By Train From Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna

The train is by far the easiest, most comfortable, and scenic way to travel from Zurich in Switzerland to Innsbruck, Salzburg, or Vienna in Austria.

This guide shows how you can travel by train from Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg, or Vienna, how to buy tickets, and what it’s like on board.

From Zurich to Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna by train

Multiple trains a day link Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, with some of Austria’s most popular tourist destinations such as Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna.

In fact, all trains from Zurich to Vienna stop en route in Innsbruck and Salzburg, making this railway corridor across the spine of the Alps one of the more popular routes among foreign tourists.

As you might expect, it’s a fabulous journey offering amazing mountain views, with one of the highlights being the crossing of the Arlberg Pass between the Austrian states of Vorarlberg and Tyrol.

On the Swiss stretch of the railway line, the highlight is undoubtedly the section along the banks of Lake Walen, with its stunning backdrop of craggy mountains.

The railway line also passes through tiny Liechtenstein, nestled between Switzerland and Austria, and although none of the trains stop there, at least you can say you travelled through the country!

Railjet

Different types of trains link Zurich with Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna, with most of the daily services being operated by fast and modern Railjet Express (RJX) trains.

There are five daily Railjet Express train departures between Zurich and Vienna, with six daily departures between Zurich, Innsbruck, and Salzburg.

Taking the Railjet Express train the full distance between Zurich and Vienna takes 8 hours and 23 minutes, while the travel time is 3 hours 31 minutes from Zurich to Innsbruck and 5 hours 23 minutes from Zurich to Salzburg.

These Railjet Express trains offer both 2nd and 1st class seating (in 2+2 and more spacious 2+1 configurations, respectively), plus a dining car open to all passengers.

EuroCity train

If you only need to travel between Zurich and Innsbruck, you can also opt for the EuroCity Transalpin, a train that connects Zurich with Graz in Austria.

This daily train departs Zurich in the morning and arrives in Innsbruck just after noon, while in the opposite direction, it leaves Innsbruck in the late afternoon and arrives in Zurich in the early evening.

The EuroCity Transalpin takes roughly the same travel time as the Railjet, but has the advantage of a larger dining car, as well as a first class panorama coach for optimal views of the Alpine scenery.

It also offers seating in second class (with a 2+2 layout) and in first class (with a more spacious 2+1 configuration, either in the panorama car or a standard first class coach).

Night train

There is also a night train between Zurich and Vienna, which is a time-effective option as you can sleep overnight during the journey and arrive fully rested in the Austrian capital the following morning, ready for a day of sightseeing.

This night train, called the Nightjet, is operated by ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways.

You can choose to travel in a 2nd class seat (not recommended for overnight journeys), a 6- or 4-berth couchette compartment, or a sleeper compartment that accommodates up to 3 people.

Note that berths are sold individually, so unless you book all the berths in a couchette compartment, you will share with other people.

The same applies to the sleeper compartments: If you travel alone, you must select a private sleeper compartment for single use, as otherwise, you’ll share with others.

When travelling with someone else, you must book a double sleeper to ensure private use of the compartment for both of you.

Although the Nightjet train between Zurich and Vienna also stops en route in Innsbruck and Salzburg, it’s not recommended for travel to or from these two Austrian cities, as the stops occur in the middle of the night.

How to book your train

Tickets can be booked on both the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) and ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) websites, though for the night train, you should definitely use the ÖBB website.

If you use the Swiss website, be careful to make sure that it shows your details correctly, as the website will automatically assume that you hold a Swiss half-fare card (‘halbtax’) giving you a 50% discount, given that most Swiss people have one.

You can also book train tickets in Switzerland and Austria using the popular booking website Omio, which many foreign tourists who are not accustomed to train travel in Europe find much easier to navigate and use (though it does charge a small service fee).

When using the Swiss website, ensure your details are correct, as it will automatically assume you have a Swiss half-fare card (‘Halbtax’) for a 50% discount, since most Swiss people do.

If you don’t have this card, make sure the setting is turned off and the correct price is shown, as you risk a fine if you travel with a discounted ticket and cannot show your discount card to the conductor during a check!

Train travel tips

Trains from Switzerland to Austria are usually cheapest when booked in advance, so if you’re sure of your dates and travel times, it’s best to book as far ahead as possible.

However, note that the cheapest tickets are often non-flexible and non-refundable, meaning you’re bound to the departure you book.

With more expensive full-fare tickets, you can take any train on your route that day or receive a full refund if your plans change.

Unlike planes, it’s often not possible to book trains more than 5-6 months in advance, so if no timetables appear when you search for a future date or you encounter an error during the booking process, it’s likely that the trains haven’t been released for sale yet.

Although seat reservations aren’t obligatory for daytime trains in Switzerland and Austria, it’s recommended to make one for long-distance travel, especially during peak summer or other holidays.

You generally cannot make stopovers along the way unless you have a fully flexible ticket or your ticket clearly specifies a set stopover between trains at a station along the route.

For example, if you have a fully flexible Zurich to Salzburg ticket, you can take a morning train to Innsbruck, visit the city, and then board any later departure that day to Salzburg.

When travelling by train, don’t forget to visit the dining car for a drink or meal, as it’s a big part of the charm of crossing the Alps by train!

Conclusion

The train is the best way to travel between Zurich, Innsbruck, Salzburg, and Vienna, as it’s fast and comfortable, offering splendid Alpine views if you travel during the day on this scenic route.

Above, you’ll find all the information you need about trains between Switzerland and Austria, including the different train types and how to buy tickets.