Vienna to Venice by Train
Direct Railjet via Graz and the Koralmbahn
In the current timetable, two direct ÖBB Railjets a day run from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Venezia Santa Lucia in about 7 hours 10 minutes, via Graz, the new Koralmbahn, Klagenfurt, Villach and Udine. A direct Nightjet also runs overnight, by a different route. Both arrive at Santa Lucia on the Grand Canal, with a stop at Venezia Mestre just before.
The direct Railjets are the simplest way to make the trip, but there are only two a day; at other times you change trains, often at Villach. This guide covers the direct daytime train and its route, the Nightjet alternative, tickets, reservations and the Interrail supplement for Italy, and arriving in Venice.
Travelling after 12 December 2026? The next annual timetable is not yet fully published, so check your date before booking.
Book Vienna to Venice
Omio sells the direct ÖBB Railjet between Wien Hauptbahnhof and Venezia Santa Lucia, alongside slower journeys with changes, so check that the train you choose is shown as direct. You can also book with ÖBB, which is the easier place for Interrail holders to buy the supplement for the Italian section. Seat reservations on the daytime Railjet are optional, and saver fares are only valid on the train you booked.
Railero may earn a small commission if you book via the link above, at no extra cost to you.
The Direct Railjet from Wien Hauptbahnhof
Wien Hauptbahnhof, Austria · 48.185°N, 16.378°E
The direct daytime train is an ÖBB Railjet, run with Trenitalia in Italy. In the current timetable there are two a day, leaving Wien Hauptbahnhof in the morning and around midday and reaching Venezia Santa Lucia in about 7 hours 10 minutes, with a short stop at Wien Meidling on the way out of the city.
With only two direct departures, it is worth planning around them: at other times the journey needs at least one change, often at Villach, and usually takes longer. On board there are first and second class and a Business class, a restaurant car, a quiet zone and wifi. Bicycles need a reservation and space is limited.
Current Timetable (to 12 December 2026)
- RouteWien Hbf → Venezia Santa Lucia, no change
- TrainÖBB Railjet, run with Trenitalia in Italy
- Direct trainsTwo a day, morning and midday from Vienna
- Journey timeAbout 7h10 - check current schedules
- Main stopsGraz, Klagenfurt, Villach, Tarvisio, Udine, Venezia Mestre
- ReservationsOptional; Interrail needs an Italy supplement
The Route via Graz and the Koralmbahn
Styria, Carinthia and Friuli
Leaving Vienna, the Railjet heads south into the mountains of Styria to Bruck an der Mur and Graz. Since December 2025 it has run on the Koralmbahn, the new line between Graz and Klagenfurt, which cut about half an hour from the whole Vienna to Venice journey. The line passes through a long tunnel under the Koralpe, so this stretch is more about speed than scenery.
From Klagenfurt the train continues west to Villach, then climbs to the Italian border at Tarvisio and runs down through the mountains of Friuli to Udine. From there it crosses the Venetian plain via Pordenone and Treviso to Venezia Mestre, before the final run across the lagoon to Santa Lucia.
Main Stops
The Nightjet Alternative
A direct night train by a different route
A direct ÖBB Nightjet leaves Wien Hauptbahnhof in the late evening and reaches Venezia Santa Lucia the next morning, taking around 11 hours. It does not follow the daytime Railjet's route: it runs west via Linz and Salzburg, then south through the night to Villach, and on into Italy via Udine and Treviso.
You can book a seat, a couchette in a shared or private compartment, or a bed in a sleeping car, and every booking is for a specific place. It saves a day of travel and a hotel night, though it is slower than the daytime train. Some dates have no Nightjet because of engineering work, so check your date.
Tickets, Reservations and Interrail
Where to book, seat reservations and the Italy supplement
You can book the direct Railjet through Omio or ÖBB. Saver fares reward booking ahead and are only valid on the train you booked; tickets usually go on sale several months ahead. Seat reservations on the daytime Railjet are optional, and worth adding on busy days.
Interrail passes are valid, but on this international Railjet a compulsory supplement applies for journeys to, from or within Italy. Buy it before you travel, for example from ÖBB, as buying it on board costs extra. On the Nightjet, pass holders also need to book their seat, couchette or bed.
