Vienna to Croatia by Train: A Fantastic Sleeper Train Experience in Europe

The Vienna to Split Train Schedule

Picture this: boarding a cosy train in the heart of Austria’s elegant capital, Vienna, and waking up to the sparkling coastline of Croatia in Split. The Vienna to Croatia train offers a brilliant alternative to flying. It’s a relaxing and scenic way to travel, it saves a night of accommodation, and if you value the journey as much as the destination, this is the best way to travel!

The train actually starts in Bratislava, Slovakia at around 5:30 pm, before making its way to Vienna and continuing southward. (It departs Vienna around 7:00 pm). It stops at the Austrian towns Bruck an der Mur (~9:20 pm) and Graz (~10:00 pm), both of which are fantastically accessible with a local train from towns like Villach and Lienz. This makes it an ideal connection if you’ve just been cycling the Drau Cycle Path or hiking in the stunning Lienz Dolomites.

The train departs three times a week in the summer season (from approximately the end of April to mid October), on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

It arrives in Split at around 10:00 am the following morning.

Why Choose the Vienna to Split Train?

The sleeper train experience is an adventure in itself. Instead of writing off a day (because let’s be honest, even if it’s a short flight, it usually does take a whole day once all queues and the travel to and from airports are taken into account), you’ll travel overnight and wake up refreshed with a whole new destination to explore.

You’ll avoid the boredom and stress of airports, skip the hassle of early morning starts, and travel sustainably.

Split and its nearby islands have plenty to offer. From ancient Roman ruins to crystal clear waters, beautiful towns and lively markets, there’s something for everyone. The train itself is a practical and comfortable way to travel overnight – you’ll settle in for the evening and wake up in Croatia, ready to explore.

Booking Tickets on the Vienna to Croatia Train

I recommend booking tickets on Rail Europe. It’s a user-friendly platform that allows you to search for and book trains across multiple European countries in one place.

With Rail Europe, you can easily compare routes, find the best fares, and reserve seats in advance.

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Most tickets are open for bookings 180 days in advance. To secure your spot, it’s best to book your tickets early, especially during peak travel months. Pricing is dynamic, so cheaper fares sell out quickly.

Seat, couchette and sleeper reservations are compulsory.

When you search for a train from Vienna to Split on Rail Europe you’ll get the nearest train to the date you’ve searched for, and possibly the next one too. Check that you select the actual date you need!

Click on the drop down arrow next to the automatically selected cheapest ticket type (see above) – which will be a seat (called “Second”) – you definitely don’t want this, or all the advantages of the night train will fly out of the window!

You want to choose one of the fares with a little bed icon next to them – these are all couchette or sleeper tickets (see below for an explanation of the difference). The best value fares are called “Sparschiene Inkl. Reservierung“. These tickets are limited, and when they’re gone, they’re gone. They’re great value, but nonflexible. You’ll see a little pop-up with “Fare conditions” when you select each fare. “Sparschiene Komfort” offers more flexibility, and “Standard-Ticket” offers full flexibility.

Don’t choose “Ladies Only” unless you actually are ladies only!

Boarding the train

In Vienna, if you have a ticket for a sleeper compartment (NOT a couchette), you can use the ÖBB Lounge (entrance on main concourse at Vienna Hauptbahnhof – which means main station) for up to 1.5 hours before departure. It offers free WiFi & complimentary tea, coffee, beer & snacks. There’s also one at Graz Hauptbahnhof if you’re boarding there.

There’s no formal check-in for the train. Just get to the platform and find your carriage. A train attendant will either check your ticket at the door and point you in the right direction for your compartment, or you’ll find your compartment on your own and the attendant will check your tickets once they get round to you.

Sometimes the attendants will take your tickets or rail pass, so you won’t be disturbed by inspections during the night. Your tickets are returned to you before arrival the next day.

Border checks within the Schengen area are rare so passports aren’t usually collected.

Eating & Drinking

There is no restaurant car on the train, but the train attendants do sell a selection of hot and cold drinks (including beer and wine) and snacks. Beware that the options can be a bit limited, especially later in the evening.

I would highly recommend having dinner before boarding the train, or bring a picnic onboard – you can pick up some sandwiches, fruit, and a small bottle of wine or juice before departure.

