Salzburg to Ljubljana by train

How to take the stunning rail journey Salzburg to the Slovenian capital

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Routes

From Salzburg Hbf to Ljubljana

Journey Summary

Travel Time
4hr 20min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Information

Final Destination: Zagreb

Train also calls at: Villach, Jesenice and Lesce-Bled (for Lake Bled)

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for the direct EC train; look for the train that departs Salzburg Hbf at around at around 14:12.

Rail pass users need to make reservations for this train prior to boarding.

Book tickets on OBB and your seat reservation is included.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
OBB from €19 approx

OBB Guide

OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.

It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.

OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesMountain views

Good to Know

Depart from Salzburg earlier:

The train heading to Klagenfurt, which departs from Salzburg at around 10:12 has a guaranteed easy connection at Villach into a train on to Ljubljana.
Make this connection and you will arrive in Ljubljana at around 14:30.

Between Salzburg and Bad Gastein (from the left) Between Salzburg and Bad Gastein (from the left)
Departing from Bad Gastein Departing from Bad Gastein
Between Bad Gastein and Villach (from the right) Between Bad Gastein and Villach (from the right)
Between Bad Gastein and Villach (from the right) Between Bad Gastein and Villach (from the right)
Between Villach and Ljubljana #1 Between Villach and Ljubljana #1
Between Villach and Ljubljana #2 Between Villach and Ljubljana #2
Between Villach and Ljubljana #2 Between Villach and Ljubljana #2

On departure from Salzburg, the train will travel parallel to the River Salzach - and there are some great river valley views on the right of the train, particularly after the first tunnel that the train will pass through.

The railway line this train travels over between Schwarzach St Veit and Spittal is known as the Tauern Railway / Tauernbahn.

After Bad Hofgastein the train will ascend up the valley to Bad Gastein with the best of the views here are ON THE LEFT

On departure from Bad Gastein, the best of the views here are back over to the right; look out for the waterfalls.

Th next highlight of the journey comes when the train exits the Tauern Railway Tunnel and begins to descend to Spittal.
For around 25 mins there are stunning birds-eye views across the valley; from the right.

The Tauern Railway ends at Villach, where the train will reverse direction, but what makes this journey so special is that the fabulous views are far from over.

As the train travels across Slovenia, there are some fabulous views from both sides between Villach and Ljubljana.

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