How to take a train journey from Wien/Vienna to München/Munich

Final Destination: Munchen Hbf (or Frankfurt)

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.

These trains heading to Munchen are usually joined to other trains heading for Bregenz on departure from Wien Hbf.
The two trains are then separated from each other on arrival at Salzburg.
So if you haven't reserved, take care that you're boarding the part of the train which will be heading to Munchen.

These trains also call at: Salzburg

Arriving in München / Munich

These Railjet trains do not call at Munchen Ost station.

They are also now scheduled to arrive in the part of München Hbf station designated München Hbf Gl.5-10, which is a 2 - 3 minute wall away from the main station concourse.

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.

It can be worth comparing prices on the different ticket agents, the cheapest 'Europa Super Sparpreis' 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.

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.

Booking on the DB website

Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa and Flexpreis Europa.

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 Munchen Hbf.

To see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

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.

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.

Child tickets:

Adults (aged 15 and over) booking discounted 'Sparscheine tickets' can take up to four children aged 14 and under with them at no additional cost.

Final Destination: Munchen Hbf

These trains also call at: Munchen Ost

The alternative Railjet services do not call at Munchen Ost, but if your final destination is located by Marienplatz or Isator stations in Munchen/Munich city centre, you will save around 20 mins by making a connection into local cross-city trains at Munchen Ost instead of at Munchen Hbf

Departing from Wien/Vienna:

The Westbahn trains leave from alternative station in Wien/Vienna to those used by the Railjets, they commence their journeys at Wien Westbahnhof.
Unlike Wien hbf the Westbahnhof is served by line U3 of the Vienna Metro which calls at city centre stations with no direct link to the main hbf station including Volkstheater

The Westbahn trains also call at Wien Hutteldorf a station not served by the Railjets, which has an interchange with line U4 of the Vienna Metro, which makes multiple stops on the southern side of the city centre, including at Karlsplatz.

Book early and save: Yes

The daytime train service between Wien/Vienna and München/Munich is now split between Railjet trains operated by OBB and these trains operated by Westbahn.

The two train services have similar journey times;, the difference is generally less than 10 mins compared to OBB's fastest services), but the Westbahn trains depart from a different station in Wien/Vienna

Tickets for the trains operated by Westbahn are not available on the OBB ticket booking site and vice versa, tickets for the trains operated by OBB are not available on the Westbahn site, but both services can be looked up and booked on Trainline.

Though on this route when travelling on Monday to Thursday limited numbers of WESTsuperpreis tickets will be available for €23.99, they must be booked in advance and are only valid when travelling on the selected departure.

Last minute tickets booked at the station are more expensive than booking in Advance.

Differences in ticketing terms to travelling by Railjet:

• For these cross-border journeys Westbahn offers complimentary seat reservations when booking online
• Tickets can be cancelled/refunded up to one day before the travel date
• Book any ticket and you can take up to four children who are family members and aged 14 and under for €1 per child.

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Wien Hbf at around 23:30 and arrive in Munchen Hbf at 06:10 - note the exceptionally early arrival time.

Final Destination: Stuttgart Hbf

This train also calls at: Munchen Ost

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

'Kalaman Imre' is the name given to this train that is provided by Hungarian Railways (MAV) - the train will have commenced its journey in Budapest. 
OBB Nightjets are not used on this route.

It comprises
- Compartment Seats
- Couchettes ; 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Sleeping cars with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins (there are no deluxe sleeping cars with showers in the cabins available on this route)

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

Click the train info below for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website.

If you want to reserve seats, berths in couchettes or beds in the sleeping cabins before you arrive in Austria, the best option is to pay a booking fee and use the Eurail or InterRail reservation services.
If you would rather not do this, 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.