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The Paris-Vienna Nightjet made its final run on December 14, 2025, due to a lack of subsidies on the French side. A huge disappointment for everyone who dreamed of falling asleep in Paris and waking up in Vienna. But here’s the good news: the Austrian capital is still easily accessible by train—without a single drop of jet fuel! You just have to be willing to make a connection along the way. Here are three solid routes, each with its own advantages, so you can keep traveling to Vienna by rail.
The direct Paris-Vienna Nightjet service was discontinued on December 14, 2025, due to a lack of subsidies from the French government. There is currently no direct connection between the two capitals. However, you can still reach Vienna by train, with one transfer, via Brussels (Nightjet 3 times a week), Zurich (Daily Nightjet) or Stuttgart (Daily Nightjet/EuroNight). The total travel time is between 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., depending on the option selected.
It takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes to get from Paris to Brussels on the Eurostar, followed by a 14-hour ride on the direct ÖBB Nightjet to Vienna (note that the train doesn’t run every day of the week, so be sure to check the Nightjet website for specific dates). In total, plan on a little over 15 hours and 30 minutes, including the layover time at Brussels-Midi.
This is the most direct option in terms of connections: just one transfer, and the Brussels–Vienna Nightjet is a true through service, with no train changes during the night. Brussels is also one of the best-connected rail hubs from Paris (with several Eurostar trains daily), so you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to your departure time. The downside: the Nightjet only runs three times a week, so you’ll need to plan your trip around those schedules.
Plenty of time. If your Eurostar arrives early and your Nightjet leaves in the evening, you’ll have several hours to stroll around the Grand-Place—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—check out the Manneken-Pis, or head back with some waffles and a cone of fries in hand. Comic book fans can also head over to the Belgian Comic Strip Center, just a stone’s throw from the central station. And if you'd like to learn more, check out our Brussels Guide.
The TGV Lyria connects Paris to Zurich in about 4 hours. Once there, you’ll board the Nightjet to Vienna, which departs late in the evening (around 9:30 p.m.) and arrives in Vienna around 7:50–8:00 a.m. the next day—a night journey of about 10 hours and 15 minutes. This Nightjet runs daily. Good news: as of June 15, 2026, this route will be served by new-generation Nightjet trains (including individual mini-cabins).
This is the most reliable option in terms of frequency: a Nightjet every night, unlike Brussels, which only offers three per week. The new rolling stock (mini-cabins) also makes it the most comfortable option of the three. Bonus: this route works just as well if you’re leaving from Lyon, Marseille, or Montpellier, with a direct connection to Switzerland.
If you have a few hours between trains, Zurich’s Old Town (Altstadt) is easy to explore on foot, as are the lakeshores. Bahnhofstrasse, right outside the train station, is also a great spot to watch the locals go about their day between trains. And if you'd like to learn more, check out our Zurich Guide.
The trip from Paris to Stuttgart takes about 3 hours by TGV or ICE, with numerous daily connections (which is also convenient if you’re leaving from Strasbourg, just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Stuttgart). The overnight train to Vienna, operated in partnership by ÖBB and MÁV, usually departs around 8:30 p.m. and arrives around 6:30 a.m. the next day, for a total travel time of about 10 hours.
This is the shortest daytime trip of the three options (3 hours compared to 4 hours for Zurich and 1 hour 25 minutes plus a transfer for Brussels in terms of total travel time), so it’s ideal if you’re leaving late in the afternoon. It’s also often the cheapest option for the overnight leg of the trip. A great option for residents of eastern France (Strasbourg in particular), who can reach Stuttgart in just over an hour.
If you have time for a longer stopover, head to Schlossplatz, the large central square bordered by the castle! And if you'd like to learn more, check out our Stuttgart Guide.
The cancellation of the direct Nightjet hasn't closed the door to Vienna—it's just changed the route to get there. Whether you choose Brussels for the most direct route, Zurich for comfort and daily service, or Stuttgart for the shortest travel time, you have plenty of options to tailor your trip to your liking—with the added bonus of a stopover city to explore along the way.
| Itinerary | Total duration | Frequency of the Night Train | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris > Brussels > Vienna | ~3:30 p.m. | 3 times a week | Just one connection—direct, with no overnight layover. |
| Paris > Zurich > Vienna | ~2:30 p.m. | Every day | Next-generation equipment—the most reliable |
| Paris > Stuttgart > Vienna | ~1:30 p.m. | Daily (ÖBB/MÁV partnership) | The shortest daytime trip, which is often the cheapest. |
And of course, to stay informed about the reopening of the Paris-Vienna night train or new international routes, feel free to subscribe for free to our Locomissive (sent to your inbox every other Thursday):
Issue du monde de la communication et des médias, Sophie est Responsable éditoriale chez HOURRAIL ! depuis août 2024. Elle est notamment derrière le contenu éditorial du site ainsi que La Locomissive (de l'inspiration voyage bas carbone et des bons plans, un jeudi sur deux, gratuitement dans ta boîte mail !).
Convaincue que les changements d’habitude passent par la transformation de nos imaginaires, elle s’attache à montrer qu’il est possible de voyager autrement, de manière plus consciente, plus lente et plus joyeuse. Son objectif : rendre le slow travel accessible à toutes et tous, à travers des astuces, des décryptages et surtout, de nouveaux récits.
