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Berlin to Wien / Vienna by train
How to travel from Berlin to Wien / Vienna by train
Not very many years ago the direct trains between the German and Austrian capitals had disappeared from the timetables, but now there are four very different options to choose from when taking the train from Berlin to Wien / Vienna
When you look up this journey on the ticket booking websites you'll also see a swathe of other journeys which involve making connections between trains.
So these direct trains can be tricky to spot amidst all of those other options, so you can use this info to find them more easily.
(1) The first direct of the train of the day is a Railjet service, which travels via Prague, it doesn't travel at high speed, but this is the more scenic option.
(2) Later in the morning there is an ICE train, but it spends less than 25% of its journey travelling at high speed.
(3) In the early evening there is departure by a Nightjet and this is the train to take if you want to travel from Berlin to Vienna/Wien in a bed in a sleeping cabin, or in a bunk on a couchette.
(4) The final departure is a nightly IC train, it's a train usually used for daytime services, which happens to travel through the night.
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Routes
Option 1: travelling by day on the Railjet train
Journey Summary
8hr 32min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Graz
This train will also call at: Berlin Südkreuz;
Departing from Berlin:
This train will normally depart from the lower level (tief) in Berlin Hbf.
Connections are available at Berlin Sudkreuz from S-Bahn trains from the eastern and western edges of the city centre, as well as S-Bahn (local) trains from Brandenburger Tor and Postdamer Platz and Anhalter stations.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
Arriving in Vienna/Wien:
Check the location of your final destination in Wien/Vienna.
If you're heading to the south west corner of the city, or the area on the ring road around the Opera House - then it's likely that you'll have a faster and more convenient journey if you leave the train at Wien-Meidling station.
This is the station call AFTER Wien Hbf - the main station in the city.
Wien Meidling is connected to line U6 of the Vienna Metro, which serves the western side of the city centre.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for this direct train, which is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin at 06:17.
Seat reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included, but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Note that if you opt to book 1st class tickets on OBB, your seat reservation won't be automatically be included, so you will need to be proactive and add it to your booking - and there will be a charge for doing so.
If you will be travelling 2nd class we highly recommend opting to add a reservation when booking; if you don't reserve, being able to remain in the same seat all the way from Berlin to Vienna, is something you definitely can't take for granted.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | * | |
| OBB | * | |
| Omio | * | |
| Happyrail | * | |
| Saveatrain | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you'll want to dine in a restaurant car on a daytime journey then take this train.
This train journey from Berlin to Wien/Vienna has four distinct phases.
(1) Between Berlin and Dresden the railway crosses the flat landscape of the North European Plain, which lives up to its name as there is nothing of note to see.
Though when the train arrives in Dresden there are views over the city centre to the left.
(2) Then between Dresden and Prague, the train travels through the beautiful Elbe River valley, but sit on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for the best views.
For two wonderful hours the railway shares the valley with the river
This part of the journey between Dresden and Prague/Praha is so fabulous that it's featured on the Daily Telegraph's list of Best Train Journeys that can be completed in a day.
(3) From Praha and on to Breclav the railway crosses Czechia and on the part of the journey between Pardubice and Brno, the train will travel through a verdant rolling landscape.
(4) Then for the final 1hr 15 mins the train will travel across an exceptionally flat area of Austria, though look out for the crossing of The Danube - which heralds the arrival in the Austrian capital.
Option 2: Travel by day on the ICE train
Journey Summary
7hr 40min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train also calls at: *Berlin-Sudkreuz and Linz; St Polten and Wien-Meidling**
Departing from Berlin:
*Connections are available at Berlin Sudkreuz from S-Bahn trains from the eastern and western edges of the city centre, as well as S-Bahn (local) trains from Brandenburger Tor and Postdamer Platz and Anhalter stations.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
Arriving in Vienna/Wien:
**Check the location of your final destination in Wien/Vienna.
If you're heading to the south west corner of the city, or the area on the ring road around the Opera House - then it's likely that you'll have a faster and more convenient journey if you leave the train at Wien-Meidling station.
Wien Meidling is connected to line U6 of the Vienna Metro, which serves the western side of the city centre.
1 x direct train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date - usually
This train is usually scheduled to depart daily from Berlin Hbf at 10:05.
So target this departure time when looking up tickets; though travelling on indirect trains from Berlin to Vienna/Wien (connecting in Nurnberg or Hannover) tends to be cheaper.
It's already clear that the most heavily discounted tickets are selling out months ahead on this direct train.
Wen looking up the Berlin to Vienna/Wien train journey, you will likely see alternative options available, which involve changing trains.
Those indirect journeys are often a cheaper option than taking this direct train.
Of these options target those that have '1' and 'ICE' displayed, as they involve what should be a straightforward connection in Nurnberg.
Seat reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Note that if you opt to book 1st class tickets on OBB, your seat reservation won't be automatically be included, so you will need to be proactive and add it to your booking, but you will be charged a reservation fee.
If you will be travelling 2nd class we highly recommend opting to add a reservation when booking, the ICE trains from Germany to Austria are always comparatively busy.
So if you don't reserve, being able to remain in the same seat all the way from Berlin to Vienna, is something you definitely can't take for granted.
