Leslie Massey
Travelling by train from Italy to Austria is a great way to experience the beauty of both countries. With Italy and Austria sharing the Alps, it is no surprise that the train routes are incredibly scenic. The journey offers passengers the chance to see breathtaking mountain landscapes, deep gorges, picturesque valleys, and sparkling streams. The train ride is not only a convenient way to travel between the two countries but also a visually stunning experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Train routes from Italy to Austria | Through Brennero, Tarvisio, San Candido to Lienz, and Villach |
| Train operators | Austrian Federal Railways (OBB), Eurail, Railjet, Regionale, Regionale Veloce, Frecciarossa, Frecciabianca, Frecciargento, InterCity, InterCityNotte, EuroCity, Thello, and ItaliaPass |
| Train facilities | Panoramic coaches with large windows, restaurant, air conditioning, audio guide, snack cars, sleeper trains, and VIP seats |
| Notable sights | The Alps, soaring mountains, glimmering mountain lakes, rolling vineyards, green valleys, ancient covered bridges, emerald rivers, hilltop monasteries, restored castles, and picture-postcard towns |
| Notable stops | Venice, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Munich, Kufstein, Bolzano, Fortezza, Vienna, Graz, Trieste, Ljubljana, Zurich, Milan, Rome, Florence, and Bologna |
What You'll Learn
The Semmering line from Vienna to Graz
The Semmering Line passes through the Semmering mountain, which reaches a dramatic upward pitch. The route includes 26 miles of tunnels and viaducts, considered one of the most impressive feats of civil engineering in the era of early railway construction. The train passes through 14 tunnels, 16 viaducts, and over 100 stone bridges, offering breathtaking scenery of tall mountains, deep valleys, and quaint villages.
The Semmering Railway was built between 1848 and 1854 and is considered one of the greatest feats of civil engineering from this pioneering phase of railway building. It was acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. The construction of the railway presented a significant technical challenge due to the mountainous terrain, and it remains a remarkable achievement that continues to impress travellers today.
Graz, the final destination of the Semmering Line, is Austria's second-largest city and offers a rich cultural experience. With its colourful main hall and amorphous transport shelters, Graz's Main Station is a unique welcome to the city. The city's blend of contemporary architecture and historic sites, such as Eggenberg Palace and the world's largest historical armoury, makes it a fascinating destination to explore.
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Salzburg to Innsbruck via Bischofshofen
The route is usually made with a single transfer in the Alpine town of Schwarzach-St. Veit. Reservations are not necessary but are recommended, and the journey from Salzburg to Innsbruck via Bischofshofen typically takes about 3.5 hours. This is a bit longer than the regular, direct route, but the views make it well worth the extra time.
The Rail Jet high-speed train offers eye-popping views over the scenic Seefeld Plateau, the northern Tyrolean Alps, and the Bavarian Alps. The train is often filled with a mix of locals and tourists, including schoolchildren and groups of skiers. It is open and airy, and a reservation is typically not required. Your Pass for Austria covers the trip up to the Austrian border, and a Global Pass covers the entire route, which should take approximately 3 hours. To get the best views from Innsbruck, make sure to sit on the left side of the train.
To find train times and tickets for this route, you can search for "Salzburg to Innsbruck via Bischofshofen" on the OBB website. Alternatively, you can search for each leg of the journey separately. Seat reservations are optional and cost 3 euros per train.
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The Mittenwald Railway from Munich to Innsbruck
The journey from Mittenwald to Innsbruck takes approximately 57 minutes, covering a distance of 22 kilometres. The fastest trains can even complete the journey in just under an hour. There are about 8 trains running daily on this route, with modern and comfortable services provided by Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB, offering ample room for luggage. The first train usually departs Mittenwald around 6:48 am, and the last train leaves around 8:48 pm, with similar timings on weekends.
Ticket prices for this route start at $11.50 for a single ticket, with slight variations depending on the day of booking and the season. Booking in advance is recommended, as prices tend to increase closer to the departure date. The train from Mittenwald to Innsbruck is a direct route, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes outside your window without any disruptions.
Travelling by train is an excellent choice for those seeking a scenic and hassle-free journey from Italy to Austria. It is a convenient and affordable option, allowing you to bypass the hassle of flying or renting a car. So, whether you're an avid photographer, a nature enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique travel experience, the Mittenwald Railway from Munich to Innsbruck is a journey worth taking.
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The route through Brennero to Innsbruck
The Brenner Railway, also known as Brennerbahn in German and Ferrovia del Brennero in Italian, offers a scenic route from Italy to Austria. The line connects the Austrian and Italian railways from Innsbruck to Verona and is considered a "fundamental" line by the state railways Ferrovie dello Stato (FS). The route climbs up the Wipptal (or "Wipp Valley"), passes over the Brenner Pass, and descends down the Eisacktal (or "Eisack Valley") to Bolzano/Bozen. The railway line was designed in the mid-19th century under the Austro-Hungarian Empire to ensure rapid and safe transport between Tyrol and northern Italy, particularly Lombardy–Venetia.
The section from Innsbruck to Brenner is the main highlight of the journey. The train climbs over 3000 feet as it twists and turns, following the motorway that links Innsbruck with Italy. The train then continues to descend gently through the region of Süd Tirol (or Alto Adige in Italian), an autonomous region of Italy that was once part of Austria. As a result, station signs and train announcements are in both German and Italian, reflecting the region's majority German-speaking population.
The dramatic cutting mountains gradually give way to rolling hills as the train trundles out of the bilingual Alto Adige and into "Italy proper." The train makes stops at the stations of Trento and Rovereto, with Lake Garda located just a few miles west of Rovereto. The train then continues its journey, swinging slowly towards the looming lights of Verona.
The Brenner Railway is currently undergoing improvements to increase its capacity and reduce travel times. The construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, a 55-kilometre-long (34 mi) railway tunnel under the Eastern Alps, is expected to be completed in 2032. This tunnel will greatly improve the railway connection between North Tyrol and South Tyrol, allowing trains to cross the Alps much faster.
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The route through Tarvisio to Villach
The route from Tarvisio, Italy to Villach, Austria is a short one, with the distance between the two being around 20 miles. The fastest way to travel between the two places is by car, which takes around 23-24 minutes. The journey by train is also quick, taking just 22 minutes, and tickets cost $10-16. The train from Tarvisio Boscoverde to Villach Hbf is operated by Railjet and runs twice daily.
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