The three ways to do it (November 2026)
| Route | Legs | Approximate time of each leg | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Via Munich | TGV Paris Est to Munich, then Railjet to Vienna | about 5h15 + about 4h | the most direct day journey |
| Via Frankfurt | TGV/ICE Paris Est to Frankfurt, then ICE to Vienna | about 4h + about 6h20 | not available until 18 December 2026 (see below) |
| Via Zurich | TGV Lyria Paris Gare de Lyon to Zurich, then Railjet to Vienna | about 4h + about 8h | a scenic route, with a night option from Zurich |
Count on 10 to 13 hours in total depending on the connection, which is longer than the old night train once you add the change. The leg times above are the usual ones for these lines; the exact departure times change with the season and the day, so check the live timetable on SNCF Connect, the DB Navigator or the ÖBB site before you choose.
Via Munich: the simplest day journey
The TGV from Paris Est to Munich Hauptbahnhof takes about 5h15. In Munich the Railjet of ÖBB takes about 4 hours to Vienna Hauptbahnhof, with a restaurant car and sockets at every seat. Leave at least 40 minutes between the two trains if you book them as separate tickets, so that a late TGV does not strand you. A single through ticket, sold by booking platforms, protects the connection if the first train is late. See also: Lolla Paris 2027.
Trackwork note: from 8 February to 9 July 2027, trains between Vienna and Munich are diverted via Passau and run a few minutes longer.
Via Frankfurt: closed for works until 18 December 2026
Frankfurt is the other classic change, with a train from Paris Est in about 4 hours and an ICE to Vienna of about 6h20. But between 14 June and 18 December 2026, because of work on the Passau line, there are no Frankfurt-Vienna trains. Until that date, go through Munich. From the December 2026 timetable the Frankfurt route returns.
Via Zurich: the longest, with a night train option
The TGV Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Zurich takes about 4 hours. From there the Railjet to Vienna takes about 8 hours, so the day journey is longer than via Munich. The advantage is the Nightjet between Zurich and Vienna: take the afternoon TGV to Zurich, sleep on the Nightjet in a couchette or sleeper and wake up in Vienna. It is the only way to keep a sleeper night on this trip.
When do tickets go on sale?
- German (DB) and Austrian Railjet tickets: up to 6 months before departure.
- TGV and TGV Lyria tickets: up to 4 months before departure.
- Nightjet: up to 12 months ahead on most dates.
Because the legs open at different dates, the through journey is usually bookable only when the earliest window opens. Fares rise as the date approaches, so buy each leg as soon as it is on sale if the date is fixed.
Train, plane or a mix?
A direct flight from Paris to Vienna takes about 1h55 in the air, but airport transfers and waiting add 2 to 4 hours, so the door-to-door time is closer to 5 to 6 hours. The train is slower but takes you from city centre to city centre, with the option of a stopover in Munich or Stuttgart to split the day.
- Choose the train if you want to avoid the airport, travel with a lot of luggage, or want a stopover (Munich is a good place to break the journey).
- Choose the plane if you have only a weekend and the time matters more than the experience.
- Choose a split trip if you have a few days: Paris to Munich, a night in Bavaria, then Munich to Vienna the next morning.
Mistakes to avoid
- Looking for the Nightjet. Many sites still list the old Paris-Vienna sleeper, but it no longer runs. If a page offers it, it is out of date.
- Booking the Frankfurt route before 18 December 2026. Those trains do not run; use Munich.
- Tight connections on separate tickets. If you buy the TGV and the Railjet separately, a one-hour margin is safer than 20 minutes.
- Forgetting seat reservations. On the TGV and on some Railjets a reservation is compulsory or strongly advised, especially with a rail pass.
Stations and where to sleep
You leave from Paris Est, in the 10th arrondissement, next to Gare du Nord; the guide to Paris train stations explains how to get there. If you leave early, a hotel close by saves a morning transfer: see hotels near Gare de l'Est. The reverse trip is described in Germany to Paris by train.
You arrive at Wien Hauptbahnhof, the main station, served by the metro line U1 and the S-Bahn. A hotel near the station makes sense after a long day; the booking box on this page opens hotels in Vienna.
Frequently asked questions
Is there still a night train from Paris to Vienna?
No. ÖBB and SNCF stopped the Paris-Vienna Nightjet on 14 December 2025. The only sleeper left on this trip is the Nightjet from Zurich to Vienna.
How long does the train from Paris to Vienna take?
Between 10 and 13 hours with one or two changes, depending on the route and the connection. Via Munich it is two legs of about 5h15 and about 4 hours.
Is there a direct train from Paris to Vienna?
No, you must change, usually in Munich.
Which station does the train leave from?
Paris Est for Munich and Frankfurt, Gare de Lyon for Zurich.
Is it cheaper than flying?
Rarely at the last minute. Early booking of each leg is what keeps the train fare close to a low-cost flight.
The Paris Authority editorial team, 12 November 2026.
