Category: Austria
Budapest – Vienna – Linz – Hamburg – Copenhagen
This trip pleasantly sounded longer than it was. I traveled through Austria as the sun was setting, ever more early now, a reminder of winter’s approach. I fall soundly asleep on the Night Train from Linz to Hamburg. And the morning train from Hamburg to Copenhagen has wireless internet on-board, so I [...] Read moreStockholm – Copenhagen – Hamburg – Frankfurt – Vienna – Budapest
My train is leaving early in the morning, through Sweden, southward. Outside the train window, early morning fog is lifting from the countryside. Read moreFlorence – Venice Mestre – Villach – Vienna – Budapest
On the Eurostar from Florence to Venice, the conductor stops to chat with us as he collects tickets. “I live up in those mountains,” he says, pointing out the train windows, 15 minutes outside of Florence. Read moreBudapest – Vienna – Villach – Venice Mestre – Florence
It’s spring, and green is in full bloom: First, along the wide open plains between Budapest and Vienna, then, on the train between Vienna and Villach, along the hills we pass through and the rivers we wind against. Read moreAmsterdam – Frankfurt – Vienna – Budapest
Some people ask me why I enjoy taking these long train trips when flights can be faster? There’s a beauty to having conversations unfold as the mountains, hills and streams unfold outside the train window. I’ve learned that there are sights and relaxed conversations that can’t be had on a flight. Read moreBudapest – Linz – Frankfurt – Amsterdam
Train Tip: If traveling west from Budapest, the common approach would be to connect in Vienna to faster trains. But the new Rail Jet heads west to Munich from Budapest, without any need to change in Vienna. It runs a few times each day. Most Austrian and German trains have printed [...] Read moreBudapest – Vienna – Zurich
I’m on the first direct train from Budapest Keleti to Vienna, at 5:55, and luckily it’s not crowded. I can lay out on a few seats and sleep more. Connecting to the Transalpinian Train in Vienna, I sit in a glass-walled observation car, to watch the snow lightly falling and covering [...] Read moreBudapest – Vienna – Maribor – Ptuj, Slovenia
I’m riding the new Rail Jet to Vienna, the high-speed train of OBB, Austria’s Rail Company. In operation for only some months, it’s already become a popular alternative to the Hungarian trains that usually rattle out of Budapest. I transfer in Vienna, so I’m not sure what the top speeds of this train become. [...] Read moreThis blog is recommended by Eurail.com.
