Vienna boasts a very extensive public transport network, which provides frequent and easy access to all parts of the city.
However, the compact city centre, with most sights within easy reach, can also be conveniently explored on foot. Public transport is provided by the Wiener Linien.
Public transport tickets
Tickets are valid for all tram, bus, metro, train (S-Bahn and all regional trains) and tram lines of the Wiener Lokalbahn within the so-called Kernzone Wien, which follows the administrative boundaries of Vienna.
If you take a public transport train or bus outside Vienna (for example to the airport), you have to pay extra.
- Official website of the transport company: wienerlinien.at
- Map of the public transport network
Fares and ticket types
- 1 journey (80 minutes - any number of transfers) - 2,40 eur
- 24 hours - 8 eur
- 48 hours - 14,10 eur
- 72 hours - 17,10 eur
- 7 days - 19,70 eur
Children under 6 years travel free.
The official city discount card Vienna City Card also works as a ticket for public transport and costs 17 eur valid for 24 hours, 25 eur valid for 48 hours and 29 eur valid for 72 hours.
Since discounts to individual sights are usually within 1 eur or 2 eur at most , it's really only worthwhile for those who visit 4-5 sights a day.
Ticket to the airport
Vienna's Schwechat Airport is just outside Vienna, so the above ticket types won't be enough to get you there.
If you arrive in the centre of Vienna and want to go straight to the airport, just buy a single ticket at the ÖBB ticket machine or on the oebb.at website for 4,50 eur or 5,40 eur a group ticket for 2.
Many travellers combine departure from Vienna with sightseeing, where a special all-day ticket with an extra charge to the airport can be bought only through the ÖBB - VOR machines for 9,50 eur.
For detailed information on transport to the airport, see the articleVienna Airport .
Where to buy tickets?
- Vending machines in all underground stations and train stations (card payment is possible) - both Wiener Linien and ÖBB/VOR vending machines can be used, where you must select the "Vienna - City tickets for trips in Vienna" option.
- machines directly in trams, but some older types do not take cards
- Trafiks (Tabak)
- Mobile app WienMobil
- Online shop wienerlinien.at
Connection finder
You can search for connections between stops or from a specific point A to point B on the transport company's official website: wienerlinien.at.
The WienMobil mobile app is also available (App Store / Google Play).
Book a hotel in Vienna near the underground
Metro and S-Bahn
Vienna's transport network is based on 5 metro lines (U-Bahn) and several urban rail lines (S-Bahn), which quickly take you to all the important places in Vienna. The metro is modern, fast and easy to navigate and will be the main means of transport for longer distance journeys.
For a map of the Vienna Metro, details of how to use tickets at stations, timetables and other practical information, see the more comprehensive chapter on the Vienna Metro.
Trams
The second main mode of transport is trams, which ply the streets of Vienna on one of the most extensive tram networks in the world. For shorter journeys within the city centre or to hotels further away from the metro stations, trams serve well.
Vienna's trams are recognisable by their distinctive red livery, with modern low-floor cars in particular plying the streets. The older classic trams, familiar from many photographs, are mainly found on lines 2 and D.
- 28 tram lines
- Intervals of about 6-7 minutes during the day, 10 minutes late in the evening and at weekends
- Operation from 5:00 to 0:00
- List of tram lines and timetables: wienerlinien.at/fahrplaene
The stops are always equipped with electronic departure displays, timetables and, at the more important stations, a map and ticket machines.
You mark yourtickets inside the tram in the blue validator (if you use a day or multi-day ticket, you always mark it only on the first journey).
Tickets can also be bought inside the tram at the ticket machine. Most of the newer ones already take cards, but you may come across older types that don't.
There is also a suburban tram line WLB (Wiener Lokalbahnen) from Karlsplatz to Baden. If you are travelling within Vienna with this service, you will be fine with the tickets described above. However, if you continue beyond Vienna to Baden, you will need to buy a special ticket from the blue ticket machine at the bus stop, see wlb.at for details.
Buses
City buses work as a supplement where neither tram nor metro runs. Thus, you will mostly encounter buses on the outskirts of Vienna.
Most bus lines run at short intervals of up to 10 minutes, with services to smaller neighbourhoods and on less busy routes running at intervals of up to 30 minutes.
The stops are always clearly marked and accompanied by timetable information. All bus stops are signposted; if you are on board, just press the door button well in advance.
You must already have yourticket before boarding the bus and mark it in the blue validator, again only the first time you use your ticket.
Night service
Throughout the night, the S-Bahn metro and trains always run on Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday nights.
On other days, between approximately 0:00 and 5:00, 24 night bus routes run with a basic interval of 30 minutes. Ticket prices are the same as for daytime services.
- Timetables of night bus lines: wienerlinien.at/fahrplaene
- Map of night transport in Vienna: vwienerlinien.at/map[/translate]