Planning on taking the train from Venice to Vienna in late April.

We decided it might be nice to stop for a night or two along the way in Austria to break the trip.

Any suggestions for a stop over town? It needs to be near the main rail line or easily accessible by public transport. It will be our first stop in Austria and first attempt for my husband's German! But a small town / city would be nice - maybe to meet some locals?

Thanks for your help!

I've never done a Vienna to Venice by train, but I have gone from Salzburg to Venice. Along the way, we changed trains in Villach - it seemed like a nice town, although we only had time for lunch and not much time to sightsee. I would try researching the town to see if it appeals to you.

There's one daily direct train between Venice and Vienna. It takes only about 7 hours, far faster than other trains via other route. It only makes 3 stops in Austria - Villach that Jolie mentioned, Klagenfurt and Bruck. Never been to those areas, but the first 2 sounds and looks pretty from their respective tourism websites, while Bruck sounds like a ski village.

Or you can take other trains that go straight north from Venice to Innsbruck. Many trains from there to Vienna via Salzburg.

Hi w,

We've done that train ride. It is quite lovely, especially in the Spring when the snow melt is rushing off the mountains.

It's only a 7 hr ride.

Bring a picnic for dinner.

Thanks for the comments guys. after reading them and doing a bit more research elsewhere I think maybe I would be better to just go straight through to Vienna and save the extra night for somewhere between Vienna and Salzburg (maybe Melk?).

7 hours isn't that long. Is it?

>7 hours isn't that long. Is it?<

A lot depends on what you are doing.

We didn't find the ride unsettling or boring.

I'm not keen on the overnight trains but I would certainly suggest it in this case. + it will save you a nights lodging.

I've done the Venice-Vienna train, and a good stopover if you go for that would be Klagenfurt. Looked lovely from the train - it's a town on a lake - and is halfway-ish between the two cities. A friend once spent a summer there and recommended it as well.

This isn't a stop in Austria but in Italy:

Udine, about 1.5 hours outside Venice. On the direct Vienna-Venice route.

Apart from being the chair-manufacturing capital of Europe (not a very persuasive argument for visiting the place): It looks like Venice on terra ferma.

Especially the big public building in the central square, which looks just like the Doge's Palace.

Klagenfurt is a great town and would definitely be worth a stop. Of course, Durnstein and/or Melk would also be good.

This is interesting! What train is it? How much it costs u to travel from Venice to Vienna? I might try to catch that.

I've done the train ride between Venice and Vienna and agree with those who say that no stop is necessary. And bring a bottle of wine for that picnic.

So now you have a choice to make. All the suggestions are good. If you really want to save that day, take an overnight train. But if you are in a situation where taking an overnight would cause you to spend all day waiting for it, then take a day train and stop halfway. I fully endorse stopping in Klagenfurt -- a city that doesn't get enough credit for its lovely buildings and many old palaces. Good luck.

well I actually ended up taking the overnight train which was possibly a mistake. It only cost E29 each tho. If I did it again I would go straight through on a day train.

do you know what times trains leave venice for vienna during the day and what time the night train leaves? is there much of a price difference between the 2 trains? is the journey length the same?
Thanks!