Vienna’s public transport is one of the best in the world—fast, affordable, and easy to use. Whether you’re a tourist exploring the city or a local commuter, trams, buses, and the metro help you get around effortlessly. Plus, did you know that Vienna’s tram network is one of the longest in the world and that the city is introducing its first driverless metro line soon? Discover the best routes, ticket options, and fascinating facts to make the most of your trip.
Vienna has one of the best public transport systems in Europe. Whether you visit for a weekend or stay longer, using metro, trams, and buses is the easiest way to explore the city. Here you’ll find everything about Vienna public transport tickets, prices, and travel tips to save time and money.
🚋 Types of Public Transport
in Vienna
Vienna’s public transport network includes:
✅ U-Bahn (Metro):
- Fastest way for long distances in Vienna.
- Five metro lines: U1, U2, U3, U4, U6.
- U5 line opens in 2026, with completion planned in 2032.
- Runs from 5:00 AM to midnight (24/7 on weekends!).
- Metro lines partly underground and partly above ground. Nice views from U4, U1, and U6, especially crossing the Danube. U4 shows views of Danube Canal and Wien River.
- The subway opened in 1978, but the oldest elements used in the subway date to 1898.
- About 50.3% of the network is underground.
✅ Trams (Straßenbahn)
- Great for sightseeing because many routes pass historic areas.
- Vienna tram network (6th longest worldwide!).
- The tramway, originally a horse-drawn streetcar, began operating in Vienna in 1865.
- Lines 1 and 2 go by famous attractions on Ringstraße.
- Line 2: City Hall, Burgtheater, Museums (Art & Natural History with Maria Theresa monument), Hofburg Palace, Burggarten (Mozart statue), Vienna State Opera, Stadtpark (Johann Strauss statue), Danube Canal (popular relaxation place), Augarten (former Habsburg palace garden).
- Line 1: Danube Canal, Prater amusement park, Börse (old Stock Exchange), Schottentor (Vienna University), Rathaus (City Hall), Musikverein (New Year’s Concert Hall), Karlsplatz (beautiful baroque church).
Source: Google Maps
✅ Buses
- As a tourist, you probably won’t use buses much except line 38A to Kahlenberg hill for city views.
- Night buses run when metro closes.
- In Vienna, double-decker buses ran until the 1960s.
Source: Google Maps
✅ Trains (S-Bahn)
- Best option for travel between Vienna Airport and city center.
- Important: Vienna public transport ticket covers all trains except Westbahn (only at West Bahnhof / West Train Station) and CAT (green, private airport train).
🎟️ Vienna Public Transport
Tickets & Prices (2025)
| Ticket Type | Price (€) | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Single Ticket | €2.40 | Valid for one journey within Vienna. This ticket is valid for 80 minutes from the moment you stamp it. You can change lines as often as you want within this time, but only in one direction. You cannot interrupt your journey. |
| 24-hour Ticket | €8.00 | Unlimited travel on public transport for 24 hours from the time of validation. |
| 48-hour Ticket | €14.10 | Unlimited travel on public transport for 48 hours from the time of validation. |
| 72-hour Ticket | €17.10 | Unlimited travel on public transport for 72 hours from the time of validation. |
| Weekly Ticket | €17.10 | Valid from Monday to Sunday. A good alternative to the 72-hour ticket, as it costs the same but covers more days. |
| Vienna City Card | From €17 | Unlimited public transport + discounts for attractions. |
| S7 Airport Train | €2.10 | Valid for travel within Vienna’s city fare zone. This ticket covers the journey up to Schwechat station but not the airport. A separate ticket is required for the Schwechat – Vienna Airport (Flughafen Wien) section. |
👉 Children under 6 travel for free!
🎟️ When Should You Buy
the Vienna City Card?
✅ The Vienna City Card (72h) costs €29, while a standard 72-hour ticket for public transport costs €17.10.
✅ To make the Vienna City Card worth it, you need to save at least €11.90 on attractions.
