ÖBB Railjet
Austria's state railway
Vienna to Salzburg Train
ÖBB's Railjet and the private Westbahn both run direct services across the 295 km distance from Vienna to Salzburg, cutting through the vineyard terraces of the Wachau valley before climbing into the Alpine foothills. Compare train times, classes and fares below, then search live departures for the fastest trip on your dates.
2h 25m
Fastest journey
295 km
Vienna–Salzburg distance
42
Trains a day, both operators
from $44
Advance fares, standard class
The route
Taking the Train from Vienna to Salzburg
Every train from Vienna to Salzburg follows Austria's premier domestic rail corridor: a 295 km distance of dedicated high speed train track, much of it opened in stages over the last two decades to shorten what used to be a much slower haul across the country. Leaving Vienna, the line runs west through Lower Austria and skirts the Wachau, a UNESCO-listed Danube valley of terraced vineyards and hilltop abbeys, before crossing into Upper Austria near Linz and Wels. From there it climbs gradually toward Salzburg, arriving in a town framed by the first peaks of the Alps. The two cities are only 295 km apart yet feel worlds apart — both rank among Austria's major cities, and Salzburg itself is a compact city at the edge of the mountains. The Vienna Salzburg corridor is one of the busiest in Austria, and it's easy to see why once you're travelling from Vienna and watching the scenery change out the window.
Watch the landscape change
Vienna & the Wachau valley
Salzburg & the Alps
Two operators
Salzburg Trains: ÖBB Railjet vs Westbahn
Vienna to Salzburg is one of the few Austrian routes with real competition between two operators — Austria's state railway and a private challenger — covering the same 295 km distance at a similar speed but a different price and onboard feel. Whichever you pick, you'll pay for your seat, board your train, and watch the same Wachau-to-Alps scenery pass by.
ÖBB Railjet: The State Operator
ÖBB's Railjets depart Vienna's Hauptbahnhof roughly every hour and offer economy, first and business class, a restaurant car for onboard dining, free WiFi and power sockets at every seat, and reserved space for bikes. Sparschiene fares start at $23 in second class and $35 in first class; a full-flex Standardpreis ticket in that class costs around $76 — pay a little more and you can change your plans without a penalty.
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Westbahn Trains
The private double-decker option
Westbahn Trains: The Private Double-Decker Option
Westbahn trains are a private operator running double-decker services from Wien Westbahnhof about every 30 minutes, with standard, comfort and first class. There's no restaurant car — instead, vending machines on board sell snacks and drinks, so many passengers also bring their own food. Comfort class adds more legroom, larger tables and extra luggage space, and the upper deck is a popular seat choice for views over the Wachau valley. Westbahn tickets start at $44 in standard class.
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Onboard comfort
Classes and Amenities on the Vienna to Salzburg Train
Second Class (Economy)
ÖBB's economy class and Westbahn's standard class both have comfortable seats, free WiFi and power sockets, and are where most passengers travel. It's the class used for every fare quoted on this page, and a seat reservation is optional but recommended at peak travel times — kids travel in the same seats as everyone else, with room for a stroller in the luggage area.
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Comfort Class
Westbahn's comfort class sits between standard and first, adding more legroom, a wider seat and larger tables — a good middle ground for a working journey or a family carrying extra luggage.
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First Class
ÖBB's first class has adjustable leather seats and at-seat catering service; on some Railjets, business class goes further with leather-covered adjustable seats and reading lights. Westbahn's first class keeps the same double-decker upper-deck views with a wider seat, extra space and quiet.
Search First Class FaresFree WiFi at every seat
Power sockets, all classes
Restaurant car (ÖBB Railjet)
Vending machines (Westbahn)
Bike reservation available
Onboard luggage racks
Where to board
Vienna and Salzburg Train Stations
Wien Hauptbahnhof
Vienna's main station and the departure point for ÖBB's Railjets to Salzburg. It's well connected to central Vienna by metro and tram, plus the City Airport Train and S-Bahn to Vienna Airport.
Wien Westbahnhof
The departure station for Westbahn trains, a short distance from Vienna's other main station and also on Vienna's metro network — check which station your ticket departs from before you travel.
Salzburg Hbf: Where Every Train Arrives
Salzburg Hauptbahnhof is the single arrival station for both operators' trains, run directly with no transfer, covering the same 295 km distance regardless of which one you booked, a short tram or walk from Salzburg's old town with onward connections toward the Salzkammergut lakes and the Alps.
