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Wien / Vienna to Berlin by train
Not very many years ago the direct trains between the German and Austrian capitals had disappeared from the timetables, but now there are four very different options to choose from when taking the train from Wien/Vienna to Berlin.
When you look up this journey on the ticket booking websites you'll also see a swathe of other journeys which involve making connections between trains.
So these direct trains can be tricky to spot amidst all of those other options, so you can use this info to find them more easily.
(1) The first daytime direct train is an ICE train, but it spends less than 25% of its journey travelling at high speed.
(2) A Railjet train which takes an entirely different route across Czechia.
(3) In the early evening there is a nightly IC train, it's a train usually used for daytime services, which happens to travel through the night.
(4) The final departure is a Nightjet and this is the train to take if you want to travel from Berlin to Vienna/Wien in a bed in a sleeping cabin, or in a bunk on a couchette.
Routes you can take to go from Wien / Vienna to Berlin
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
Choose one of the following options:
Looking for connections?
Route Information
Option 1: the daily direct ICE trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
7hr 43min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
3 x trains per day
Is the journey from Wien / Vienna to Berlin direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Is this journey scenic?
Not exceptionally, but there are some charming river views between the Austria / Germany border and Regensburg - see the Journey Information.
What other tourist locations are along this route from Wien / Vienna to Berlin?
This train also calls In Linz and Regensburg and Nurnberg and Erfurt.
When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Berlin Hbf from Wien Hbf on this journey option?
Before 14:00 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains, and trams, and the metro line, U5 - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
When is the usual approximate latest departure from Wien Hbf to Berlin Hbf on this journey option
Around 13:15 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to get to the station in Vienna?
The heart of the city, the area around St Stephens cathedral is linked to Wien Hbf by line 1 of the U-bahn.
The eastern areas of the city centre are linked to Wien Hbf by Lines S1, S2 and S3 of the city’s commuter train (S-Bahn network).
See the Station Guide for more information, plus easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood..
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access guides to how rail tickets are managed in Austria and Germany, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
It can be up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December; and when looking up summer travel in March to May.
What are the child ticket terms for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Adults (aged 15 and over) purchasing discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for travel in either First or Second class, can take up to four children (aged 14 and under) at no additional cost.
Does the ticket for these Vienna to Berlin trains include assigned seats?
They are included for travel between June 1st and September 1st.
At other times of year the discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets do not include seat reservations, but they can be added to a booking for an additional cost
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Yes - between June 1st and Sept 1st.
Though due to the length of the journey, ShowMeTheJourney recommends making the reservations regardless - see the rail pass reservation guides to Austria and Germany for info on the multiple booking options.
Is catering available on the Vienna to Berlin trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about Austrian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Austria.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Other Ticket Providers
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Save A Train Guide
Happyrail Guide
Happy Rail is a Netherlands rail ticket agency which sells tickets for both national and international journeys within a range of countries including Belgium France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland.
HappyRail doesn't charge booking fees in the conventional sense, but if you're not Dutch you can expect to pay additional transaction fees, which will be added to the total cost.
That's because the most common form of online payment used in The Netherlands is 'iDEAL' and HappyRail doesn't charge a transaction fee for 'iDEAL' payments, but only Dutch residents can sign up to 'iDEAL'.
Other forms of payment include Visa debit cards will incur a fee.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Hamburg or Osteebad-Binz
This train also calls at: Wien-Meidling; St Polten; Linz; and Berlin-Sudkreuz and Berlin Gesundbrunnen and Stralsund
These trains are typically scheduled to depart from Wien Hbf at around 06:15 and around 10:15
Departing from Wien/Vienna:
If your journey in Vienna is commencing in 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 join 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.
Arriving in Berlin:
Check the location of your final destination in Berlin, as Berlin-Sudkreuz station is connected by local S-Bahn trains to the eastern and western edges of the city centre,
It also has direct S-Bahn trains on lines S2 and S25 and S26 which head north into the city centre and call at Anhalter and Brandenburger Tor and Postdamer Platz and FriedrichstraBe stations; amongst others.
It is also now linked by direct train to the new Berlin Brandenburg airport.
Berlin Gesundbrunnen has connections to destinations on the northern edge of the city centre.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
When looking up the Berlin to Vienna/Wien train journey, you will likely see alternative options available, which involve changing trains.
Those indirect journeys are often a cheaper option than taking this direct train.
