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There are several ways to get from Austria to Switzerland, including by plane, train, bus, or car. The fastest way to travel between the two countries is by plane, which takes around 4 hours. However, the flight time does not include the time needed to get to and from the airport, or the time spent on security and customs, which can add 2-3 hours to your journey. The train is another option, with Railjet Xpress trains offering connections between Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Zurich. This journey takes around 9 hours, depending on the route chosen. Alternatively, you can take a bus, which is the cheapest option, costing between $35 and $70, but it is also the longest journey, taking up to 11 hours. Finally, you can drive from Austria to Switzerland, which takes approximately 7 hours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance | 440 miles |
| Road distance | 454 miles |
| Cheapest way to travel | Bus |
| Bus cost | $35 - $70 |
| Bus duration | 11h 21m |
| Fastest way to travel | Flight |
| Flight cost | $60 - $280 |
| Flight duration | 4h 9m |
| Train cost | $110 - $190 |
| Train duration | 7h 45m - 9h 12m |
| Train routes | Via Innsbruck, Via Munich |
| Rail pass | Many rail passes allow free or discounted travel in Switzerland and Austria |
| Airlines | United, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Air Dolomiti |
| Airline routes | Vienna to Munich, Vienna to Basel, Zurich to Munich, Munich to Salzburg, Salzburg to Zurich |
| Airline duration | 1 hour |
| Border-crossing regional bus routes | Feldkirch (Austria) – Vaduz (Liechtenstein) – Sargans (Switzerland) |
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Travel by train
Switzerland and Austria are both part of Europe's Schengen area, so internal border checks have been largely abolished when travelling between the two countries. This means that travel between the two countries is similar to travelling between US states such as Iowa and Nebraska.
The best way to travel between Austria and Switzerland is by train. There are direct day and night trains between Zurich in Switzerland and Vienna, Salzburg, and other cities in Austria. The journey between Vienna and Zurich takes about eight hours by train, and the route via Innsbruck is more scenic than the one through Munich.
High-speed Railjet Xpress trains connect Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and several other Austrian towns to Zurich in Switzerland. These trains offer connections to other European cities like Budapest, Munich, and Prague as well. Railjet trains offer 2nd (economy) class, 1st class, and business class seats. A restaurant, quiet zones, and family/toddler zones are on board. Power outlets are available near all seats, and all of these trains have WiFi. If you travel in business class, you can order and enjoy meals from the comfort of your seat. Railjet trains depart from Wien Meidling station in Austria and arrive at Zuerich Hb station in Switzerland.
There are no direct trains from Austria to Swiss cities other than Zurich. So for most Swiss destinations, you’ll have to change trains in Zurich. The Zurich hub offers excellent onward connections to all Swiss regions, with trains leaving at half-hour intervals in all directions.
The ÖBB Nightjet is a night train that runs each night between Vienna or Graz (Austria) and Zurich (Switzerland). You can choose between sleeping cars, couchette cars, and seating cars. The couchette and sleeping coaches come with free mineral water and breakfast.
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Travel by plane
Although some sources suggest that the best way to travel between Austria and Switzerland is by train, flying is the fastest option. The journey takes approximately 4 hours, including transfers, and costs between $60 and $330.
Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air Dolomiti offer direct flights from Vienna International Airport (VIE) to Basel (BSL) four times a day. The flight to Basel takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes. You can also fly from Vienna to Geneva Airport (GIA) in around 1 hour and 35 minutes. There are no direct flights to and from Zurich, but you can transfer at a German airport, such as Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, or Frankfurt. This adds a considerable amount of time to your journey, with total travel time ranging from 3 hours and 50 minutes to 11 hours.
If you are travelling from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Vienna International Airport (VIE), Austrian Airlines, Swiss, and Lufthansa offer flights every 2 hours.
You can also fly from Vienna International Airport to St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (ACH) and take the train from Rorschach to St. Gallen.
When planning your trip, keep in mind that short-haul flights are damaging to the vulnerable Alps and heavily contribute to global warming. You will also need to factor in time for check-in and check-out procedures, collecting your luggage, and travelling between the airports and city centres.
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Travel by bus
Although it is not the fastest or most popular way to travel from Austria to Switzerland, it is still possible to make the journey by bus. The bus is the cheapest way to travel between the two countries, with tickets costing between $35 and $70. The journey takes around 11 hours, which is about 4 hours longer than the fastest alternative travel methods.
There are regional cross-border bus connections from Feldkirch and Landeck-Zams. If you are travelling by train, you can get off at Landeck-Zams and take a bus for the remainder of the journey.
If you are looking for a more comfortable journey, you may prefer to travel by train. The Railjet Xpress train offers second (economy) class, first class, and business-class seats. There is also a restaurant, quiet zones, and family/toddler zones on board. Power outlets are available near all seats, and all of these trains have WiFi. If you travel in business class, you can order meals from your seat. The train route from Austria to Switzerland via Innsbruck is more scenic than the route through Munich, and you don't have to change trains.
Flying is the fastest way to travel between the two countries, with a flight time of around 4 hours. However, this option is more expensive, with flights costing between $60 and $330.
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Travel by car
Driving from Austria to Switzerland is a feasible option, but there are a few things you should be aware of before setting off. Firstly, you will need a motorway vignette ("Autobahnvignette") to use the Swiss highways and motorways, and an Austrian toll sticker ("Vignette") for the toll roads in Austria. These can be purchased at petrol stations, kiosks, and border crossings. If you are renting a car, check with the rental company to see if the necessary vignettes or badges are included, as they may only be valid in the country where you rented the car. Additionally, if you plan to drive through Munich, an environmental badge ("Umweltplakette") is required as it is one of Germany's low-emission zones.
When planning your route, consider that driving through Innsbruck and Feldkirch is considered more scenic than going through Munich. You can also take one of the mountain pass roads, such as the Albula or Julier Pass, to get to the Upper Engadine region. If you are concerned about the drive time, the trip from Salzburg to Geneva via Munich or Innsbruck and Feldkirch is estimated to take around 8 hours without stops.
If you are renting a car, be mindful of the drop-off fees, as they can be quite expensive. One way to save on these fees is to pick up and drop off the car in the same country. For example, you could take the train from Austria to Switzerland and rent a car once you arrive, or rent a car in Austria and drop it off in Bregenz before taking the train to Switzerland.
Lastly, keep in mind that Switzerland is not part of the EU, so there may be customs checks when crossing the border. However, as both countries are part of the Schengen area, there are no immigration checks or passport controls.
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Travel by boat
One way to travel by boat from Austria to Switzerland is to take a cruise ferry from Bregenz via Lake Constance and the Rhine River to Schaffhausen/Rhine Falls in Switzerland. This route includes stops at Lindau Island, Friedrichshafen, Meersburg, Unteruhldingen, Mainau, Konstanz, Reichenau Island, and Salenstein. The journey ends in Schaffhausen, which is just an hour by train from Basel.
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Frequently asked questions
Railjet Xpress trains connect Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, and several other Austrian towns to Zurich in Switzerland. The journey takes around 7 hours and 45 minutes and costs $110–$170. There are no direct trains to Swiss cities other than Zurich.
Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air Dolomiti fly from Vienna International Airport (VIE) to Basel (BSL) four times a day. The journey takes around one hour.
There are several cross-border regional bus routes that connect the two countries. One such route is from Feldkirch (Austria) to Vaduz (Liechtenstein) and Sargans (Switzerland). The journey takes around 11 hours and 21 minutes and costs $35–$70.
The road distance between Austria and Switzerland is around 454 miles. The drive takes approximately 6 hours and 52 minutes.
