Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria has one of the most highly developed transport networks in the European Union, with a dense bus and rail network crisscrossing the country. The country's central location in Europe makes it a great stopover point for travel across the continent. The national railway system, Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB), is well-connected and has a reputation for great service, with a punctuality rate of 97%. Trains are the best way to get across the country for longer distances, and the ÖBB website and app can be used to purchase tickets. Another great company is Westbahn, with often cheaper tickets and non-stop service between major cities. In addition to trains, buses are also a popular mode of transport within Austria, with the national bus company Postbus carrying over 123 million passengers across the country each year. For international bus routes, FlixBus is an option. Bikes are also a common and cheap means of transport in Austria, with many bigger cities offering public bike hire initiatives.
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Public transport in Austria
Trains
Two companies operate the national train network: ÖBB and Westbahn. ÖBB, the national operator, has a network of over 5000km (3107 miles) that connects all nine federal states in Austria. The Railjet (RJ) trains are high-speed and best for travelling across the country, while the faster Xpress (RJX) stops only at main city stations. The Westbahn also offers high-speed train services.
Buses
The national bus company, Postbus, connects harder-to-reach places on alpine passes, lake region byroads, and hiking and biking trailheads. It carries over 123 million passengers across the country each year. Buses can also be used for transport to other European countries. Eurolines and Flixbus offer international bus connections.
Tickets
The Austrian railway network introduced the Klimaticket, which can be used on all public transportations in Austria. The price is 1095 euros a year, or 821 euros for young adults (under 26 years), seniors, and students. The Vorteilscard offers another option, with a 50% discount on train tickets for 66 euros a year. For young adults, it costs just 19 euros a year. Tickets can be purchased from the driver upon boarding, but it is recommended to reserve a seat in advance for popular routes and during ski season.
Vienna
The capital, Vienna, has the best transport system in the country, including buses, trams, trains, and a metro. Wiener Linien is the main transport company and offers various ticket options, including single tickets, 24-hour and 72-hour passes, and weekly, monthly, and annual passes. The Vienna Pass, Vienna Welcome Card, and Vienna City Card also offer sightseeing and tourist discount passes with integrated travel components.
Other Cities
Graz has six tram lines that operate between 05:00 and midnight, while Salzburg has an eco-friendly transport system made up of electric trams and buses. All the big cities in Austria have their own city-wide or regional train network, and Vienna is the only city with a metro system. Bikes are a top choice of transport in Austria, and each city has its own bike-hire initiative.
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Rail network
Austria has a highly developed transport infrastructure, with a dense bus and rail network criss-crossing the country. The country's rail network is controlled by the Austrian Federal Railways (Österreichische Bundesbahnen; ÖBB), which is under state ownership but operates as an independent commercial enterprise. The ÖBB has a reputation for great service, with a punctuality rate of 97%. Over 1.3 million passengers use ÖBB services every day.
The ÖBB operates six national train networks: CityJet, Talent, Desiro, Bilevel Push-Pull, Cityshuttle Push-Pull, and Electric Railcar 4020. It also offers international routes, connecting Austria with other European countries. In addition to the ÖBB, a second company, Westbahn, offers routes within the country, including to smaller towns.
The train network in Austria is extensive, and due to the country's small size, it is comparably fast to travel around by rail. A high-speed train from Vienna in the east to Bregenz in the west, for example, takes about six to seven hours.
To make sustainable travel more affordable, Austria introduced the Klimaticket, which can be used for all public transportation journeys within the country. The ticket costs 1,095 euros per year for adults and 821 euros for young adults, seniors, and students.
The capital, Vienna, has the best transport system in the country, including buses, trams, trains, a metro, and the U-Bahn network. Wiener Linien is the main transport company in Vienna, and in 2019, it carried over 4.59 billion passengers.
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Roads and motorways
Austria has a dense road system, a legacy of its historical role as the hub of a vast continental empire. The country is an important link between western, northern, and central Europe, Italy, eastern Europe, and the Balkans.
