Overnight to the Croatian coast

For a long time, it looked like the seasonal night train from Austria to Croatia would no longer be running. But now, ÖBB is offering it again: from Vienna and Graz, it travels via Zagreb to Split on the Dalmatian coast – where crystal-clear, deep blue water and wonderful Mediterranean food await. In this travel report, we'll share our experiences and impressions of this fantastic service. At the end, you'll find lots of practical tips and information.

By the way, what's special about this Euronight is that it carries two car-carrier wagons for cars and motorbikes. Handy if you want to explore Croatia and the Balkans on your own.

Jump straight to the practical info.

We made the journey in the opposite direction last autumn, travelling all the way to Bratislava. Unfortunately, this final stop has been discontinued, as the Slovakian railway company ZSSK has withdrawn from its partnership with ÖBB. But Vienna is just a stone's throw away from Bratislava.

Departure from Split at dusk

Last September, we spent a few days on the island of Hvar (a bit overrun with tourists, but beautiful). Before that, we had travelled from Switzerland to Croatia by night train and ferry (or ferries) via Italy and Montenegro – a logical stop on our journey to Slovakia, from where we travelled back to the Netherlands via Vienna. Hvar, like many other smaller offshore islands, can be reached by ferry from the port city of Split in 1-2 hours.

We arrive in Split with some time to spare and make ourselves comfortable in the station bistro. Valérie goes off in search of a new book for the long journey. Meanwhile, with my son in the baby carrier, I explore the slightly dated station building and watch the Croatian locomotive shunting.

Around 4:30 p.m., the train, then still designated as Euronight 1152, pulls into the station. The first passengers gather on the platforms and slowly board.

I heave our numerous rucksacks and other pieces of luggage into our private sleeper cabin (for which we paid around 250 euros) in the still-hot evening sun and, as usual, start by taking a few photos.

The carriages are apparently from old Slovakian stock – I quite like the timeless design with its warm, green tones.

Luckily, Valérie found a book, and at 5:22 p.m. sharp, the three of us and all our worldly possessions depart on time. Now comes the most impressive part: the journey up along the Dalmatian mountain range into the Croatian hinterland. With every kilometre, the view of the mountains, the sea, and Split itself becomes more and more spectacular.

I can only imagine how much more beautiful it must be to wake up to this view after a long night train journey.

As the sun slowly bathes the Croatian hills in an orange glow, we make ourselves comfortable and enjoy the excellent complimentary sparkling wine (okay, there's probably better...). Out of pure curiosity, we study the snack menu – we've already stocked up on plenty of food before departure.

Arrival in Bratislava after a 17-hour journey

We have a restful night and are rarely woken up. The train travels right across Croatia via Zagreb, then passes through Slovenia with a stop in Maribor.

It soon stops in Graz before continuing its journey to Lower Austria and Vienna. In Vienna, the vehicles are unloaded and the car-carrier wagons are detached. After another hour of leisurely travel, we reach Bratislava-Petržalka, which is unfortunately the end of the line. What a journey! Crossing four countries in one trip – that's something only a night train can do.

Just like in ÖBB's sleeper cabins, we were able to choose our breakfast the evening before. We think the selection is great – the rice pudding is an especially welcome change.

Conclusion: We've rarely enjoyed an evening on a night train so much. The view is unparalleled, and the cosy compartment and peaceful atmosphere did the rest. The service and cleanliness were top-notch, and we thought the price of 250 EUR for two people in a private compartment with breakfast was actually quite fair – especially for such a long journey.

Practical info

When does the train run?

The EN 1272 from Vienna via Graz to Split runs between 29 May and 27 September 2026, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The EN 1273 in the opposite direction runs between 30 May and 26 September 2026, on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

What cabin categories are available?

There are seating cars, couchette compartments, and sleeper cabins.

The sleeper cabins sometimes have a toilet and shower in the cabin, while others have only a washbasin (the carriage also has a public toilet and shower). They can be booked as shared compartments with other passengers or as private compartments.

The more basic couchette compartments are available in four- and six-berth configurations. They can also be booked as private compartments. Toilets are located in the corridor.

Seating compartments on this train can also be booked for private use. This gives you a 4- or 6-seat compartment all to yourselves.

What about food and drink?

Unfortunately, like other Euronight and Nightjet services from ÖBB, the train does not have a restaurant or bistro car. However, you can buy snacks and simple meals from the train staff. The service is provided by the partner company Newrest. Passengers in couchettes and sleeping cars can expect a simple breakfast in the morning. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.

Can you take bicycles?

In principle, no. We say 'in principle' because folding bikes and bikes packed compactly in bike bags should be transportable...

Can you take pets?

The situation regarding this specific Euronight is a bit unclear. On Nightjets, taking pets is generally allowed, but on some Euronights, it is not. Please check with customer service beforehand to see if it's possible. And then let us know. Otherwise, the usual rules probably apply.

Where can you buy tickets?

Currently, they are only available from ÖBB. Via nightride.com, you can compare prices and go directly to the booking page:

How much are the tickets?

As with other services, ÖBB uses a dynamic pricing system here, which makes it a bit difficult to give simple price ranges. However, thanks to our extensive price database, we can give you a rough idea of what constitutes a rather cheap or a rather expensive offer.

We observed the following price ranges in mid-April, about a month before the first train of the season. Of course, this can change over the course of the season – and as always with night trains, the rule is: those who book first get the best deals.

EN 1272 · Split → Vienna

EN 1273 · Vienna → Split

Generally, the return journey from Croatia is quite a bit cheaper. But there are still some bargains to be had on the outbound journey too: a private 1-berth sleeper cabin for €135 is a rare find!

How can you book for cars and motorbikes?

This is also possible via the ÖBB ticket shop. If you want to take a vehicle with you, you should make the entire booking (including your own passenger tickets) this way. Of course, it's still worth comparing the prices on nightride.com first.