Overnight train from Salzburg to Zurich

Coming from Salzburg, it's going to be difficult. The ÖBB Nightjet leaves from Vienna and, I think, Graz, and makes a stop in Salzburg, but it arrives early in the morning (I think it's around 2 am-ish). So if you're leaving from Salzburg, you would have to board sometimes after midnight, which isn't very practical.

Trains from Salzburg to Zurich are going to take anywhere from 5 to 8 hours, depending on the type of train. You can get an ICE train would take a little over 5 hours during the day. That would be my choice. Also keep in mind that a lot of the day trains have family cars and places for toddlers and so on. You might want to check out those, which would probably be a whole lot easier. I realize you don't want to give up sightseeing time, but that's the burden of travel. You have to give up something to see something. 😊

Edit: For more information, you might want to look at this thread from a year or so ago: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/train-from-salzburg-to-zurich-night-train-day-train

Just looking at the timetable the train arrives into Salzburg from Vienna at 0024, and waits there for 2 hours while various sections to other destinations are shunted on and off, so you should be able to board at around 0030, but that still isn't at all suitable. It works a lot better from the train's start point at Vienna, at 2127- https://rail.cc/night-train/vienna-zurich-oebb-nightjet-nj466/64

On a day train it is 2hrs 30 from Salzburg to Vienna, so I suppose you could leave at around 5 or 6pm to Vienna and board the sleeper there, a slightly odd way to do it. Would the toddler be kept awake by the shunting in the wee small hours, and the sounds of the station, by night?

But equally you could leave Salzburg by day train at around 1500 (so not long before nightfall) and be in Zurich by about 2130.

What specific date are you looking at? The schedule beyond Dec 12 is not out yet. Keep in mind that this train is fairly scenic as it travels through the Alps, so a day train could count as "sightseeing".

One logistical thing to consider -

It’d mean you have NO hotel for many hours leaving and then no hotel for many hours on arrival. After spending a night on the train are you ready to spend 8-10hrs or so out and about, no hotel?

With a small child, heck even now as an adult I avoid stranding myself that way.

Thanks to all for providing specific information to help us rethink this process and our expectations. May just take a family friendly train and then stay night at Innsbruck to break up the length of the trip. Your insights have all beeb so valuable!

Innsbruck is a great stopping point in that the Hbf is a short walk from the Old Town and there are lots of hotels adjacent to the station. Downside is that it only a couple of hours from Salzburg. I'd love to recommend a stop half way, but don't know the smaller Austrian towns.

I'll add the when you go and the length of each leg may depend on your toddler's sleep schedule and how they adjust to the time change. Do they still nap? Do they wake happy early in the AM or become a beast (no offence, we have toddler grand kids!) if they stay up a little too late? If they nap I would try to travel one of the legs during nap time since you probably aren't sightseeing at the time anyway. I think you have the choice of one day on the train or two half days. You'll have to pick which is best for you.

Have a great trip. I will be in Salzburg and Innsbruck in December as well. Sorry, but toddler sitting services are not on offer.

Innsbruck is a good spot to overnight. I would recommend the Pension Stoi which is a cheap, comfortable hotel in walking distance of the station.

Also the rail route between Innsbruck and Zuerich is very scenic, so I would make sure you do it in daylight.

Jkh, thanks for the advice on traveling with a toddler. Good point on taking the train during nap time, as the two legs of the train trip would help to break it up. Grammie is the sitter, so we are good to go there…lol!