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Wien / Vienna to Kraków / Krakow / Cracow by train
How to take a rail journey from Vienna/Wien to Krakow
Not so long ago the direct trains between the Austrian capital and Krakow had disappeared from the timetables, but very pleasingly it's now possible to choose between direct day and night options when taking the train from Vienna/Wien to Krakow.
Particularly as both of these beautiful cities are close to the top of many visitors to Europe's must-see lists.
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Routes
Option 1: travelling by day
Journey Summary
6hr 55min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Przyemysl
This trains also calls at: Katowice and 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.
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.
1 x direct train per day
Tickets
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.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| PKP | * | |
| OBB | * |
On this journey
Journey Features
Good to Know
This train has had an observation car added to its formation, so it now houses some of the first class seating on the train and it can be accessed by holders of any first class ticket, no supplements are required.
Though the scenic section of the end-to-end route of the Porta Moravia train is the part of the journey between Graz and Wien/Vienna.
Option 2: travelling overnight
Journey Summary
7hr 35min
Nightly
Travel Information
Final Destination: Warszawa
The train is usually scheduled to depart Wien Hbf at 22:10 and arrive in Kraków Główny station before 06:00!
1 x train per night
Tickets
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).
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| OBB | * |
On this journey
Journey Features
Good to Know
On departure from Wien Hbf the train to Warszawa will be joined to another train heading to Berlin, so if you see 'Berlin on the departure screens, then the info will also be for this train.
Don't be concerned about joining the wrong part of the train, your reservations will be in the part of the train that will be heading to Warszawa.
And the train conductor will greet passengers travelling in the sleeping cabins.
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