Is there a direct train from Paris to Vienna or should we fly?

The trains take forever (10 hrs+) with changes (there are no direct trains, all have at least one change and most have two) and may even cost more than a flight. Definitely check skyscanner.com for flights on your dates. Try capitainetrain.com for trains. I would definitely fly this route unless I wanted to stop somewhere in between for a night or two.

pp,

That's a bit of a challenging route. I don't believe there are any direct trains (ie: no changes) and that will be a long trip (about 11 hours, with 1-4 changes).

Flying is certainly an option but many of the airlines I checked don't have direct flights and some don't offer flights every day. Any airlines that do have direct flights will likely be very expensive. Vueling has flights with a stop over in Rome or Barcelona (might be best to stay away from Rome at the present time). I try to avoid flights wherever possible as I detest the usual airport hassles.

One way to make that long trip a bit easier would be to travel by rail, but schedule an intermediate stop for at least one night to break up the journey. One possibility would be a stop in Munich, a beautiful and historic city.

I would fly.. I take trains if trip is less then 6 hours.. more then that.. do not find trains fun.

Have you checked Tuifly and Easyjet?

Just checked... Tuifly does have some cheap flights.. but those seem to have one stop (Dusseldorf) but also a few directs.. more pricey.

What you need to do is just spend time on websites.. read carefully , take note of luggage charges and limits. Buying in advance usually gets best prices.. I buy all my stuff myself online.. no middleman needed.

If you can get an Air France one way (from AF, not from an online unverified ticket agency) for that low price-- do it. One way was 500 last summer, so RT for two hundred and "missing" the plane back was a solution to consider.
Back in the last century I took the direct train many times. It was long, even at night in a couchette.

Try Air Berlin, too.

Hi,

No, there is not a direct train from Paris to Vienna but the entire route can be done in one day if you're going by day instead of the night train option.

Take the early ICE Paris Est dep 0706 hr to Frankfurt Hbf (direct), arrives just prior to 11 am. Reservations on this leg are are mandatory. Then there are direct departures to Vienna, arriving at Wien Hbf. If you prefer to break up the ride and arrive at Wien Westbahnhof, take the ICE Frankfurt Hbf to Munich or Linz, then the ICE to Wien Westbahnhof. With pauses in between, you can still arrive Wien Westbahnhof before 19:30. Both legs are direct and on the ICE trains. Reservations are not mandatory on the Frankfurt to Vienna route.

Cost and time issues aside I am going to recommend the adventure of a night train journey as you have a 7yo with you.
TGV 9218 Paris to Zurich (1623/2026) http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
EN60467 Zurich to Vienna (2140/0618) https://www.oebb.at/en/

A night train through Zürich, from Zürich to Wien Hbf....an interesting alternative. Thanks for the information.

I'd take the trains. You see a lot on the way (you don't with trains), there is far less hassle, and it is relaxing. You can go to www.eurail.com/plan-your-trip to find out more about trains.