Vienna to Ljubljana - 13 Best Ways to Travel in 2024

A popular way to travel from Vienna to Ljubljana is by train. There is only one direct train between the capitals, departing from Vienna shortly before 8 am and arriving in Ljubljana six hours later, at 2 pm. However, if the schedule doesn't work for you, there are a few more connections with a convenient change in Villach. Trains depart every two hours from Vienna, with the last one departing after 4 pm and arriving in Ljubljana before 11 pm.

Depending on the connection, the travel time with a change isn't much longer than the direct train; you should expect to spend a bit over six hours on the journey from Vienna to Ljubljana.

No matter which train you choose, you are in for a treat as this is a very scenic route. Along the way, not only will you go through beautiful mountains, but part of your journey will go through the famous Semmering railway built in 1854 - today, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Vienna to Ljubljana train ticket 

Vienna to Ljubljana train tickets start at €23,30 (for both direct trains and those with a change in Villach) when bought in advance, with prices going up to €75 for last-minute purchases. The best way to buy tickets is online on the website of Austrian Railways. 

You can also buy it the traditional way, at the train station in Vienna. You will find the ticket offices on the street level, on the right side, after entering the building. If you buy the ticket shortly before the departure, plan to be a bit earlier at the train station. Wien Hauptbahnhof is the biggest train station in Austria, and lines can get long here. 

Vienna to Ljubljana train with Interrail pass

Those who travel around Europe using passes like Interrail can take a train from Vienna to Ljubljana free of charge. A seat reservation is not required, but it is recommended at peak times. It costs only €3; you can buy it online via the website of Austrian Railways.

Train stations in Vienna and Ljubljana

The main train station in Vienna - Wien Hauptbahnhof - is located a bit away from the center, but it is easily accessible by the red metro line U1 (stop "Südtiroler Platz-Hauptbahnhof") as well as trains and buses. 

In Ljubljana, the train station where you arrive is located one km - some fifteen minutes walking - from Preseren Square in the heart of the Old Town. 

A more convenient way to travel from Vienna to Ljubljana is by bus. Flixbus, a popular bus company, serves at least five (on some days more) daily connections between the capitals. 

The first bus departs from Vienna around four in the morning; the last one is at eleven in the evening. The Vienna to Ljubljana bus travel time is around five hours, however some of the connections take even a few minutes less. 

While buses are not as comfortable as trains, you can still expect an enjoyable journey with plenty of leg space, complimentary wifi, and a power socket next to each seat. 

Vienna to Ljubljana bus tickets

Prices for the Vienna to Ljubljana bus trip start at €27 if you buy a ticket in advance; for last-minute booking, expect to pay even €65. To purchase the ticket, visit the Flixbus website; this is also where you can check the schedule of buses.

Bus stations in Vienna and Ljubljana

In Vienna, most buses leave from the bus station at Erdbergstrasse, a bit away from the center but reachable easily by metro (U3 orange metro line, station "Erdberg"). Few of the connections depart from the stop right next to the central train station. 

In Ljubljana, you will arrive at the bus station right in front of the train station in the center of the city. 

Due to the close distance between Vienna and Ljubljana, there are no direct flights between the cities. If you want to go from Vienna to Ljubljana by plane, you can do it but with a change in one of the European airports. 

You will find the best offers with connections in Munich or Zurich. If you decide to fly via those airports, the Vienna to Ljubljana flight time would be at least three hours. 

Vienna to Ljubljana plane tickets

You can find the cheapest Vienna to Ljubljana one-way tickets for €125. If you decide to fly, check the websites of Austrian Airlines, Swiss Airlines, or Lufthansa for schedules and to purchase tickets, as those airlines are your best option for Vienna to Ljubljana flights.

Airports in Vienna and Ljubljana

You can easily reach Vienna airport by train. You can choose between a direct City Airport Train departing from Wien Mitte station (travel time is 16 minutes, one-way ticket costs €14,90) or use the slower suburban train S7, also from Wien Mitte (travel time is 25 minutes, one-way ticket is €4,10). There are also RailJet trains departing from Wien Hauptbahnhof station twice per hour, with a travel time of 15 minutes. The ticket for this connection costs €4,40. 

Once you arrive at Ljubljana airport, you can take the bus to the city. They run at least once an hour, and the travel time from the airport to the bus station in Ljubljana is around 45 minutes. The one-way ticket costs €4. 

The fastest way to travel from Vienna to Ljubljana is by car. The distance between the capitals is 380 km, but since you will be driving on motorways, you need only a bit over three and a half hours to reach the capital of Slovenia. 

Unfortunately, even if you pass scenic areas, you won't be able to admire the views along the way as those are blocked with highway screens. But if you are not in a hurry, you can plan the Vienna to Ljubljana road trip and take some backroads for sightseeing stops along the way. 

