How To Get To Villach
Villach, located in the southern part of Austria near the borders of Italy and Slovenia, is a picturesque city that attracts many tourists. Known for its stunning scenery, cultural attractions, and winter sports, Villach offers a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy.
If you are planning a trip to Villach, there are several ways to get there. The nearest airport is Klagenfurt Airport, which is approximately 40 kilometers away. From the airport, you can take a taxi or rent a car to reach Villach. Alternatively, Alpe Adria Line operates a shuttle service that can transport you from the airport to Villach. If you prefer, you can also fly to other nearby airports such as Ljubljana, Venice, or Salzburg, and then take a bus or train to Villach. Websites like Rome2rio or Bing can provide more information on flights and connections.
Villach is well-connected by train to many cities in Austria and neighboring countries. Direct trains are available from Vienna, Linz, Salzburg, Graz, Innsbruck, Munich, Zurich, Venice, Ljubljana, Zagreb, and more. The city has two main train stations: Villach Hauptbahnhof (central station) and Villach Westbahnhof (west station). To check train schedules and prices, you can visit the websites of ÖBB (Austrian Railways) or Trainline.
Driving to Villach is possible from most places in Europe, as it is located near several major highways. The A2 Südautobahn connects Villach to Vienna, Graz, and Klagenfurt in the north, and to Italy and Slovenia in the south. The A10 Tauernautobahn connects Villach to Salzburg and Germany in the west, and to Carinthia and Styria in the east. The A11 Karawanken Autobahn connects Villach to Ljubljana and Croatia in the southeast.
Get In - By Plane
If you plan to travel by plane, the nearest airport is Klagenfurt Airport (KLU IATA). This airport offers regular flights to various destinations, including Alicante, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London Stansted, Munich, and Rotterdam. The drive along the A2 Südautobahn is approximately 40 km. The S-Bahn line S1 operates on an hourly basis, connecting Villach’s main station to Klagenfurt Annabichl station. From there, it is just a short 5-10 minute walk to reach the airport terminal. The duration of the ride is slightly less than one hour.
The airport in Ljubljana is located approximately 100km away, but it offers a wider range of airlines and destinations. You can take a shuttle bus from the airport to Villach, which takes about 90 minutes and costs around 20 euros. Alternatively, you can take a train from Ljubljana to Villach, which takes about two hours and costs around 15 euros.
Another option is to fly to Trieste Airport (TRS IATA) in Italy, which is about 160 km away from Villach. This airport has flights to and from Barcelona, London Luton, Munich, Paris Beauvais, Rome, and Valencia. You can take a bus from the airport to Trieste Centrale station, and then a train to Villach. The total journey time is about three hours and the cost is around 25 euros.
Other airports that are within a reasonable distance from Villach are:
- Graz Airport (GRZ IATA) – 168 km
- Salzburg Airport (SZG IATA) – 181 km
- Treviso Airport (TSF IATA) – 238 km
- Venice Airport (VCE IATA) – 240 km
Get In - By Bus
The bus station in Villach is conveniently situated directly across from the main train station. This makes it easy to transfer between different modes of transportation, or to explore the city center on foot. The bus station has a ticket office, a waiting area, a luggage storage, and a café.
There are several bus companies that operate regular services to and from Villach, connecting it with various domestic and international destinations. Here are some of the most popular routes and providers:
- Venice, Udine, Trieste, and Klagenfurt: The ÖBB Intercitybus operates on a daily basis, providing transportation between these cities and Villach. The double-decker bus, which is known for its comfort, provides direct transportation to Austria. The ÖBB Intercitybus conveniently stops directly in front of the main train station in Villach. The journey time varies depending on the destination, but it usually takes around 3 hours to reach Venice, 2 hours to reach Udine, 1.5 hours to reach Trieste, and 45 minutes to reach Klagenfurt. The fares are also reasonable, ranging from 9 to 29 euros one way, depending on the booking date and availability. You can buy your tickets online, at the ticket office, or on board the bus.
- Vienna, Klagenfurt, and Lienz: You can reach Villach by bus from Vienna, with stops in Klagenfurt and Lienz. The ÖBB Intercity offers a convenient way to travel between Vienna and Villach. Trains depart every 2 hours, allowing passengers to easily commute between the two cities via Klagenfurt. The ÖBB Railjet provides a transportation service between Vienna Central Station and Klagenfurt, completing the journey in a total of 3 hours and 55 minutes. From Klagenfurt, you can take a regional bus to Villach, which takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a direct bus from Vienna to Villach, which stops in Lienz along the way. The direct bus takes about 5 hours and 15 minutes, and costs around 25 euros one way. You can book your tickets online, at the ticket office, or on board the bus.
- Other destinations: There are also other bus companies that offer connections to and from Villach, such as Flixbus, Eurolines, and RegioJet. These buses cover a wide range of destinations, such as Munich, Salzburg, Graz, Zagreb, Ljubljana, and more. You can check the timetables, prices, and availability on their respective websites, or use a comparison platform like Busbud or Omio to find the best deals.
Get In - By Car
From the North
If you are traveling from the north, such as from Salzburg or Munich, the easiest way to get to Villach is by taking the A10 Tauernautobahn motorway. This route will take you through the picturesque Alps, passing by several ski resorts and lakes. You will also cross the Tauern Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in Austria, measuring 6.4 km.
The A10 motorway ends at Villach, where you can choose to exit at Faakersee or Ossiachersee, depending on which part of the city you want to reach. Faakersee exit will lead you to the city center, where you can find the main attractions, such as the Villach Old Town, the Parish Church of St. Jakob, and the Villach City Museum. Ossiachersee exit will take you to the northern part of the city, where you can enjoy the views of the Ossiach Lake and the Gerlitzen Mountain.
