Train to Vienna - connections, tickets and itinerary

• Documents: all you need is a valid identity card, as Austria is part of the Schengen area.

• Currency: in Austria you pay in euros; cash is handy for small purchases.

• Best time to go: April-May and September-October, when the daytime temperature is 15-22°C.

• Local transport: metro, trams and buses; a single ticket is a few zlotys and a daily ticket a dozen.

• Main attractions: The Hofburg, the Belvedere, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Vienna State Opera and the Prater with its historic Riesenrad observation wheel.

Spring or early autumn is the best choice, as the daytime temperature is 15-22°C and the crowds are smaller than in summer.

Spring (March–May)

• The gardens of Schönbrunn and the Belvedere are in full bloom, making it a great time for walks in the parks.

• The Wiener Festwochen starts at the end of May and runs until June.

• Temperatures are 8-11°C in March and 18-22°C in May, so a light jacket is sufficient.

Summer (June–August)

• June sees the Donauinselfest, one of the largest outdoor music festivals in Europe, with free admission.

• The days are long and there are live concerts in the city parks.

• Daytime temperatures reach 22-28°C, and accommodation prices are higher, so it is best to book your hotel in advance.

Autumn (September–October)

• The music and opera season resumes in September, with the Vienna State Opera and Musikverein launching new programmes.

• Crowds are smaller than in summer and accommodation prices are lower than in July and August.

• Daytime temperatures are 12-22°C, making it a good time for long walks along the Ringstrasse.

Winter (November–February)

• The Christmas markets at the Town Hall and Schönbrunn run from mid-November to the end of December.

• There are shorter queues at the museums, so you can visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Albertina at a more leisurely pace.

• Daytime temperatures are 2-9°C, so warm clothing is essential.

Direct connections from Poland allow you to reach Vienna without changing trains. Instead of several hours behind the wheel, you take one train and get off close to the centre. On each of these routes, seat reservation is compulsory on the international leg.

Katowice – Vienna

• From Katowice station to Vienna takes roughly 5 hours.

• This is the shortest of the routes from Poland described here.

Kraków – Vienna

• From Kraków Główny station to Vienna takes roughly 5.5 hours.

• There is also a night train on this route, so you leave in the evening and arrive in the morning.

Wrocław – Vienna

• From Wrocław Główny station to Vienna takes roughly 5.5 hours.

• Along the way, the train passes through the Czech Republic, including Olomouc and Brno.

Warsaw – Vienna

• From Warsaw Wschodnia station to Vienna takes roughly 8 hours.

• An overnight train is also available, meaning you arrive in the morning and have the whole day to explore.

You can buy your ticket on Europodróże without creating an account — it is sent to your email and by SMS. 30 minutes before departure you receive an SMS reminder with a link to your ticket, so you do not need to search for it in your inbox at the station. The earlier you buy, the better the price and the wider the choice of seats. With an overnight train it is worth booking early, as the number of sleeper berths is limited. When you purchase your ticket, your seat is automatically reserved, so you do not need to do it separately. On PKP Intercity, ticket refunds are possible up to 20 minutes before departure and exchanges up to 30 minutes before departure — see the refund and exchange policy for details.

From Wien Hauptbahnhof station you can take the metro to Stephansplatz in a few minutes. For several journeys a day, a day ticket or a 48-hour ticket will be better, as one ticket works for the metro, trams and buses.

You will get around the centre of Vienna, or Innere Stadt, on foot. The main attractions lie within a 2 km radius of Stephansplatz, and the Ringstrasse forms a convenient walking route between the Opera House, City Hall, Parliament and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

There are city bicycles operating in the centre, which are useful for a ride along the Ring or to the Prater. Taxis are waiting at the train station and throughout the city, so you can easily get to your hotel or to neighbourhoods further from the centre with your luggage.

There is a luggage room at Wien Hauptbahnhof station. You will leave your suitcase there as soon as you arrive and can set off for a walk before checking into your hotel.

You get around Vienna on foot and by public transport.

Where to stay overnight:

• Innere Stadt - the very centre, close to all the main attractions; the most expensive accommodation but the most convenient location.

• Neubau (7th district) - local cafes, independent designer boutiques and restaurants outside the most touristy centre; a good choice for those looking for a quieter area.

Vienna's highlights combine Habsburg history, great museums and the classic architecture of the city centre. For a weekend, it is best to focus on the Innere Stadt and the Belvedere, and for a longer stay add Schönbrunn and the larger museums.

