Exterior view of Stuttgart Hbf

From Wien /Vienna to Stuttgart by train

Take the new direct train from the Austrian capital to one of Germany's most fabulous cities

A new epic railway journey has been added to the European railway timetable, as one of the daily ultra-smart Railjet trains from Wien to far-western Austria has had its journey extended into Germany, thereby providing a new direct journey by train from Vienna to Stuttgart.

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Routes

Taking the direct train

Travel Information

Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main)

The train also calls at: Lindau-Reutin; Friedrichshafen-Stadt and Ulm hbf

The train is now usually scheduled to depart from Wien/Vienna daily at 09:55 and arrive into Stuttgart at 20:05

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.

The alternative journey options

The two plus points of taking this train are a lack of a need for connections and the scenic route taken, but if travelling to Stuttgart as quickly as possible is of greater importance to you, the much faster alternative is to travel via Munchen Hbf and make a connection between trains at that station.

For example, it's possible to depart from Wien 35mins after this direct train; and with a comfortably timed 54 min connection into the ICE train, typically scheduled to depart from Munchen/Munich at 15:28, it's possible to be in Stuttgart at 17:45; with an end-to-end journey time of only 7hr 15min.

1 x train per day

Tickets

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings 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 DB website

You can find this trains 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

Where to book
Ticket Provider Approximate Cost
OBB *

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 *

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).

On this journey

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLandscape (Hills / Mountains)Lake views

Good to Know

The train will reverse direction on departure from Friedrichshafen Stadt.

The best of the scenery kicks in around 5hrs into the journey, once the train has passed Innsbruck; this train will take the faster, but less scenic route between Kufstein and Innsbruck.
Though near Kuftstein station it will travel beside the River Inn.

Between St.Anton and Feldkirch, the train threads the stunning Arlberg Pass; though in summer the trees can get in the way.

If possible sit on the left (when facing the direction of travel) on departure from Vienna/Wien.
The best views of The Arlberg Pass are from this side of the train, as are the view of the Bodensee between Bregenz and Lindau, and on to Friedrichshafen.
The train will reverse direction on departure from Friedrichshafen

Passing by the River In at Kufstein Passing by the River In at Kufstein
The railway passes through Innsbruck city centre The railway passes through Innsbruck city centre
The spectacular ascent from Landeck The spectacular ascent from Landeck
Passing by one of the villages nestled in The Arlberg Pass Passing by one of the villages nestled in The Arlberg Pass
Heading west from Landeck Heading west from Landeck
Between St Anton and Bregenz the best views are on the left Between St Anton and Bregenz the best views are on the left
Around 10 mins before Bregenz the train crosses the valley Around 10 mins before Bregenz the train crosses the valley
As the train arrives in Bregenz it's on the other side of the pass As the train arrives in Bregenz it's on the other side of the pass
By the shore of the Bodensee between Bregenz and Lindau By the shore of the Bodensee between Bregenz and Lindau
Through the hills between Ulm and Stuttgart Through the hills between Ulm and Stuttgart
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