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Austria is one of Europe's most mountainous countries, with 75% of its land taken up by alpine topography. The country is well-connected by trains and buses, with fast, reliable, and affordable public transportation. The national operator ÖBB has a network of over 5,000km (3,107 miles) connecting all nine federal states. Trains are the main way to get around the country, with two companies operating them: ÖBB and Westbahn. Postbus, which carries over 123 million passengers annually, provides bus services to smaller towns and regional areas. Bikes are also a great way to get around, with dedicated bike paths like the 200-mile Danube cycling path from Passau in Germany to Vienna.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Public transport | Fast, efficient, and comprehensive |
| Train network | Wide network, punctual, great service, includes most towns of any size |
| Train classes | First Class, Business Class, and Comfort Class |
| Train companies | ÖBB, Westbahn |
| Train types | CityJet, Talent, Desiro, Bilevel Push-Pull, Cityshuttle Push-Pull, and Electric Railcar 4020 |
| Train passes | Eurail pass, Sparschiene ticket, Westbahn ticket |
| Bus network | Wide network, good quality, air-conditioned, includes night buses |
| Bus companies | ÖBB, Postbus |
| Bus passes | SCOTTY mobil app, regional maps, timetables |
| Bicycle | Bike-friendly, dedicated paths, bike rentals, bike-sharing systems |
| Bicycle companies | Nextbike, Movelo |
| Bicycle passes | OBB VORTEILSCARD, Nextbike membership |
| Other apps | WienMobil, Wiener Linien |
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What You'll Learn
- Trains: Austria has a wide railway network, including high-speed trains
- Buses: Buses connect to the rail network and offer direct connections to important places
- Bikes: There are dedicated bike paths and bike-friendly cities in Austria
- Cars: Driving in Austria requires a Vignette toll sticker, but motorways are a pleasure to drive through
- Planes: Domestic flights connect cities like Vienna and Innsbruck
Trains: Austria has a wide railway network, including high-speed trains
Austria has an extensive railway network, with its national rail company, the Osterreichische Bundes Bahn (ÖBB), offering four models of trains: REX, S-Bahn, InterCity (IC), and Nightjet (NJ and EN). The REX and S-Bahn trains provide access to neighbouring cities and suburban areas within major towns, respectively, while the InterCity trains offer optional reservations, which are recommended during peak seasons.
The ÖBB website provides information on fares and timetables, and the staff at train stations are also helpful in planning journeys. Additionally, the Thomas Cook European rail timetable can be a useful resource for planning, as it lists all the trains and times.
Austria's railway network covers the entire country, making it easy to get around. The trip between Vienna and Salzburg takes between 2 hours 22 minutes and 4 hours 40 minutes, while the journey between Graz and Innsbruck takes about six hours. The Railjet Express (RJX) connects Austria with Zurich, Budapest, Prague, and Munich, and the Nightjet service offers nighttime travel to France, Italy, Serbia, and Poland.
The Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a popular route that offers stunning Alpine landscapes. The Arlberg route is another west-to-east option through the Alps, connecting Zurich and Vienna.
Various rail passes are available, including the OBB VORTEILSCARD, which offers discounts of up to 50% on single tickets, and the Einfach-Raus Ticket, which allows for a day's excursion for two to five people on regional trains. Sparschiene tickets are also available for set routes and times at discounted prices.
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Buses: Buses connect to the rail network and offer direct connections to important places
Austria has an extensive and reliable public transport system, which includes buses that connect to the country's rail network. Buses in Austria are an affordable and convenient way to get around the country. Postbus, a subsidiary of ÖBB, is Austria's most extensive bus service and is often combined with rail transfers. It connects harder-to-reach places, such as alpine passes, lake region byroads, and hiking and biking trailheads. Regional operators like VOR in Lower Austria, Vienna, and Burgenland, and ÖOVV in Upper Austria, among others, connect the areas in and around federal cities.
You can purchase bus tickets from the driver upon boarding, but it is advisable to reserve a seat in advance for popular routes and during the ski season. Buses in Austria generally run on time, and the staff at bus and train stations are known to be helpful in planning journeys. Additionally, some local bus routes are even free of charge.