From Wien/Vienna until Wels the train will travel at up to 230 km/h (close to the high speed threshold) on the main Western Railway which crosses Austria.
On departure from Wells the train will head towards the border with Germany and to the south of Passau, the railway takes a charming route on the east bank of The River Inn, which can be seen on left.
Then between Passau and Regensburg the River Danube is on the right.
Between Regensburg and Nurnberg the train rushes across a delightful rolling landscape, then after departure from Nurnberg the train will remain on the conventional railway until it has passed through Bamberg.
Between Bamberg and Halle is the high speed section of the journey, aside from the call at Erfurt station, the train will spend around 90 minutes travelling at up to 280 km/h
Tickets
These trains are usually scheduled to depart daily from Wien Hbf at around 06:15 (from December 10th) and 10:15.
So target these departure time swhen looking up tickets; though travelling on indirect trains from Vienna/Wien to Berlin (connecting in Nurnberg ) tends to be cheaper.
It's already clear that the most heavily discounted tickets are selling out months ahead on this route.
It can be worth comparing prices on the different ticket agents, the cheapest 'Europa Spezial' tickets can still be available on DB, the German railways website, when the most heavily discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets are sold out on OBB, the Austrian railways website.
And the reverse can be true, cheaper Sparschiene tickets can still be available on OBB, meaning that DB can be more expensive.
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.
A choice of tickets on the DB website
Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis and Flexpreis.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but the Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport on from Berlin Hbf.
Seat reservations
For ticket holders seat reservations are always optional on this route, but if you will be using a rail pass they are now mandatory when travelling between mid-June and mid-August - check the Train guide for the exact dates.
Regardless of whether you will be using tickets or rail passes they cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
When a journey involves two or more trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees when first booking, cover all trains.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though in general reservations are highly recommended for this journey, particularly if you'll be travelling 2nd class; it's worth it to ensure that you have an assigned seat for the entire trip.
1st Class tickets
No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the major stations.
Booking on the DB website
You can find this train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.
But if you can't see it (because the schedule is being disrupted' look again without this option,
Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Booking on the OBB website
The discounted tickets are the 'Sparscheine' tickets and they can be booked online up until the day of departure, but they CAN'T be booked at stations, so booking last minute at the station is always more expensive.
Though you'll usually need to book the 'Sparscheine' tickets at least a couple of days ahead to obtain them at the cheapest possible price.
Book a Sparschiene ticket and it will be specific to the departure you selected when making a booking and it can't be refunded at all if you subsequently change your travel plans and it also can't be exchanged to an alternative, later departure.
Trains departing at different times can also be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares
It can pay off to take a look at the guide to Austrian train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Seat reservations are optional, but they're particularly recommended for this journey.
Rail pass users:
As explained on our guide to using rail passes on German trains, a tick in the box for travelling by ICE trains, is that you won't HAVE to make a seat reservation.
However, irrespective of whether you will be travelling with a 1st class or 2nd class pass, we recommend opting to make the reservation on these trains, if you want to be sure of having a stress-free journey.
Route Information
Option 2: taking the daily direct Railjet train
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 45 min approx
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
1 x train per day
Is the journey from Wien / Vienna to Berlin direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.
Is this journey scenic?
The train will spend more than 90 minutes travelling by the banks of the River Elbe - see the Journey Information for images
However, it takes this part of its route after 17:30, so this is only the most scenic option for a journey between the Austrian and German capitals by train, when daylight hours are longer.
What other tourist locations are along this route from Wien / Vienna to Berlin?
This train also calls Brno and Prague and Bad Schandau and Dresden.
When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Berlin Hbf from Wien Hbf on this journey option?
Before 22:00 (10pm) daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to travel on from the station in Berlin?
Berlin Hbf is linked to other areas of the city by frequent local (S-Bahn) trains and trams and the metro line, U5 - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in its neighbourhood.
When is the usual approximate latest departure from Wien Hbf to Berlin Hbf on this journey option
Before 13:15 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable
How easy is it to get to the station in Vienna?
The heart of the city, the area around St Stephens cathedral is linked to Wien Hbf by line 1 of the U-bahn.
The eastern areas of the city centre are linked to Wien Hbf by Lines S1, S2 and S3 of the city’s commuter train (S-Bahn network).
See the Station Guide for more information, plus easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood..
Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Yes, and they can be purchased from a choice of booking agents - see below.