From the East
If you are traveling from the east, such as from Graz or Vienna, you should take the A2 Südautobahn motorway. This route will take you through the Styrian countryside, passing by several castles and vineyards. You will also cross the Pack Saddle, which is the highest point of the A2 motorway, at 1,145 m above sea level.
The A2 motorway runs parallel to the A10 motorway, and you can switch between them at several junctions. To get to Villach, you can either continue on the A2 motorway until you reach the Villach junction, where you can exit at Faakersee or Ossiachersee, or you can take the A11 Karawankenautobahn motorway, which branches off from the A2 motorway at the Klagenfurt junction.
The A11 motorway will take you to the Slovenian border, where you can either cross into Slovenia or exit at Villach-Warmbad, which is the closest exit to the city center. Villach-Warmbad is also the location of the Villach Thermal Spa, which is a popular attraction for relaxation and wellness.
From Slovenia
If you are traveling from Slovenia, it is recommended to take the A11 Karawankenautobahn motorway, which connects Ljubljana to Villach. This route will take you through the Karawanken mountain range, which forms the natural border between Slovenia and Austria. You will also cross the Karawanken Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in Slovenia, measuring 7.9 km.
The A11 motorway ends at Villach, where you can exit at Villach-Warmbad or continue on the A2 motorway until you reach the Villach junction, where you can exit at Faakersee or Ossiachersee.
From Italy
If you are traveling from Italy, such as from Venice or Trieste, you should take the A2 Südautobahn motorway, which connects Udine to Villach. This route will take you through the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, passing by several historical and cultural sites, such as the Aquileia Basilica, the Cividale del Friuli Castle, and the Palmanova Fortress.
The A2 motorway crosses the Italian-Austrian border at the Tarvisio Pass, which is the lowest point of the Alps, at 750 m above sea level. From there, you can continue on the A2 motorway until you reach the Villach junction, where you can exit at Faakersee or Ossiachersee, or you can take the B 100 Drautal Strasse road, which branches off from the A2 motorway at the Arnoldstein junction.
The B 100 road will take you along the Drava River, passing by several towns and villages, such as Nötsch im Gailtal, Hermagor, and Spittal an der Drau. The B 100 road ends at Lienz, where you can either continue on the B 108 Felbertauern Strasse road, which will take you to the Tyrolean region, or you can take the B 111 Gailtal Strasse road, which will take you back to the A2 motorway at the Hermagor junction.
Get In - By Train
Villach serves as a major railway hub in Austria, connecting various prominent cities such as Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, and Bregenz. Trains from these cities converge at Villach. Additionally, there are direct connections to Munich, Zurich, Venice, Ljubljana, Zagreb, and Belgrade. There are several sleeper trains that make stops on their way to various destinations, including Florence, Milan, Munich, Rome, Stuttgart, and Zurich. However, Villach serves as a central location for these journeys, resulting in departure times that occur after midnight.
Optima Express operates a car-train service between Villach and Edirne in western Turkey. This service runs two or three times a week from April to November, with a travel duration of approximately 33 hours. The departure days can vary. This train offers a convenient option for motorists who want to take their own cars to Turkey, while avoiding the challenging and exhausting roads through the Balkans. Additionally, it is open to passengers who do not have cars. Retracing the old Orient Express in the modern day is one of the more affordable options available.
The city is equipped with the following train stations and stops:
- Villach main station: This is the main and busiest station in Villach, where most of the long-distance and international trains arrive and depart. It is located in the city center, within walking distance of many attractions, hotels, and restaurants. It also has a bus terminal, a taxi stand, and a car rental service. The station has a ticket office, a luggage storage, a waiting room, a café, and a supermarket.
- Villach west station: This is a smaller station, located about 2 km west of the main station. It is mainly used by regional trains and some international trains. It has a ticket machine, a waiting room, and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus and tram.
- Villach Hauptbahnhof-Ostbahnhof car loading point: This is where the car-train service to Edirne and other destinations departs and arrives. It is located about 3 km east of the main station, near the Ostbahnhof industrial area. It has a ticket office, a waiting room, and a car park. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
- Villach Warmbad: This is a station and a stop, located about 4 km north of the main station, near the Warmbad thermal spa. It is mainly used by regional trains and some international trains. It has a ticket machine, a waiting room, and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
- Villach-Seebach: This is a stop, located about 5 km south of the main station, near the Ossiacher See lake. It is mainly used by regional trains. It has a ticket machine and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
- Villach St Ruprecht: This is a stop, located about 6 km south of the main station, near the Faaker See lake. It is mainly used by regional trains. It has a ticket machine and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
- Villach-Landskron: This is a stop, located about 7 km east of the main station, near the Landskron castle and the Affenberg animal park. It is mainly used by regional trains. It has a ticket machine and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
- Villach St. Magdalen: This is a stop, located about 8 km east of the main station, near the Magdalensberg mountain. It is mainly used by regional trains. It has a ticket machine and a bicycle parking. It is connected to the main station and the city center by bus.
The main station in Villach is the busiest, while the other stations and stops play a crucial role in local transportation. The car loading station at the Ostbahnhof primarily offers connections to Southeast Europe. For example, you can take the Optima Express to Edirne in Turkey or choose from various car trains that travel to other European countries, with a particular emphasis on Germany.
The Villach-Süd marshalling yard, which is quite large, is located in the Fürnitz area. This marshalling yard is the second largest in Austria, following the central marshalling yard in Vienna-Kledering. Historically, a significant portion of the population in Villach has been employed by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). The main railway office for southern Austria is situated in Villach.
Furthermore, the operations management center for Carinthia and Styria, which has been operational since spring 2012, is situated in Villach. This system is utilized for remote control of the ÖBB main network, which spans approximately 870 kilometers across multiple federal states.
