How to get from Vienna to Salzburg
About traveling from Vienna to Salzburg
Vienna and Salzburg embody the various facets of Austrian culture. Vienna, also known as the City of Music, is one of the most culturally and architecturally rich capitals in Europe. In Salzburg, rugged alpine terrain surrounds a city of Baroque architecture watched over by one of Europe’s largest medieval fortresses. Between Vienna and Salzburg are some exceptional sights, including the iconic town of Sankt Gilgen where the opening scene of ‘The Sound of Music’ was filmed, the UNESCO-listed alpine village Hallstatt, the secret Mauthausen Concentration Camp, the abbey-town of Melk on the Danube, the wine-town of Durnstein, and the medieval Kreuzenstein Castle. The easiest way to visit these sites is to book a private car transfer with Daytrip.
How to get from Vienna to Salzburg
After losing yourself in the rich culture of Austria’s capital, you might want to head to the hills so experience the Sound of Music in Salzburg.Fortunately, you have several transportation options if you’re travelling from Vienna to Salzburg. For travellers on a budget, the bus is the cheapest way to travel from Vienna to Salzburg. The fastest way to travel from Vienna to Salzburg is by car or train, though travelling by car is the best way to travel from Salzburg to Vienna as it is the most convenient. Travelling by plane from Vienna to Salzburg is also an option, but it is slow and the most expensive option.
Vienna to Salzburg by train
To travel from Vienna to Salzburg by train, you can purchase a ticket and depart from Wien Hauptbahnhof, which is Vienna’s central train station, one of Vienna’s many stations to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof. The earliest train is at 3:24 AM, and the last train is at 10:12 PM, with trains departing every 30 minutes. The train from Vienna to Salzburg is operated by ÖBB and Westbahn, with train tickets costing €29 on average for the 2.5 hour trip. Additionally, Flixtrain offers tickets costing €22 on average, making it the cheapest train option from Vienna to Salzburg. The distance from Vienna to Salzburg is about 295 kilometers. Trains have bathrooms on board, and usually offer a dining car.
Vienna to Salzburg by bus
To travel from Vienna to Salzburg by bus, there are no direct routes, so you will always have to transfer in another major city, eg: from Prague, Munich, Budapest, or Bratislava. We suggest booking a bus via Bratislava as it is the fastest connection. To get the Vienna International Busterminal (VIB) Station Erdberg, you can depart from Salzburg Central station Südtirolerplatz, Park & Ride Salzburg Süd, or Central station Lastenstraße. You can also get to the Vienna Airport (VIE), Schwechat Airport Bbf. by departing from Salzburg Park & Ride Salzburg Süd. While you can buy your ticket at the station, it’s best to purchase them in advance. Depending on the day of the week, the earliest bus can be from 1:30 AM, and the last bus is at 9:24 PM, with 2 busses leaving every hour. The bus from Vienna to Salzburg is ran mostly by Flixbus, with bus tickets from Vienna to Salzburg costing between €18-€38. The journey time with the connection range from 8.5 - 11 hours.There are no options for a direct bus from Vienna to Salzburg, so you will have to book to/ from a connecting city, i.e. Bratislava.
Vienna to Salzburg Flight
To travel by plane, you need to book a flight from Vienna to the Salzburg International airport. As usual with flights, you’ll want to buy your tickets in advance. For travelling such a short distance, only direct flights make sense. The plane tickets cost around €112 for the 55 minute flight from Vienna to Salzburg. It’s recommended to arrive at the airport 2 hours before the flight, making this a slow and expensive option.
Vienna to Salzburg Private Car Transfer
For speed and convenience, a private car transfer with Daytrip is the best way to travel from Vienna to Salzburg. You will be picked up at your accommodation, and the driver will take care of your luggage. You’ll then be able to enjoy door-to-door service to your accommodation in Salzburg, and can even add sightseeing stops on the way!
Book a Private Car Transfer from Vienna to Salzburg
Going the other direction? Check our guide on How to get from Salzburg to Vienna