Click on the 'Good to know info' to access guides to how rail tickets are managed in Austria and Gernany, plus step-by-step guides on how to make a booking.
How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
It can be up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though the booking period will be typically be shorter when looking up journeys for travel after the second Sunday in December; and when looking up summer travel in March to May.
What are the child ticket terms for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Adults (aged 15 and over) purchasing discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets for travel in either First or Second class, can take up to four children (aged 14 and under) at no additional cost.
Does the ticket for these Vienna to Berlin trains include assigned seats?
They are included for travel between June 1st and September 1st.
At other times of year the discounted 'Sparschiene' tickets do not include seat reservations, but they can be added to a booking for an additional cost
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train.
Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Vienna to Berlin trains?
Yes - between June 1st and Sept 1st.
At other times of the year they are available, but are not mandatory.
Though due to the length of the journey, ShowMeTheJourney recommends making the reservations regardless - see the rail pass reservation guides to Austria and Germany for info on the multiple booking options.
Is catering available on the Vienna to Berlin trains on this journey option?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant car.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.
What else is good to know about Austrian rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Austria.
What else is good to know about German rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Germany.
Purchase Tickets
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Trainline Guide
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Rail Europe ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option when booking international journeys with connections and for travellers who don't reside in western Europe. Use the easy options on its home page if you will be booking tickets with a railcard: Or purchasing rail pass reservations.
Other Ticket Providers
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
This train will typically depart from Wien Hbf at 13:10 and arrive into Berlin Hbf shortly before 22:00
Final Destination: Berlin-Charlottenburg
This train also calls at: Bad Schandau; Dresden Hbf and Dresden-Nuestadt
Arriving in Berlin:
The first station in central Berlin that these trains will arrive at is Berlin Ostbahnhof.
You can check your onward connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
If you're heading to the area around Alexanderplatz then connect to the S-Bahn trains at Berlin Ost; don't remain on the train until it arrives at Berlin Hbf.
Do remain on the train to its final stop at Berlin Hbf if you will be heading to stations in West Berlin, connect at Berlin Hbf into trains calling at Zoologischer Garten station.
If you have a rail pass it will be valid on a S-Bahn train, so you won't need to purchase an additional ticket(s)
Departing from Wien/Vienna:
This train will also call at Wien-Meidling station before going on to depart from Wien Hbf
So if your journey in Vienna is commencing in 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 join 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.
If you will be travelling with a rail pass and don't want to reserve seat, then it can be a good idea to board at Wien-Meidling.
Keep out of the way of the passengers who will be leaving the train at its next station call, Wien Hbf, so that when they have left the train, you'll have first pick of the available seats for the journey on to Berlin.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Though you will need to travelling during summer daylight hours to appreciate the best of the journey in this direction, because the train will travel over the scenic section of the route between around 17:50 and 19:40.
This train journey from Wien/Vienna to Berlin has four distinct phases.
(1) For the initial 1hr 15 mins the train will travel across an exceptionally flat area of Austria.
(2) From Breclav and on to Praha the railway crosses Czechia and on the part of the journey between Brno and Pardubice the train will travel through a verdant rolling landscape.
(3) Then between Prague and Dresden, the train travels through the beautiful Elbe River valley, but sit on the right of the train (when facing the direction of travel) for the best views.
For two wonderful hours the river valley is over to the right.
This part of the journey between Prague/Praha and Dresden is so fabulous that it's featured on the Daily Telegraph's list of Best Train Journeys that can be completed in a day.
(4)Then between Dresden and Berlin the railway crosses the flat landscape of the North European Plain, which lives up to its name as there is nothing of note to see.
Though depending on the time of year, if you're lucky you may encounter a sunset.
.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: 6 months ahead of the travel date
The discounted tickets are the 'Sparscheine' tickets and they can be booked online up until the day of departure - but they CAN'T be booked at stations, so booking last minute at the station is always more expensive.
Though you'll usually need to book the 'Sparscheine' tickets at least a couple of days ahead to obtain them at the cheapest possible price.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on this Railjet - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
Though in general reservations are highly recommended for this journey, particularly if you'll be travelling 2nd class; it's worth it to ensure that you have an assigned seat for the entire trip.
Booking on the OBB website
The discounted tickets are the 'Sparscheine' tickets and they can be booked online up until the day of departure, but they CAN'T be booked at stations, so booking last minute at the station is always more expensive.
