Zürich / Zurich to Graz by train

How to take the rail journey from Zurich to Graz

There are many spectacular rail journeys which can be taken from Zurich, but this route to Graz taken by the 'Transalpin Express' may be the best of all of them.
It's so fabulous that one of the First Class coaches usually included in the train's formation is an observation car.

Though due to the distance it's also possible to take an overnight train on this route

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Routes

Option 1: travelling by day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Graz

The train also calls at: Kitzbuhel and Zell am See

This train is usually scheduled to depart at 08:40 from the platforms/tracks (gleis 3 - 18) which are accessed from the street level concourse in Zurich HB station.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date

The prices of the tickets are usually cheaper on OBB, particularly as its cheapest 'Sparschiene' tickets can now be booked up until the day of travel (if they haven't sold out) - previously Sparscheine tickets had to be booked at least 3 days ahead.

However, it's worth comparing prices with SBB, but remember that the price on SBB will be in Swiss Francs and not euros.

On SBB look for the 'Saver' price, on the SBB website it is listed below the standard price.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
OBB from €35

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.

SBB from €35

SBB Guide

SBB is the main national rail operator in Switzerland, but tickets for journeys by the other significant operators including BLS and SOB can be be booked on the SBB website.

SBB also sells tickets for journeys to many destinations which involve a combination of SBB trains and services provided by the many independent operators who serve the Alpine resort towns.
However, if you will be making a long-distance return day trip, look out for he possibility of SaverDay passes being cheaper than tickets.

Though if you download the SBB app, booking tickets on SBB's mobile services can be simper than using the website.
Also watch out for the fact that booking international tickets can be comparatively quirky.

Trainline from €35

Trainline Guide

Happyrail from €35

Happyrail Guide

Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.

HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLake viewsMountain views

Good to Know

The train will reverse direction on departure from Buchs.

The train will spend around 15 -20 mins travelling on the shore of Lake Zurich The train will spend around 15 -20 mins travelling on the shore of Lake Zurich
The lake can be seen on the left The lake can be seen on the left
Also on the left are the spectacular views of the Walensee Also on the left are the spectacular views of the Walensee
Between Sargans and Buchs Between Sargans and Buchs
Ascending up to the Arlberg pass Ascending up to the Arlberg pass
The best views of The Arlberg pass are on the right The best views of The Arlberg pass are on the right
Glimpsing the views between the tunnels and trees near St Anton Glimpsing the views between the tunnels and trees near St Anton
Heading west from Innsbruck Heading west from Innsbruck
The River Inn can be seen from the right hand side The River Inn can be seen from the right hand side

Step on board one of Europe's most epic rail journeys.

For close to all of the ride, the train will be passing through mountain passes or skirting the shores of lakes.

Within 10 minutes of departing from Zurich there are a series of stunning views of not one, but two lakes, the Zurichsee...

...and then the Wallensee.

Between Feldkirch and St.Anton , the train threads the stunning Arlberg Pass - though in summer the trees can get in the way.

If possible sit on the left (when facing the direction of travel) on departure from Zurich.
The lakes are on the left, but the train will reverse direction on departure from Buchs.

The best views of The Arlberg Pass are from the right of the train.

After St.Anton the best of the views are over on the left, with the final spectacular highlight of the journey being the descent to Landeck station.

Then after Innsbruck this train takes a route that no other train from Zurich follows, through Alpine Valleys virtually all the way to Graz.

Option 2: Travel through the night on a Nightjet

Travel Information

The train is usually scheduled to depart from Zurich HB at 20:40 and arrive in Graz just after 07:00, though it can arrive around an hour later.

Final Destination: Graz

If the timings of the daytime train suit, it's usually scheduled to depart from Zurich at 08:40 and arrive in Graz at 18:14, then take it - particularly if you're a fan of wonderfully scenic railway journeys.

1 x train per night

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

The train conveys:

- 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

The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.

Click the train details or more info including the rail pass reservation fees:

Our step-by-step guide to booking a Nightjet train on the OBB ticketing site is available HERE

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains,

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.

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
OBB *

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.

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