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Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Austrian Explorer

Twelve-day rail journey from London through Cologne to Vienna via Alpine Austria.

Illustration of Austrian Explorer

Tailor Made Rail's Austrian Explorer is a 12-day independent rail journey from London to Vienna, combining European rail networks with Alpine destinations. You depart London via Eurostar to Brussels, connect to the German ICE through Cologne, then travel southeast into Austria, stopping for 1 to 2 nights each in Innsbruck, Zell am See, Salzburg, Graz, and Vienna. The itinerary threads through the Arlberg and Semmering Pass rail routes, both significant Alpine routes, and ends with an overnight sleeper compartment on the Nightjet from Vienna toward Amsterdam before returning to London by Eurostar. Each city offers self-guided exploration of Old Towns, museums, castles, and outdoor pursuits; Salzburg is known for Mozart and The Sound of Music heritage, while Vienna provides Opera House visits and Danube cruises. Accommodation includes 10 nights in three and four-star hotels with breakfast. This trip suits independent rail travellers seeking depth in fewer cities and couples looking for a mix of scenic rail and cultural stops without daily escorted activities.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of £1,749 covers standard-class rail fares and accommodation; first-class upgrades cost from £250 per person and are optional.
  • This is a tailor-made independent itinerary, not escorted; you navigate each city on your own.
  • Hotels listed are standard choices; the pack names optional upgrades available in several cities (Cologne, Zell am See, Salzburg, Vienna).
  • Single supplements apply for sole occupancy; the pricing basis covers twin or double room occupancy for two people.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Eurostar to Brussels, connecting onto the German ICE service to Cologne.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Innsbruck

    Cologne to Innsbruck

    Train to Innsbruck with a change in Munich; an overnight stop in Munich can be arranged on request.

  3. Day 3overnight: Innsbruck

    Innsbruck

    Explore Innsbruck's Old Town or outdoor pursuits such as hiking, mountain biking and paragliding.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Zell am See

    Zell am See

    Short train journey via Worgl to the alpine resort of Zell am See.

  5. Day 5overnight: Zell am See

    Zell am See

    Second day at Zell am See, with chairlifts, cable cars and marked hiking trails.

  6. Day 6overnight: Salzburg

    Salzburg

    Travel to Salzburg, famous for its links to Mozart and The Sound of Music.

  7. Day 7overnight: Salzburg

    Salzburg

    Second day in Salzburg exploring the Old Town and hilltop castle; optional extra nights to visit the Austrian Lake District (St Wolfgang, Hallstatt).

  8. Day 8overnight: Graz

    Salzburg to Graz

    Around a 4-hour journey through the north of the country to Graz, with its 16th-century Schlossberg fortress and old town.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Vienna

    Graz to Vienna

    Scenic journey through the Semmering Pass, the first mountain railway built in Europe, arriving in Vienna.

  10. Day 10overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    Full day in Vienna, with museums, the Opera House, Baroque palaces or a cruise down the River Danube.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Onboard sleeper train

    Vienna to Amsterdam

    Free day in Vienna before boarding an overnight sleeper service to Amsterdam (a direct train to Brussels also runs three times a week).

  12. Day 12rail

    Amsterdam to London

    Arrive in Amsterdam the next morning and catch a direct Eurostar service through Belgium back to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Eurostar departs London St Pancras, connecting to the German ICE through Brussels to arrive in Cologne on the River Rhine.
  • Day 2Train journey to Innsbruck via Munich, entering the Tyrolean Alps.
  • Day 4Short train journey via Wörgl to the alpine resort town of Zell am See.
  • Day 9Scenic journey through the Semmering Pass, the first mountain railway built in Europe, arriving in Vienna.
  • Day 11Board the Nightjet overnight sleeper train from Vienna with a private compartment, arriving in Amsterdam the next morning.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 10 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Private compartment on the overnight sleeper from Vienna to Amsterdam
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruption

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes all rail journeys in standard class, with seat reservations where required. The private sleeper compartment on the Nightjet from Vienna to Amsterdam is included. First-class upgrades are optional.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
It is a tailor-made independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail books your trains and hotels and provides travel documentation, but you explore each destination on your own.
Which trains are used?
Eurostar (London to Brussels), German ICE (Brussels to Cologne and onward), regional trains through Austria, the Nightjet sleeper (Vienna to Amsterdam), and return Eurostar (Amsterdam to London).
What accommodation is included?
Ten nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast: Mondial am Dom in Cologne, AC Hotel Innsbruck, Cella Central Historic Boutique Hotel in Zell am See, Hotel am Mirabellplatz in Salzburg, Grand Hotel Wiesler in Graz, and Hotel Stefanie in Vienna.
When does this trip run?
The operator does not publish specific departure dates in the available information. Contact Tailor Made Rail directly to confirm available dates and any seasonal supplements.
What is the walking difficulty?
Most days involve city exploration and optional activities. Day 3 in Innsbruck and Day 5 at Zell am See offer optional hiking, chairlifts, cable cars and mountain biking; these are not required.

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