Austria by Train: Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, Booking and Apps

Trains in Austria run mostly on ÖBB's Railjet network, which serves the whole country and continues to Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Switzerland. Vienna to Salzburg has both the Railjet Xpress (RJX) and the private WESTbahn. Tickets can be bought and shown in the ÖBB app, and Nightjet covers overnight routes.

Which trains run in Austria?

The main train is ÖBB's Railjet, the western line also has the private operator WESTbahn, and Nightjet handles overnight travel.

ÖBB says the Railjet reaches up to 230 km/h and offers Economy, First and Business Class. On Vienna to Salzburg, ÖBB calls the RJX its fastest train, running twice an hour without changes from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. Vienna to Innsbruck has a direct RJX about once an hour.

How do you book Austrian train tickets and which app should you use?

Use the free ÖBB app on the App Store or Google Play, which sells both domestic and international tickets.

1. 1Install the ÖBB appSet it up on hotel Wi-Fi before you leave. Tickets appear as mobile tickets for inspection on board.
2. 2Search the route and pick a trainEnter origin and destination, for example Wien Hauptbahnhof to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, then choose a train.
3. 3Pay and keep the ticketCheck the current fare in the app. After payment the ticket stays in the app, ready to show the conductor.

ÖBB says you can save a KlimaTicket or Vorteilscard in the app. The KlimaTicket Ö is a one-year ticket for public transport in all nine Austrian federal states, so it mainly suits residents rather than short-stay visitors. For detailed timetable planning, ÖBB points to its ÖBB Scotty app. In Vienna, WienMobil from Wiener Linien plans routes and sells public transport tickets, in German and English.

• Always check the current fare in the ÖBB app or on the website.
• Nightjet and international tickets can also be bought in the ÖBB app.

How do you get from Vienna Airport to the city right now?

From 24 August 2026 to the end of October 2027 the Vienna S-Bahn core line between Wien Praterstern and Wien Hauptbahnhof/St. Marx is closed, but long-distance trains, the diverted REX 7, the S7 and the CAT bus still serve the airport.

How do Salzburg and Innsbruck connect to Vienna and the airports?

Both cities have direct RJX trains from Vienna, and each has a bus link from its airport.

• Salzburg: Salzburg Airport (SZG) is about 4 km from the centre. According to Salzburg Tourism, trolleybus line 10 (direction Sam) reaches the old town in about 15 minutes and line 2 (direction Obergnigl) in about 23 minutes.
• Innsbruck: Innsbruck Airport (INN) is close to the centre, with a bus link of around 20 minutes. Check the line number in the app or on airport signs.
• Innsbruck: the Hungerburgbahn funicular runs from Congress station up the Nordkette to about 2,300 m, billed as 20 minutes from the old town to the mountains.
• Hallstatt: there is no train to the village itself; see the dedicated Hallstatt trip guide.

Can you take the train from Austria to Switzerland and Germany?

Yes, ÖBB says the Railjet runs on to Germany and Switzerland.

SBB lists six direct trains a day from Zürich HB to Vienna, with a journey time of 7 hours 52 minutes; the cheapest fares are sold only on Railjet Express trains. The last direct train of the day is a night train with seats, couchettes or sleeping cars. Zürich HB to Innsbruck has several direct ÖBB Railjets a day, taking about 3.5 hours. For Munich to Innsbruck, search the ÖBB app or the official timetable, since the Railjet network links Austria with Germany.

Travel between Schengen states follows the 90 days in 180 days rule; see “Schengen Visa for Thais 2026: Countries, Steps and Timing” for the visa side. Wider European transport choices are in “Getting Around Europe: Train, Bus or Flight and How to Book”.

Why does mobile internet matter on Austrian trains?

Mobile tickets, timetables and alerts all live in apps, so you want working data from the moment you land.

• Show your ticket in the ÖBB app to the conductor.
• Use WienMobil in Vienna and check CAT or bus times while the S-Bahn line is closed.
• Open maps when you change at Wien Hauptbahnhof or walk from the station to your hotel; see “Offline maps that actually work when the data runs out”.

Installing an eSIM before departure means the apps work as soon as you reach Vienna, Salzburg or Innsbruck. The button below leads to the Austria plans.

Get an Austria eSIM before you fly