✅ In practice, visiting 4–5 popular places (e.g., Albertina, Belvedere, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Prater, Schönbrunn Zoo) already makes it more cost-effective than a regular transport ticket.
💡 Example of a Weekend Plan
That Pays Off
| Attraction | Discount (€) |
|---|---|
| Albertina | €2.50 |
| Upper Belvedere | €4.00 |
| Schönbrunn Zoo | €3.00 |
| Prater Ferris Wheel | €1.00 |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum | €2.00 |
| Total Savings | €12.50 |
📌 Final Calculation:
- Vienna City Card: €29
- Standard 72h Ticket + Full Attraction Prices: (€17.10 + €12.50) = €29.60
👉 You save at least €0.60 + extra discounts in restaurants, shops, and cafés!
With this example, you can see that the Vienna City Card pays off quickly, especially for intensive sightseeing.
🚨 Special Vienna City Card
Option (€9 Only for Discounts)
You can also buy the Vienna City Card for €9, which only provides attraction discounts (without public transport).
📊 How many places do you
need to visit to recover
the €9 cost?
| Attraction | Discount (€) |
|---|---|
| Upper Belvedere | €4.00 |
| Schönbrunn Zoo | €3.00 |
| Albertina | €2.50 |
| Total Savings | €9.50 |
👉 With just these three attractions, you already recover the €9 cost – plus an extra €0.50 in savings!
This option is worth it if you don’t need public transport but still want attraction discounts.
🏷️ Where to Buy Tickets?
- 🎫 Ticket Machines – Available at all metro stations and inside trams.
- 🛍️ Trafik Shops – Small kiosks that sell public transport tickets.
- 📱 WienMobil App – Buy and store tickets digitally on your smartphone. (Most recommended option!)
🚨 Important!
✅ You must validate your ticket before entering the metro platform or immediately after boarding a tram or bus.
❌ Fine for not having a valid ticket: €105!
💡 Best Money-Saving Tips
- ✅ Use the Weekly Ticket (€17.10) if staying from Monday to Sunday – it’s cheaper than buying daily passes.
- ✅ Vienna City Card is a great option if you plan to visit multiple attractions. Do a quick cost calculation first! For short stays without intensive sightseeing, it may not be worth it.
- ✅ Avoid buying tickets at vending machines – buying online is often cheaper.
- ✅ Trams 1 & 2 offer a budget-friendly sightseeing tour along Ringstraße.
- ✅ Vienna’s city fare zone ends at Schwechat. If traveling to/from the airport, buy a Schwechat – Vienna Airport ticket.
- ✅ The CAT train (green color) is an expensive private service. If you’re not in a rush, take regular trains, which accept Vienna transport tickets from Schwechat onwards.
- ✅ All trains within Vienna (except CAT & WestBahn) are included in public transport tickets. No need to worry if you take a faster train – your ticket covers it!
- ✅ Night buses are free if you already have a valid public transport ticket for the day.
🏛️ Best Public Transport Routes
for Tourists
- 🚋 Tram 1 & Tram 2 – The best budget-friendly sightseeing tour along Ringstraße, passing Vienna’s main landmarks.
- 🚆 S7 Train – Cheapest way to travel from Vienna Airport to the city.
Travel time: ~25 minutes
Route: Flughafen Wien (Airport) → Wien Mitte → Wien Praterstern → Wien Handelskai → Floridsdorf
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
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- 🚆 Railjet ÖBB Train – Fastest train option from the airport to the city center.
Travel time: ~15–18 minutes
Route: Flughafen Wien (Airport) → Wien Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
- 🚇 U4 Metro – Direct access to Schönbrunn Palace and scenic views of the Danube Canal.
- 🚇 U1 / U2 / U6 Metro – Crosses the Danube, offering beautiful views of the city and surrounding hills.
- 🚍 Bus 13A – Best for exploring Vienna’s central districts.
- 🚍 Bus 38A – Takes you from Heiligenstadt metro station to Kahlenberg, a famous viewpoint over Vienna.
