6 Quick & Easy Day Trips from Vienna by Train

Here are six day trips from Vienna by train, which I feel might be of interest to you when you visit the area. Vienna is obviously a cool city itself, but sometimes there’s curiosity driving me to find out more about local experiences or “what else is there” in the area.

Having spent the past three month in Vienna, I have had some opportunity to hop on the train a few times and explore locally. The area has a few points of interest such as castles and hiking trails. Further, it is incredibly easy and quick to explore neighbouring countries, such as Slovakia or the Czech Republic.

Sounds good? Then let me tell you everything I know about taking day trips from Vienna by train and share the cool and not so cool spots with you.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

• All day trips from Vienna by train are under 2h of travel time
• Specifically with local experiences, English often is not offered or as easily accessible
• Experiences use Vienna Hauptbahnhof (HBF) in District 10/Quartier Belvedere as the starting point
• HBF (main station) is not to be confused with Vienna Mitte (Central)
• Experiences often prefer cash only, so make sure you have enough on you
• Direct connections, especially local ones, run more frequently on weekends rather than during the week
• Photography in Austria is often banned inside churches, castles and other grand historical buildings. This is to prevent & reduce the travel under the Social Media influence
• Train tickets in Austria using the Austrian train line ÖBB are quite expensive, whereas trips to Czech Republic and Slovakia on the RegioJet Student Service are extremely cheap
• Costs are correct as of September 2022

City Destination Allegiance (CityDNA) the leading network for city tourism organisations in Europe has recently awarded Vienna with the title of “best connected city in Europe” when it comes to train travel. 115 cities were benchmarked for touristic infrastructure including accommodation offering, CO2 emission and connectivity when it comes to travel. More key stats and results from the CityDNA Travel Report can be found on the Vienna Tourism Board website (2023).

Criteria For Evaluating Day Trips from Vienna by Train

I used these 5 travel criteria to provide transparency and a clear guideline when comparing the day trips. It was important to me to apply the same aspects on each experience and evaluate them fairly, regardless if the experience was a city or castle visit.

1. Costs: how much were train tickets and entrance fee?
2. Efforts: what did it take to get here?
3. Time Efficiency: has travel time exceeded exploring time?
4. ROI: was there lots to do after I got here?
5. Mood: was I happy, angry, annoyed after my visit and would I come here again?

Highly Recommended Day Trips From Vienna By Train

These day trips from Vienna by train were highly enjoyable to me. These are places which I would love to visit again and spend more time here.

Castle Franzensburg in Laxenburg

Located: 18km south of Vienna

This replica of a medieval knight’s castle was built by Emperor Franz Joseph I and lies within 280 hectares of parkland, Austria’s largest landscaped gardens. With this rather charming and playful castle, the Emperor brought his wildest childhood fantasies to life – even though knights and shiny armours were already long in the past.  

The castle in Neoclassicism style is only 200 years old and has everything a mediaeval castle has to offer. From detailed stained glass windows, hidden doors in the walls and a walk on the rooftops – the features are all impressive and serve the sole purpose of enjoyment and entertainment. Therefore, Franzensburg was not intended as a liveable place so there is no electricity, running water or a kitchen.

Costs: 4.90€ (one way) by train or the bus 200 from Vienna HBF. The train service has Traiskirchen Aspangbahn Bahnhof as its final destination. Costs at the castle were a bit annoying as there is no combi ticket and you have to purchase everything individually. Entrance to the park is 3€, visitor train return 4.50€, ferry 0.70€ and guided tours (11€ each) can quickly add up to 30€. 

Efforts: 30 minutes one way either on the train or the bus. The train takes four stops and then there is another 20-minute walk to the park gates. From the gates, it’s another 25-minute walk. There is a small guest train on site. If you take the bus, line 200 arrives & leaves from Wiener Straße. Either or, it’ll be another 45-50mins walk to the castle.

Time Efficiency: the travel time is approximately 30 minutes one way. Then you explore the extensive gardens and can take part in two 1h long guided tours around the castle. Exploring time definitely has the upper hand here over travelling time.

ROI: Laxenburg is a quaint and charming town itself and makes for a wonderful distraction whilst walking to the park. Once at the park entrance you can either walk to the castle and explore its parklands on the way or keep that for your return later. The park has many romantic elements such as pavilions, grottos, monuments and small functional buildings. 