Though you'll usually need to book the 'Sparscheine' tickets at least a couple of days ahead to obtain them at the cheapest possible price.
Book a Sparschiene ticket and it will be specific to the departure you selected when making a booking and it can't be refunded at all if you subsequently change your travel plans and it also can't be exchanged to an alternative, later departure.
Trains departing at different times can also be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares
It can pay off to take a look at the guide to Austrian train tickets - it should help you save time and money and confusion.
Booking on the DB website
You can find this train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.
But if you can't see it (because the schedule is being disrupted' look again without this option,
Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Route Information
Via stations: Nürnberg Hbf
Option 3: making connections between two ICE trains
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
8hr 14min - 8hr 39min
Frequency
Daily
Travel Info
5 x connections per day
Purchase Tickets
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
Travel Information
All of the ICE trains which travel from Wien/Vienna to cities in northern Germany call in Nurnberg/Nuremberg, so you can take a train in odd hours between 06:50 and 16:50
Final Destination: Dortmund or Frankfurt (Main) or Hamburg or Berlin
All trains also call at: Wien-Meidling and St Polten and Linz
Departing from Wien/Vienna:
Most of these ICE trains between Wien/Vienna and Nurnberg commence their journeys at Wien Flufghagen/Vienna Airport station.
If your journey in Vienna is commencing in 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 join 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.
Though we particularly recommend opting to make reservations on these trains if you want to join these trains at Wien-Meidling.
Making the connection Nürnberg:
The connecting time between trains at Nurnberg should be around 30 - 40 mins, so making the transfer into the trains on to Berlin shouldn't be a problem.
If you do happen to miss the connection due to the late arrival of a train from Wien, then tickets/reservations can be transferred free of charge to a later departure on to Berlin - and there is at least 1 x ICE train per hour between Nurnberg and Berlin.
Arriving in Berlin:
Check the location of your final destination in Berlin, as Berlin-Sudkreuz station is connected by local S-Bahn trains to the eastern and western edges of the city centre,
It also has direct S-Bahn trains on lines S2 and S25 and S26 which head north into the city centre and call at Anhalter and Brandenburger Tor and Postdamer Platz and FriedrichstraBe stations; amongst others.
It is also now linked by direct train to the new Berlin Brandenburg airport.
Berlin Gesundbrunnen has connections to destinations on the northern edge of the city centre.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
This journey is made up of 1 change.
Train 1
Between Wien Hbf/Hauptbahnhof and Nürnberg HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Until December 10th all trains on this route will be ICE-T trains, but the plan is to replace them on some departures with ICE 4 trains.
From Wien/Vienna until Wels the train will travel at up to 230 km/h (close to the high speed threshold) on the main Western Railway which crosses Austria.
From Wien/Vienna until Wels the train will travel at up to 230 km/h (close to the high speed threshold) on the main Western Railway which crosses Austria.
On departure from Wells the train will head towards the border with Germany and to the south of Passau, the railway takes a charming route on the east bank of The River Inn, which can be seen on left.
Then between Passau and Regensburg the River Danube is on the right.
Between Regensburg and Nurnberg the train rushes across a delightful rolling landscape.
Train 2
Between Nürnberg Hbf and Berlin HbfYou will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Hamburg-Altona
Multiple types of ICE train are used on this route
The Trains Guide shows how to work out which specific type of ICE train you will be tavelling by
These trains take the newly opened high speed line between Bamberg and Halle which has cut the journey time of trains between Nurnberg/Nuremburg and Berlin by nearly two hours!
These are the most frequent service of ICE trains between the two cities, but they divert off of what is now the direct route in order to call at Leipzig - where they reverse direction.
Tickets
When looking up a Wien/Vienna to Berlin train journey by day on DB, you will now see the direct trains, plus multiple other journey options which involve making one or more connections.
These alternative options with a change of train tend to be cheaper than taking the direct trains; and obviously the departure/arrival times of the direct trains may not suit.
Of the alternative options, we recommend this routing, with one theoretically straightforward connection between trains in Nurnberg.
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.
A choice of tickets
Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis and Flexpreis.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but the Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis and Flexpreis and also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between locations in Berlin city centre.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
When a journey involves two or more trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees when first booking, cover all trains.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though if you book the reservations separately to the tickets, you will need to pay a reservation fee per train.
1st Class tickets
No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the major stations.
Booking on the DB website
To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.
