Route guide

Vienna → Salzburg

251 km · Austria to Austria · Fastest: 1h by train · Cheapest: €15+ by bus

How to travel from Vienna to Salzburg

There are 3 ways to travel between Vienna and Salzburg — compare duration, price and operators below.

🚄Train

€30–85

Duration: 1h 24m

via ÖBB (Railjet)

~3.5 kg CO₂ per passenger

🚌Bus

€15–38

Duration: 3h 35m

via FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus

~7.0 kg CO₂ per passenger

✈️Flight

Not practical for this route.

🚗Car

€30–55

Duration: 2h 47m

~43 kg CO₂ per passenger

Where they are on the map

Vienna and Salzburg highlighted among the 50 European cities we cover. Map is schematic, not to scale.

Travel tips for this route

At 251 km this is short-haul — feasible as a day trip if you start early.
Direct or connecting trains cover this route. Advance fares (1–2 months out) drop prices significantly.
Both Vienna and Salzburg are in Austria — no border crossing, single currency, single rail network.
Long-distance coaches (FlixBus and similar) are typically 30–50% cheaper than train, but 2–3× slower.

Vienna to Salzburg — every option in detail

Vienna to Salzburg by train

Trains between Vienna and Salzburg run within the Austria national rail network. The typical end-to-end journey is around 1h 24m.

Operators on this corridor include ÖBB (Railjet).

Train fares are dynamic — typical range is €30 to €85. Advance-purchase tickets (1–2 months ahead) almost always beat walk-up prices.

On routes under 600 km like this one, train often beats flight door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in and transfers.

Climate footprint: about 3.5 kg CO₂ per passenger by train vs roughly 39 kg by flight — taking the train saves ~36 kg on this distance.

Vienna to Salzburg by bus

Long-distance coaches connect Vienna and Salzburg with a typical journey of 3h 35m. Buses are usually the slowest mode for this corridor but consistently the cheapest.

Operators include FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus.

Fares start from around €15 when booked in advance, rising to €38 for last-minute travel.

Most modern coaches offer Wi-Fi, USB charging and reclining seats. Overnight services exist on longer corridors and can save a hotel night.

Vienna to Salzburg by flight

Flight is not a typical choice for this 251 km route.

Vienna to Salzburg by car

The driving distance from Vienna to Salzburg is approximately 288 km. At motorway speeds, plan on around 2h 47m of driving plus stops.

Fuel-only running cost is in the €30–55 range for a typical car. Toll roads may apply, especially in France, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland — budget extra accordingly.

Climate footprint: approximately 43 kg CO₂ per passenger assuming 1.5 occupants per car.

About this route

The distance between Vienna and Salzburg is approximately 251 kilometres. Direct or connecting trains link the two cities through the European rail network. Long-distance coaches offer a budget-friendly alternative on this route. Estimates below reflect typical operator schedules and fare ranges; book in advance for the best prices.

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