Mood: I found Franzensburg an enchanting treasure trove even though it is technically an outrageous frivolity. There was much to see and many secrets to discover. It’s a toy castle and comes with all sorts of playful features. Of course, the castle is located in the middle of an artificial lake. During the building time of 30 years, the lake was added rather late, therefore the maximum depth is only 2 metres.

The tour on the roof revealed spectacular views over Vienna and the surrounding grounds. Emperor Franz was a hobby gardener who planted his favourite oak trees around the grounds. The castle itself is not overwhelmingly big but provides enough rooms to keep you engaged and occupied. From elaborate wooden ceilings to kitschy four-poster beds, shiny armours and delightful towers. There’s even a Juliet balcony replica here. On a sunny day, the many colourful glass windows displaying key scenes from the Habsburg monarchy bring the place even more to life. For me, this was a delightful visit. 

Bratislava in Slovakia

Located: 65km east of Vienna

The capital city of Slovakia since 1993 and part of the EU (2004), Bratislava is the third richest area in the EU. With approximately 660,000 inhabitants the city has a moderate centre which can easily be visited within a day. The Old Town has been extensively modernised and welcomes visitors with its gelato-coloured houses. Quaint streets and cafés, a gorgeous castle and the romantic Danube River, what’s not to love?

Costs: 4.90€ one way on the RegioJet bus. Please book in advance. Train tickets with ÖBB are approximately 11€ one way and use hlavná stanica as the final destination.

Efforts: this is a very easy and direct bus or train connection from Vienna. The bus leaves from the International bus terminal outside of Vienna HBF. The journey takes 90 minutes. The bus terminal in Bratislava is located within a brand new shopping centre. From here, it’s only a short walk into the historic Old Town centre. You can also take the ÖBB train which is a bit more expensive but services are more frequent and allow you to max out the day efficiently. The train journey is approximately 1h. The walk into town takes between 30-40 minutes.

Time Efficiency: I went twice to Bratislava and tested the bus and the train connection. By bus: I took the 9am service from Vienna to arrive in Bratislava at 10:30am. Then I explored until 5pm and took the return bus to Vienna. This gave me more than 6h of exploring time and exceeded the invested travel time of 3h. Overall the day was very enjoyable. By train: I booked a 9am service with my return booked for 7pm to max out the day effectively. The walk from the train station to central, however, is a bit longer and takes about 35 minutes.

ROI: Bratislava has a charming and very well-maintained Old Town. In the many quaint streets are cafés and cute houses. Have a look for the Coronation Route marked with golden crowns integrated into the pavement or visit the Blue Church. The castle is a must-visit, too. Here I would factor in at least 2h for the 85m ascent and walk around its grounds overlooking the town and the Danube. This is without a tour of the building. There are several viewpoints from the castle and you can see the UFO building, too. You’ll see that time will pass quickly. Bratislava can be extended to a weekend trip but I doubt it would engage me past a two to three-day stay. 

Bratislava was the coronation town of the Hungarian kings of the House of Habsburg between 1563-1830. 11 kings and 7 royal spouses were crowned at St Martin’s Cathedral, et alia Maria Theresa in 1741. 

Mood: I’m completely in love with Bratislava, especially on a sunny day strolling around is super enjoyable. The Old Town is beyond cute and the best bit: the town is not overrun by tourists. The locals can be hit-and-miss. Some seem to be upset if you speak English straight away but the majority are accommodating and friendly. The Old Town is clean, modern and manicured. Even if you don’t end up visiting a museum or doing a guided tour, just walking around and getting to know the place will fill the time easily. 

Brno in the Czech Republic

Located: 135km north of Vienna 

Brno, pronounced “burn-oooh”, is the Czech Republic’s second-largest city. A short train journey away from Vienna, the city scores with great coffee culture and historical sites. There are lots of interesting activities to do here that will fill your day with variety aplenty and keep you engaged. The town centre is not as manicured as Bratislava, but its local authentic charm will make you fall in love with Brno slowly but surely. 

