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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Arlberg Pass: Zurich, Innsbruck, and Vienna

Independent rail trip via Arlberg Pass: Zurich, Innsbruck, Vienna

Illustration of Arlberg Pass: Zurich, Innsbruck, and Vienna

Railbookers operates this 5-day, 4-night independent rail vacation from Zurich to Vienna, stopping in Innsbruck along the way. After one night in Zurich, with time for the Swiss National Museum or Kunsthaus and an evening in the Niederdorf old town district, a Railjet train crosses the Swiss and Austrian Alps over the Arlberg Pass, briefly passing through Liechtenstein, to Innsbruck for a single night, with sightseeing at the Hofkirche or the Goldenes Dachl. The train then continues to Vienna for two nights, the longest stay of the trip, with an included one-day city card covering sights such as the Anchor Clock, Opera House, and Hofburg. Because it is independent rather than escorted, travelers move between the three cities and their hotels on their own, with trains and rooms pre-booked. It suits travelers who want a short, Alpine-scenery-led route between Switzerland and Austria without spending long in any one place.

What to know before you look closer

  • Every city on this trip lists two hotel options in the evidence (25hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse or Baur Au Lac in Zurich; Grauer Bar or Central Hotel Sailer in Innsbruck; Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hauptbahnhof or InterContinental Hotel Vienna in Vienna); confirm which applies with Railbookers.
  • Two of the three overnight stops, Zurich and Innsbruck, are single nights; only Vienna gets two nights, making this a fast-paced, mostly one-night-per-city trip.
  • No specific departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm current availability directly with Railbookers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Zurich

    Zurich

    Check in for an overnight stay; visit the Swiss National Museum or Kunsthaus; evening in the Niederdorf old town district.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Innsbruck

    Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck

    Train through the Swiss and Austrian Alps over the Arlberg Pass, briefly through Liechtenstein; visit the Hofkirche Innsbruck or the Goldenes Dachl.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Vienna

    Innsbruck to Vienna

    Train to Vienna for a two-night stay; visit the Anchor Clock, Opera House, and Hofburg.

  4. Day 4overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    Included one-day city card; optional opera or concert at the Musikverein.

  5. Day 5

    Your Journey Ends in Vienna

    Check out after breakfast and continue with your journey.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1An evening in Zurich's Niederdorf old town district follows a visit to the Swiss National Museum or Kunsthaus.
  • Day 2The train crosses the Swiss and Austrian Alps over the Arlberg Pass, briefly passing through Liechtenstein, before visits to the Hofkirche Innsbruck or the Goldenes Dachl.
  • Day 3The train continues to Vienna, where sightseeing takes in the Anchor Clock, Opera House, and Hofburg.
  • Day 4An included one-day city card covers Vienna sightseeing, with an optional opera or concert at the Musikverein.

Included

  • Onward rail travel throughout your trip
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Zurich
  • 1 night hotel stay with breakfast in Innsbruck
  • 2 nights' hotel stay with breakfast in Vienna

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. "Onward rail travel throughout your trip" is in Railbookers' included list, using Railjet and Deutsche Bahn trains.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is an independent rail vacation. The only included sightseeing item is a one-day Vienna city card; the rest is self-guided.
Which hotels are used?
Zurich: 25hours Hotel Zurich Langstrasse or Baur Au Lac. Innsbruck: Grauer Bar or Central Hotel Sailer. Vienna: Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hauptbahnhof or InterContinental Hotel Vienna.
How many nights are spent in each city?
1 night in Zurich, 1 night in Innsbruck, and 2 nights in Vienna.
What is the starting price?
From $1,019 per person, which works out to about $204 per day, according to Railbookers' listed price.

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