Quick Rules
Check it is direct: planners also show slower journeys with changes.
Seat reservation: optional on the daytime Railjet.
Interrail: valid, with a compulsory supplement for the Italian section.
Arriving at Venezia Santa Lucia and Mestre
Venezia Santa Lucia, Italy · 45.441°N, 12.321°E
The train ends at Venezia Santa Lucia, the station on the island of Venice itself. You step out onto the Grand Canal, with vaporetto (water bus) stops and water taxis in front of the station, so there is no airport transfer across the lagoon.
The stop before is Venezia Mestre, on the mainland. If you are staying in Mestre, where hotels are often cheaper, get off there; frequent trains link Mestre and Santa Lucia in about ten minutes.
From Venezia Santa Lucia
Hotels in Venice
Arriving by train puts you on the island itself. These hotels are a short walk or vaporetto ride from Santa Lucia.
Santa Croce, Venice - opposite the station
A restored Venetian residence directly across the Grand Canal from Santa Lucia, so your first view on arrival is the water itself.
Santa Croce, Venice - canalside
A 16th-century private palazzo with a walled garden and a private water entrance on the Grand Canal - just 18 rooms.
San Polo, Venice - Grand Canal
Six historic Venetian buildings woven into one property, with a private boat that can meet you at Santa Lucia on arrival.
Hotel links open Booking.com. Railero may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a direct train from Vienna to Venice?
- Yes. In the current timetable, two direct ÖBB Railjets a day run from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Venezia Santa Lucia, and a direct Nightjet runs overnight. The current timetable runs until 12 December 2026; the next annual timetable is not yet fully published, so if you are travelling later, check your date before booking.
- How long does the train from Vienna to Venice take?
- The direct daytime Railjet takes about 7 hours 10 minutes from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Venezia Santa Lucia. The direct Nightjet takes around 11 hours, leaving Vienna in the late evening and arriving in Venice in the morning. Check current times when you book.
- How many direct trains run each day?
- Two direct daytime Railjets run each way in the current timetable, leaving Vienna in the morning and around midday, plus one direct Nightjet overnight. At other times the journey needs one or more changes, often at Villach, and usually takes longer, so plan around the direct departures if you can.
- Is there a night train from Vienna to Venice?
- Yes. A direct ÖBB Nightjet leaves Wien Hauptbahnhof in the late evening and reaches Venezia Santa Lucia the next morning. It takes a different route from the daytime Railjet, running west via Linz and Salzburg before turning south to Villach and Italy. You can book a seat, a couchette or a bed in a sleeping car.
- Do I need a seat reservation?
- Not on the daytime Railjet: seat reservations are optional, and any valid ticket lets you board and take an unreserved seat. A reservation is worth adding on busy days. On the Nightjet, every booking is for a specific seat, couchette or bed.
- Can I use Interrail between Vienna and Venice?
- Yes, Interrail passes are valid, but on this Railjet a compulsory supplement applies for journeys to, from or within Italy. Buy it before you travel, for example from ÖBB, as buying it on board costs extra. On the Nightjet, pass holders also need to book their seat, couchette or bed.
- Should I get off at Venezia Santa Lucia or Venezia Mestre?
- Venezia Santa Lucia is the terminus on the island, right on the Grand Canal, so get off there if you are staying in historic Venice. Venezia Mestre is the stop before, on the mainland, and is the better choice if your hotel is in Mestre. Trains between the two stations run frequently and take about ten minutes.
Continue Your Journey
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Vienna → Ljubljana
~6h · EuroCity (ÖBB · SŽ)
The other way south from Vienna: Ljubljana via Graz
View Route
Interrail and the Swiss Travel Pass — when a pass beats point-to-point tickets and when it does not.
When reservation is mandatory, which side of the train has the views, and how to choose your class.
Vienna to Venice is a genuine direct trip: in the current timetable, two Railjets a day take about 7 hours 10 minutes from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Venezia Santa Lucia via Graz, the Koralmbahn and Udine, and a direct Nightjet runs overnight by a different route. Plan around the direct departures, check the train is shown as direct when you book, and, if you hold an Interrail pass, buy the Italy supplement before you travel.