Trains from Germany to Austria
Mar 31st, 2016, 09:50 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trains from Germany to Austria
My sister and I will be visiting Germany and Austria this summer and I am finalizing the itinerary. We're flying into Frankfurt because it was cheapest, but I'm not sure if we're going to spend much time there because I am more interested in visiting places like Bamberg and getting to Vienna and Salzburg. However, I'm open to suggestions on whether spending a few days in Frankfurt is worth while.
What I'm most curious about, is the best way to get to Austria by train. I'm a little confused by the oebb website and concerned about all of the connections I see on ticket reservations. My ideal situation is to find a non-stop train from Bamberg to Vienna, preferably at night. Does this even exist?
Would greatly appreciate anyone's input.
What I'm most curious about, is the best way to get to Austria by train. I'm a little confused by the oebb website and concerned about all of the connections I see on ticket reservations. My ideal situation is to find a non-stop train from Bamberg to Vienna, preferably at night. Does this even exist?
Would greatly appreciate anyone's input.
Mar 31st, 2016, 10:02 AM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's the problem...how much are you going to spend to get from "where was cheapest" to where you really want to be?
The German rail site tends to be the most comprehensive for trains all over Europe, but you won't necessarily be able to buy tickets there.
http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml
It's very unlikely you will be able to go from Bamburg to Vienna without changing trains, and night trains are becoming rare.
The German rail site tends to be the most comprehensive for trains all over Europe, but you won't necessarily be able to buy tickets there.
http://www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml
It's very unlikely you will be able to go from Bamburg to Vienna without changing trains, and night trains are becoming rare.
Mar 31st, 2016, 10:17 AM
#3
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
German trains are great - you won't get direct to Austria unless you leave from Frankfurt or Munich. Just be aware of the trains, they will split a train to go to different locations and you may be in the back going to Dusseldorf while the front has disconnected and gone to Vienna at the last stop.
Mar 31st, 2016, 10:22 AM
#4
Besides the bahn.de website, which has train schedules for all of Europe, and where you can buy tickets for journeys to, from, or within Germany, you might benefit from reading seat61.com, which has comprehensive information on routes and how to buy tickets.
Bamberg to Salzburg is four hours with one or two changes, Frankfurt to Salzburg is five hours with one change. It is usually false economy to fly into somewhere you don't want to visit. It is also better fly open-jaw or multi-city - into one city and out of another.
Bamberg to Salzburg is four hours with one or two changes, Frankfurt to Salzburg is five hours with one change. It is usually false economy to fly into somewhere you don't want to visit. It is also better fly open-jaw or multi-city - into one city and out of another.
Mar 31st, 2016, 10:28 AM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Bahn site mentioned tells you the available train options. If seems you have booked parts of your trip assuming there are ways to do the remainders within your constraints? Are you flying back from FRA also? Then you will be hit with back tracking time and cost.
I would recommend that you identify key remaining pieces you can still manage and make sure they fit together within constraints before booking rather than booking more things only to find you have boxed yourself into limited options.
I would recommend that you identify key remaining pieces you can still manage and make sure they fit together within constraints before booking rather than booking more things only to find you have boxed yourself into limited options.
Mar 31st, 2016, 11:23 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No direct night train from Bamberg to Vienna but there is one from Munich - take a day train to Munich and hook up with the night train - check www.bahn.de/en for schedules and booking with cheaper prices the farther you book in advance often. Night trains ain'tfor everyone - light sleepers especially but many find them comfortable and efficient and also save a hotel night's cost. For lots of info on German and Austrian trains and overnight trains check www.seat61.com- great tips on discounted tickets; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
Mar 31st, 2016, 12:46 PM
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"you won't get direct to Austria unless you leave from Frankfurt or Munich"
On the Bamberg - Nuremberg line there will be local trains only this summer, due to the construction of the new Nuremberg - Berlin line north of Bamberg. But it takes 40 min only to arrive at Nuremberg and from there you can catch a direct ICE to Vienna every other hour (total trael time 5:33).
On the Bamberg - Nuremberg line there will be local trains only this summer, due to the construction of the new Nuremberg - Berlin line north of Bamberg. But it takes 40 min only to arrive at Nuremberg and from there you can catch a direct ICE to Vienna every other hour (total trael time 5:33).
