Vienna's railway stations

Wien Hauptbahnhof — the main station

Wien Hauptbahnhof, in Favoriten just south of the Belvedere, replaced the old Südbahnhof and has been Vienna's main hub since 2015. Almost every long-distance and international train stops here: Railjets to Salzburg, Innsbruck and Munich, to Budapest, Prague and Graz, trains to Bratislava, the Nightjets — and the Railjets that reach the airport in about 15 minutes. It is on U1, three stops from Stephansplatz, with tram D to the Belvedere and the Ring, and trams O and 18.

It is a through station built for changing trains, not for lingering — bright, efficient and without much romance. The architecture worth your minutes is nearby: the Upper Belvedere is a short walk north, and two stops up the U1, the Otto Wagner Pavilion at Karlsplatz shows what a Viennese station looked like in 1900.

Wien Meidling

Wien Meidling, in Meidling, is where many trains heading west and south also stop, a few minutes after Hauptbahnhof. It connects with the U6 and the S-Bahn. If your hotel is in the west or near Schönbrunn, getting off here often saves a change.

Wien Westbahnhof

Wien Westbahnhof, at the top of Mariahilfer Strasse in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, was the terminus for the west until Hauptbahnhof took over. Today it handles regional trains and the private WESTbahn to Linz and Salzburg. It is on U3 and U6, and the Vienna Airport Bus VAB1 stops here.

Wien Mitte — for the airport

Wien Mitte (Landstrasse), in Landstrasse, is the city terminal of the City Airport Train, on U3 and U4, a walk from the Hundertwasser House. Its S-Bahn platforms are closed from 7 September 2026 until the end of October 2027 while the trunk line is rebuilt, and the CAT runs as a coach from here — see the airport page.

Praterstern

Praterstern, in Leopoldstadt at the entrance to the Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel, is the northern S-Bahn node, on U1 and U2. The same closure cuts its S-Bahn link south to Hauptbahnhof until late 2027. From September 2026 the new airport bus VAB5 starts here.

How long the trains take

Approximate direct times from Hauptbahnhof — confirm in Scotty before you plan around them:

• Bratislava — about an hour, at least hourly, on regional trains with ordinary local fares.
• Salzburg — about two and a half hours on the fastest Railjets; WESTbahn from Westbahnhof takes a little longer.
• Budapest — roughly two and a half hours, every one to two hours.
• Prague — about four hours, roughly every two hours; a new early Railjet leaves Vienna at 05:10.
• Munich — about four hours.
• Kraków — four trains a day in the 2026 timetable.

Nightjet

ÖBB's Nightjet sleeper trains leave from Vienna for Western Europe and beyond. Note the change: the Vienna–Paris Nightjet ended in December 2025, when its French subsidy ran out. Routes such as Amsterdam and Brussels continue, the latter on only some nights a week. Book early for a private sleeper compartment; they can sell out well ahead in summer and at Christmas.

Practical

• Book ahead. ÖBB's advance Sparschiene fares are a fraction of the flexible price, and WESTbahn sets its own fares on the Salzburg line.
• Seat reservations are worth making on Railjets at weekends and holidays; they are optional but the trains fill.
• Lockers are available at the main stations.
• Every station is on the U-Bahn, so the ride to your hotel is simple — see getting around for how city tickets work.
• Late at night, treat the big stations like any large city station: keep your bag close and use the taxi rank or a ride app.

Day trips by rail

Some of the best day trips from Vienna start at these stations: Bratislava in about an hour, the Wachau valley — Melk is roughly an hour by regional train, and Krems is reached from Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof — and Salzburg, which is possible in a long day but better with a night.