Information For Trainspotters
In Austria most railways run electrically. Most electric trains get their power from a single-phase AC network. This network uses its own power lines run with 110 kV. In contrast to normal power lines, these employ a number of conductors that is not divisible by 3 - most power lines for the single phase AC grid of the traction power grid have four conductors. There are many interesting mountain railways of all types and trains from around central Europe.
From Slovakia
There's a pontoon bridge accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists just south of the Austrian-Czech-Slovak three country border, between Hohenau an der March Austria and Moravský Svätý Ján Slovakia. The way goes through flat countryside, is very calm and can be conveniently done by bike. Its length is approximately 6 kilometers, of which the 4 kilometers on the Slovak part are a completely straight invariable landscape which may feel somewhat boring.
The urban traffic company of Bratislava DPB runs a cross-border bus line no. 901 between Hainburg an der Donau Austria and Bratislava Slovakia, with a stop also in the Austrian town of Wolfsthal. In Bratislava, the terminus is the stop Nový most.
There's a pontoon ferry accessible to car-drivers and pedestrians between Angern an der March Austria and Záhorská Ves Slovakia. Open from five o'clock to twenty two o'clock.
By plane
There are 6 airports in Austria with scheduled flights. The most important international airport is Vienna which has connection to all major airports of the world. Other international airports include Graz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Linz, and Salzburg which provide domestic flights as well as connections to some European countries. Those airports are particularly popular with cheap airlines such as Ryanair. For traveling to the western states it is recommended to use the very close Munich airport.
The most common airports to visit Vorarlberg are Altenrhein Austrian, Friedrichshafen Ryanair, Intersky and Zurich Swiss.
If visiting Austria for winter sports, choose airport considering cost and duration for the whole trip plane+transfer, not always Vienna and even likely not in Austria.
Unlike many countries, getting in to Austria for skiing shouldn't imply flying to the capital city first. Vienna itself is a 4 hour drive away from the nearest medium-sized resort, and longer by public transport. See more in GetIn section of Winter sports in Austria.
By train
Austria has plenty of connections with all its neighbors daily. Every neighboring country even Lichtenstein have trains at least hourly. Many Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland even more frequently. The ÃBB Austrian Railways operate high-speed ICE and RailJet trains from cities like Zurich, Munich,Frankfurt, Passau, and Budapest. Eurocity trains are the next fastest trains available as well as the trains connecting the bigger Austrian cities called Intercity. Regional trains called EURegio and simply Regionalzug are also avialible from all 8 of Austria's neighbors.
Vienna is a the largest railroad hub but day and night trains from most Central European countries travel to many stops across Austria. Day trains are normally much quicker than night trains. Tickets can be purchased from certain locations to Austria via the ÃBB website (http://www.oebb.at/). Always compare fares from the departure or even transit countries' railways as there may be price difference even for the same train. ÃBB offers discount 'SparSchiene' tickets to and from destinations like Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, and Switzerland for a flat-rate i.e. â¬29 for a one-way seater, â¬39 for a couchette, or â¬59 for a sleeper. There are a limited number of tickets at this price. At peak times you need to book in advance. Additional offers are avaible to all countries in Central Europe, although many cannot be booked online.
By car
Austria and all its neighbouring countries, except Liechtenstein are Schengen members so in theory there are no border controls. For using the Autobahnen or Schnellstrassen, a vignette, or tax sticker, must be purchased. Costs are approx â¬70 for one year, â¬20 for 8 weeks, or about â¬7 for 10 days.
On some Saturdays in July and August expect traffic jams on the motorways between Germany, Austria and Italy when millions of German tourists head south at the beginning of school vacations. A delay of about 2 hours is not unusual. The motorway A10 between Salzburg and Villach is especially notorious. It's best to avoid those Saturdays.