Prague to Vienna: train, bus and flight (2026 guide)

Prague and Vienna are about 330 kilometres apart. Around four hours by train. That's it.

If you are planning how to get from Prague to Vienna, the good news is that the connection between the two capitals is direct, frequent and cheap. You don't need a plane, a hire car or an agency. You buy your ticket online, get on the train or bus in central Prague and about four hours later you are in central Vienna.

At ODISEA we have been guiding in Prague since 2017, and we are asked "how do I get to Vienna from here?" almost every day, especially by Spanish-speaking travellers doing the classic Central Europe circuit. This guide is the full answer: the three transport options, indicative prices, real journey times and what you should know before buying.

Quick comparison: train, bus or plane

Before going into detail, here is the summary:

The short answer: the train is the best option for most people. If you want the lowest price, the bus. And if you are thinking about flying, read that section first.

Option 1: train from Prague to Vienna (recommended)

The train is the most comfortable way to get from Prague to Vienna and probably the smartest. It leaves from Praha Hlavní nádraží, Prague's main station, and arrives at Wien Hauptbahnhof, Vienna's main station. No changes, no complications.

There are two main operators:

RegioJet. Our recommendation. Booked in advance, tickets usually start at around €15, and its prices rise less than the competition's as the date approaches. The trains have Wi-Fi, power sockets and on-board service. Book at regiojet.com.

České dráhy and ÖBB (Railjet). The Czech and Austrian railways jointly run the Railjet trains: comfortable and with a dining car. Booking weeks ahead you can also find cheap tickets, but at the last minute the price can rise a lot.

The route goes via Brno, Czechia's second city. To reach Hlavní nádraží by metro, it is the stop of the same name on line C (red). From Old Town Square it takes about 15 minutes. Everything about public transport is in our Prague metro guide.

Option 2: bus from Prague to Vienna

The bus is the cheapest alternative, with tickets from about €10-15 on FlixBus and RegioJet when booked ahead. There are many departures a day, including at night.

Departure and arrival stations:

• Departure in Prague: Praha Hlavní nádraží (the bus stop next to the train station) or Praha ÚAN Florenc, the central bus station (metro B and C).
• Arrival in Vienna: depending on the operator, at Erdberg or around the main station (Hauptbahnhof).

FlixBus does what it says: a low-cost bus with Wi-Fi and a toilet, and a handy booking app. Prices vary a lot, so it pays to book ahead.

RegioJet buses offer a service similar to its trains, a little above FlixBus in comfort. If the price is similar, choose RegioJet.

Real journey time: between 4 hours and 5 hours 15 minutes, depending on the route and intermediate stops. Direct buses take about 4 hours, almost the same as the train.

Night bus? There are early-morning and night departures, but we don't recommend them unless you have no other option: arriving at a bus station in an unfamiliar city at 3 or 4 in the morning is not the best plan.

Option 3: flying, is it worth it?

Straight answer: no.

The Prague-Vienna flight takes an hour, but that's the easy part. Add getting to Prague airport from the centre (about 45 minutes), being there 1-1.5 hours early for check-in and security, and then getting from Vienna airport to the centre (another 30-45 minutes on the City Airport Train or S-Bahn). Real total: 4-5 hours door to door. In other words, the same as the train, but paying considerably more, with security checks, baggage limits and the risk of delays.

The only exception: if you find a very cheap flight and you will already be near the airport. It rarely happens. For almost every traveller, the train or the bus wins on price, comfort, punctuality and total time. If you are heading to the airport anyway, here is how to get from central Prague to the airport.

Stopping in Bratislava?

Bratislava is not exactly on the way: the direct Prague-Vienna train turns off towards Austria at Břeclav, on the border. Prague to Bratislava is about 4 hours by train, and Bratislava to Vienna around 1 hour more, so the stop means a detour of a couple of hours. Many travellers doing the Prague-Vienna-Budapest circuit consider it.

