You don't need to board a plane to discover Europe. The European rail network connects thousands of cities and regions — from a spontaneous weekend trip to a multi-week journey through several countries. Those who know the right connections and book early enough will often travel not only more cheaply, but also more comfortably than by any other means.
Why travel by train?
Rail travel across Europe offers several advantages that carry particular weight for young travellers, families and groups.
Unlike at the airport, the train drops you right in the city centre — no long transfer, no early morning alarm two hours before departure. There are no extra fees for luggage, and the walk to the platform is a different experience from the queues at security checkpoints. The environmental case for the train is equally clear: a rail journey produces a fraction of the CO₂ emissions of a flight.
Interrail: Open to wherever the tracks lead
For those who want to explore several countries in a single holiday, an Interrail Pass is often the most flexible solution. With a Global Pass, travellers can use trains in more than 30 European countries within a set time period — without having to purchase a separate ticket for every leg of the journey.
This is particularly practical for backpacking trips where the route isn't fixed from the start. Someone who leaves Vienna today, explores Prague tomorrow and spontaneously continues to Kraków the day after will benefit greatly from the flexibility of a pass over pre-booked individual tickets. Interrail Passes can be purchased directly online through our partner RailEurope and combined with individual routes if needed.
Nightjet: Sleep your way to the destination
One particularly clever way to save both time and money is the night train. ÖBB operates the Nightjet, a wide network of overnight connections running directly from Austria to many European cities.
From Vienna, Nightjet services run to Hamburg, Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich and Venice, among others. You board in the evening, sleep, and arrive refreshed at your destination in the morning — without needing a hotel night and without losing a day of travel. Building the Nightjet into a longer journey can mean real savings on both counts.
Popular connections from Austria
Some of the most frequently booked routes at a glance:
- Vienna – Budapest: around 2.5 hours, several daily direct connections
- Vienna – Prague: around 4.5 to 5 hours depending on the service
- Vienna – Berlin: daytime with a change, or comfortably overnight on the Nightjet
- Vienna – Zurich: on the Nightjet from Vienna, or around 8 hours by day
- Vienna – Venice: on the Nightjet from Vienna
- Salzburg – Munich: around 1.5 hours, an ideal gateway to the German and western European rail network
- Innsbruck – Munich: around 1.5 hours
- Graz – Klagenfurt: 41 minutes on the new Koralmbahn (since December 2025)
- Graz – Ljubljana: around 3 hours, a great starting point for exploring the Balkans
Since the opening of the Koralmbahn in December 2025, getting to Carinthia by rail has changed fundamentally. The 33-kilometre Koralmtunnel — one of the longest railway tunnels in the world — connects Graz and Klagenfurt in just 41 minutes, a journey that previously took almost three hours. Klagenfurt is also significantly faster to reach from Vienna via the new southern line. Carinthia is now more accessible by rail than ever before.
Many of these connections can be booked up to 90 days in advance — often at particularly low early-bird prices.
Tip: Book early, save more
International rail connections often follow the same principle as flights: the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare. Many rail operators release their lowest-priced tickets well in advance — often 90 days before departure. If you know your destination, don't wait too long.
International Zugtickets einfach online buchen
With our partner RailEurope, you can search, compare and book international rail connections across Europe on a single platform. Tickets from a wide range of operators — including ÖBB, Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, Trenitalia and many more — are available through one booking interface. Interrail Passes are also available there.
Search for international train tickets with RailEurope
[Disclaimer]
The links to RailEurope are affiliate links. If you click on such a link and book something on the destination site, we receive a referral commission from the respective provider. There are no disadvantages for you in terms of booking or price.
