Vienna to Trieste: A Continental Railway Journey
- Travel out to Vienna, the focal point of the Habsburg and Austro-Hungarian Empires
- Travel along the Semmering Railway between Vienna and Graz
- Explore the fascinating cities of Graz and Ljubljana
- Discover the beautiful north Italian port of Trieste, on the Adriatic Sea
- Add extra nights & destinations
- Choose alternative hotels
- Upgrade your journey to First Class
- Let us suggest the most scenic routes
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 10 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Easy-to-follow travel documentation
- Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office
Suggested Itinerary
Take the direct Eurostar service from London to Amsterdam this morning and connect onto the overnight sleeper service to Vienna. There’s plenty of time in Amsterdam station to have some dinner or buy some supplies for the train. When you awake the next morning, you’ll be served a light breakfast in your cabin before you arrive into Vienna.
On arrival, make your way to the Hotel Stefanie (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
Enjoy a full day in the Austrian capital. Take in famous sights such as the Ringstrasse, State Opera House and St Stephen’s Cathedral, or the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace.
Over at the Prater Park, take a ride on the historic 65-metre high ferris wheel “Wiener Riesenrad”, which dates back to 1897 and was featured in the film The Third Man.
Embark on your first railway journey today as you board a sleek and modern RailJet train that runs south out of Vienna bound for the city of Graz. After about 90 minutes of your journey, the scenery becomes all the more spectacular as you begin your ascent through the Semmering Pass, built in the mid-19th century to enhance rail transportation throughout the Austro-Hungarian empire. The UNESCO-protected railway is made up of tunnels and viaducts that carve through the spectacular landscape.
On arrival in Graz, make your way to the Grand Hotel Wiesler (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
Centred around its 16th century fortress, the Schlossberg, Graz and its stunning old town are a treat to behold. In fact, the old town here is considered to be one of the best preserved in Central Europe. Don’t miss a visit to the ornately frescoed Gothic cathedral or the views from the castle walls, which you can visit by means of a funicular railway. In the summer months, you can go to the Lurgrotte Caves, visited by Michael Portillo on the BBC2 programme.
Outside the old town, there’s also plenty to see including the Baroque palace, Schloss Eggenberg and the startling Kunsthaus Graz, a contemporary art collection housed in an iron clad building affectionally known as the ‘Friendly Alien’.
Take a short journey south this morning and cross the border, from Germanic Austria into Slavic Slovenia. Pass through the industrial city of Maribor and the beautiful countryside of eastern Slovenia before arriving at its capital, Ljubljana.
On arrival in the early afternoon, check in at the Cubo Hotel (or similar), where you have a 2-night stay. There’s plenty of time to settle in to your hotel and then head out to get your bearings. Perhaps take in the views from the hilltop medieval castle, or enjoy some local wine in a pavement café.
Ljubljana is a fabulous patchwork of architectural styles dating from Roman occupation to Baroque, Vienna Succession and Art Deco. We recommend taking a boat tour on the Ljubljana’s waterways to get a great introduction to this majestic European capital.
TMR RECOMMENDS: Extend your holiday by staying at the stunning location of Lake Bled in the Julian Alps (pictured). At only 35 miles north of Ljubljana, it is also accessible for a day trip if you prefer to base yourself in the Slovenian capital and travel up by train or organised group excursion.
Say goodbye to Ljubljana and board a direct Slovenian train to Trieste. Your hotel for the next 2 nights is the Starhotels Savoia Excelsior Palace (or similar).
Once the southernmost port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the city of Trieste has a distinct Viennese flavour. It’s located on a narrow strip of Italian soil between Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea. Walk around the winding cobbled streets of the Old Town and discover Viennese architecture.
This morning, take a direct train from Trieste to Venice with time for lunch in this famous canal city before you continue your journey through northern Italy and the Brenner Pass high in the Alps to Munich. Once you arrive into Munich, check in at the Courtyard Munich City Centre (or similar) for an overnight stay.
TMR RECOMMENDS: If you have the time, why not extend your holiday with a night or two in Venice before you continue your homeward journey?
Leave Munich after breakfast this morning and speed through Germany to Frankfurt, where an easy connection sees you all the way to Brussels. Here, you can board your Eurostar service bound for the UK.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Vienna
The family run Hotel Stefanie dates back to 1600, making it the oldest hotel in Vienna. Recently renovated bedrooms come with free Wi-Fi internet access and individually adjustable air-conditioning. There is also a bar and a traditional restaurant with a terrace, offering Austrian and international dishes. The Hotel Stefanie is located just a few minutes’ walk from St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Graz
Situated in the inner city of Graz, alongside the Mur River and only a short walk from the Schlossberg Mountain, Hotel Wiesler boasts 98 well-appointed rooms, a sauna and fitness area. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. The Speisesaal restaurant serves up Austrian and international dishes at lunch and dinner.
Ljubljana
The Cubo Hotel has a prime location in the city centre, only a few hundred yards from the old town of Ljubljana. The hotel offers modern air-conditioned bedrooms with free internet access. There is also an on-site restaurant and bar as well as a private garden and a fitness centre.
Trieste
Savoia Excelsior Palace overlooks the Bay of Trieste in the city centre. Set in a historic building dating from the 19th-century, it offers free WiFi, a fitness centre and elegant rooms with marble bathrooms. Guests can enjoy a cocktail at Le Rive bar, while the Savoy Restaurant serves local and international cuisine.
Munich
Conveniently situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Munich’s main station and 10 minutes’ walk from the historical centre, the Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Centre offers comfortable, convenient accommodation with modern interiors. In-house dining is available at the Oleo Pazzo, a Mediterranean bistro.
