Crossing several countries by train does not have to be expensive. Most of the saving comes from how you plan the route, not from a magic discount: the order of the cities, where you split the tickets and how early you book. This guide uses real journey times from our open-data timetables for Austria and Switzerland.
1. Put the cities in the order of the rail lines
Draw the route along the main lines and avoid going back and forth. A classic example through the Alps: Vienna → Salzburg → Innsbruck → Zurich → Lucerne → Geneva. Every leg is a direct train, and most are short:
- Vienna – Salzburg: fastest train 2 h 25, 43 direct trains on a weekday.
- Salzburg – Innsbruck: 2 h 00, 19 direct trains.
- Zurich – Lucerne: 41 min, 40 direct trains.
- Bern – Geneva: 1 h 51, 30 direct trains.
Short legs with many trains are easy to change if your plans move, and they leave time to see each city. You can check first and last trains for every connection in our tables for Austria and Switzerland.
2. Book saver fares as soon as sales open
National railways sell a limited number of cheap tickets per train, and they go first. These are the advance windows the operators publish:
- Austria (ÖBB Sparschiene): up to 6 months ahead, and up to 360 days for Nightjet night trains. Valid only on the train you book.
- Switzerland (SBB Supersaver): up to 6 months ahead. For trips after the December timetable change, they go on sale once the new timetable is published, towards the end of June.
- Germany (DB Sparpreis): up to 12 months ahead.
Saver fares are tied to one train. If a delay makes you miss the next one, check the conditions of your ticket before you travel.
3. Split the trip at the border when it is cheaper
One ticket from start to finish is not always the cheapest. Sometimes two tickets, one for each country, cost less. Compare both options for the same train. The trade-off: with separate tickets, if the first train is late and you miss the second, the second operator does not have to rebook you. Leave a generous connection time, at least an hour, or keep one through ticket on tight connections.
4. Use a night train as your hotel
A night train covers a long distance while you sleep and saves a night of accommodation. On long legs, a couchette often costs less than a day train plus a hotel. Night trains sell out early, which is why their sales open so far ahead. Read our guide to night trains in Europe.
5. Regional trains and buses for the gaps
Not every leg needs a fast train. Regional trains are usually cheaper and do not need a reservation, and for some short trips they are almost as quick. Where there is no direct train, a bus can fill the gap: Omio shows trains and buses for the same route, so you can compare them side by side.
6. Rail pass or single tickets?
A pass pays off when you travel a lot on many days and want flexibility. For a route with a few long legs booked early, single tickets are usually cheaper. Do the numbers with our comparison: rail pass vs single tickets.
7. One more discount for your first booking
If you have never booked with Omio, the code NEW10 gives 10% off your first booking, up to €80, until 30 November 2026.
Quick checklist
- Order the cities along the main rail lines.
- Write down when saver fares open for each leg and book on that day.
- Compare one through ticket with two separate tickets.
- Leave at least an hour between separate tickets.
- Use a night train on the longest leg.
- Check our open-data tables: Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Finland.
Plan the whole route in one go.
Describe your trip and WoW Train suggests the trains for every leg, with booking links.
Plan my trip →