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Planning to take the train from Prague to Vienna? You’ve come to the right place!
The train is the easiest, most comfortable way to travel from Prague to Vienna, not to mention the cheapest! On average, the journey time from Prague to Vienna is 4 hours and 4 minutes.
On this route, you can expect to find 8 trains per day running the 156 miles between these two cities. As soon as you board the train at Prague station, you'll be able to make yourself comfortable and enjoy the journey as direct trains are available on this route.
You’ll be traveling on one of ÖBB’s trains – Railjet, Regiojet, Intercity or Eurocity. ÖBB trains are among the most modern, comfortable, and quiet trains in Europe; they offer a complimentary WiFi connection, restaurant dining options and even quiet and family areas, so you can enjoy the ultimate travel comfort at high speed.
Once you’ve arrived at Vienna station, you’ll be well-placed to explore the city’s most famous landmarks. You'll soon find out why Vienna makes the cut on our list of 9 must-see European cities. Not sure where to go first? Check out our guide on the best things to do in Vienna, including:
Eager to book? Begin your search for cheap train tickets from Prague to Vienna in our Journey Planner at the top of the page. If you’d like to learn more about the train journey from Prague to Vienna first, keep reading for more information on:
It takes an average of 4h 11m to travel from Prague to Vienna by train, over a distance of around 156 miles (251 km). There are normally 16 trains per day traveling from Prague to Vienna and tickets for this journey start from $14.26 when you book in advance.
First train | 00:40 | |
---|---|---|
Last train | 18:44 | |
Departure station | Prague | |
Arrival station | Vienna | |
Journey time | From 4h 5m | |
Distance | 156 miles (251 km) | |
Frequency | 16 trains per day | |
Changes | Direct trains available | |
Price | From $14.26 | |
Train and bus operators |
ÖBB is the major railway company for Austria, subdivided into several subsidiaries, responsible for certain areas of transport, such as long distance and local transport, the operation of postal buses and the transport of goods. Railjet is ÖBB's high-speed train, which travels at speeds of up to 143 mph (230 km/h) and connects the main Austrian cities with Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Italy.
When traveling on ÖBB’s InterCity trains, Economy class is perfect if you’re looking for spacious seats and generous baggage storage at an affordable price.
If you prefer to travel in style, upgrade to First Class on your ÖBB’s InterCity service and you’ll take advantage of adjustable seats and additional legroom.
Although Low Cost is the cheapest option offered by RegioJet, this class boasts a variety of free services, including WiFi, newspapers and an entertainment platform.
In addition to the amenities of the Low Cost Class, you will also enjoy Italian coffee, complimentary tea and juice, power outlets and adjustable seats.
In the Relax Class, you’ll take advantage of all the amenities in Standard and Low Cost, as well as large fold-down tables, leather seats and individual seating.
Travel in RegioJet’s Business Class for a premium experience. During your journey, you can rest or work quietly in the quiet car and enjoy spacious seats.
You can take your baggage free of charge onboard all ÖBB Intercity trains, provided that it is stowed in the luggage racks above or below your seat or in the areas provided for hand luggage.
The pieces of luggage must not exceed the maximum dimensions of 90 x 60 x 40cm (35.4 x 23.6 x 15.7''). These dimensions can only be exceeded if you’re traveling with skis and snowboards, ski and hiking poles, wind, string or plucked instruments, wheelchairs, or strollers.
Unfortunately, a restaurant car is not available on ÖBB Intercity trains. However, you can take your own food on board so pick up some snacks at the station before you set off!
Unfortunately, ÖBB Intercity trains do not offer an entertainment portal on board. Also, WiFi is not always available.
If you’re traveling with your child, you’ll get a discounted ticket. Children aged 0-5 travel for free on ÖBB Intercity trains, while those aged 6-14 get a half-price ticket. Kids aged 15 or over need a full-price ticket.
Many ÖBB Intercity trains offer special compartments for children in Economy Class – they come with 6 seats and can be booked for any route. Breastfeeding compartments are available too – they have curtains that block the view for more privacy. These seats can’t be booked.
You can travel with your bike for free on ÖBB Intercity trains if it can be folded and is not larger than 90 x 60 x 40cm (35.4 x 23.6 x 15.7''). You won’t need to book a space for your bike.
If you can’t fold your bike, you’ll need to buy a bike ticket to reserve your space. You can book your ticket up to 6 months in advance from ÖBB Ticketshop online. If possible, we recommend you print out your bike reservation and attach it to your bike so it's clearly visible to the ticket inspector.
Small pets can travel for free on ÖBB Intercity trains if they’re placed in a carrier or cage. If you can’t carry them in a carrier or cage, you’ll need to buy a ticket for them. They must also be kept on a leash and equipped with a muzzle.
Guide and assistance dogs are allowed on all trains at no additional cost and don’t need to wear a muzzle.
ÖBB Intercity trains come with accessible toilets. Depending on the type of car, several wheelchair bays, including one seat for an accompanying person, can be booked free of charge.
On many trains, the wheelchair bays are in First Class. However, passengers with wheelchairs and the person accompanying them can travel in First Class with their Second Class tickets and can also make use of the in-seat meal service on offer there.
There are no weight limits when it comes to baggage on Regiojet trains - you can take what you like, so long as you can carry it yourself.
Choose from a wide range of drinks, snacks and light bites on board - you'll find the full menu on the Regiojet app. A free bottle of water is available for all customers. For passengers travelling with Relax or Business Class tickets, you'll also be offered a free Italian coffee or mint tea (made with real mint leaves) when on board.
