEILScard costs €99.90 (€19.90 if you're under 26) and allows you to travel at a 45% discount over a one-year period.
Austrian railpasses
Eurail Austria Pass
The Austria Railpass allows between three and eight days of travel within a one-month period. This pass is good value if you want to explore the country in depth.
| Validity | Adult (1st class) |
Adult (2nd class) |
Youth (2nd class) |
|---|---|---|---|
3 travel days in 1 month |
USD $200 |
USD $139 |
USD $93 |
4 travel days in 1 month |
USD $229 |
USD $158 |
USD $105 |
5 travel days in 1 month |
USD $257 |
USD $158 |
USD $118 |
6 travel days in 1 month |
USD $257 |
USD $177 |
USD $118 |
7 travel days in 1 month |
USD $283 |
USD $199 |
USD $128 |
8 travel days in 1 month |
USD $313 |
USD $219 |
USD $143 |
9 travel days in 1 month |
USD $343 |
USD $219 |
USD $157 |
The Eurail Austria Pass is only available to non-European residents, but Europeans can buy the similar Austrian Interrail One Country Pass.
Interrail One Country Pass – Austria
European residents are eligible to buy the Interrail One Country pass, which is a flexi pass that gives you three to eight days of unlimited train travel in Austria within a one month period.
| Validity | Adult (1st class) |
Adult (2nd class) |
Youth (2nd class) |
|---|---|---|---|
3 travel days in 1 month |
£143 |
£106 |
£69 |
4 travel days in 1 month |
£183 |
£135 |
£88 |
6 travel days in 1 month |
£248 |
£184 |
£120 |
8 travel days in 1 month |
£300 |
£223 |
£145 |
Please note that Interrail passes can only be sold to European residents. You should order the Eurail Austria Pass if you live outside Europe.
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