At a glance
- For a first extension, consider traveling from Vienna to Graz for one night. You can see the old town square and Schlossberg views in one area, and still have city activities if the mountain cable car is closed.
- Graz is south of Vienna; Innsbruck is west of Salzburg. Instead of visiting both in succession, choose the one that fits the direction of your next stay or departure city.
- In Innsbruck, mountain facility operations can have a big effect on your trip.
- Graz fits best as part of an overnight route south, rather than as a long day trip.
Day by day
Suggested itinerary
See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.
Take a morning train from Wien Hbf to Graz Hbf and spend one night in Graz. Leave your bags at your lodging, then spend about two hours walking around Hauptplatz → Herrengasse → Landhaushof. Have dinner in the same old-town area.
If the weather is clear, allow 1 hour 30 minutes in the morning around the Uhrturm (Clock Tower) on Schlossberg. If the steep stairs are a concern, check official information on the lift and funicular, including separate fares. In rainy weather, visit an exhibition at Kunsthaus Graz, pick up your bags, and take an afternoon train to your next city.
If you’d rather take a day trip from Vienna than visit Graz, check trains from Wien Westbahnhof to Melk and visit Melk Abbey and the old town in the morning. Only if you’re extending the trip into the Wachau, take bus 715 to either Spitz or Dürnstein, then continue to Krems and connect to a train back to Vienna. If those connections would get you back too late, keep the trip to Melk and return from there without adding a boat ride.
How to fit it in
A good fit if, after visiting the main cities, you want to see one more part of Austria with different scenery and atmosphere.
Reality check
Plan for around 2 hours 40 minutes for a direct train from Wien Hbf in Vienna to Graz Hbf, and leave half a day for getting to your accommodation. From Graz Hbf to Hauptplatz, allow around 20–30 minutes by city tram, after checking the route and any engineering work on your visit date. Plan around 2 hours for Salzburg Hbf to Innsbruck Hbf. For Wien Westbahnhof to Melk, allow 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours including transfers and waits, but use the actual service you purchase as your guide. The Wachau’s 715 bus connects the north bank from Melk through Spitz and Dürnstein to Krems. The bus and seasonal boats are separate services; first make sure the train from Krems back to Vienna connects with your plans.
For the suggested Graz plan, stay one night: spend two hours in the old town on arrival day, then one to two hours at a viewpoint or art museum the next day. Allow at least one night in Innsbruck, too. For Melk alone, set aside 6–7 hours for the round trip, abbey, and lunch. Allow 9–10 hours if you’re visiting one Wachau village and returning from Krems. If you leave late, visit Melk only.
For one night in Graz, add up the train there and onward (or return), one night of lodging, local transport, meals, and one optional attraction. Budget separately for a walk around the Clock Tower, the Schlossberg lift or funicular, and admission to Kunsthaus Graz. For a day trip to Melk, calculate the abbey ticket, train, and bus 715 separately. If you choose a boat, use an actual sailing’s fare estimate instead of the bus fare. Check prices on the official sales pages for your visit date.
For mountain travel, check for bad weather and the last downhill service. Don’t drive after drinking in wine regions.
If plans change
Skip mountain activities such as Nordkette and check opening hours for the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) or the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum in Innsbruck. End the day at the same lodging rather than making a long trip to another city.
Cancel the day trip and limit your plans to museums or markets in your current lodging city.
Small tip
Graz, Innsbruck, and the Wachau are alternatives to one another. Choose one based on your onward route and the weather.
Final check before departure
- Check the actual travel time and construction updates for your visit date to your chosen city on ÖBB.
- Check the official city tourism page for Graz, Nordkette service for Innsbruck, and the operating season for boats in Melk and the Wachau.
- Choose just one place and don’t pay for reservations at the other options.
Intercity rail, mountain facility hours and reservations, and replacement services during construction vary by date. Check Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and each city’s official tourism notices.
Information checked: 2026-10-03