When travelling by train from northern Germany to the Austrian capital, there is a choice between travelling by day on an ICE train, or through the night on a Nightjet.
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train also calls at: Linz and St Polten
This train is named the 'Donauwaltzer'
Departing from Hamburg:
Before arriving in Hamburg Hbf, the train will have departed from Hamburg-Altona at 07:45, and will have also called in Hamburg-Dammtor at 07:54.
Arriving in Wien/Vienna:
Check the location of your final destination in Wien/Vienna.
If you're heading to the south west corner of the city, or the area on the ring road around the Opera House - then it's likely that you'll have a faster and more convenient journey if you leave the train at Wien-Meidling station.
Wien Meidling is connected to line U6 of the Vienna Metro, which serves the western side of the city centre.
1 x direct train per day
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
Reservations are highly recommended for this journey - book a 1st class ticket and your seat will be assigned, but not if you book 2nd class, or will be travelling with a rail pass.
The alternative daytime journeys:
In addition to this daily direct ICE train, there are also three other options for reaching Wien in a day by train from Hamburg '- and all of those involve making a connection between ICE trains at Wurzburg.
If the discounted tickets for this direct train have sold out, then those journeys (that have 1 in the chg. column on DB Bahn) can be cheaper.
Though the journeys with connections in Wurzburg will be at least an hour slower between April 1st and December 9th.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
DB | from €35.90 | |
OBB | from €36 | |
Omio | from €35.90 | |
Save A Train | from €35.90 | |
Happy rail | from €35.90 |
Until March 31st:
Note that another ICE train to Wien, which takes a different and slower route via Berlin, is typically scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf only two minutes later at 08:04, so take care to board this train with the train number 'ICE 91', which will be travelling via Hannover.
From April 1st:
Due to maintenance work the high-speed line between Kassel and Fulda, which this train uses, will be closed between April 1st and December 9th.
Between these dates this train will be cancelled, so the train via Berlin at 08:04 will be the only direct train from Hamburg to Wien/Vienna, so the journey time will be 9hr 34min.
The train will travel at more than 270 km/h on the high speed line between Hannover and Wurzburg
The most scenic part of the journey is between Regensburg and the Austrian border, on this part of the journey the railway runs beside the River Danube and then the River Inn.
North of Passau the river is on the left (when facing the direction of travel) and then south of Passau it switches over to being on the right.
But you won't miss out on a stunningly beautiful journey if you opt to take the overnight train.
The videos were taken on a train travelling in the opposite direction.
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 20:29 and arrive in Wien Hbf at 09:19.
It commences its journey at Hamburg-Altona station at 20:11; and then calls in Hamburg-Dammtor at 20:21.
Final Destination: Wien Hbf
This train also calls at: Linz/Donau, St Polten and Wien-Meidling.
1 x train per night
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Hamburg Hbf at 20:29, so target that time when looking up this journey
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
Our guide to booking night train tickets on the OBB (Austrian national railways) website is available HERE.
Our guide to booking night train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.
The choice of accommodation - summary:
Click the yellow train button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains).
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.
Or you can avoid the booking fees by arranging the reservations when you arrive in Germany, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though it's best to do this at the first hauptbahnhof (city centre station) that you will arrive at, the later you leave booking your accommodation, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
OBB | * | |
DB Bahn | * |
Check the location of your final destination in Wien/Vienna.
If you're heading to the south west corner of the city, or the area on the ring road around the Opera House - then it's likely that you'll have a faster and more convenient journey if you leave the train at Wien-Meidling station.
Wien Meidling is connected to line U6 of the Vienna Metro, which serves the western side of the city centre.
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