Exploring Germany To Austria With Eurail

Travelling from Germany to Austria by train is a breeze with a Eurail Pass. The pass covers your ticket cost on trains across 33 countries in Europe, and you can choose either a Global Pass or a One Country Pass, depending on your travel plans. The Global Pass is ideal if you want to explore multiple countries, while the One Country Pass is perfect for those who want to delve deeper into a single nation. With the Global Pass, you can opt for unlimited travel for a set number of consecutive days or choose a Flexi Pass that offers a set number of travel days within a month or two.

When it comes to reserving seats, most trains in Germany don't require reservations, but for a small fee, you can choose to reserve a seat if you prefer. For trains from Germany to Austria, reservations are usually optional but recommended, especially during peak season and public holidays. You can book your seat reservations through various methods, including the Eurail website, local train operator websites or apps, physical ticket offices at train stations, or even over the phone in some cases.

So, if you're planning to travel from Germany to Austria by train, a Eurail Pass is a great option. Just remember to check the specific train routes and their reservation requirements to ensure a smooth journey.

The Eurail Global Pass: what it is, how it works, and how to buy it

The Eurail Global Pass is one of the most popular ways to explore Europe, with travellers able to access 33 countries, including Germany and Austria. The pass gives you a set number of stops in a set time period, ranging from three days to three months, allowing for a flexible, hassle-free trip without having to purchase single tickets for every leg.

The Eurail Global Pass is a train ticket that gives travellers access to 33 countries. The pass gives travellers a set number of stops in a set time period, ranging from three days to three months. This allows for a flexible trip without the need to purchase single tickets for each journey. The pass comes with first-class and second-class options, as well as discounts for youth and seniors.

The Eurail Global Pass works by giving travellers unlimited travel on national and international trains. This includes high-speed trains, sleeper trains, intercity trains, suburban trains, and local trains. The pass also covers certain private train operators and even some ferry services. Flexi and Continuous passes are available. Continuous passes are valid for a continuous period, while Flexi passes allow for a set number of travel days within an overall validity period.

How to buy it

The Eurail Global Pass can be purchased online at www.eurail.com or www.raileurope.com. Passes can be downloaded as mobile passes or purchased as classic hard-copy passes that are sent to the customer. Mobile passes are free and can be instantly downloaded, while hard-copy passes incur a shipping cost.

How to get from Germany to Austria by Eurail: routes and reservations

Routes

There are several routes you can take to get from Germany to Austria by train, with connections between Munich and various Austrian cities, including:

• Vienna
• Salzburg
• Innsbruck
• Bregenz

You can also travel from Nuremberg to Vienna, and from Berlin to Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg or Bregenz, changing trains in Nuremberg or Erfurt.

Reservations

Reservations are required for all long-distance trains to and from Germany between 1 June and 1 September. Reservations are optional but recommended during peak season (May to September) and for public holidays.

You can make reservations through the local train operator if possible, or through ÖBB (the Austrian railway company), which allows you to book many European train journeys even outside of Austria and doesn't charge an additional fee. You can also book some trains through the DB app (Germany's national railway company), Eurail’s Rail Planner app, at physical ticket offices in train stations, or over the phone to train companies.

The benefits of a Eurail pass: what's included and what's not

The Eurail Pass is an all-in-one rail pass that gives you flexible access to most trains across Europe. It is a great option for those who want to travel spontaneously and comfortably to multiple destinations across the continent. With a Eurail Pass, you can board most trains without a reservation, making it perfect for those who want to travel at their own pace.

What's Included:

• Flexible travel across 33 countries in Europe, including Germany and Austria.
• Access to 30,000+ destinations and 40,000 train stations.
• The ability to travel whenever you want, without being locked into specific dates and times.
• Discounts on youth and senior passes, with additional perks like discounted entry fees to attractions.
• Free travel on certain bus routes and discounted boat travel on Austrian lakes and rivers.

What's Not Included:

• The Eurail Pass does not cover city/urban transport such as buses, trams, metros/subways, or boats. However, suburban rail/S-Bahn is covered.
• Reservations are not included and may be required for some trains, especially during peak season (May to September) and public holidays.
• Some private railway companies do not accept Eurail Passes, such as Pinzgauer Lokalbahn and NÖVOG in Austria.
• The Eurail Pass is only available to non-European residents. Europeans can purchase the Interrail Pass, which offers similar benefits.

Seat reservations: when you need them and how to book them

When you need them

Seat reservations are not included in your Eurail Pass, but you can buy them for a fee to guarantee yourself a seat on busy routes across Europe. Seat reservations are mandatory on all night trains and most high-speed trains.

Reservations are not required in Austria and Germany. However, they are recommended during peak season (May to September) and for public holidays. All long-distance trains to/from Germany are subject to mandatory reservations from June 1st to September 1st.

How to book them

You can book your seat reservations in three easy steps:

• Choose which Pass you're going to travel Europe with.
• Choose where you want to go and check whether you need to reserve a seat.
• Buy your reservations.

You can book your seat reservations quickly and easily with the Eurail online tool. You can also book through the following railway carriers:

• ÖBB (Austrian railways): Domestic and international trains
• Westbahn (Private Railway): Only Westbahn trains, domestic and international
• ČD (Czech railways): Domestic and international trains
• DB (German railways): International trains to/from Germany
• ÖBB Nightjet: Only Nightjet and some Euro Night trains

You can also book by calling the ÖBB booking center or locally at the train station in Austria.

Booking instructions

• Enter your departure/arrival stations and the time/date of your desired journey.
• Click on the Passengers’ info box (where you see “1 x Adult – Without Discounts”) and another page will open.
• Add as many travellers as you need, and for each Passholder click on 'add discount'.
• Scroll down or search for 'Interrail / Eurail - Globalpass', then select it and click confirm.
• Once you’re done with all travelers, click ‘OK’, and you’ll be redirected to the main page.
• Click on ‘Find’ to proceed to the next screen.
• Here you can select the train and then the type of accommodation (either seat, couchette or sleeper cabin) you want to take.
• Once the desired accommodation is selected, click on ‘Continue with € __’ and finalise your reservation with the payment.

Other tips for using Eurail: apps, websites, and more

Eurail offers a mobile pass that can be added to your phone, allowing you to explore 33 European countries with ease. The mobile pass is available on the Rail Planner app, which can be used to search for train times, plan journeys, view itineraries, and book seat reservations. The app also provides FAQs for your trip and allows you to show your mobile ticket for ticket inspection.

The Rail Planner app is available on iOS 16.0 and later, and Android 6.0 and later. It is important to note that the app requires an internet connection at least once every 3 days.

When planning your trip, it is recommended to check the timetables and availability on the websites of national railways such as DB (Germany), SBB (Switzerland), and ÖBB (Austria), as they cover several countries.

If you prefer a physical ticket, you can opt for the paper Pass, which is also available for purchase.

Frequently asked questions