There are many trains between Austria and the Czech Republic. Most important for tourists are Eurocity and Railjet trains from Graz and Vienna to Prague via Brno. Trains from Poland to Vienna and Graz also pass through the Czech Republic. Austria is connected with Czech Republic by railway corridors for high-quality trains, so long-distance connections are fast but not always comfortable. Personally, I don’t like Czech Railjets – in my opinion they are very uncomfortable even for short journeys. There are also cross-border trains between Czech and Austrian towns.
Last updated: 28.05.2024
Railway border crossings between Austria and the Czech Republic:
Bernhardsthal ÖBB – Břeclav ČD
Summerau ÖBB – Horní Dvořistě ČD
Gmund NÖ ÖBB – České Velenice ČD
Retz ÖBB – Šatov ČD
The railway line between Slavonice, Czech Republic and Fratres, Austria was inaugurated in 1903. Railway traffic was ceased on 17 April 1945, and tracks were dismantled on Czech side in 1951. In 2014 a bike path between Slavonice and Dobersberg, Austria was opened – 13 km of the path lead on the site of the former railway line. The bike path is connected with Thayarunde bike path network (111 km) and is very popular among Czech and Austrians. Bike path starts next to the railway station in Slavonice. A railway line from Slavonice to Kostelec u Jihlavy is also interesting – it is a local line with an unique atmosphere. If you take a train, visit beautiful town of Telč.
Trains between Austria and the Czech Republic – useful websites
Austrian Railways – online shop
Czech Railways – online shop
Train travel in Austria – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in the Czech Republic – a comprehensive guide
Trains between Vienna and Prague
There are many trains between Vienna and Prague. Trains from Prague continue their journey to Graz and some trains from Austria terminate in Berlin. Journey time between Vienna and Prague is more than four hours.
Trains stop also in Brno – the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. City centre is located next to the main railway station, so if you have enough time, you can visit this city. Main attractions in the city centre: Špilberk Castle on the hill and the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul. You need only 3-4 hours for a short visit.
Stretch Brno – Ceska Trebova is scenic.
Czech Railways and Austrian Railways offer promotional tickets from Prague and Brno to Vienna. Czech promotional tickets are called “Vcasna jizdenka”, Austrian “OBB Sparschiene”. Promotional tickets are much cheaper than regular-price tickets and can be booked max. 6 months (180 days) before journey. Austrian tickets are bound to a specific time and train. These tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable. No other discounts apply when booking a Sparschiene ticket. Sparschiene tickets to Vienna – Prague train sell very quickly, so book your ticket several months in advance.
Tickets from Prague and Brno to Vienna and Graz are available online.
Ticket prices start at:
Vienna – Prague – 15 EUR
Brno – Vienna – 7 EUR
Alternatively, Czech railway operator Regiojet runs trains between Prague and Budapest with stop at Wien Hbf station. Tickets are usually cheaper than based-price tickets for trains operated by Czech Railways in cooperation with OBB. Trains are comprised of open-plan 2nd class carriages, 2nd class carriages with compartments (Ex-Austrian comfortable plush seats) Relax class open-plan carriages (Ex Austrin 1st class carriage with leather chairs and 2+1 arrangement) and Business class carriage.
Regiojet – official website and online shop
There are also daily trains between Prague and Vienna via Tabor. These trains depart from Wien Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof and stop for example in a nice town of Trebon, Czech Republic. Journey time from Vienna to Prague by this train is more than 5 hours.
In my opinion, Regiojet is the best option if you want to travel between Vienna and Prague by train.
Trains between Vienna and Ostrava
Trains from Austria to Poland pass through the Czech Republic with many stops. These trains provide easy access from Vienna to Ostrava. Journey time between Vienna and Ostrava is about 3 hours. Train ride is smooth and fast. In the Czech Republic trains are sometimes overcrowded on weekends.
There are two main train stations in Ostrava – Ostrava-Hlavni nadrazi and Ostrava-Svinov. Both stations are located outside the city centre. From Ostrava Hlavni-nadrazi (Ostrava main station) you can take a tram to the city centre (many trains, ride lasts about 10 minutes) or regional train to Ostrava-Stred station situated in the city centre (for regional trains operated by Ceske drahy local public transport tariff applied). City public transport ticket vending machines are situated in the fron of the main station.
Ostrava-Svinov station is located far from the city centre and is not recommended.
Promotional offers are the same as between Vienna and Prague. Cheapest tickets between Vienna and Ostrava cost 10 EUR.
Trains are comprised of comfortable, air-conditioned Polish carriages (1st and second class carriages with compartments or not and restaurant car).
Trains between Vienna and Olomouc
There are no direct trains between Vienna and Olomouc but you can get to Olomouc by train with transfer in Přerov.
Step 1) travel by train Vienna – Warsaw or Vienna – Gdynia to Přerov
Step 2) travel by train from Přerov to Olomouc (15 minutes)
Trains between Prague and Linz
There are fast trains between Prague and Linz. The railway line from Prague to the Czech-Austrian border has been recently upgraded and on the Czech side trains travel at a speed of 120 km/h. Cheapest promotional tickets from Prague to Linz cost 9 EUR. Journey time from Prague to Linz is approximately 4 hours.
If you travel from Linz, trains stop in two interesting places in the Czech Republic:
Ceske Budejovice – medium-sized city with nice center within walking distance from the recently renovated beautiful railway station. Ceske Budejovice is also a perfect departure point for one-day train trips to nice towns such as Trebon and Jindrichuv Hradec or world-famous town of Cesky Krumlov.
Tabor – an interesting city with small Old Town. The railway line from Tabor to Bechyne was a first electrified line in the Czech Republic and is known for rail-road bridge.
Cross-border trains between Austria and the Czech Republic
There are two cross-border trains between Austria and the Czech Republic in South Moravia Region:
Breclav – Vienna – Wiener Neustadt – on the stretch Breclav – Vienna the same route as EC trains but with many stops. The connection is served by Austrian double-decker push-pull trains intended for regional traffic.
Znojmo – Retz – Wien Meidling
Tickets for the both trains are suprisingly expensive. The distance between Znojmo and Retz is 18 km. One-way ticket costs 4 EUR.
If you travel from Vienna to Czech Republic, Znojmo and surroundings are worth visit. Znojmo is a lovely town with well preserved historic centre on a rock outcropping on the steep left bank of the Thaya River. Czech local trains from Znojmo to Breclav stop at Mikulov station. The station lies 2 km from beautiful Mikulov town. From Breclav you can take a bus to Lednice (12-18 minutes) known as part of Lednice–Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the summer weekends there is a retro train between Breclav and Lednice (separate tariff applied).