Our view: if you have half a day to spare, Bratislava is worth the stop. The old town is compact and can be explored on foot in 3-4 hours. The castle has good views over the Danube, the Blue Church (Modrý kostolík) is a curiosity, and the contrast with Prague and Vienna is interesting: it is a smaller, less touristy capital with its own character.

If you are short on time, go straight to Vienna. Bratislava isn't going anywhere.

To make the stop, buy separate tickets: Prague-Bratislava and Bratislava-Vienna. And if you are doing the full circuit (Prague, Vienna and Budapest), Bratislava fits naturally between Vienna and Budapest.

Travel tips

Book in advance. Especially on ČD and ÖBB Railjets, where the difference between buying weeks ahead and buying the day before can be large. On RegioJet the difference is smaller, but it is worth securing the seat you want.

Carry your ID card or passport. Czechia and Austria are in the Schengen Area, but you must carry an identity document and there may be temporary police checks at the border.

Same time zone. Prague and Vienna share Central European Time. No need to change your watch.

Do Prague first. If your trip includes Prague and Vienna, start with Prague. It is a city of discovery: alleyways, hidden neighbourhoods, a pub atmosphere. Vienna is more monumental and more formal. If you start with Vienna, Prague may seem "smaller"; if you start with Prague, each city shines for what it is.

Check your departure station. Whether by train or bus, check your ticket to see if you leave from Hlavní nádraží or from Florenc. They are not the same station, although they are one metro stop apart.

Before you leave Prague: don't miss the free tour

A pattern we see all the time: travellers who give Prague 2 days, Vienna 2 and Budapest 2, and board the train feeling that Prague was beautiful but something was missing. What was missing was context: someone to tell them what they were looking at.

We recommend spending at least 3 days in Prague. And during those days, doing a Spanish-language free walking tour before you leave. It completely changes the experience.

At ODISEA we run four Spanish-language free tours:

• Old Town and Jewish Quarter: the heart of Prague, with Old Town Square, the Astronomical Clock and the Jewish Quarter
• Castle, Cathedral and Strahov Viewpoint: Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral
• Malá Strana and Charles Bridge: the baroque quarter, the Lennon Wall and Charles Bridge
• Nazism and Communism: 20th-century Prague, from the Nazi occupation to the Velvet Revolution

They last about two and a half hours, are in Spanish and work on a voluntary tip.

And if you have an extra day before leaving for Vienna, day trips from Prague are a great option: Terezín, Karlovy Vary or Český Krumlov, in our guide on what to see near Prague. And if you are still choosing your dates, see the best time to visit Prague.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the train from Prague to Vienna?

Booked in advance, from about €15 on RegioJet, with similar prices on ČD and ÖBB Railjets. At the last minute RegioJet tends to stay cheaper, while Railjet prices can rise a lot. The key is to book as early as possible.

How long does the bus from Prague to Vienna take?

Between 4 hours and 5 hours 15 minutes, depending on the operator and stops. Direct buses take about 4 hours, almost the same as the train.

Is it better to go by train or by bus?

For most travellers, the train: it is more comfortable, has Wi-Fi, power sockets and on-board service, and the price is very competitive when booked ahead. The bus is only worth it if you find a clearly cheaper deal.

Do you need a passport to go from Prague to Vienna?

EU citizens don't need a passport if they have a national ID card: Czechia and Austria are in the Schengen Area. But you must carry an identity document, and there may be temporary police checks at the border.

Is it worth stopping in Bratislava?

If you have half a day free, yes: the old town is compact, can be seen in 3-4 hours and the castle has good views over the Danube. But it is not exactly on the way: Prague to Bratislava is about 4 hours by train and from there to Vienna, 1 hour more. If you are short on time, go straight to Vienna.

Where do I buy tickets?

• RegioJet (train and bus): regiojet.com
• ČD and ÖBB (Railjet): cd.cz or oebb.at
• FlixBus: flixbus.com or its app

Buy directly on the operator's website: intermediary platforms usually add a commission. The e-ticket arrives by email and you just show it on your phone.