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Tailor Made Rail · Rail holiday

Vienna to Trieste: A Continental Railway Journey

Eleven-day rail journey from Vienna to Munich through Austria, Slovenia, and Italy

Illustration of Vienna to Trieste: A Continental Railway Journey

Tailor Made Rail's 11-day Vienna to Trieste railway journey traces the legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire across four countries. The trip departs London by Eurostar, connects to an overnight sleeper train to Vienna, then travels south by day train through Austria and Slovenia to Trieste on the Adriatic Sea, finishing in Munich. You stay in handpicked three-star hotels with breakfast included in each city, allowing time to explore Vienna's Ringstrasse and palaces, Graz's fortress and galleries, Ljubljana's Baroque architecture and waterways, and Trieste's cobbled old town. The route's signature moment is the climb through the UNESCO-protected Semmering Pass, a 19th-century engineering feat between Vienna and Graz. All rail travel, seat reservations, and 10 nights' accommodation are included; the package suits repeat rail travellers who want the convenience of pre-booked hotels and tickets without a guide shadowing each day.

What to know before you look closer

  • Hotels are listed as 'or similar'; your final accommodation may vary by tier and availability.
  • Day 7 includes an optional, unincluded boat tour in Ljubljana and a separate optional extension to Lake Bled.
  • The route description identifies the end city as Munich, not Trieste; the journey concludes in Munich after departing Trieste on day 10.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Sleeper train

    Overnight to Vienna

    Take the direct Eurostar service from London to Amsterdam and connect onto the overnight sleeper service to Vienna, with time in Amsterdam station for dinner or supplies.

  2. Day 2overnight: Vienna

    Arrive Vienna

    Wake to a light breakfast served in your cabin before arriving into Vienna. Make your way to the Hotel Stefanie (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  3. Day 3overnight: Vienna

    Vienna

    A full day in the Austrian capital taking in the Ringstrasse, State Opera House, St Stephen's Cathedral and the Schönbrunn Palace, or a ride on the historic Wiener Riesenrad ferris wheel in Prater Park.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Graz

    Vienna to Graz via the Semmering Railway

    Board a RailJet train south out of Vienna bound for Graz. After around 90 minutes the scenery becomes spectacular as you ascend through the UNESCO-protected Semmering Pass, built in the mid-19th century. Check in at the Grand Hotel Wiesler (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Graz

    Graz

    Explore Graz's 16th century Schlossberg fortress and well-preserved old town, the Gothic cathedral, the Baroque Schloss Eggenberg, and the contemporary Kunsthaus Graz ('Friendly Alien'). In summer, visit the Lurgrotte Caves, as seen on BBC2's Great Continental Railway Journeys with Michael Portillo.

  6. Day 6overnight: Ljubljana

    Graz to Ljubljana

    Cross the border from Austria into Slovenia, passing through Maribor and the countryside of eastern Slovenia before arriving in Ljubljana. Check in at the Cubo Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Ljubljana

    Ljubljana

    Explore Ljubljana's mix of Roman, Baroque, Vienna Succession and Art Deco architecture, with a recommended boat tour on the city's waterways. Optional extension to Lake Bled in the Julian Alps, 35 miles north.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Trieste

    Ljubljana to Trieste

    Board a direct Slovenian train to Trieste, once the southernmost port of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with a distinct Viennese flavour. Check in at the Starhotels Savoia Excelsior Palace (or similar) for a 2-night stay.

  9. Day 9overnight: Trieste

    Trieste

    Walk the winding cobbled streets of Trieste's Old Town and discover its Viennese architecture, located on a narrow strip of Italian soil between Slovenia and the Adriatic Sea.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Munich

    Trieste to Munich

    A direct train from Trieste to Venice with time for lunch, then onward through northern Italy and the Brenner Pass to Munich. Check in at the Eurostars Book (or similar) for an overnight stay. Optional extension with a night or two in Venice.

  11. Day 11rail

    Munich to London

    Speed through Germany to Frankfurt, connect to Brussels, then board the Eurostar service to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Overnight sleeper train from London to Vienna via Amsterdam, with light breakfast served in your cabin before arrival.
  • Day 4RailJet ascends through the UNESCO-protected Semmering Pass, a 19th-century engineered railway through the Alps between Vienna and Graz.
  • Day 8Direct train from Ljubljana to Trieste, the Adriatic port of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, with distinct Viennese architecture.
  • Day 10Train journey from Trieste through northern Italy and the Brenner Pass to Munich, with a lunch stop in Venice.

Included

  • All rail journeys, in standard class
  • Seat reservations where required
  • 10 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email
  • Proactive rerouting in case of strikes or disruptions

Questions travellers ask

Are all rail journeys included?
Yes. Tailor Made Rail includes all rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations where required, and the sleeper service from Amsterdam to Vienna.
Which trains are used?
The itinerary includes Eurostar (London to Amsterdam), an overnight sleeper (Amsterdam to Vienna), RailJet (Vienna to Graz), a Slovenian train (Ljubljana to Trieste), and onward trains to Munich and return to London.
What is included in the price?
All rail journeys in standard class, seat reservations, 10 nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast, travel documentation, email ticket delivery, and proactive rerouting in case of strikes.
Is this escorted or independent?
This is an independent rail holiday. Tailor Made Rail arranges all bookings and documentation but does not provide a guide on the journey.
When does it run?
The trip runs year-round, with low-season pricing (November to March) from GBP 1,599 and high-season pricing (April to October) from GBP 1,799.
Can I upgrade to First Class?
Yes. First Class upgrades on all rail journeys are available from GBP 150 per person.

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