LisaG

Hello all!

We will be traveling from Villach to Innsbruck via train in mid-April. I have been looking at the Austrian Railways website (OBB). If I'm interpreting it correctly, all trains that go from Villach to Innsbruck go through Salzburg. Can this be right? Seems like a big detour to me---but I could be missing something.

To be clear, we're actually going from Venice to Innsbruck. But I know the way to get into Austria is by bus due to a long-standing "strike". The bus goes to the rail station in Villach, and that's where you embark to other locales in Austria.

We're leaving our rental car in Venice, and picking up another one in Innsbruck (to avoid very high charges to take car cross-border). But if anyone knows a better way to get from Venice to Innsbruck, I'm all ears (or eyes!).

Thanks so much,

LisaG

J62

There's a mountain range standing between Villach and Innsbruck, hence the roundabout way through Salzburg.

Woulndn't a better route be Venice to Verona, then Verona to Innsbruck?

molker

No need to go via Villach and Salzburg.

As mentioned above numerous connections daily in April via Verona - even some without train change I think.

Example- just picked a random date -

April 13

Venice Santa Lucia
Leave 8:58 Train IC 9712

change in Verona to EC 80
arrive Innsbruck 14;32

EC 86
leave Venice 13:34
arrive Innsbruck 18:32

LisaG

Thank you so much for the information.

J62 and molker, you bring up a very good option. We had planned to go to Verona for a few days, and then go to Venice, and then on into Austria. But we could easily switch our itinerary to accommodate the easier route you suggest.

Can you post the link to the website where you got that train schedule?

We'll have to figure out the car rental thing, but that will be another story!

Happy travels,

LisaG

J62

I like to use the German rail website www.bahn.de for train schedule for all Europe. You can also use the Italian rail site www.trenitalia.com. They will show you the same schedules.

LisaG

Thank you! Very helpful indeed.

LisaG

molker

Useing the Austrian rail website
www.oebb.at

insert departure as venezia santa lucia
arrival innsbruck hbf

requested date and time of travel -
your list of trains will show with connections-
you can also change departure time as you wish - earlier or later.