Read More: How Brno Cafes & Coffee Culture Shaped The City Now & Then

Costs: 8-10€ (one way) on the RegioJet Student service train. 

Efforts: train services leave a few times per day and make this day trip from Vienna by train easily doable. The first service runs at 6:30am and you could max out the day by choosing a return at 6pm or take the last service at 9:30pm. The train is a direct connection and takes 80 minutes. From Brno’s train station Hlavní Nádraží it’s a ten-minute walk to the main square. The train is really just for transportation purposes so it’s not the cleanest or the best maintained. 

Time Efficiency: if you take the earliest service, you can max out the day to approximately 12h exploring time which exceeds the initial 3h travel time (return).

ROI: similar to Bratislava, Brno has a gorgeous Old Town. Whilst it may not be as manicured as Bratislava, Brno offers a variety of activities that can be done within a 1h time frame. Therefore your day exploring can cover a variety of historical places including the Ossuary & St James’ Church, the labyrinth under the vegetable market, the view from the Radnice Town Hall Tower, the main square and astronomical clock, the Capuchin Crypt or a visit to the Moravian Museum. The views from Špilberk Castle especially at sunset are unrivalled. And there’s, of course, Brno’s extensive coffee culture. Literally, every café is insanely gorgeous and Brno’s baristas are world-renowned for making excellent speciality coffee. 

Did You Know: the Ossuary is the second largest in the world after Paris. It was found in 2001 by accident during construction work on the St James’s Church. Yes, the church is dedicated to Apostle St James and therefore, this is a Camino site. It’s not recognised as an official site YET, but the guides running the Ossuary feel strongly connected to the Camino and you can even fetch a stamp here for your Credential. 

Mood: Brno is not only laid-back, but it is also an interesting place. At first sight, it may be a bit edgy but soon it’ll develop its charm. Part of the charm is the friendliness and directness of the locals. The Old Town isn’t as overrun as Prague and Brno has kept a flair of authenticity to it. There’s more to discover and Brno would keep me engaged for longer. It’s worth having a look at staying here for a few days. 

Average Day Trips From Vienna By Train

These destinations were good and engaging at the time of my visit, but I doubt I would be excited enough to go there again. They were good, but there are better day trips from Vienna by train waiting to be explored.

Roman Town of Carnuntum

Located: 43km east of Vienna

Excavation site of a former Roman city. Originally a winter camp, Carnuntum grew to city size between the 1st and 4th century AD. At its peak, it was home to 50,000 citizens, connected key trade routes of the Roman Empire and was an important military base. Today, only 0.5% of the original site is excavated. 

Carnuntum stretches over two villages, which lie 5km apart. In Bad Deutsch-Altenburg is the museum with Austria’s largest collection of Roman artefacts. There are also remains of a former amphitheatre here. The village of Petronell-Carnuntum shows excavations of a Roman quarter completed through additional reconstructions. A visit here includes public thermal baths, an Inn, several residential buildings and villas. Nearby are an old city gate and another amphitheatre.

Costs: 9.60€ train ticket one way, 12€ entrance to the site which is spread over two villages. 

Efforts: it is a 70-minute journey on a direct train, which only runs directly on the weekend. Check S7 (direction Wolfsthal) leaving from Rennweg, which is a short walk from HBF. The train station for Petronell-Carnuntum has a “middle of nowhere” feel to it. The signage is sparse. Keep straight and then turn left on the main road to get to the quarter site. The second part of the site is located in the next village, a 5km hike away. You can walk it or take the train to the next stop. However, the train only runs once per hour. I would advise taking the train from Vienna first to Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, checking out the museum and then walking over to the Roman quarter in Petronell-Carnuntum. Alternatively, you can rent a bike from the train station and cycle over to the next village. 

Time Efficiency: travel time exceeded exploring time slightly, especially if you decide to walk between the two villages.

ROI: the Roman quarter takes a good hour to explore. It is well kept and there is a visitor centre with a small exhibition. Nearby you can see the remains of an amphitheatre and the old city gate. Those are free to visit and roam about. Overall, there’s no strict tour and many parts are accessible for you to walk in and around rather than closed off as it is usually the case.