Free WiFi is available on board. You can access the entertainment portal using the Regiojet app, or through the built-in screens on more modern Regiojet trains.
Strollers should be folded up to be taken on board. If this isn't possible, you must store your stroller at the front or back of the car.
Bicycles cannot be transported on Regiojet trains.
It's possible to bring small pets on board Regiojet trains in suitable carriers. Pets are not allowed in sleeper cars or couchettes. Guide dogs of all sizes are permitted on board.
Dedicated wheelchair spaces are available on Regiojet trains.
Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from Prague to Vienna by booking early.§
Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.
On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!
Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.
For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.
If you’re flying to Prague, you will probably land at Václav Havel Airport Prague, more commonly known as Prague Airport.
Public transport from Prague Airport
The cheapest way to get from Prague Airport to the city center is to use the city’s public transport system. In total, the journey takes around 40 minutes.
You’ll find the bus station directly outside Terminal 2 (Exit D). A one-way ticket is valid for 90 minutes, can be used for the bus, tram or subway and costs 32 CZK (around $1.38) as of October 2023.
To get to the city center, take bus 199 to Nadrazi Veleslavin and transfer to subway line A (green). On this line, you can continue to any station in central Prague, including Staroměstská, Mustek or Muzeum.
Taxis from Prague Airport
If you want to reach central Prague quickly, you can take a taxi from the airport. To book a taxi, you’ll need to head to the sales counters in Terminals 1 and 2. Once you’ve booked your taxi, they’ll direct you to the waiting area for taxis. The price of your taxi journey depends on the taxi company and where you’re heading but should be approximately 650 CZK ($28.05) and no more than 800 CZK ($34.52) as of October 2023.
If you’re taking the train from Prague to Vienna, you will need to travel to Prague station first.
Situated in the heart of the city, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi, more commonly known as Prague station, is easy to get to on foot or via the city’s public transport system. To get from central Prague to Prague station, you can use:
As you wait for your train to Vienna, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied at Prague station.
Once you’ve gone through the main entrance, you’ll arrive at the main concourse of Prague station. Here you’ll find:
If you arrive at Prague station early, there are plenty of things to do to help pass the time, including a shopping mall. Inside the mall, you’ll find:
On your way from Prague to Vienna by train, the train may stop at certain towns and cities along the way.
In total, the journey from Prague to Vienna takes just over 4 hours. Depending on which service you travel on, you’ll stop at some of the most beautiful towns and cities in the Czech Republic.
The line from Prague to Vienna serves:
After 4 hours of traveling, your train will arrive at Wien Hauptbahnhof, more commonly known as Vienna Hbf.
Once you’ve hopped off the train, you can simply leave the station. If you need any help or advice, you’ll find a tourist information office in the main concourse called Info Point.
After you’ve left the station, you’ll find that Vienna Hbf is located in the south of the city. You’ll probably want to start exploring the city straight away – you can get from Vienna Hbf to different parts of the city by:
If you want more info, including Wien Hbf, check out our guide to Vienna's train stations.
If you want to navigate Vienna quickly and conveniently, use the city's public transport system.
If you’d like to explore more of Austria and Europe but you’re unsure where to begin, here’s some inspiration for the best places to visit and how to get there by train:
Enjoyed your time in Vienna and want to explore more of Europe? You can easily reach nearby towns and cities by train. To inspire your next trip, here are some of the most popular train journeys from Vienna:
If you’d like to know how to get from central Vienna to the airport, keep reading for more details!
If you’re traveling abroad from Vienna, you’ll most likely depart from the city’s main airport, Vienna International Airport. The airport is located about 12 miles southeast of the city and can be reached by train, bus or taxi.
Train to Vienna Airport
To take the train to Vienna Airport from central Vienna, you can take the CAT (City Airport Train). Running between central Vienna and the airport, the CAT is an express train connection departing from Wien Mitte – Landstraße station. Departing every 30 minutes, the CAT will take you to the airport in just 16 minutes.
Bus to Vienna Airport
Although it takes a bit longer, the bus is the cheapest option to get from Vienna’s downtown to the airport. Vienna Airport Lines operates three services with pickup points throughout the city: VAL1, VAL2 and VAL3. Journey times vary depending on traffic but can take as little as 20 minutes.
Taxi to Vienna Airport
If you want to get to Vienna Airport from the city center with minimum fuss, you could take a taxi. In central Vienna, there are many taxi ranks and companies. Please note that traveling in a taxi can be expensive – the average fare from the city center to the airport is around €40 ($42.37) as of October 2023.
After visiting Vienna, why not continue exploring Europe by train? With a Eurail Pass, you can travel across 33 European countries as much as you want on participating European train networks for a set amount of travel days.
You can use a Eurail Pass if you’re not a European citizen or resident. If you're a European citizen or a non-European who is an official legal resident of a European country, you can use an Interrail Pass instead.
The average journey time by train between Prague and Vienna is 4 hours and 11 minutes, with around 16 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.
The fastest journey time by train from Prague to Vienna is 4 hours and 5 minutes.
Train tickets from Prague to Vienna can start from as little as $14.26 when you book in advance and are usually more expensive when purchased on the day. Prices can also vary depending the time of day, route and class you book.
Yes, it is possible to travel from Prague to Vienna without having to change trains. There are 8 direct trains from Prague to Vienna each day. Though there may be fewer direct services available depending on your exact departure date.
The first train from Prague to Vienna leaves at 00:40. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.
The last train from Prague to Vienna leaves at 18:44. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.
Trains travelling from Prague to Vienna cover a distance of around 156 miles (251 km) during the journey.
If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Vienna to Prague.