Complete Guide to Austrian Transportation: ÖBB, Lake District Buses, and City Transit Passes
Understand ÖBB discount tickets, Vienna’s 72-hour pass, and lake district bus transfers—plan your entire Austrian journey in one go.
Arrival & Inter-City Travel
| Route | Transport | Time/Approximate Price |
|---|
| Vienna—Salzburg | Westbahn or ÖBB Railjet | 2.5 hours, early bird fares around €19–45 |
| Salzburg—Innsbruck | Railjet via the Salzach Valley | Approximately 2 hours, €19–40 |
| Vienna—Hallstatt | Train with transfer to buses 542/543 | Approximately 3.5–4 hours, €30–50 |
| Vienna Airport to City | CAT Express or S7 S-Bahn | 16 minutes / 25 minutes, €4–12 |
City Transit
Vienna’s U-Bahn subway system has five lines and shares a unified ticketing system with trams and buses: single ride €2.4, 24/48/72-hour passes from €8–17.1, covering all urban transit except the airport. In Salzburg and Innsbruck’s old towns, most sights are walkable, with bus rides around €2–3. Service is reduced on Sundays and at night, but night buses are available late.
Lake & Mountain Areas
- Lake District Buses: Hallstatt and St. Wolfgang are connected by buses 542/543/150, with discounted connections available when using an ÖBB train ticket.
- Cable Cars & Funiculars: Schafberg, Nordkette, and others cost around €20–40 for a one-way ride, some combinable with mountain hiking packages.
- Driving: Austria’s highways require an electronic vignette (10-day pass around €11).
Practical Tips
- Book tickets via the ÖBB website or app (Scotty/ÖBB)—early-bird SparScheine fares get cheaper the earlier you book.
- Westbahn is a private competitor on the Vienna–Salzburg route, with same-price tickets available onboard for added flexibility.
- Vienna’s 72-hour ticket starts timing from first validation; if traveling to/from the airport, you’ll need an extended ticket that includes the airport.
- The Nightjet overnight train connects Munich, Zurich, and Venice—book sleeper cabins early for big discounts.