Trains between Germany and Austria

There are many trains between Germany and Austria. ICE trains, cross-border trains, trains through the Czech Republic – the choice is wide. Almost all trains are operated by Deutsche Bahn and Austrian Railways although there are exceptions.

Last updated: 29.05.2024

Railway border crossings between Germany and Austria:

Lochau-Hörbranz ÖBB – Lindau-Reutin DB
Salzburg ÖBB – Freilassing DB
Pyret ÖBB – Passau DB
Braunau am Inn ÖBB – Simbach (Inn) DB
Kufstein ÖBB – Kiefersfelden DB
Scharnitz ÖBB – Mittenwald DB
Ehrwald-Zugspitzbahn ÖBB – Griesen DB
Schönbichl ÖBB – Pfronten-Steinach DB

There was also a 900 mm narrow-gauge cross-border railway which operated seasonally on a 6.1 km route between Wachtl in the municipality of Thiersee and Kiefersfelden in Germany through scenic route along forests and lakes. Wachtl-Train Thiersee-Kiefersfelden trains pass through Wachtl MEGW – Gießenbachklamm MEGW border crossing. The railway was probably closed.

Trains between Germany and Austria – useful websites

Austrian Railways – online shop
Deutsche Bahn – journey planner and online shop
Nightjet – official website and online shop
Train travel in Austria – a comprehensive guide
Train travel in Germany – a comprehensive guide

Trains between Germany and Austria
Eurocity train between Germany and Austria (Photo: Boarding1Now)

Trains between Germany and Austria – promotional tickets

There are promotional Sparschiene Tickets offer by Austrian Railways for daytime and overnight trains. Promotional tickets are much cheaper than regular-price tickets and can be booked max. 6 months (180 days) before journey. 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-Zurich train sell very quickly, so book your ticket several months in advance.

Deutsche Bahn offers Super saver fare or Saver fare for low-cost travel between Germany and Austria. Promotional tickets are called in German Super Sparpreis Europa. You can book tickets up to six months (180 days) before you journey until shortly before a train is due to depart. Super saver fare tickets are excluded from exchange and cancellation. You may only travel on long-distance trains (ICE, RJ, RJX, IC/EC) and on the days indicated on the ticket.

Cheapest tickets from Munich to Vienna and Innsbruck cost 19,90 EUR.

Daytime trains from Germany and Vienna via Passau

Many trains run daily from Munich and other major cities in Germany to Vienna.

There are direct ICE trains:

Munich – Vienna (via Passau and Linz)
Dortmund – Vienna (via Wuppertal, Cologne, Bonn, Frankfurt am Main, Würzburg, Nürnberg, Passau and Linz)
Hamburg – Vienna (via Berlin, Erfurt, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Passau and Linz)
Rostock – Vienna (via Berlin, Leipzig, Jena, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Passau and Linz)

Private Austrian operator Westbahn runs fast train between Vienna and Munich. Train departs from Wien Westbahnhof station.

Westbahn  – official website

Intercity Express
Intercity Express (ICE) – 2nd class carriage (Photo: Dariusz Sieczkowski/Trenopedia)

EC, RJ and ICE trains between Germany and Austria

Eurocity, ICE and Railjet trains between Germany and Austria run multiple times each day. Most of them start or terminate at Munchen Hbf station, but other have extended route. Eurocity trains consists old, but very comfortable Austrian air-conditioned 1st and 2nd class carriages with compartments, open-plan carriages and dining car. In my opinion these carriages are one of the best in Europe.

Intercity Express trains (ICE) are modern and comfortable German trainsets with open-plan 1st and second class carriages and bistro car. Personally, I hate seats at a table but generally I like these trainsets, although ICE 2 in my opinion is better.

Railjet trains are Austrian trainsets with economy, first and business class carriages and dining car. In the nearest future old trainsets will be replaced with new Railjet 2 trainsets.

Most important direct trains

EC Munich – Klagenfurt (via Salzburg, Villach)
EC Frankfurt am Main – Graz (via Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg, Munich, Salzburg and Bischofshofen)
EC Frankfurt am Main – Klagenfurt (via Stuttgart, Ulm, Augsburg, Munich, Salzburg and Bischofshofen)
EC (- Saarbrücken Hbf) Stuttgart – Graz (via Munich and Ulm) (sometimes shortened to Munich)
EC Munich – Innsbruck (via Kufstein)
ICE Dortmund – Klagenfurt (via Bochum, Essen, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Augsburg, Munich, Salzburg and Bischofshofen)
RJ Munich – Klagenfurt (via Salzburg, Villach)
RJ Munich – Innsbruck (via Kufstein)
RJ Munich – Feldkirch (via Kufstein, Bludenz)

There is also an overnight train Zagreb – Stuttgart via Munich. The train pass through Austria with many stops, for example in Villach and Salzburg.

