After arriving at Vienna Airport, I'll take the train to Innsbruck. I'll spend a few days there, perhaps doing a couple of excursions by train, then will take the train to Salzburg and then to St. Gilgen, then bus to St. Wolfgang, then later a train to Hallstatt, then Vienna. Does it make sense to get an Austria Rail Pass?
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
1248 posts
Assuming you're eligible for Interrail, the only way to determine if it makes sense for you to buy a pass is to compare the cost of the pass to the cost of point-to-point tickets. I don't see where there is an Austria-only unlimited pass. All the passes I see are for a set number of days within one month, with a maximum of 8 (€292). An unlimited "global" pass costs a minimum of €428. There may be something offered by OBB or Westbahn that I'm not aware of.
Here is what The Man in Seat 61 has to say about Interrail:
https://www.seat61.com/how-to-use-an-interrail-pass.htm#reservations
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3441 posts
It’s only possible to know if a train pass will save you money after you list (1) ALL the train trips you will be taking and (2). the exact duration of your holiday and the number of days you will be traveling by train.
Posted by
Green Bay
22535 posts
And if there are 1 or 2 of you.
Posted by
2562 posts
No, not for such a low number of trips.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5858 posts
It is important to understand that a rail pass is going to be more expensive as you are paying for convenience.
If you know the dates and times that you will travel, then it makes the most sense to just go ahead and guy these tickets. Only use the actual operator of the train, which is OBB (https://www.oebb.at/en/).
Since you are talking about a trip from Vienna to Innsbruck (cost approx 29 Euro) and then Innsbruck to Salzburg (approx 19 Euro), Hallstatt to Vienna (approx 19 Euro) and then some small day trips, you can do the math and decide what you think it worth paying for. I would also note that trains do not go to St. Gilgen. To get to St. Gilgen from Salzburg, it is a bus. Similarly, from St. Wolfgang to Hallstatt it is not just a train.
Overall, I think a rail pass does not make sense.
Posted by
OP
13 posts
Thanks for all the suggestions. My first trip to Innsbruck may cost a little more, since it was recommended I get a flex fare, in case my plane is delayed and I miss my scheduled train. Any thoughts on flex fares?
Posted by
Lake District, England
10274 posts
The flex fare is very good advice, that will cost you around 88 Euro.
It may be a bus to St Gilgen but that can be booked as a through rail/bus ticket on OBB for an extra 8 Euro.
As a flex ticket Innsbruck to St Gilgen is 62 Euro.
You can also buy a through St Wolfgang to Hallstatt bus/train ticket on OBB.
A 3 day Eurail pass for Austria is 193 Euro, so is not worth it.
Posted by
Los Angeles
5261 posts
I wasn't sure of my schedule, so I bought a RT bus ticket from Salzburg to St. Gilgen. I then took the ferry all the way along the lake to Strobl and walked to the bus station. When I got on, the driver first told me to sit and then beckoned me back upfront since I had to pay a small upcharge. I expected this and it wasn't an issue. Make sure you have cash.
Be aware that there are two separate train companies in Austria, the "official" OBB and the private Westbahn. When I took the Westbahn to Salzburg there were signs and announcements that rail passes would not work on this train line. The two companies use different stations in Vienna.
For all matters related to train travel, ask the Man in Seat 61. He also tells you in each country when it makes sense to buy a rail pass.
Posted by
2562 posts
... so I bought a RT bus ticket from Salzburg to St. Gilgen.
Did you stay in a hotel in Salzburg (city or state)? If yes you should have gotten the Guest Mobility Ticket which entitles you to use any means of public transport for free (within the State of Salzburg [including Bad Ischl]).
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
23581 posts
I suspect Emily is correct as usual. On the Flex ticket, it's a personal risk tolerance choice. I just looked at a random day next week and the cheap ticket was 40 euro and the Flex was 64 euro. A replacement ticket bought today for a train today would be 65.00 euro. So cheap ticket plus replacement ticket = 105 euro or Flex Ticket for 64 euro? Still, I would plan the journey with enough time for the plane to be 45 minutes late and buy the cheap ticket.... its a gamble though.
Posted by
2562 posts
Still, I would plan the journey with enough time for the plane to be 45 minutes late and buy the cheap ticket.... its a gamble though.
Check the punctuality of your flight on previous days: https://www.flightaware.com