How to take a rail journey from Vienna/Wien to Krakow

Final Destination: Przyemysl and Krakow

These trains also call at: Katowice and the first departure of the day also calls in Rzeszow

This train to Krakow and beyond, which is named the 'Porta Moravia', will typically depart from Wien Hbf at 08:10.
Prior to departing from Wien Hbf it will also call at Wien-Meidling station.
The newly introduced second train of the day departs at 16:10 - and is named the 'Danubius'.

Though it's not a particularly scenic train ride, so you won't miss out on a particularly memorable travel experience if you opt to take the night train on this route.
Even though it can be fascinating to travel through three countries in under 7 hours, the journey will take you across Czechia, it can be a good idea to have something to read/watch with you.

Also take food and drink on board just in case the catering isn't available.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 60 days ahead of the travel date

Tickets for the daytime train journey from Wien/Vienna to Krakow are sold by the OBB website provided by Austria's national train operator.
If you want to travel by this direct train, use a time of 08:00 when looking up this journey.

Booking on the OBB InterCity website

Note that the cheapest tickets on the OBB webite, the 'Sparschiene' tickets, can't be refunded or exchanged if you subsequently need to change your travel plans.

Also if you book on the OBB website, you can only obtain your tickets for this journey by printing them off from an OBB ticket machine at a station in Austria, or by taking your booking confirmation reference number to an OBB ticket desk at a station in Austria.

Travelling with a rail pass:

If you will be boarding these trains and using an InterRail or Eurail Pass, you will need to make a reservation* prior to boarding.
*According to the Eurail and InterRail websites, the reservation fees still apply to international journeys by these EC trains, despite fees no longer being charged to travel by these DAY trains for domestic journeys within Poland, OR in Czechia and Austria.

Until December 9th this train will be scheduled to depart from Wien Hbf at 22:10, but from the pan-European timetable change on December 10th, it will typically be leaving an hour later at 23:10 - but will still be scheduled to arrive in Krakow at around 06:00!
Though it seems as though it will not be operating between January 1st and February 14th,

Final Destination: Warszawa Wschodnia / Warsaw East

Book early and save: No

Tickets will cost the same price if you book at Wien Hbf station.

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

A plus of booking online is that you will have ensured your place on the train; your first choice of accommodation MAY be sold out if you don't book in advance.

Enter 'Krakow Glonwny' as the 'arr station' on OBB.

Polish Railways (PKP) provides this train and it conveys:

- Compartment Seats 
- Couchettes; 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
(Deluxe sleeping cabins with showers are not available for the Wien to Krakow journey)

The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.

Click the train details below for more info including the rail pass reservation fees*:
*(the 2 berth and 1 berth sleeping cabin fees are around €10 cheaper for this journey).

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains, but these reservations cannot be booked online.
Reservations can be arranged and paid for at the ÖBB Reisebüro desk in Wien Hbf - ideally do this when you first arrive at Wien Hbf on the preceding train on your itinerary.
Or by calling OBB Customer Service (+43 5 1717).