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New Year Trip to Austria with a child

Hello, gues!
We are a young family from Canada who are planning to take a trip to Vienna on New Year's Eve. We are going to take our 4-year-old son to this trip but we concern about transportation.
First of all, we will take a flight from Toronto to Vienna and it's not a problem flying with a child. But in terms of our vacation, we are going to visit Salzburg.
Would anyone recommend taking a train or a bus and should we book our tickets in advance due to the large number of tourists?
Thanks!

Posted by
6 posts

Thanks, gues!
I think taking a train is what we really need. Look forward to sharing my impressions after this trip.

Posted by
5579 posts

A train is your best bet. You should book a train trip Vienna to Salzburg in advance on OeBB for price savings or think about using the Westbahn trains for about the same pricing.

I was in Vienna in January and just be aware that Epiphany is a holiday and some places are closed.

Posted by
6 posts

Thanks for sharing your experience and suggestions.
I was googling a bit on the topic of transportation in Austria and found some information about railjet trains on https://www.railjets.com/.
May I buy my tickets before traveling to Viena to avoid lines of tourists and is it safe to book tickets in advance? You see I wouldn't like to get to know that my seats had been already sold staying at the train station.

Posted by
8889 posts

Mark, https://www.railjets.com/ is a reseller. As with many things Internet, whoever makes the most noise gets the higher position in Google, not the "real" site.
ÖBB is the Austrian National Rail company. Their website is: https://www.oebb.at/en/
This is where you should be going for Austrian train times and prices. Train tickets are a lot cheaper if bought in advance (2-3 months). ÖBB will sell you "self-print" tickets. These tickets will list the exact train they are for (date, time, train No.) as well as listing the seat numbers. There is no risk of the seats being re-sold.

For info about Vienna to Salzburg by train, photos etc., see here: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/vienna-to-salzburg-by-train.htm
This is the absolute best train info website. Not run by anyone selling tickets.

As far as travelling with kids is concerned, trains are 200% better than buses. Your 4-year-old can get up, walk around, go to the toilet and do 4-year-old things.
See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxldHyoJ8rQ
And this webpage: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-travel-with-children.htm
Both from the same website as above.

Posted by
6 posts

I'm grateful to you, Chris, for such a broad answer.
I've found all the information I need.