The second site in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg is quite a walk away but there’s another amphitheatre ruin here. It is the last standing of the military part of Carnuntum city. A well-curated museum completes the experience. Efforts have been made to present the exhibition in English, but unfortunately not consistent throughout; alternatively, you can fetch an informative English guidebook for 1€. Overall, this day trip from Vienna by train will keep you busy for the entire day. 

Mood: the quarter part is the main site and attracts the most visitors. It’s not overrun and overall a rather relaxed point of interest. There’s also a café here overlooking the grounds. The Carnuntum village is mostly self-guided, manageable and on a sunny day, it is no hassle to walk to the second site. I doubt I would do it when it is colder or drizzling. Therefore, I would prefer to start with the museum in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg first and then fetch a bike and cycle to the Roman quarter. 

Poor Day Trips from Vienna by Train

These are destinations which didn’t impress me and have put me off from visiting again. They are pretty much destinations I have ticked off my list but I wouldn’t bother coming here again. This is my personal experience and therefore, contains subjective views. You can, of course, decide for yourself, if you’d like to pay these destinations a visit.

Castle Kreuzenstein in Leobendorf

Located: 32km north of Vienna

Oh, another medieval castle just outside of Vienna? Ah don’t get too excited, unfortunately, Castle Kreuzenstein was rebuilt from scratch after it was destroyed in 1645 by the Swedes. The castle as it stands today is only 200 years old and is privately owned by the family of Count Wilczek. Wilczek was a rich local thanks to his coal mining in Silesia. Today, the castle is used as a filming location and you may have seen it in The Quest or The Witcher. Nicolas Cage is a regular celeb filming here.

Costs: 6.10€ train ticket one way. 15€ entrance to the castle by guided tour only. The nearby falconry costs another 12€.  

Efforts: there are regular S3 & S4 services out of Vienna (direction Korneuburg) which take approximately 40 minutes to reach the village of Leobendorf where Castle Kreuzenstein is located. Then there’s a 45-minute hike and ascent to the castle. The return train to Vienna is the problem, as there are only two services per hour. A less frequent service means waiting time which stretches your day trip unnecessarily and there’s nothing to do at the small train station. 

Please note: in Greater Vienna, there’s a LeobENdorf (North) and LeobERSdorf (South). Confusing AF at times.

Time Efficiency: the travel time exceeded the exploring time, as there were only two services back to Vienna. Be prepared for some waiting time. The guided tour at the castle only lasts for about 45 minutes and afterwards, there’s little to do. You can walk around the castle’s dramatic exteriors and see its moat which keeps you occupied for another ten minutes. The falconry is only open for its shows which have irregular showing times, so check these in advance if you’re interested in visiting. The Leobendorf village is unspectacular and most shops are closed outside of the wine season in September/October. 

ROI: the castle is only accessible by a guided tour which starts every full hour and lasts for roughly 45 minutes. You see a medieval knights’ hall, kitchen, Europe’s largest privately-owned weapon collection, a bedroom, a staircase and a trophy room. Whilst the tour guide was friendly, I found the tour could have been better and more informative. The ticket price of 15€ is steep but it is, unfortunately, a privately-owned experience. There are no bathrooms or a café here either which is a shame, as there is space and facilities available but currently not in use. 

Mood: please note, this is a privately-owned castle run by family members. As such, the curation is clumsy and at times makes you feel unwelcome. There are tons of “forbidden” signs and “do not touch” warnings plastered around the place. The information provided by the tour guide is ok but not plentiful enough to justify the high entrance fee. The exterior of the castle is gorgeous but you can’t shake off the feeling that this is a more style-over-substance experience. Overall, I didn’t enjoy this day trip from Vienna by train as much as I would have loved to. 

Signs of a Poorly run Privately-Owned Experience:

– often way overpriced
– poorly & clumsily curated exhibits
– weird obsession with mannequins
– family members act as “guides” and provide little information
– when faced with criticism, the owners often take offence & post unprofessional replies on e.g. Google reviews
– lots of “forbidden” and “do not touch” signs everywhere
– you’re unwelcome but your money is not
– amateurish processes e.g. handling of queues, no marketing, basic 90s-looking website
– no photography
– broken/outdated facilities
– financial blame, resentment and finger-pointing by the owners towards commercialised competitor experiences
– insecurities towards “the big” institutions e.g. National Trust

Melk Abbey in the Wachau Valley

Located: 88km west of Vienna

Melk Abbey is a stunning Benedictine abbey in the Wachau Valley. Often included in a Danube cruise but you can, of course, visit it individually. Founded in 1089 and run primarily as a school, it was extended to a grammar school in the 12th century. Its library has a large manuscript collection and hosts an equally impressive gemstone collection, too. The iconic Baroque façade of the abbey built in the early 18th century was extensively restored over the past 40 years. Today, the abbey is the resting place of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty. 