Plan your trip
Vienna to Salzburg as a Day Trip
With around 42 trains a day between ÖBB and Westbahn and a fastest journey of 2 hours 25 minutes, a same-day round trip covering that distance twice is genuinely realistic — not just a rushed dash. Catch an early departure out of Vienna, spend the day exploring Salzburg's old town and its Alpine backdrop, and note what time your train leaves for the return trip so you don't linger too long, taking one of the evening trains back without needing to book a hotel.
If you'd rather take it slower, the same trains work just as well one-way for anyone travelling from Vienna as part of a longer trip through Austria — either direction, it's a comfortable train ride with plenty of daylight to enjoy the scenery. Reserve a seat if you're travelling with a lot of luggage, since overhead space fills up fast on a popular departure.
Train vs. the alternatives
Getting to Salzburg by Train vs. Bus or Car
For a trip between two major destinations that are a 295 km distance apart, the train is usually the easiest option — but here's how it stacks up against the alternatives.
Train
ÖBB / Westbahn Fastest
2h 25m
– 2h 50m
Downtown to downtown, no airport transfer, free WiFi and power at your seat.
Buses
Overland coach
~3h 30m
or more
Cheaper on some dates, but slower and less comfortable than the train, with no restaurant car.
Driving
Self-drive
~3h
traffic-dependent
Flexible, but adds fuel, tolls and downtown parking.
Booking tips
Smart Ways to Save on Your Ticket
Anyone travelling from Vienna during peak summer weekends should book a seat reservation well ahead — Salzburg trains fill up fastest on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons, and the distance is short but the cheapest seats go quickly.
Book in advance
Advance fares sell out seat by seat
Book in advance
Sparschiene and Westbahn advance fares are released well ahead of the departure and sell out seat by seat — the earlier you buy, the cheaper your seat on the train from Vienna.
Travel off-peak
More seats, more luggage space
Travel off-peak
Mid-morning and mid-afternoon departures tend to have more of the cheaper fare classes still available than early-morning or Friday-evening trains — and an easier time finding luggage space.
Compare both operators
ÖBB and Westbahn price it differently
Compare both operators
ÖBB and Westbahn price the same route differently — search both in the widget above before you pay for your ticket, especially if your travel dates are flexible.
Reserve a bike spot early
Space is limited on both operators
Reserve a bike spot early
Bike reservation is required on ÖBB Railjets and space is limited on both operators, so reserve it at the same time as your ticket if you're bringing one.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about Salzburg trains? Here's what most travellers ask before they book.
The fastest trains cover the 295 km route in about 2 hours 25 minutes. Most direct services take between 2 hours 22 minutes and 2 hours 50 minutes, and the average travel time across the day is around 2 hours 29 minutes.
The distance from Vienna to Salzburg by rail is 295 km, running west through the Wachau Danube valley and Upper Austria to the edge of the Alps.
There are roughly 42 trains a day on the route, combining ÖBB's hourly Railjet service with Westbahn's double-decker trains, which run about every 30 minutes. The earliest departure is around 4:57 AM and the last leaves around 11:28 PM.
Yes. Both ÖBB Railjet and Westbahn run direct, no-transfer trains between Vienna and Salzburg for most of the day. Only a small number of very early or very late departures require changing trains.
Advance fares are cheapest. ÖBB's Sparschiene fares start at $23 in second class and $35 in first class, and Westbahn's advance fares start at $44 in standard class. Prices rise closer to departure, so booking ahead pays off.
ÖBB is Austria's state railway, running Railjet trains hourly with economy, first and business class, a restaurant car, and reserved bike spaces. Westbahn is a private operator running double-decker trains about every 30 minutes with standard, comfort and first class and onboard vending machines instead of a restaurant car.
Yes. Bicycles can be transported on ÖBB Railjets with a reservation, and Westbahn also carries bikes in a limited number of spaces.
Yes, both operators offer free WiFi and power sockets at the seat across their trains, so you can work or stream the whole way to Salzburg.
ÖBB Railjet trains depart from Wien Hauptbahnhof and Westbahn trains depart from Wien Westbahnhof, and both operators' trains arrive together at Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (Salzburg Hbf).
Yes. With around 42 trains a day and a fastest journey of 2 hours 25 minutes, it's easy to catch an early train to Salzburg and a late one back to Vienna the same day.
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