St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom)

A Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city. Entrance to the nave is free, while the towers and crypts are chargeable. The tour takes 45-60 minutes. The south tower offers a panoramic view of the entire city.

Hofburg

Former Habsburg residence, now a large museum complex. The Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection require separate tickets. The tour takes 2-3 hours. There are fewer organised groups in the morning.

Belvedere (Schloss Belvedere)

Baroque palace with an art gallery where Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" hangs. There is a fee to enter the gallery, while the park around the palace remains free of charge. The gallery tour takes 1.5-2 hours. In the evening, return to the park, which is spectacularly illuminated.

Kunsthistorisches Museum

One of the largest art collections in Europe, with works by Bruegel, Vermeer and Caravaggio. There is an entrance fee. The tour takes 2-3 hours. The building itself is also impressive, especially the monumental staircase with frescoes.

Prater and Riesenrad

The historic observation wheel from 1897, which has a fee to enter, and the park accessible free of charge. It is well worth setting aside an afternoon for this part of the city. After a ride on the wheel, you can stroll along the Hauptallee, a four-kilometre-long chestnut avenue.

Schönbrunn

The Habsburg summer residence with extensive gardens. The gardens are free and the palace interiors are chargeable. The tour takes 2-3 hours. There are fewer people here in the morning than in the middle of the day.

Plan for 1 day

• Start in the morning at St Stephen's Cathedral, enter the nave and climb the tower.

• Before noon, walk to the Hofburg and visit the Imperial Apartments and the Sisi Museum.

• In the afternoon, take a walk along the Ringstrasse to see the Opera House, City Hall and Parliament.

• In the evening, go to the Belvedere for a gallery and park walk.

Plan for the weekend

Day 1: See St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, the Ringstrasse and the Belvedere in the evening.

Day 2: Start at Schönbrunn, visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum in the afternoon, and drive to the Naschmarkt area or the Neubau district in the evening for dinner and coffee.

In Vienna, start with the classic cuisine and cafés — food is an important part of the city's culture.

Wiener Schnitzel — a breaded veal or pork cutlet fried in butter. It is a Viennese classic found in traditional Gasthäuser and Beisln. Most often served with potato salad.

Tafelspitz — boiled beef with horseradish and apple sauce, served with broth. This is one of the dishes worth ordering in a traditional restaurant.

Gulasch — the Viennese version of goulash, thicker and more heavily spiced than the Hungarian original. You will find it on the menu of many Beisln.

Viennese coffee is a category of its own. Melange resembles a cappuccino, while Einspänner is black coffee topped with whipped cream and served in a glass. Cafés — or Kaffeehäuser — are part of the city's culture, so take a seat in a historic establishment such as Café Central on Herrengasse or Café Landtmann on the Ring.

Sachertorte — chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam. You can buy the original at Hotel Sacher opposite the Opera House or at Café Demel on the Kohlmarkt. Both establishments pack cakes to take away. Apfelstrudel, or apple strudel, is the other dessert that is hard to resist here.

Where to eat:

• Naschmarkt — Vienna's largest market in the city centre, open from morning to early afternoon on weekdays and Saturdays. You can buy fresh produce, snacks, local cheeses and cold cuts, as well as Middle Eastern and Asian dishes.

• Mariahilfer Strasse — the main shopping street with popular shops and local boutiques. If you are looking for souvenirs, you will also find Augarten porcelain and Swarovski crystal shops in the centre.

• Neubau (7th district) — local cafés, independent designer boutiques and restaurants away from the most touristy part of the centre. In the evening it is easy to find a quieter spot for dinner.

Souvenirs

• Augarten porcelain — Viennese porcelain available in shops in the city centre.

• Swarovski crystals — crystal products available in boutiques in the centre.

• Sachertorte to take away — an original cake in a decorative box from Hotel Sacher or Café Demel.

For 2 days and 1 night in Vienna, your budget will depend on the standard of accommodation, the number of museums you visit and how you get around the city.

The budget option assumes a hostel or cheaper hotel outside the city centre, eating in bars and at the Naschmarkt, a day ticket for public transport and free attractions such as the Schönbrunn gardens, the Belvedere park and a walk along the Ring. The mid-range option includes a three-star hotel close to the centre, meals in restaurants and 1-2 paid museums per day. The comfort option means a four-star hotel in Innere Stadt, dinner in a restaurant with a wine list, taxis and a fuller museum programme.

It is best to book your hotel in advance, especially in summer and during the Christmas market season.