Thanks to its central location, Lower Austria is well connected to the European and Austrian rail network. The provincial capital, St. Pölten, can be easily reached from many cities – often without changing trains – for example from Munich (approx. 3.5 hours), Salzburg or Passau (approx. 2 hours), Budapest (approx. 3 hours) or Bratislava via Vienna (approx. 1.5 hours). Timetable information is available from ÖBB and Westbahn. Regional railways also provide excellent connections within Lower Austria.
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How do I get to Lower Austria?
Long-distance and excursion buses take you comfortably to Lower Austria, for example with Flixbus or Postbus. Special offers such as the "Bus zum Schnee" (Bus to the Snow) enable a direct and relaxed journey from Vienna to the Hochkar and Semmering Hirschenkogel ski resorts. Hop-on hop-off bus lines also connect Vienna on weekends and public holidays with popular sights such as Carnuntum, Schloss Hof or destinations in the Vienna Woods and the Wachau region. The lines of the Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region (VOR) transport association enable you to continue your journey reliably to your excursion or holiday destination.
Der Routeplaner AnachB vom Verkehrsverbund Ostregion informiert einfach und schnell zu den aktuellen Fahrplänen für öffentliche Verkehrsmittel in ganz Österreich. Egal ob Öffis, Park+Ride oder Car Sharing – der VOR AnachB Routenplaner findet den besten Weg von A nach B!
A dense motorway and road network ensures easy and comfortable travel to Lower Austria. Due to its proximity to Vienna, the province is easily accessible from all directions – for example, from Prague, Passau, Bratislava, Budapest or Salzburg. Vignettes and emergency lanes are mandatory on Austrian motorways, and winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November to 15 April.
ViennaInternational Airport is located in Lower Austria and has excellent international connections. The City Airport Train takes you to the centre of Vienna in just 16 minutes, from where you can reach Retz, Krems or the Wachau region in about an hour. St. Pölten can be reached directly from the airport in around 50 minutes.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about travel and local transport
Lower Austria is connected by several major motorways. These include the A1 West Motorway (towards Salzburg and Munich), the A2 South Motorway (towards Graz and Italy), the A4 East Motorway (towards Vienna Airport and Budapest), the A5 North Motorway (towards Brno), the A6 North-East Motorway (towards Bratislava) and the A21 Vienna Outer Ring Motorway. The network is supplemented by expressways such as the S3, S5 and S33.
Once you arrive, we recommend combining train and bus travel. Trains operated by ÖBB and Westbahn, as well as regional trains and bus lines operated by the Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region (VOR) transport authority, connect cities, regions and Excursion destinations. In addition, many regions are ideal for cycling or hiking, meaning that you can often get around without a car.
Vienna International Airport is well connected to Lower Austria. Trains take passengers directly from the airport via Vienna city centre to important railway hubs such as St. Pölten (approx. 50 minutes), Amstetten (approx. 1.5 hours) or Wiener Neustadt (approx. 50 minutes), from where regional connections continue. Buses supplement the service and connect to other regions. Lower Austria can also be reached quickly by car via the A4 Ostautobahn motorway.
Lower Austria is easily accessible from Vienna by various means oftransport. There are frequent train connections from Vienna Central Station and West Station to all regions of the province – many Excursion destinations and towns are directly connected. Buses complement the rail network and connect stations with smaller towns, nature parks and Excursion destinations. Lower Austria can be reached quickly by car via the well-developed motorway and expressway network, for example via the A1, A2, A4 or A22.
For international guests, ViennaInternational Airport is the ideal choice: from there, there are direct train and bus connections to Vienna and on to numerous regions of Lower Austria – for example, to St. Pölten in around 50 minutes or Krems, Retz, Baden bei Wien, Wiener Neustadt or Melk.
Lower Austria is easily accessible from Munich. There are regular long-distance train connections via Salzburg or Linz to St. Pölten, Amstetten or Vienna, from where regional trains and buses continue to the regions. Long-distance buses also connect Munich with Vienna and selected cities, with connections to the public transport network. By car, the journey takes you via the A8 and A1 motorways or via Salzburg to Lower Austria.