Depending on which way you choose, you can stop in interesting places like Graz, Maribor, Ptuj, or Celje. You can also detour a bit to include the famous Hallstatt and Lake Bled in your itinerary. There are many options as this is a very picturesque part of Europe.

When planning a drive from Vienna to Ljubljana, remember that if you rent a car, the fee for returning the vehicle to a different location is much higher than if you leave the car in the same place. For the Vienna to Ljubljana trip, you can expect to pay at least €500 for the rental car, excluding the costs of petrol.

A good alternative to driving is the Vienna to Ljubljana private transfer. You don't need to hassle with public transport, and you don't need to worry about the luggage. All you need to do is be ready at the designated time and enjoy your trip. 

It's not the cheapest option, you can expect to pay around €380 for two passengers. The English-speaking driver will pick you up from your accommodation or other arranged place in Vienna and will take you in a comfortable car all the way to Ljubljana. 

For the extra fee, you can add sightseeing stops along the way in places like Liechtenstein Castle, Graz, Maribor, Ptuj, Celje, or Kamnik. 

While carpooling is a popular way of traveling around Europe, the Vienna to Ljubljana route isn't the most popular one, and we don't recommend relying too much on this way of moving around. There are days when only a very few rides are available; on others, there are none at all, so it's tricky to predict if you can find a carpooling trip that would work for your itinerary. 

But if you want to try carsharing, head to BlaBlaCar - the most popular carpooling website - and browse through available rides. Once you find the one that suits you, contact the driver to arrange the pickup details, and you are ready to go. 

Remember to check the departure and/or arrival points as those can be away from the center, and you need to consider how to get there, which is not always easy. 

What you pay for the Vienna to Ljubljana carpooling trip depends on the driver as they set the price - those start at €20. 

If you enjoy the thrill of unpredictable travel and have some extra time in your itinerary, you can try hitchhiking from Vienna to Ljubljana. 

Since the road going south from Vienna is rather popular, you shouldn't have any problems with finding a ride, even all the way to Ljubljana. However, most likely, you will need to change cars in Graz, Klagenfurt, or Maribor (which still shouldn't be a problem). 

The best starting point for the Vienna to Ljubljana hitchhiking trip is on Triesterstraße, where you can get by public transport - buses and tram stops nearby. 

If you travel around by bike, you can also use your two wheels for a trip from Vienna to Ljubljana. You will need to cover a distance of around 450 km, part of it in hilly areas, so you need to be in good shape for this trip. 

To make it easier, you can do a little detour and go via Hungary - this will take more time, but the terrain will be flatter and easier to cycle on. No matter which way you choose, you will be able to enjoy a beautiful landscape and charming towns along the way. 

A slightly crazier idea (but still doable) is walking from Vienna to Ljubljana. You would need around three weeks to complete this trip, but along the way, you can see some spectacular, off-the-path places that normally are easy to miss. 

Some parts of this trip can get a bit hilly, so decent shape and good walking shoes are necessary. Since both Austria and Slovenia are great hiking destinations, you can expect well-marked trails and good infrastructure on your way from Vienna to Ljubljana.

Going from Vienna to Ljubljana by motorcycle is a bit faster than cycling or walking, but you can still enjoy everything this corner of Europe has to offer. All you need to do is take back roads through the beautiful landscape and stop in numerous charming towns along the way to fully appreciate the region and learn more about it. 

Or, if your time is limited, you can take your machine for a ride on motorways and get from Vienna to Ljubljana by motorcycle in a bit over three hours. 

Going for a Vienna to Ljubljana RV road trip is an excellent idea if you are traveling with a motorhome and you are not in a hurry. You can stop in all the amazing places along the way (we've already covered many of them in this article) and take full advantage of the joy the slow travel gives. 

Just keep in mind that camping outside of designated areas is not allowed in Austria and Slovenia. Fortunately, there are many campsites along the way where you can stay for the night to relax before continuing your journey towards Ljubljana.

If you enjoy traveling in style, you can choose a luxurious option when getting from Vienna to Ljubljana - a private jet. It is a pricey way to travel, but at the same time, it is an unforgettable experience.

You can expect to pay at least €5000 to charter a plane for your Vienna to Ljubljana flight. The travel time from Vienna to Ljubljana by private jet should be around 2-3 hours, including getting to and from the airport, so it is only slightly shorter than by car. 

Final thoughts on traveling from Vienna to Ljubljana

Since these two capitals are relatively close to each other, there are many options for getting from Vienna to Ljubljana. You can choose the fastest or the cheapest ones, but we encourage you to dig a bit deeper into this region and see more than simply the main cities. 

This is still a somewhat underrated part of Europe, with beautiful and interesting places to visit that you don't want to miss. But even if you stick only to Vienna and Ljubljana during your trip, you will surely have a great time. Have an incredible journey!