Austria has a highly developed transportation infrastructure of highways, motorways, and expressways (autobahn), in addition to its passenger and freight trains, waterways, and air services. There is a toll for using the motorway network in Austria, and motorists must obtain a motorway sticker (Autobahnvignette) at the Austrian border. These stickers can be purchased at any post office or tobacconist’s shop (Trafik) in Austria, as well as at border posts and motorway service areas.
The expressway system includes routes connecting Bregenz at the Swiss and German borders through Vorarlberg and Tirol, routes connecting Innsbruck with Italy, and routes connecting Salzburg and Vienna to Italy and the Balkans. These routes are often impressive engineering feats.
Austria's national railway system, Österreichische Bundesbahnen, or ÖBB, is under state ownership but operates as an independent commercial enterprise. The rail network is extensive, with over half of the track electrified. The Danube is a vital river connection between Germany and the Black Sea, used by both freight and passenger vessels.
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Airports
Austria has a highly developed transportation infrastructure, including an extensive network of airports. Vienna International Airport, located 16 km from the city, is the largest airport in the country and one of the busiest in Europe. It serves as the main hub for Eastern Austria and offers direct flights from several destinations in the United States. It is equipped with four terminals and two runways.
The second-largest airport in Austria is located in Salzburg, serving the city of Salzburg and named after the famous Austrian composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This airport also served during World War II and has since expanded to accommodate commercial operations. For those travelling to the western regions of Austria, such as Tirol, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg, alternative arrival airports include Zurich in Switzerland and Munich in Germany, with flights offered by Lufthansa and Swiss, among others. From these airports, travellers can take advantage of direct train connections to any major city in Austria. Additionally, Bratislava Airport in Slovakia and Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia offer convenient access to Vienna and the south of Austria, respectively.
Innsbruck Airport, located near the Alps, is another international airport in Austria. Graz Airport, the second-largest airport in the country, serves the Graz region and offers both international and domestic flights. It is one of the oldest airports in Austria, with flights operating as early as 1914. Facilities at Graz Airport include car rental services, conference rooms, eateries, and banking services.
Overall, Austria has six international airports and two heliports, with most airports featuring short, unpaved runways.
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Bikes
Bicycles are a popular mode of transport in Austria, with each city offering its own bike-hire initiative. Bikes can be found via the WienMobil app, which brings together all of Vienna's transport systems, including bikes, car shares, and more. The app also allows users to plan their trips and book tickets, taxis, and car shares.
In addition to the convenience of bike-sharing apps, Austria's dense road system and well-developed motorway network make biking a viable option for getting around. The country has a highly developed transportation infrastructure, serving as an important link between Western, Northern, and Central Europe, Italy, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans.
However, it is worth noting that taking bicycles on public transportation in Austria can be challenging. While buses have a luggage compartment where suitcases are stored, taking bicycles on board is not officially allowed and depends on the bus driver's discretion.
To promote sustainable travel, Austria introduced the Klimaticket, a ticket valid for all public transportation in the country. This ticket is part of Austria's efforts to reach the Paris climate goals, encouraging the use of public transportation as a climate-friendly alternative to motorized transport.
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Frequently asked questions
Public transportation in Austria is clean, fast, reliable, and cheap, making it one of the best in Europe. The local network consists of trains, trams, and buses, which are safe and extensive. In 2021, 35% of locals used public transport to get to and from work. The capital, Vienna, has the best transport system in the country, with buses, trams, trains, a metro, and bike-sharing services.
The Austrian rail network is controlled by Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), which is under state ownership but operates as an independent commercial enterprise. The rail network is dense, with over half of the tracks electrified. The second largest rail company is Westbahn, which offers routes within the country, many of which go to smaller towns.
Austria has a dense road system, serving as a link between western, northern, and central Europe, Italy, eastern Europe, and the Balkans. There is a toll for using the motorway network in Austria, and drivers must obtain a motorway vignette, which can be purchased at border crossings, motorway service stations, or tobacconists.
