Across the Alps in about 8 hours 25 minutes by day on the Railjet, or overnight on the Nightjet. Search live times and fares, then book in a couple of taps.
One line climbs the length of the eastern mountains. The train leaves the Danube, rises through Tyrol to the Arlberg — the high point of the whole journey — then drops down into the Rhine valley and on to Zurich.
It starts at Vienna Hauptbahnhof and runs west through Salzburg's lake country and the Tyrol around Innsbruck, climbs to the Arlberg Pass — the high point of the journey — then drops through Feldkirch into Switzerland to Zürich Hauptbahnhof. The line stays inside Austria the whole way rather than detouring through Germany like some east–west routes. Around 11 trains run daily: the quickest are direct daytime Railjet trains, and the journey takes about 8 hours 25 minutes, with others a few minutes longer with one easy change at Innsbruck or Feldkirch, plus the direct overnight Nightjet.
Over the full distance of about 750 km the fast daytime trains average well under three hours in the mountains, and the railway tends to follow river valleys for much of that distance. The same ÖBB Nightjet network stretches across Europe — south to Italy, north into Germany — and the new generation night trains on this route are among the most comfortable in operation. On average it is a convenient, low-stress way to travel, with public transport at both ends throughout the week — a fast, scenic crossing that takes in Salzburg, the Tyrol and the mountains. As a transport option between the two cities it is hard to beat, and the Zurich Vienna return runs just as frequently.
ÖBB runs the route two ways — the high-speed Railjet in daylight and the Nightjet, a comfortable night train, overnight. Both are covered by the search above; pick whichever suits your time and your trip.
Leave in the morning or midday and ride through the mountains in daylight, arriving the same evening. This daytime service takes about 8h 25m direct, over the Arlberg Pass, with Economy and First Class seats, big windows onto Salzburg and the Tyrol, and a restaurant car.
Board at Vienna around 21:39, settle into a seat, couchette or private sleeper, and wake up in Zurich by mid-morning — a direct run that saves a hotel night and a day of your trip. It is also the cheapest fare on the route.
Both run Vienna Hauptbahnhof to Zürich Hauptbahnhof and show up side by side in the live search above.
Daytime Railjet trains sell two seated classes, each as a cheaper Saver or a changeable Flexible fare; the overnight Nightjet adds couchettes and private sleepers.
Economy · from about $125 (Saver) — search live fares above
First Class · from about $300 (Saver) — search live fares above
Each daytime class is sold as a cheaper Saver fare, fixed to one train, or a pricier Flexible fare you can change. The overnight Nightjet instead lets you choose how you sleep: ordinary seats (cheapest), four-to-six-berth couchettes, or private sleeper cabins with a washbasin — fares rise with privacy, so compare seat, couchette and sleeper in the search above.
Both ends of the line are central main stations, so you step off the train right into the city.
Trains leave Vienna Hauptbahnhof, the Austrian capital's modern central hub, with U-Bahn, tram and airport links and plenty of departures to choose from.
Wien Hauptbahnhof — central Vienna
You arrive at Zürich Hauptbahnhof — Switzerland's financial capital — right in the heart of the city by the Limmat and the old town, with Switzerland's dense train network fanning out to the lake, the mountains and the airport.
Zürich Hauptbahnhof — central ZurichZürich Hauptbahnhof is one of Europe's best-connected stations, with onward Swiss trains to Lucerne, Interlaken, Geneva and the airport within minutes of arrival.
The honest comparison of the main ways between the two cities, so you can choose for your trip.
| Mode | City-to-city time | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (Railjet, day) | ~8h 25m | from ~$125 | Scenic Alpine crossing, Economy & First Class, ~11 trains daily |
| Train (Nightjet) | ~12h 41m overnight | from ~$68 | Direct, saves a hotel night; seats, couchettes and sleepers |
| Flight | ~3h+ door to door | varies | ~1h 20m in the air, but airports, check-in and transfers add up |
| Car | ~7–8h | Fuel + tolls + vignettes | ~680 km of motorway; Alpine passes and traffic, plus parking in Zurich |
The flight is about 1h 20m in the air, but two airport trips, check-in and security mean the flight rarely wins on total travel time door to door. Driving usually runs via Germany and the Alpine passes, with Austrian and Swiss vignettes, tolls and Zurich parking to factor in. City centre to city centre, with the mountains out the window, the train takes it in its stride and is the nicest and most sensible way across — and the night train even hands back a day and a hotel.
Fares open a few months ahead and the cheapest Saver tickets are limited, so booking early pays off.
Plan the train ride in advance: fares vary depending on the date and how far ahead you book, and a range of Saver and Flexible options goes on sale about three months out. Every daytime seat includes a seat reservation, while the overnight night train books by seat, couchette or sleeper. In order to get the cheapest fare, plan ahead — there are direct trains in the daytime and overnight, seven days a week, so most people just check the live search results for their date. An Interrail or Eurail pass can cover this journey too, but for a single trip ordinary tickets are usually simpler and the pass rarely pays off. A flight looks quick, yet once you add airport time the flight rarely beats the train on total travel time. For more information on a departure — its journey time, stops and on-board service — open the result in the search above and book your tickets in a few taps.
The fastest direct daytime trains take about 8 hours 25 minutes; the overnight Nightjet is a direct run of about 12h 41m while you sleep.
ÖBB, the Austrian federal railway — the Railjet by day and the Nightjet overnight — in cooperation with Swiss railways SBB.
Yes — direct daytime Railjets at about 8h25m and the direct overnight Nightjet, with around 11 departures a day in total (some with one change at Innsbruck or Feldkirch).
Daytime Railjets have Economy and First Class seats (Saver or Flexible fares); the Nightjet adds seats, couchettes and private sleeper cabins with a washbasin.
Economy from about $125 and First Class from about $300 by day; the Nightjet is the cheapest way across, from about $68 for a seat. Search live prices above.
See live times and fares for the Railjet and the Nightjet, compare Economy, First Class and sleeper options, and book the crossing that suits your trip.
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