❓ FAQ –
Vienna Public Transport
Is Vienna public transport free?
No, but children under 6 years old travel for free. Discounts are available for seniors and students.
What is the best transport pass for tourists?
- The Vienna City Card is the best option if you plan to visit at least 5–6 discounted attractions.
- If you only need transport, the 72-hour ticket or 7-day ticket is the best value for short stays.
Can I use one ticket for all transport?
Yes! One ticket covers metro, trams, trains, and buses within Vienna.
🚨 Important:
- The Vienna fare zone ends at Schwechat – a separate ticket is needed for travel to/from the airport.
- WestBahn and CAT trains are NOT included in public transport tickets.
How to get from Vienna Airport to the city center?
- 💰 Cheapest: S7 Train (€2.10 / €4.30, ~25 minutes).
- ⚡ Fastest: CAT (City Airport Train, €14.90, ~16 minutes).
🎯 Final Thoughts
Why Choose Vienna’s
Public Transport?
Vienna’s public transport is affordable, fast, and eco-friendly. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a longer stay, the metro, trams, and buses make it easy to explore the city hassle-free. 🚋💨
👉 Now it’s your turn! Have you used public transport in Vienna? Share your experience in the comments below! ⬇️
🚨 Important Tips for Using
Public Transport in Vienna
- ✅ Buy your ticket online or via the Wiener Linien app – Tickets are a few cents cheaper and allow you to select an activation date.
- ✅ Validate your ticket before entering the metro or immediately after boarding a tram or bus.
- ✅ Staying in Vienna for at least 3 days? Buy a weekly ticket (€17.10), as it costs the same as a 72-hour ticket but covers more days.
- ✅ Airport Train (CAT) is private – A separate ticket is required. Locals mostly use ÖBB trains instead.
- ✅ Vienna’s fare zone extends to Schwechat – If traveling to/from the airport using ÖBB trains, buy a ticket only for the Schwechat – Airport section. Your Vienna public transport ticket is valid up to Schwechat. 🔗 More info: Wiener Linien Ticket Zones
- ✅ ÖBB trains do not have ticket validators on board – Stamp your ticket before boarding!
- ✅ Alcohol is not allowed on public transport or in stations – While tolerated if you’re not disruptive, it is officially prohibited.
- ✅ You cannot buy tickets from the driver – Make sure to purchase them in advance.
- ✅ Traveling with a dog?
- Dogs need a ticket (half-price for larger dogs).
- Small dogs must be in a carrier.
- All dogs must be on a leash and wear a muzzle.
- Annual ticket holders can bring their dog for free.
- ✅ Air conditioning works only when outside temperatures exceed 25°C – The temperature inside is 2–5°C lower than outside. Drivers cannot control the AC as it is automatic.
- ✅ How to spot trams without air conditioning?
- No AC: Black handrails inside + windows with ventilation openings.
- ✅ Begging and playing instruments in public transport is prohibited – Do not give money, as it encourages rule violations. 🔗 More info: Wiener Linien Rules
- ✅ Fine for riding without a valid ticket: €105 – If paid later, it increases by €10.
- ✅ Metro station toilets are not free – Some accept card payments, but it’s best to carry cash. Not every metro station has toilets.
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🚋 Fascinating Facts About
Vienna’s Public Transport
- The upcoming U5 line (first section opening in 2026) will be Vienna’s first driverless metro line. Stations along the route are being upgraded with automatic safety doors.
- Vienna’s tram network spans 171 km, making it the 6th longest tram system in the world.
- Over 30% of Viennese residents use public transport daily, yet it accounts for only 1% of the city’s carbon footprint.
- 1.2 million people regularly use public transport in Vienna. Since 2015, more people own long-term transport passes than cars.
- Vienna’s public transport vehicles travel the equivalent of 5 trips around the Earth every day.
- All public transport vehicles in Vienna combined could fit the entire population of Graz (260,000 people) at once.
- 97.3% of passengers in Vienna have a valid ticket, compared to only 90% in Paris.