Rail pass users:
As explained on our guide to using rail passes on German trains, a tick in the box for travelling by ICE trains, is that you won't HAVE to make a seat reservation.
However, irrespective of whether you will be travelling with a 1st class or 2nd class pass, we recommend opting to make the reservation on these trains, if you want to be sure of having a stress-free journey.
Route Information
Option 4: travel overnight in sleeping cabins and couchettes
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
11hr 6 min*
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x train per night
*= 11hr 45min from December 12th
Purchase Tickets
OBB operates the Nightjet trains and it's bespoke booking path for these trains is particularly easy to follow, with detailed explanations of the accommodation options.
Nightjet Guide
Booking places in the sleeping cabins
When entering 2 travellers as 1 male and 1 female, you will automatically be given the option to book a 3-bed cabin for the sole use of the two of you - the 'double' cabin option.
So you will be in the cabin together with no other travellers.
3 men + 2 women or 3 women + 2 men = three beds in a triple cabin + two beds in a double cabin is what you will be offered, though the cabins will then be male and female only.
So if the combination of travellers is 1 male/female couple + 1 male/female couple and a child, you will need to make two separate bookings so that the two couples can each share a cabin.
When 4 Adults are travelling together you will be given the option of booking double or triple cabins.
If you select 'Double' you will automatically be assigned 4 beds in two double cabins.
Because the Triple cabins are segregated into male and female, when two women + two men are in the travel party, the two men will be sharing a triple compartment with another traveller, as will the two women
When 3 men + 1 woman or 3 women + 1 man are the travel party, the fourth person will then be sharing a three bed cabin with two other people.
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
DB Bahn Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
A key feature of DB website worth keeping mind is that it offers 1st class ticket purchasers complimentary seat reservations on journeys both within and to/from Germany.
Seat reservations for daytime in both 1st and 2nd class can also be booked separately from tickets.
Travel Information
From the timetable change on December 10th 2023 this train will be re-routed so that it travels via Praha and Dresden, instead of taking a route through Poland.
The new route is faster, so the departure time from Wien Hbf will be later, at around 22:10 - but the arrival time into Berlin Hbf, will unchanged at around 09:55.
The arrival time into Dresden Hbf will typically be around 06:00.
Departing from Wien / Vienna:
The train commences its journey in Graz, typically at around 19:20, so it also calls in Wien Meidling station, prior to arriving in Wien Hbf
Arriving in Berlin - until Dec 9th:
Final Destination: Berlin-Charlottenburg
This station is in West Berlin, but if you'll be heading to the area around Berlin Zoo station, leave this train at Berlin Hbf and take an S-Bahn train to Zoologischer station.
This train also calls at: Berlin Ostbahnhof
If you will be heading to Berlin city centre, then it's likely that your best option will be to leave this train at this station and connect there into one of the frequent S-Bahn trains to Alexanderplatz or Friedrichstrabe stations.
Arriving in Berlin - from Dec 10th:
Final Destination: Berlin Hbf
This train also calls at Berlin-Sudkreuz
Check the location of your final destination in Berlin, as Berlin-Sudkreuz station is connected by local S-Bahn trains to the eastern and western edges of the city centre,
It also has direct S-Bahn trains on lines S2 and S25 and S26 which head north into the city centre and call at Anhalter and Brandenburger Tor and Postdamer Platz and FriedrichstraBe stations; amongst others.
It is also now linked by direct train to the new Berlin Brandenburg airport.
Check your connections in Berlin on this public transport map.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
If you'll be content to travel in a seat for an overnight train journey from Vienna/Wien to Berlin is now available.
If you want to travel in a seat, that other service offers:
- a choice of 1st class or 2nd class seats (no 1st class seating is available on this Nightjet service).
- an earlier arrival time
And if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass you can also avoid all reservation fees, because reservations are optional on that IC train.
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Vienna/Wien at 22:10, so target that time when looking up this journey.
Online bookings open:
6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn
The choice of accommodation - summary:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the train details below 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 Austria, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though if you leave making the booking until your travel date, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Route Information
Option 5: travelling overnight on a train typically used for daytime services.
Station Guides
Travel Time (approx)
11hr 11min
Frequency
Nightly
Travel Info
1 x train per night
Purchase Tickets
DB Guide
DB is the national railway operator in Germany, so its website can be used for booking journeys by German express trains; the ICE and IC trains and it doesn't charge booking fees.
It also sells tickets for journeys by direct trains on all international routes from Germany regardless of whether DB is operating the train service.
