Austria Rail Passes by Rick Steves

Austria Rail Passes

Compare Train Ticket Costs: Map shows point-to-point, one-way, 2nd-class rail fares in $US. Add up fares for your itinerary to see whether a rail pass will save you money. For 1st class fares, add 50%. Source: www.oebb.at.

Best Value: If you need more than the basic three days on the Austria Eurail Pass, consider the European East Pass (below) which gives you five or more travel days in five countries (Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland) for a similar price. It also meets or beats the price of Austria-Czech and Austria-Hungary Eurail Passes.

Reservations: Since Austrian trains don't require reservations, a pass is convenient and flexible. Some international or overnight routes need train reservations before boarding, as indicated in train schedules.

Coverage: All rail passes that cover Austria also cover trains running nonstop between Salzburg and Kufstein, even when they cross a bit of Germany. Trains that stop in Germany (e.g., stop at Rosenheim) are only covered by German rail passes and tickets. Vienna-Linz-Salzburg service operated by the new Westbahn private rail company is not covered by rail passes. Austrian Railways (ÖBB) continue to run many other, covered departures on the same route.

Two-Country Eurail Passes: Options later on this page work for travel between Austria and one neighbor: Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia & Croatia (counted as one region on rail passes), and Switzerland (but not Italy nor Slovakia).

Austria Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Individual

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Individual

2nd Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

3 days in 1 month

$236

$201

$166

$142

$109

Extra rail days (max. 5)

$27

$23

$19

$16

$13

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

Point-to-point train ticket deals sold in Austria

For €20 - 27, a Vorteils Card allows youths (under 26), seniors (60+), or families with kids under 15 to save up to 50% on point-to-point train tickets for one year. Group ticket discounts start at two travelers and get better as you add more people. See "Traveling Cheaper" at www.oebb.at.

European East Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class

2nd Class

5 days in 1 month

$309

$212

Extra rail days (max 5)

$36

$30

Covers trains in Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland. Kids 4–11 half price; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

European East Pass

Central Europe Triangle Pass

Type of Pass

2nd Class Individual

3 trips in 1 month

$139

Covers 3 train trips in a circle between Vienna-Budapest-Prague or Vienna-Salzburg-Prague. You can start at any listed city and travel in either direction to return to your starting point via the most direct route. For instance, Prague-Salzburg travel is covered via Linz (runs 6x/day, 1 is direct, most with 2 changes), but not via Germany. Seat or sleeper reservations are additional, as with any rail pass. Choose your cities at the time of purchase. Triangle pass is pre-validated for your specified 1-month travel period and cannot be refunded after the first day of validity. Kids 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

Central Europe Triangle Pass

If these specific routes fit your trip, then the rail pass saves money over buying train tickets as you go.

Austria Two-Country Eurail Passes

While the rail passes above allow travel within one month, those below offer a two-month window.

Austria-Croatia-Slovenia Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Individual

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

4 days in 2 months

$280

$244

$203

Extra rail days (max 6)

$41

$35

$29

Three countries for the price of two! Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

Austria-Czech Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Individual

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

4 days in 2 months

$264

$225

$173

Extra rail days (max 6)

$36

$31

$23

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of 1st class individual or Saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

The European East pass covers trains in more countries for about the same price. The only reason to choose either an Austria-Czech or Austria-Hungary Eurail Pass is if you need to spread travel over a period longer than 30 days.

Austria-Hungary Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Individual

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

4 days in 2 months

$264

$225

$173

Extra rail days (max 6)

$35

$30

$23

Austria - Germany Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Indiv.

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Indiv.

2nd Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

5 days in 2 months

$424

$366

$312

$313

6 days in 2 months

$467

$399

$343

8 days in 2 months

$556

$475

$409

$410

10 days in 2 months

$648

$551

$475

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 pay half of adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

Austria-Switzerland Eurail Pass

Type of Pass

1st Class Individual

1st Class Saver

2nd Class Youth

4 days in 2 months

$404

$344

$284

Extra rail days (max 6)

$44

$38

$31

Saver prices are per person for 2 or more traveling together. Youth passes are for travelers under age 26 only. Kids 4–11 half single adult or saver fare; under 4 free. Prices subject to change.

For about the same price as a first-class Swiss Pass Flexi, the Austria-Switzerland Eurail Pass covers two countries and allows you to spread travel over a longer period. Separate, second-class rail passes for each country are cheaper, but you'll use a day of each pass when crossing the border.