To plan your bus journeys in Austria, you can use platforms like FlixBus or BusBud to check bus routes and Omio to find different travel options. The ÖBB website is also useful for checking fares and timetables. The Verkher website and app are great tools for planning your trips, as they show crossover points, walking distances, and every stop along your route. They also provide information on cancellations and the CO2 footprint of each option.
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Bikes: There are dedicated bike paths and bike-friendly cities in Austria
Austria is one of Europe's most mountainous countries, with 75% of its land taken up by alpine topography. However, it is also a bike-friendly country, with cycle lanes in all major towns and, sometimes, between towns. Many train stations rent bikes for around €12 per day, and Vienna and Innsbruck have public bike rental networks. There are also dedicated bike paths in Austria, including:
- The 200-mile Danube cycling path from the historic German border town of Passau to Vienna, which passes through the beautiful landscape of the Upper-Danube Valley, and includes Baroque monasteries, churches, and the famous "Wachau" region.
- The 214-mile Salzkammergut bike path, which includes views of 13 lakes and the chance to swim, fish, sail, and hike.
- A bike trail that follows the Salzach River through little villages to Zell am See, a picturesque summer and winter resort, with the option to continue along the Salzach River to visit the world's largest ice caves in Werfen, or the salt mines in Hallein.
- A bike trail that follows the Ill River from the Medieval Alpine town of Bludenz to Feldkirch, which includes the chance to visit the Medieval town centre and the majestic Schattenburg castle.
There are also many companies that rent bikes and/or offer guided tours or cycling packages that include accommodations. It is important to note that bike rentals are typically seasonal, generally from April through October.
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Cars: Driving in Austria requires a Vignette toll sticker, but motorways are a pleasure to drive through
Austria is one of Europe's most mountainous countries, with 75% of its land taken up by alpine topography. This means that driving in Austria can be a pleasure, with gorgeous scenery, majestic peaks, and picturesque villages.
If you are planning to drive in Austria, it is important to note that all motorways and expressways in Austria require a toll sticker, known as a Vignette. This includes all cars, motorbikes, and camper vans with a permissible maximum weight of up-to 3.5 tons. The Vignette can be purchased in the form of a physical sticker or a digital vignette. The physical stickers can be obtained from Austrian Automobile Clubs, post offices, newsagents, and petrol stations, as well as in Austria's neighbouring countries. The digital vignette can be purchased online and is bound to the license plate, which is convenient for holders of transferable number plates.
Vignettes are available with different periods of validity: 1 day, 10 days, 2 months, or 1 year. The cost of the vignette depends on the type and duration of validity. It is important to display the vignette sticker correctly on your vehicle. For cars, the sticker must be displayed on the inside of the windshield, stuck to the top left-hand edge or behind the rear-view mirror. For motorbikes, it must be affixed to a component that is difficult to remove, such as the fork leg or tank, and clearly visible.
In addition to the vignette, there may be special tolls that must be paid on certain motorway sections, such as the A9 Pyhrn motorway and the A10 Tauern motorway. These tolls are independent of the vignette and must be paid directly at the toll station or online in advance.
Overall, driving in Austria can be a pleasant experience, with well-maintained roads and stunning scenery. However, it is important to be aware of the toll requirements and ensure you have the necessary vignette and any additional tolls paid to avoid any issues during your journey.
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Planes: Domestic flights connect cities like Vienna and Innsbruck
Austria is a mountainous country, with 75% of its land taken up by alpine topography. As such, flying is a great way to get around and take in the views. Domestic flights connect cities like Vienna and Innsbruck, with the flight between the two taking just one hour.
Austrian Airlines offers flights from Vienna to Innsbruck, with prices starting at $85 for a one-way ticket. Round-trip flights start from $135. The airline offers various amenities, including beverages, fine dining, lounge access, and full flat seats. If you are a member of their Miles & More programme, you can earn miles and points on your flight.
If your destination is Innsbruck, you can transfer in Vienna for the short flight to the western city. Alternatively, you can fly to Munich and take a shuttle bus to Innsbruck, which takes a little over three hours.
The cheapest month to fly from Innsbruck to Vienna is typically February, with prices ranging from $140 to $290. The most expensive month is usually May. The best round-trip deal recently found on Google Flights was with Austrian Airlines for $152, and the best one-way deal was also with Austrian Airlines for $92. Other airlines offering flights from Innsbruck to Vienna include Eurowings, Iberia, Finnair, and Aegean.
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