Indirect trains from Vienna to Ljubljana are quicker and cheaper than direct trains. But the bus is even quicker.
Vienna to Ljubljana train tickets
To just buy Vienna to Ljubljana train bus tickets, head this way.
For more detailed explanation, read on.
Vienna and Ljubljana on a European rail holiday
Vienna in Austria is a long-standing staple on trips around Europe by train. Ljubljana in Slovenia is more under-the-radar, but has plenty to offer. Check out my Ljubljana city guide for information and inspiration.
If travelling by train around Europe, Ljubljana can be a logical stop after Vienna, but the rail connection isn’t as simple as you may expect.
Direct trains from Vienna to Ljubljana: Times and prices
The good news first: There is a direct train between Vienna and Ljubljana. The bad news is that it is not high frequency. Or, indeed, high speed.
Austrian train operator ÖBB jointly operates the EC151 service from Vienna to Ljubljana. According to train booking site Omio, this train leaves Vienna Hauptbahnhof at 07.58 every morning, and arrives in Ljubljana at 14.00. That’s a fairly gruelling journey time of six hours and two minutes.
Dummy booking two weeks ahead, I found tickets available on the direct Vienna to Ljubljana train service for from €68.
Indirect trains to Ljubljana from Vienna
However, this is one of those cases where going indirect can be both quicker and cheaper. Omio shows several one-change options that require a change of trains in either Graz or Klagenfurt.
The quickest option goes via Graz, with a journey time of five hours and 39 minutes. Tickets cost from €35.
Five great things to do while you’re in Vienna
- Take a guided bike tour through the Old City and along the Danube.
- Enjoy a classical music concert at St Peter’s Church.
- Taste gruner veltliners and much more on a wine tour through the Weinviertel region.
- See the World Heritage-listed sights of the Wachau Valley on a super-scenic day trip.
- Explore Vienna’s food scene in café’s and markets with an expert guide.
Why you should take the Vienna to Ljubljana bus
If getting from Vienna to Ljubljana as quickly as possible is what matters to you however, take a bus. GoOpti and Flixbus operate a direct Vienna to Ljubljana bus service, with the journey taking from four hours and 45 minutes.
Booking two weeks ahead of travel, tickets cost from €32 and can be booked online.
More Austria travel
For Vienna tours and experiences, head here.
Other Austria travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- A review of Innsbruck’s strudel café.
- Is the Bergisel ski jump in Innsbruck worth the entry fee?
- Vienna’s Museum of Art Fakes.
- Why the Naschmarkt might be your favourite part of Vienna.
- A guide to the Leopoldstadt district of Vienna.
