Things to Know Before You Board a Train from Vienna to Prague

Last Updated on May 8, 2024

Looking to travel from Vienna to Prague or doing the trip in the other direction, i.e. take the train from Prague to Vienna?

Read on for detailed information and tips on taking a train from Vienna to Prague, including how to book your tickets for this train ride, the best ways (and sites) to use when booking for great fare deals, and details on why it is important to book your Prague to Vienna or Vienna to Prague tickets in well advance (which is good when taking any trains  in Europe).

What’s the best way to travel between Prague and Vienna?

Traveling the scenic route from Vienna to Prague is a great experience in itself, and it is the most convenient option: It is a fast, reliable and comfortable connection between the two cities. I personally love train travel in Europe and spent an entire month traveling Europe by train a few years ago.

Vienna and Prague are connected by the modern, high-speed Railjet trains. Sure, there are other ways to get between the two cities—renting a car or flight—but the train is hands-down the best way to get between the two cities.

Now let’s find out why this is an experience you shouldn’t miss.

Why take the train from Vienna to Prague?

1. Taking the train from Vienna to Prague (or vice versa) is super easy.

Taking the train is always the easiest option when traveling in Europe: train stations are always in the center of the city, well connected to every neighborhood via public transportation, and you don’t have to go find a bus station (they are not always in the most convenient location) or to an airport, which are usually far away from the city center (and costly to get to if there’s no public transportation available).

Railjet, which operates mainly in Austria, is also one of the nicest train lines in Europe – and it ranks among the fastest trains in Europe! It can travel at a speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). The 254-km (158 miles) trip from Vienna to Prague takes a bit longer though, since part of the route goes through the mountain. You’ll get from Prague to Vienna (or vice versa) in around 4 hours. Just enough time to get rest while marveling at the breathtaking scenery.

2. There are many offered services on the train from Vienna to Prague.

You may choose from three travel classes that include Economy, First and Business class. All of them feature air-conditioning, ergonomic cozy seats, electrical outlets as well as free Wi-Fi which is available during the whole trip.

Note: Make sure that you have an adapter for a 220-volt outlet, otherwise you won’t be able to charge any of your devices on board of the high-speed Railjet train. You can buy this adapter, which serves most of Europe and comes with two USB plugs, on Amazon for only $11.99.

3. You can eat on board of the train between Prague and Vienna.

Most Railjet trains are equipped with an on-board restaurant which offers plenty of options for a quick snack or even a proper meal. You can also go to the board restaurant, buy snack items, and take them back to your seat. Railjet offers a great selection of meals including soups, salads, sandwiches and sweets. On trains without a restaurant, the catering team usually offers snacks through the mobile trolley service, so you won’t even have to leave your seat to grab a light snack.

You can also bring your own food and drinks on the train with you and enjoy them during the ride. Train stations in Europe usually have excellent food options, so you’ll be able to pick something up there before boarding the train from Vienna to Prague.

4. The trains run often between Vienna and Prague.

The Railjet schedule is quite convenient and extensive, offering up to 7 daily departures, depending on the day of the week. Even though there are a number of available options every day, it is important to book your train tickets in advance – especially if you’re traveling around Europe during the summer time, when many routes – including the train from Vienna to Prague – fill up quickly.

In addition to Railjet, this route is also served by other train providers, so you don’t have to rely solely on the Railjet high-speed trains.

5. The rail stations are conveniently located in each city. 

Railjet stations: Vienna

The Railjet station in Vienna is Wien Hauptbahnhof. The main railway station of the Austrian capital is located in the Favoriten district. If you arrive early and have some spare time, have a look around the BahnhofCity Wien Hauptbahnhof. This large shopping center inside the train station was opened in 2014 and features a wide diversity of shops and restaurants. It’s also a great place to pick up some snacks for your train ride.

Railjet stations: Prague

You’ll arrive to Praha hlavni nadrazi, which dates back to 1871 and is now the busiest railway station in the whole Czech Republic. The station is in a convenient location near the city center, so you can reach such famous sights as the medieval Old Town Square with astronomical clock and the Charles Bridge in a 20-minute walk.

 

How To Book Your Ticket for the train from Vienna to Prague

In Europe, booking a train ticket in advance will save you a lot of money. My favorite website to book trains, flights and buses in Europe is Omio – because this website doesn’t just find all available connections for you, but it also compares prices, the time it takes to get from A to B – or in this case, from Vienna to Prague, and shows you if you have to transfer somewhere. Booking train tickets in advance can save you up to 50% in Europe, which is a lot! What’s also great about Omio is that you can download the ticket straight into the Omio app, and you’ll be able to access your ticket straight from the app.

When you scroll through the available trains on the Omio website, you’ll notice that the ticket prices get more and more expensive the further down you scroll. The trains are listed from cheapest to most expensive, and the most expensive trains are usually the trains that are the most popular ones – usually in the late morning or early afternoon.

Note: Those trains sell out quickly, while early morning tickets tend to last longer – and they’re cheaper because nobody wants to get up at 5am to catch a train. Two more things to pay attention to when using the Omio website: make sure to click on the ‘trains’ box to show only trains, and make sure to select a connection without any transfers. As you can see, the train from Vienna to Prague can cost as little as $20, which is an absolute steal for a 4-hour train ride.

More questions about this train ride, or train rides in Europe in general? Leave your question in the comments below!

 

Photo Credit: Images used via Flickr’s Creative Commons Licensing. (1) ÖBB Railjet by Cha già José; (2) Railjet by Red Greg; (3) Railjet View by Trainspotter LGs