I am interested in this topic also. If anyone has done it, was it enjoyable? My worry is that it won't be possible to see anything of the scenery.

Hi Tarquin,

I imagine if it's the overnight train, there won't be much to see as it arrives quite early in Venice, at about 830am. I believe there are day buses from Vienna, though, which might help in that regard.

Help please? Anyone?

From what I can see, the overnight train would depart Salzburg at 1:30 in the morning. I'm not sure it runs every night in winter. You can check schedules on http://www.oebb.at/en/ although I can't imagine why you would want to do this.

If you book a 6-berth couchette, then expect every berth to be occupied. The same for a 4-berth.

It's not only tourists using these trains. Italian migrant workers going home for a holiday will use them, for example, so winter may be as busy as summer.

Only you can decide if you want to take the chance of a compartment being under-occupied. Personally, a 6-berth would be too busy for me, I'd only go with a 4-berth or splash out and take a proper sleeper compartment (even then, you will probably still end up sharing with at least one person).

As for getting on board at 1.30am - no way on earth!

Pay extra for the 4-berth couchette IME on this train several times - these cost more and you escape the Italian migrant worker browd in the 6-person couchettes - nothing against them but they carry tons of luggage and 6-person couchettes are likely to be full because they are cheaper - recently I was in a 4-person couchette with an Austrian vet and two Italian graduate students - we had a very pleasant discussion.

a 4-person couchette is a lot more roomy than a 6-person one - same size compartment with two tiers of bunks on each side of aisle rather than three - lot more room for luggage easily, etc.

I took the train in December and yes most compartments were full - this I believe is not the Vienna to Venice night train but the Munich via Salzburg to Venice night train you are joining.

For lots of great info on European trains and night trains check out these superb IMO sites that will answer questions like yours - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com - the latter has great info on online discounted tickets you may be able to book thru the German Railways web site - www.bahn.de - not sure though since you will be boarding in Austria but generally Salzburg is also considered to be a German railway station for most purposes.

Cheers everyone, and PalenQ for the links! 4-berth couchette it is. And I did check with Salzburg tourism--the train does depart at 1.30am, but it arrives at the station early, 11.30pm-ish, to stock on supplies, and they say I can board it when it arrives. Hope they're right!

The train is starting in Vienna. It is in the station a bit longer in Salzburg than other stops, but still doesn't arrive until almost midnight (if on time). It's scheduled to arrive at 11:49. It departs the previous stop at 23:07.

Voecklabruck 23:05 23:07
Salzburg Hbf. 23:49 01:34

There is a discount for advance purchase couchettes (if still available). On Trenitalia it's called Smart Fare (you can't purchase from Trenitalia unless you are departing from Italy) and you have to select it in their fare drop down box. I don't know what it's called on the Austrian website. Here's a link explaining it. The 3 bed and 2 bed are only 10€ and 20€ more than the 4 person couchette if you can get the smart price.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=e6eaf0bde7aca110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD#6

this I believe is the overnight train from Munich you are boarding in Salzburg.

No it depends on which day of the week - sometimes you take a train from Vienna to Salzburg then change to another train (or perhaps your train is joined to another train, I suspect the one coming from Munich) but other days like bourbon says it is a direct train from Vienna that only stops in Salzburg - anyways immaterial to OP's plans but just to say I was wrong, at least on some days and kybourbon quite correct.

PQ - They have different train numbers on Trenitalia, but I think they are joined in Salzburg to continue on. The Munich train does not arrive in Salzburg until 1:18 so the OP would not be able to board early. Connections/stops may vary depending on day.

Arrival station Arrival time Departure time
Muenchen Hbf --:-- 23:40
Rosenheim 00:01 00:03
Salzburg Hbf. 01:18 01:34

I find Trenitalia to always have much cheaper options compared to the neighbouring countries' rail operators... Oebb.at sells a place in the 4-berth couchette at 59Euros if booked now, but if I were to take the same train from the other direction, that same amount can get me a night in the 3-sleeper!

Does anyone know if there is a luggage deposit at the Salzburg train station open till midnight?

I'm wondering if Trenitalia's pricing is correct as their list of smart fares for this train doesn't show the 4 person couchette at all. I think it's a misprint as they listed the 2 person compartment twice at two different prices. You also need to make sure Trenitalia's tickets don't have to be picked up in Italy (some international tickets require pick up).

>>>Does anyone know if there is a luggage deposit at the Salzburg train station open till midnight?<<<

If you search the various country websites, you'll find the station info.

http://www.oebb.at/en/Travelling_in_Austria/Salzburg/Services_at_the_station/Lockers/index.jsp

After looking at the website, you can't buy these tickets from Italy and the 3 person discount ticket is 79€.

The train trip from Salzburg to Venice is incredibly scenic. You might consider traveling during the day. It could be a relaxing break just to stare out the window watching the snowy Alps and then the Veneto.