Intercity Austria
Austrian 2nd class open-plan carriage (Photo: Dariusz Sieczkowski/Trenopedia)
Austrian Railjet
Austrian Railjet – Economy class (Photo: Kecko, CC-BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons)

Trains between Germany and Austria via Czech Republic

Some trains from Vienna to Berlin pass through the Czech Republic. On the way, the trains stop in the largest Czech cities – Brno and Prague. There are two scenic stretches: between Brno and Svitavy (along Svitava river and beautiful forests) and between Prague and Bad Schandau (along Vltava and Elbe rivers). Trains through Czech Republic provide easy access to Bad Schandau and Dresden.

Trains are usually comprised of Czech or Austrian Railjet trainsets. Personally, I don’t like Czech Railjets – in my opinion economy class is very uncomfortable.

You can also travel from Linz to Dresden and Berlin with transfer in Prague:

Step 1) Travel by train Linz – Prague
Step 2) Transfer and travel by train Prague – Dresden or Berlin

Czech Railways – online shop (check for cheap tickets)

Czech Railjet
Czech Railjet – 2nd class (Photo: Nolb HM, CC-BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons)

Nightjet trains between Germany and Austria

Comfortable Nightjet trains connect Graz an Vienna with many German cities. Based-priced tickets are expensive, so you need to purchase tickets well in advance.

Currently, Nightjet trains run on the following routes:

Berlin – Graz
Hamburg – Wien

Nightjet trains from Amsterdam, Paris and Bruxelles pass through Germany. Trains from Germany to Italy pass through Austria

Nightjet trains are comprised of seating carriages with compartmens, couchette cars and sleeping cars. Passengers can choose between standard sleeping cars and deluxe sleeping cars with a private shower in compartment.

Ticket prices for Nightjet train start at:

seating carriage – 29.90 EUR
6-berth couchette – 49.90 EUR
4-berth couchette – 59.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car – 89.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car – 109.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car – 159.90 EUR
3-bed sleeping car with shower – 99.90 EUR
2-bed sleeping car with shower – 139.90 EUR
1-bed sleeping car with shower – 189.90 EUR

In fact, available tickets are much expensive. Book well in advance for the cheapest prices.

Eurocity train Zurich – Munich

Eurocity trains from Zurich to Munich pass through Austrian territory, stopping in Bregenz. The route is served by SBB ETR 610 (Astoro) trainsets. There are first and second class carriages, restaurant car, family zone, wheelchair-accessible toilet, baby-changing table, cycle storage spaces, pram storage spaces and luggage storage space. Trains are air-conditioned.

Astoro train
Zurich – Munich train – 2nd class interior (Photo: CC-BY-SA, Wikimedia Commons)

Trains from Germany to Italy

Many trains from Germany to Italy pass through Austria. For example:

Eurocity train Munich – Bologne provide easy access to Italy from Innsbruck
Nightjet train Munich – Venezia
Nightjet train Munich – Roma
Nightjet train Munich – La Spezia
Nigthjet train Venezia – Stuttgart

Tickets for all trains between Austria and Italy are available on a shop.oebbtickets.at

Cross-border trains between Germany and Austria

BRB (Bayerische Regiobahn) operates cross-border Regio and Regional Express trains between Munich and Kufstein or Salzburg.

BRB (Bayerische Regiobahn) – Munich – Kufstein and Salzburg train timetable

Austrian Railways operate cross-border trains from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck and Reutte in Tirol. Tickets are relatively expensive.

Austrian trains run also on short route between border cities Braunau am Inn, Austria and Simbach, Germany. Trains covered the route in 3 minutes. Tickets cost about 2,60 EUR. There are a few direct trains Linz – Simbach.

Austrian trains run from Bregenz to Lindau-Insel (former Lindau Hbf). The scenic route lead along Lake Constance. You can use Boden-See Ticket (description below).

Regional Express trains from Linz to Passau are operated by Austrian Railways using old, but very comfortable City Shuttle trainsets.

Austrian Railways – online shop

City Shuttle
Old City Shuttle interior (Photo: Dariusz Sieczkowski/Trenopedia)

Boden-See Ticket

If you want to travel around Lake Constance, you can consider to buy Boden-See ticket. It is a attractive cross-border network ticket that allows you to visit the countries bordering Lake Constance: Austria, Germany and Switzerland. It is a joint offer from the regional authorities of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland located around Lake Constance.

With the Bodensee Ticket, you are free to travel for a whole day or three days within all the designated zones – wherever you want and as often as you like. There are three zones: East, West and South. You can buy ticket valid in one zone, in two zones or in all three zones. There are discounts for children and small groups and discount card holders.

In Germany, the ticket is valid only on regional trains (IRE, RE, RB), while in Austria and Switzerland, it is also valid on EC and IC trains within the ticket’s area of validity. The Bodensee Ticket also offers discounts on entry tickets to selected tourist attractions. Children under the age of 6 travel free.

Ticket is not cheap, but is a perfect option for those, who want to visit beautiful towns and cities around Lake Constance, for example Lindau, chaffhausen, Stein am Rhein, Constance, Lindau, St. Gallen, Feldkirch and Bregenz. The railway routes along the lake are scenic.

Boden-See Ticket – official website

Lindau
Beautiful town of Lindau, Germany (Photo: Medvedkov)