Vienna to Trieste: A Continental Railway Journey

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 Eurostars Book (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.