Copenhagen to Vienna by train

There is no direct train between Copenhagen and Vienna. You will always need at least one change, and you have two realistic day options: head south via Hamburg and continue by ICE through Munich, or travel via Hamburg and Berlin to Prague and take a Railjet into Vienna. Either way, it is a long day. If you would rather arrive rested, the ÖBB Nightjet connects Hamburg to Vienna overnight.

Route options

All three start the same way: you reach Hamburg from Copenhagen first. That leg takes approximately 4 hours 40 minutes by DSB or DB and runs entirely overland. No ferry. The Puttgarden to Rødby crossing was discontinued in December 2019. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel is still under construction and will not change this for years yet.

Day route via Hamburg and Munich

This is the faster daytime option. Most connections on this route produce journey times of 14 to 16 hours.

From Copenhagen, take a DSB or DB service to Hamburg Hbf (approximately 4 hours 40 minutes). Board an ICE to Munich at Hamburg, a journey of roughly 6 hours. From Munich, an ICE or ÖBB Railjet/RJX to Vienna takes approximately 4 hours.

Book the Hamburg to Munich and Munich to Vienna legs on DB or through a platform such as Omio. If you hold a rail pass, check reservation requirements before you travel. The Munich to Vienna RJX is jointly operated by DB and ÖBB, and reservation rules can differ depending on the exact train.

Day route via Prague

The second main day option runs through Berlin and Prague. It is a longer day than the Munich route, but it works well if you want to pass through central Europe or if ČD ComfortJet connections fit your timing.

České dráhy (ČD) operates the ComfortJet service between Copenhagen and Prague in cooperation with DSB and Deutsche Bahn. The train calls at Hamburg, Berlin, and Dresden along the way. The Copenhagen to Prague journey takes approximately 11 hours. Two pairs of trains run year-round, with a third pair in summer. The corridor can be affected by track works, so check your departure before booking.

From Prague, ČD and ÖBB run Railjet trains to Vienna with up to eight services a day and a journey time of roughly 4 hours 5 minutes. Transfer at Praha hlavní nádraží. Arrive at Wien Hbf.

If you are using an Interrail or Eurail pass on the Prague route, check whether pass acceptance applies to the ČD ComfortJet. It is a newer premium service and the rules may not match standard ČD trains.

Sleeper route via Hamburg (ÖBB Nightjet)

The Nightjet is the right choice if you want to sleep on this journey rather than sit through a very long day.

Travel from Copenhagen to Hamburg during the day, then board the ÖBB Nightjet to Vienna overnight. The Nightjet offers seats, couchettes, and sleeping cars. Seats are cheap but uncomfortable for a full night. A couchette gives you a fold-down berth in a shared compartment. A sleeping car costs more and gives you more privacy.

Book early for a couchette or sleeping car. These categories can sell out before seats on popular departures. ÖBB Sparschiene fares on the Nightjet can be reserved up to six months ahead.

Do not board the Nightjet with only your Interrail or Eurail pass. You still need a paid reservation for your accommodation category. Buy the reservation when you plan your trip, not at the station.

Journey times

Plan for a long day on either daytime route.

The Hamburg to Munich to Vienna route runs to around 14 to 16 hours on well-connected departures. The Prague route typically takes 16 to 19 hours. Booking engines often show a wide range because transfer times vary significantly by departure. Treat anything below 14 hours as a best-case figure. Delays on the German network and engineering works in Denmark are common enough to warrant a buffer.

If an on-time Vienna arrival matters, use the sleeper.

Tickets and prices

Prices depend on route, date, booking window, and whether you buy a through ticket or separate legs.

Through tickets from Copenhagen to Vienna are sold on platforms like Omio and Trainline. Advance economy fares on popular date combinations can start from around €70 to €90, but prices move with demand and are not stable. Check before booking rather than relying on any published figure.

Booking separately is a useful alternative. For the Hamburg route: Copenhagen to Hamburg on DSB or DB, Hamburg to Munich on DB, and Munich to Vienna on DB or ÖBB. For the Prague route: the ČD ComfortJet leg on ČD, then the Prague to Vienna Railjet on ČD or ÖBB. Separate tickets can cost less and let you build in a stopover if you want one.

For the Nightjet, book directly with ÖBB. ÖBB sells seats, couchettes, and sleeping cars at different prices, and Sparschiene fares reward early booking.

Interrail and Eurail

A Global Pass covers the countries on this route. A single-country pass will not.

The journey crosses Denmark, Germany, and Austria on the Munich route, or Denmark, Germany, Czechia, and Austria on the Prague route. A Global Pass is needed for either. Reservations are not included and must be bought separately.

On the Hamburg route, DB and ÖBB ICE and RJX trains may require or offer optional reservations. Check each train before you travel. On the Prague route, confirm that the ČD ComfortJet accepts pass holders before booking, as it is a newer service.

The Nightjet always requires a paid reservation. Fees depend on accommodation type: seats cost least, sleeping cars cost most. Check the current pass-holder reservation fees on the ÖBB or Interrail/Eurail websites before you commit to the route.

Stations

København H (Copenhagen Central Station) is the departure point for all three options.

Hamburg Hbf is the key hub. Whether you are continuing to Munich, travelling to Prague via Berlin, or boarding the Nightjet, you change at Hamburg Hbf. It is a large, well-connected station with a short transfer between platforms.

Praha hlavní nádraží (Prague Main Station) is the transfer point for the Prague route. Your Railjet to Vienna departs from here.

Wien Hbf is your arrival station in Vienna. It has direct U-Bahn connections on U1 and U6, plus S-Bahn and tram services. The historic first district is around 15 to 20 minutes from the station by U-Bahn.

DSB warns that track works in Denmark and Germany can affect timetables. Check the exact running times for your trains a day or two before departure, especially for early morning or late departures.

Train versus flying

A direct flight between Copenhagen and Vienna takes around 2 hours. The train takes 14 to 19 hours depending on your route. The honest case for the train is the journey itself: central station departures and arrivals, no airport check-in, and the option to stop in Hamburg or Prague along the way.

The sleeper strengthens the argument. You travel overnight, use no daylight hours in transit, and arrive in Vienna in the morning.

For a straightforward short city break, flying is the practical choice on time alone.