It also sells an extensive range of end-to-end journeys which involve making connections both within Germany and in neighboring countries, but journeys between Germany and Britain cannot be booked on DB.
On journeys within Germany and on most international journeys from and to Germany on trains operated by DB:
- For journeys by the express trains, EC. IC and ICE trains an adult (on German railways an adult is a person aged 15 and over) can take up to four children aged 6 - 14 with them at no additional charge.
- Tickets need to be booked for children aged 0 - 5, but there is no charge for them.
- Those aged 65 and over can take journeys at a discounted rate.
- Dogs, which are too large to be placed in pet carriers, require tickets which cost 50% of the adult rate.
When booking both types of the discounted 'Sparpreis' tickets seat reservations are an optional extra, so need to be added when booking if you want an assigned seat(s).
OBB Guide
OBB is the national rail operator and its booking service offers journeys by express trains within Austria, as well as international journeys which don't involve making a connection outside of Austria.
It pays off to book online, as the discounted 'Sparscheine' tickets are only ever made available on the website, and when making international journeys to and from Austria, these Sparscheine tickets tend to be cheaper.
OBB can offer particularly good value for money when travelling with children on international rail journeys, but something to watch out for when travelling between Austria and Germany on daytime trains, is that reservations are an optional extra; but if you book 1st class tickets with the Germany railways website DB, the reservations are complimentary.
OBB often takes a unique approach to its booking path, but a key thing to keep in mind is that the first price you will see for any journey is that of a Second Class seat.
The costs of upgrading to first class, a reservation, or a sleeping cabin etc, is then added to this price.
Travel Information
Final Destination: Warnemunde
This train also calls at:
Linz - departs at 20:26
Leipzig - arrives at 04:50
Rostock - arrives at 08:39
It is the only direct overnight train between Linz and Berlin and betwen Vienna/Wien and Leipzig
This IC train also leaves Wien/Vienna earlier than the Nightjet, it usually departs at 19:15 as opposed to 22:10.
So it typically arrives in central Berlin around 06:30, more than three hours before the Nightjet.
This is a direct journey
You will be travelling on one of these trains...
Journey Features
Good to Know
This train is usually a cheaper alternative to the OBB Nightjet train which also travels between Berlin and Wien/Vienna
However, it is a daytime IC train that happens to run overnight
It does not have any couchette sleeping berths or sleeping cabins.
Though the windows have blinds which help block out the early morning light, particularly on the upper deck
These newly introduced trains are used for this service, so they're NOT the IC trains you'll see pictured if you click on the Train Guide
If you want to avoid the reservation costs for travelling in a couchette or sleeping cabin, this IC train has a wider choice of seating accommodation than is available on the Nightjet.
First Class seats are available on this IC train, but they're not available on the Nightjet.
Tickets
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for this direct train, which is usually scheduled to depart from Wien Hbf at 19:15.
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
This booking period tends to be shorter when looking up journeys between mid August and mid October.
A choice of tickets on the DB website
Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis and Flexpreis.
A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:
- Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
- Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
- Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.
The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but the Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.
Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.
When travelling to and from the major cities, the Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets also include 'City tickets', which can be used on public transport between on from Berlin Hbf.
Seat reservations
Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
When a journey involves two or more trains on which seat reservations are available, the fees when first booking, cover all trains.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets.
Though despite seats being automatically assigned when booking these three types of ticket - and these tickets being valid on any departure, you will need to pay to re-book the reservations, if you subsequently decide to travel on an alternative train.
So because you won't save by booking these types of tickets in advance, it can be a good idea to wait until you are sure when you will want to travel.
When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Though in general reservations are highly recommended for this journey, particularly if you'll be travelling 2nd class; it's worth it to ensure that you have an assigned seat for the entire trip.
1st Class tickets
No matter what type of ticket booked, if you choose to travel 1st class, you will have access to the same seating areas on the train, ICE trains do not have Business or Executive lounges.
Though only those who have booked 1st class Flexpreis or Flexpreis Plus tickets can access the DB Lounges at the major stations.
Booking on the DB website
You can find this train more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'..
Rail pass users:
As explained on our guide to using rail passes on German trains, a tick in the box for travelling by ICE trains, is that you won't HAVE to make a seat reservation.
However, irrespective of whether you will be travelling with a 1st class or 2nd class
Reservations are optional, so all additional reservation fees can be avoided.
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