A simple breakfast (tea or coffee and a roll with butter and jam) will be served to everyone in the sleeper compartments and couchettes.

How Much Luggage Can I Take?

You take all your bags into the compartment with you, and there are no size or weight restrictions.  There’s room for some luggage under the bottom berths, and quite a lot of space at the level of the top bunks where there’s a recess over the cabin door.  There’s also the floor, but leave space for night time toilet goers (🙋).

Packing Tips

Make sure your essentials like toiletries and comfortable clothes to sleep in are accessible at the top of your luggage. There’s nothing worse than having to unpack your whole bag in a tiny sleeper compartment (I’ve been there).

Don’t forget earplugs and an eye mask if you’re a light sleeper.

Pack some snacks and entertainment, such as a book, games or downloaded podcasts, to pass the time before bedtime and after waking up.

Are there any downsides to the Vienna to Croatia train?

A few, but not enough to put me off!

1. Sometimes the compartments can be quite warm. They have air conditioning which is adjustable, but this doesn’t always work brilliantly.
2. The compartments are pretty compact when the seats are in bed mode, so don’t expect a lot of floor space. Once the seats have been converted to beds, there’s basically space for one person at a time on the floor; so you need to plan toilet trips and teeth brushing accordingly!
3. My husband often finds the bunks a bit firm, and the train movement not brilliant for his sleep, but he manages fine. I tend to sleep pretty well, and the kids sleep like absolute logs!
4. When we took this train, it departed a bit later than scheduled, but by the time we reached Croatia it was a couple of hours delayed. I don’t know how common this is, but I suspect it’s not rare. I do advise that you give yourself a bit of a buffer when it comes to onward plans. We jumped on a ferry from Split to the island of Vis that afternoon, and I was pleased that I’d booked a mid-afternoon ferry so we didn’t have to worry about the train being late.
5. Be aware that children under 6 go free, but then they’re not allocated a bed. If you want them to have their own bed (there’s no way I would have shared a berth with my kids at any age if I’d wanted any sleep 😆) you should enter their age as 7, so they pay the child fare and are allocated a berth.

Arriving in Split: A Gateway to Croatia’s Coastline

When the Vienna to Croatia train rolls into Split in the morning, you’re minutes from the historic Old Town, with its Roman ruins, charming alleys, and buzzing cafes.

The easiest place to leave luggage is in the luggage storage lockers in Split station. When we arrived, they were all full up (it’s easy to tell whether they’re full or empty as there’s a red or green strip showing on the locker door).

We walked up the road a little towards the port – and found multiple manned luggage storage options. Look for a sign saying “Garderoba“. They were more expensive than the lockers, as they charged per bag, but it was worth it – we had a couple of hours in which to explore Split and have lunch before boarding our ferry to Vis.

Diocletian’s Palace is a must-visit, and the Riva promenade offers stunning sea views. Split was busy (too busy, to be honest), and the cruise ships moored in the harbour were definitely part of the problem! However, we still enjoyed a couple of hours wandering through the old town, exploring its narrow streets, soaking up the lively atmosphere, and grabbing a bite to eat before heading to the ferry. We ate lunch at Bepa!, overlooking an 800 year old square – which I would recommend.

From Split, it’s easy to explore the Dalmatian coastline, with ferries connecting you to islands like Hvar, Brač, and Vis. We jumped on the ferry to Vis at 3:00 pm the same day we arrived.

The ferry to Vis (air-conditioned inside, cool and breezy on deck) was a much needed escape from Split’s heat and humidity!

And Vis turned out to be the perfect island for us. It was big enough to keep things interesting, lively but not overcrowded, and had a good mix of shops and supermarkets for self-catering. The sea was incredible for swimming, the beaches were lovely (though typically pebbly – Croatia isn’t big on sand!), and a boat trip around the island was a highlight, taking us to stunning spots like the Blue Cave and Stiniva Beach.

Why an Overnight Train is Better than Flying

Travelling by overnight train is not just a more sustainable choice; it’s also a far more enjoyable one.

Instead of enduring cramped plane seats and airport queues, you’ll have a comfortable space to relax, sleep, and socialise.

You’ll save on a night’s accommodation, and there’s something rather romantic about falling asleep to the gentle rhythm of a train.

Plus, you’ll arrive right in the heart of Split, with no need for airport transfers.