Costs: 20€ train ticket one way with the ÖBB. You have to change at St Pölten and take a regional train to Melk. The ticket for the abbey without a tour costs 13€. 

Efforts: the train journey is approximately 70 minutes and even though you have to take two connections, it feels quick and swift. You take a train first to St Pölten and then change to a regional service which runs seamlessly. The walk from Melk’s train station to the abbey takes approximately 20 minutes. Train services back to Vienna run frequently but watch out for the final destination. Often they end at Hütteldorf or Westbahnhof, which is fine, but add another 30 minutes to the journey if you need to get back to HBF. 

Time Efficiency: trains run frequently to Melk and back to Vienna, so you won’t be stranded here. However, I found myself finishing my explorations after 2h and I struggled to keep myself busy for another hour. Therefore my exploring time and travel time balanced themselves out. 

ROI: I had my train connections pre-booked which gave me a 4h time window for exploring. When I got to Melk Abbey I found myself finished after 40 minutes. I spent another 25 minutes roaming the gardens and then went back for another self-guided tour inside the abbey. There are a few rooms with exhibits but I didn’t find them curated well enough to keep me engaged for long. The gemstone collection is impressive, but then I must have missed its point of a display in a Benedictine abbey. The annexed library and Marbled Hall are impressive, too but you won’t dwell there forever. The Church and the 15-minute service were good but again a rather short experience. The gardens are huge but can be walked within 25 minutes as there’s not much to do there. 

Mood: I found the staff exceptionally rude & argumentative, especially at the ticket office and later on at the main exhibition. Whilst the interiors are impressive, most parts of this massive abbey are closed off to the public. The information displayed isn’t as engaging as I’d thought it’d be, leaving out an educational effect and therefore the visit felt less inspiring. The town itself is very small with only a handful of cafés. Overall it felt like a pensioner’s rip-off. They get dropped off here during a Danube cruise, the cafés are expensive with Vienna prices and the abbey can only engage you for a short while as it gets boring real quickly. I couldn’t wait to get back to Vienna.

FAQs for Your Day Trips from Vienna by Train

I understand this is quite a lengthy post and you may have some quick questions about day trips from Vienna by train. You can, of course, always come back to any section of my post and read in more detail what you’d need for your trip. If you have questions or need help, please get in touch and I’m happy to assist. 

How much do Day Trips from Vienna by Train cost?

Day trips from Vienna by train have varied in their costs but all six introduced in this post stayed under 100€. Travelling within Austria is rather pricey. However, you can save a few Euros when you book tickets in advance. The in-advance lead time can be as short as two weeks and you’d still get a good deal. Cheap alternatives are trips to nearby Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Is Austria solo travel friendly?

Yes, Austria has been friendly towards me as a solo female traveller and I felt safe on all of my trips. Know that English isn’t as common in local and rural areas and you may want to have a few German phrases at hand.

Is it easy to move around in Vienna?

Vienna is well-connected to its neighbouring countries and has several train stations to serve the demand. The Hauptbahnhof (HBF aka main station) serves mostly connections to Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary, whereas Westbahnhof (west station) runs services towards Salzburg and Linz more frequently. The city also has a great bus and tram network. It’s quite easy to move around and you can be across town within a 1h time frame. All are very accessible and manageable. The only confusion is with Vienna Hauptbahnhof (main station) and Vienna Mitte (central). The latter runs the costly direct airport train and many tourists have fallen victim to the translation. Usually, a central station is the main station but in this case, Vienna is ambiguous. Vienna Mitte (central) is not the main station. Please watch out when booking your train from the airport.

Thank You so much and if you enjoyed this post you can always support my research and Buy Me a Coffee.

Carolin

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