Rail pass users:
As explained on our guide to using rail passes on German trains, a tick in the box for travelling by ICE trains, is that you won't HAVE to make a seat reservation.
However, irrespective of whether you will be travelling with a 1st class or 2nd class pass, we recommend opting to make the reservation on this train, if you want to enjoy a stress-free journey.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | from €35.90 | |
| OBB | from €35.90 | |
| Trainline | from €35.90 | |
| SaveATrain | from €35.90 | |
| Happyrail | from €35.90 |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
On departure from Berlin this train heading to Wien will be attached to another train heading to Munchen.
The departure indicators in each zone on the gleis (platform/track) will show you where to wait for easy boarding into the coaches heading to Wien.
This is a journey of six distinct phases:
- Between Berlin and Halle the train will travel across mainly flat farmland and this is the dullest part of the trip
- Then from Halle to Bamberg the train will be travelling at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line.
- On to Nurnberg the train will be on conventional railway tracks.
- Between Nurnberg and Regensburg the train travels across a rolling landscape of hills.
- Between Regensburg and Passau the railway line is beside the River Danube, which can be seen on the left.
- The highlight of the journey comes to the south of Passau, between there and the Austrian border, the railway line is by the banks of the River Inn, but on this part of the journey the river is over to the right.
- Between Wels and Vienna the train will race across the Austrian countryside either side of Linz, this railway isn't a high speed route, but it has been straightened so that trains can travel at around 200 km/h
Option 3: travel overnight on a train with sleeping cabins and couchettes
Journey Summary
12hr 20 min
Nightly
Travel Information
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train also calls at: Berlin Ostbahnhof* and it commences its journey in West Berlin, it is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin Charlottenburg station at 18:22.
*If you will be commencing your journey in Berlin city centre, then it's likely that your best option will be to join this train at Berlin Ostbahnhof station - heading there on one of the frequent S-Bahn trains from Alexanderplatz or Friedrichstrabe stations.
It is due to arrive in Wien Hbf at 07:00 and it makes no other station calls in Austria.
The alternative overnight option
If you'll be content to travel in a seat for an overnight train journey from Berlin to Vienna/Wien an alternative service is now available (see below)
If you want to travel in a seat, that other service offers:
- a choice of 1st class or 2nd class seats (no 1st class seating is available on this Nightjet service)
- a faster journey time (by around an hour)
- a later departure time from Berlin (usually between 22:00 and 22:3), but a later arrival time in Wien/Viennna of around 10:45.
And if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass you can also avoid all reservation fees, because reservations are optional on that IC train.
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin Hbf at 18:40, so target that time when looking up this journey.
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
The choice of accommodation - summary:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click thetrain button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
Or another method of avoiding booking fees by arranging the reservations when you arrive in Germany, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though it's best to do this at the first hauptbahnhof (city centre station) that you will arrive at, the later you leave booking your accommodation, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| OBB | * | |
| DB Bahn | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
On departure from Berlin, the coaches heading to Wien will be joined to another part of the train, which will be heading to Budapest.
If you see Budapest shown as a destination on the departure boards in Berlin, then the information will also apply to this overnight train from Berlin to Vienna.
Option 4: save by travelling through the night in a seat
Journey Summary
11hr 19min
Nightly
Travel Information
Final Destination: Wien
This train also calls at:
Leipzig - usually departs at 23:35
Linz - usualy arrives at 09:23
It is the only direct overnight train between Leipzig and Vienna/Wien and between Berlin and Linz.
This IC train also takes a different, more direct route, compared to the Nightjet train, so it is faster, but it leaves Berlin later than the Nightjet, so isn't due to arrive in Vienna/Wien until 10:45.
In contrast the Nightjet is due into the Austrian capital at 07:00.
Though one plus of taking this train is that it travels over the most scenic section of its route, between Regensburg and Wels, after sunrise.
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date (if booked on DB)
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for this direct train, which is usually scheduled to depart from Berlin between 21:30 and 22:30.
Seat reservations:
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included - but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets, or if you will be travelling with a 1st or 2nd class rail pass.
Note that if you opt to book 1st class tickets on OBB, your seat reservation won't be automatically be included, so you will need to be proactive and add it to your booking - and there will be a charge for doing so.
As explained on our guide to using rail passes on German trains you won't HAVE to make a seat reservation when boarding German IC trains.
So Rail Pass users willing to forsake comfort over cost, should take this train and not the OBB Nightjet train.
Reservations are optional, so all additional reservation fees can be avoided.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Good to Know
This train is usually a cheaper alternative to the OBB Nightjet train which also travels between Berlin and Wien/Vienna.
However, it is a daytime IC train that happens to run overnight.
It does not have any couchette sleeping berths or sleeping cabins.
Though the windows have blinds which help block out the early morning light; particularly useful if you will be travelling on the upper deck
These newly introduced trains are used for this service, and if you want to avoid the reservation costs for travelling in a couchette or sleeping cabin on the sleeper train, this IC train has a wider choice of seating accommodation than is available on the Nightjet.
First Class seats are available on this IC train, but they're not available on the Nightjet.
However, none of the seats on this train will be in compartments, they're all saloon style, so you won't be able to fold the seats down.
This travels over the most scenic section of its route, between Regensburg and Wels, after sunrise.
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