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Pre purchase tickets from Vienna city center to Salzburg?

  • May 31, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 80 views
idofood

I’m thinking of reversing my trip a bit. We fly into Vienna and arrive at 11am. (From the US west coast - long flight.) We’ll need to go through immigration, but we do have Global Entry so hopefully that streamlines things. We also carry on our bags so no need to go to baggage claim.

 

Our plans were to stay in Vienna for 5 nights, then take the train to Prague for 3 nights, then down to Salzburg for 2 nights, then back to a Vienna airport hotel for the last night.

 

I’m wondering if it’s better to land in Vienna and go straight to Salzburg. That way we can add another night there, and end our trip with the 5 nights in Vienna. A little less   moving around. Is it easy to get from the airport to Salzburg? Do we need to take the airport shuttle to the central train station first or is there a train from the airport? I see conflicting info. 

 

If we have to take the bus to the central train station, on a Tuesday would we need to purchase our tickets to Salzburg in advance? Ideally we’d love to get the train with the least wait. But I just don’t know how much time to allow. 

 

Any advice is helpful! We’ve never been to any of these cities before so I’m clueless about transportation. Thanks! Patty

Best answer by thibcabe

So this forum is mostly about Interrail and Eurail passes but I'll still answer your questions on regular rail tickets, don't worry.

Between Vienna Airport and Vienna main station there are loads of trains. Some run direct from Vienna Airport to Salzburg as well (every 30 min).

About tickets you may either purchase:

- advance tickets (30-35€): valid on a specific train only.

- flexible ticket (66.80€): valid all day on any Vienna Airport - Salzburg train

Seat reservations cost 3€ extra. Austrian trains cannot sell out. On busy days some people might be standing but by boarding at Vienna Airport, the train's departure station, you're sure to have free seats.

So your 2 options are:

- you plan around 1h30-2h between plane landing and train leaving, selecting a specific departure

- you buy flexible tickets and get the first train

Feel free to ask any questions. All prices on https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticket

(Off topic here but Global Entry doesn't matter in the slightest for entering the Schengen zone. Immigration is fairly quick but there can be a queue when multiple non-Schengen flights land at the same time.)

P.

    5 replies

    T
    Full steam ahead
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    • thibcabe
    • Full steam ahead
    • Answer
    • May 31, 2025

    So this forum is mostly about Interrail and Eurail passes but I'll still answer your questions on regular rail tickets, don't worry.

    Between Vienna Airport and Vienna main station there are loads of trains. Some run direct from Vienna Airport to Salzburg as well (every 30 min).

    About tickets you may either purchase:

    - advance tickets (30-35€): valid on a specific train only.

    - flexible ticket (66.80€): valid all day on any Vienna Airport - Salzburg train

    Seat reservations cost 3€ extra. Austrian trains cannot sell out. On busy days some people might be standing but by boarding at Vienna Airport, the train's departure station, you're sure to have free seats.

    So your 2 options are:

    - you plan around 1h30-2h between plane landing and train leaving, selecting a specific departure

    - you buy flexible tickets and get the first train

    Feel free to ask any questions. All prices on https://shop.oebbtickets.at/en/ticket

    (Off topic here but Global Entry doesn't matter in the slightest for entering the Schengen zone. Immigration is fairly quick but there can be a queue when multiple non-Schengen flights land at the same time.)

    idofood
    • idofood
    • Author
    • Right on track
    • June 1, 2025

    Gosh that was so helpful. I’d love to go from the airport directly to Salzburg if possible. It’s a long day, but it would buy us an extra day ultimately and make the end of our trip a bit easier. 

     

    Thanks so much for the info. I think I”m afraid that the train tickets will be sold out…..like airline tickets. We need to get back to traveling more, I also don’t get this as we don’t have this kind of public transportation where we live. We’re good with standing for part of a long ride. Especially after sitting for hours on a plane. I sure appreciate all the practical advice. 

    P.
    idofood
    • idofood
    • Author
    • Right on track
    • June 1, 2025

    And good to know that Vienna isn’t part of the Global Entry program. It does sound like the customs / immigration is pretty streamlined in Vienna. Unlike the horrible mash up we encountered in Madrid last year. What a mess just to leave the country. 

     

    Again, any advice about taking the train directly from the Vienna airport to Salzburg is appreciated. I try to keep an eye on dates of the posts but know that I’m not always getting the most current info. I’m so glad I found this eurail community to help. 

     

    P.
    R
    Railmaster
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • June 1, 2025

    I think I”m afraid that the train tickets will be sold out…..like airline tickets.

    Tickets can't sell out. You can always buy a ticket. Reservations may sell out, but they're optional.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
    T
    Full steam ahead
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    • thibcabe
    • Full steam ahead
    • June 1, 2025

    Gosh that was so helpful. I’d love to go from the airport directly to Salzburg if possible. It’s a long day, but it would buy us an extra day ultimately and make the end of our trip a bit easier. 

     

    Thanks so much for the info. I think I”m afraid that the train tickets will be sold out…..like airline tickets. We need to get back to traveling more, I also don’t get this as we don’t have this kind of public transportation where we live. We’re good with standing for part of a long ride. Especially after sitting for hours on a plane. I sure appreciate all the practical advice. 

    As said, tickets cannot sell out (like subways or commuter trains). If you'd like to be flexible, purchase flexible tickets valid all day.

    Otherwise buy tickets for the 1:02pm direct train (only 19.90€ on some dates!) and aim for it.

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