I also think I might be a bit groggy after trying to sleep on a train.

Either way, you still get one of life's great experiences - walking out of the Venice train station.

I agree that the day trip Vienna to Venice, which does not go via Salzburg is really scenic and not all that long - lovely countryside in both Austrian and Italian Alps. And boarding the night train a 1am or so IME often means rousing folks already in the compartment with noise, etc - not always a pleasant greeting from others being awoken.

There is also a direct Vienna to Venice night train that does not go thru Salzburg - seems weird there would be direct cars from Vienna via Salzburg - taking about 4.5 hours longer than the direct route as well.

Weird.

There is one Vienna-Venice and one Munich-Venice sleeper train, both trains run combined from Salzburg to Venice.

A bed in a 3-bed sleeper is a huge step up from any couchette - proper bed with mattress, sheets etc all made up for you versus sleeping on a padded ledge with rug and pillow. The sleeper has an in-room washbasin, the couchette compartment none; the sleeper fare includes a light breakfast.

If you DO go couchette, 4-berth is far more space per passenger than 6-berth, so is well worth the extra.

If you end up in the German section, see what the various couchettes and sleepers actually look like at http://www.seat61.com/citynightline.htm

If you end up on the Austrian section of the train, I think you'll find the couchettes and sleeper identical to these ones: http://www.seat61.com/train-from-cologne-to-vienna.htm

Southbound trips (one-way or return) from Austria to Italy should be booked at www.oebb.at. Self-print tickets, but only valid on an inward (TO Austria) journey if stamped by a conductor on a previous outward journey FROM Austria, hence no good for northbound trips. It's in the small print!

Northbound trips from Italy to Austria (one-way or return) should be booked at www.fsitaliane.it looking for 'smart' fares when the fare selection box appears. Ticket collection only at Italian stations.

Trips on City Night Line between Munich and Italy can be booked at www.bahn.de/en in either direction, no problem, with self-print tickets.

Thanks for all the help (@Seat61--I love your website!)

@kybourbon:

Yes!! I discovered that just yesterday. A lot of the information about the train I'm taking happened to be there as well apparently! http://www.oebb.at/en/Travelling_abroad/SparSchiene/Italy/Timetable_Vienna-Salzburg-Venice/index.jsp

@Robertino and PalenQ:

You guys are absolutely right! I didn't realise that OBB ran morning bus services from Salzburg to Venice--only about 5 hours, and much cheaper (and comfortable, being awake) as well. My itinerary is unfortunately pretty tight, and if I want two full days in Venice I'll have to take the train (I've already booked the outgoing train from Venice)... although I could leave Salzburg a day earlier, I guess...

>>IMPORTANT<<

What do you guys reckon? I currently have three days penciled in for Salzburg, and two days for Venice. Should I take the bus instead and swap the extra day in Salzburg for an extra half-day in Venice (the first half being the bus trip)? I always try to avoid doing day-time journeys on winter trips if I can help it, just so I can spend more time actually exploring, but if the route is pretty scenic, that sounds just as good.

I.e. Original plan:

DAY 1 (Salzburg); DAY 2 (Salzburg); DAY 3 (Salzburg, night train); DAY 4 (Venice); DAY 5 (Venice)

Maybe change to this?:

DAY 1 (Salzburg); DAY 2 (Salzburg); DAY 3 (Halfday Salzburg; bus to Venice); DAY 4 (Venice); DAY 5 (Venice)

This is the bus route--http://www.oebb.at/en/Travelling_abroad/SparSchiene/Italy/Timetable_Salzburg-Villach-Venice/index.jsp

>>>Northbound trips from Italy to Austria (one-way or return) should be booked at www.fsitaliane.it looking for 'smart' fares when the fare selection box appears. Ticket collection only at Italian stations.<<<

I couldn't get any trains Venice to Salzburg to show as bookable at all on Trenitalia. You have to enter Venezia and Wien to be able to purchase northbound trains.

Very interesting - is there a new(ish) road between Badgastein and Spittal? When I did this trip you could only do it by train. Very long train tunnel. No road. Or maybe you could put your car on a train, something like that.

I guess so, because that's what the bus schedule seems to indicate.

Anyway, by train or by bus, I would recommend 2 days Salzburg, leave Salzburg early on day 3, arrive early afternoon in Venice, 2 more days in Venice.

swap day in Salzburg for day in Venice - if staying only in Salzburg by all means - Salzburg is very compact city with 2 days enough for most - but if day tripping into the wondrous Sound of Music country - Lake Wolfgang area - easily done from Salzburg with about an hour's postal bus ride then well leave it in Salzburg.

Venice has much more varied things to do - like trips to the islands which could take a lovely day.

Thank you everyone! Made a huge difference to my itinerary--would not have considered the day train/bus otherwise