How to Get Around Vienna
Vacationing in Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a fantastic idea. Flying into Vienna Airport? Grab an airport transfer and start your adventure!
You can rent a bike and take a ride on the marked bicycle paths. Some of these run along the Danube Canal and can be very invigorating. This is a much better way to see the city than using underground stations where you cannot see the sights. If you want to bicycle in Vienna, check out some of the bike rental places like Citybike Wien.
The Vienna transport system offers the best connection between the city center and the main shopping street. It is easily accessible by public buses, trams, and subways, making it a popular feature when visiting Vienna. Of course, every city has its ups and downs but public transportation here is one of the ups.
Vienna is connected to over 70 countries by air and the Vienna National Airport, or Flughafen Vienna-Schwechat (VIE), is not far from the Vienna City Centre. From there, you will find a plethora of choices of how to get to wherever you want to go next. The City Airport Train (CAT) can get you there in about 15 to 20 minutes. If you do not have a ticket, you can get one there or on your phone. You will also find other public transport like buses and trams.
In addition, the airport has rental car stations where you can rent a vehicle for a decent amount, which is convenient if you plan to do a lot of traveling around the city. Your other options include taxi services, Uber services, or you could rent a bike.
Whichever mode of transportation you choose, Vienna is a spectacular place to visit with a wide variety of attractions. Whether you are dining, shopping, or sightseeing, leave your belongings at a Vienna luggage storage locker nearby and go enjoy the city. Enjoy this spectacular destination without the weight of your bags!
How to get around Vienna by train
There are several train systems in Vienna including the U Bahn, S Bahn, and the WLB. The U Bahn is the underground railway and is the most popular choice for locals. It has five lines with 109 stations on 52 miles of track. All of the platforms have electronic information boards so you can see the wait time. The five lines of the subway train include U1 -U4 and U6 and there are 10 transfer stations along these routes.
The S Bahn is the city’s rapid railway that can run both underground and aboveground, depending on your destination. It has 10 lines with 181 stations covering 400 miles of track. You will recognize the S Bahn by its light pink and green color and the maps are marked with these same colors. Each station has an overhead map to show the running times of the trains.
The WLB (Wiener Lokalbahnen) is a local and national train system that covers all of Vienna, Austria as well as other areas. The 19 miles of track covers the areas between Baden and Vienna and is one of the most popular public transport systems in the city with more than 35 thousand passengers per day.
You can get tickets online or at any station from a vending machine. The majority of your options will be available for day trips since most public transport only runs from morning until midnight. Some of the day trips you can take can be done using nothing but public transportation, so getting a one-day ticket would work out great.
How to get around Vienna by bus
Starting at the Vienna International Airport, the bus lines can take you just about anywhere you need to go in the city with 700 buses operating on 138 routes covering 526 miles. This is one of the most commonly used public transport used in Vienna with more than 200 million passengers per year.
You can get a night bus after midnight in the Vienna main station when the other transport options are not running. Night buses run every half-hour until 5 AM along designated routes.
The stops are marked with the letter N. Also, on Saturdays and Sundays, the U Bahn runs all night. For riding these late-night buses, you can use your normal tickets or cards at no extra charge.
Ticket Information
There are four types of tickets. The point-to-point tickets are the most costly and are useful for one long trip or when you have to break up your trip on different forms of transport.
You can buy tickets for the Autobus (bus), the Strabenbahn (tram), the U Bahn (subway), and the S-Bahn (train) at the ticket machines or buy them online from your phone or computer before you go. If you just want a single ticket, that is easy to get at Vienna Airport or any metro station in central Vienna.
The stripe tickets are cheaper and can be used for multiple stops or by multiple users. The CityTour Pass is good for a whole day of sightseeing and dining. And the Vienna Pass is perfect for those who want to see as many attractions as possible in one day. However, if you are going to be visiting a lot of attractions, a one- or three-day CityTour Card may be your best choice. With these, you can see a variety of sights as well as go shopping, dining, or to one of the local parks.
You can take the U Bahn or S Bahn for a fraction of the price as you would with an Uber and taxi. Taxis are the most expensive way to get around Vienna, but they can also be the most convenient. The public transportation system in Vienna is one of the best in the world. You can choose from the Autobus (bus), the Strabenbahn (tram), the U Bahn (subway), and the S Bahn (train). You can also use a combination of these systems to get to where you want to go.
CityTour Pass
Also known as the Vienna City Card, a single-day ticket is good for the whole day for unlimited stops. You can use these for individuals or as a group. The CityTour Card offers one- or three-day passes for either the city center or the whole area of Munich. You get unlimited stops and discounts at many local attractions.
The Vienna Pass
An alternative to the CityTour Card is the Vienna Pass. This is best for tourists who want to spend a whole day seeing many major attractions. With this card, you get free transport on the Hop On Hop Off Bus as well as free access to all the major attractions without waiting in line.
How to get around Vienna by car
Besides public transport, you will also find a few other options to use. For example, car rentals are available online, at the airport, and at some major transport stations in the city center. Also, there are taxi services, Uber rideshare services, bike rentals, and you can also walk to many great spots.
Car Rentals
Many people do not use the car rental services in Vienna because of the narrow and complicated street system, traffic, and lack of parking spaces. However, if you plan on doing a lot of traveling where public transport does not go, like a great hiking spot, a car may just be your best choice.
Taxi Service
Getting a taxi is not difficult in Vienna. You can call them, hail them in the street, or find one outside a hotel or main attraction. There are also many taxi ranks or stands in major traffic areas like parks and large malls.
However, people rarely use taxis because of the high cost. You should agree on a price before getting in or you may be overcharged. The initial fee is just over $4 and then it is almost $2 per mile on top of that. Not counting the tip.
Uber Ride Share Service
Uber is fairly new to Vienna but it is just as easy to use as it is anywhere else. All you need is your phone and the Uber app. Just enter your destination, choose the size of the vehicle, and choose a time. Then you can choose from several options.
The initial fee is much less expensive than the taxi at about one dollar but then they charge by the minute and by the mile. You will be charged 33 cents per minute and 50 cents per mile. That does not include the tip either.
Can I get around Vienna by foot?
There is no reason why you should not walk in Vienna. The majority of the places you want to visit are located in close proximity to each other. Take a walk along Ring Street to see a bunch of stunning buildings, stroll through the vineyards at some of the local wineries, or go shopping along the streets of the Inner City.
Hop On Hop Off Tour Bus
This bus is exactly what it sounds like it is, a tour bus that allows you to hop on and then hop off at any of the designated stops as many times as you want. You can choose the Red Route for the city center and Danube Island or the Blue Route to the palaces.
Citybike Wien
If you do not have to go too far, you may want to consider renting a bike. Citybike Wien has more than 100 docking stations all over Vienna and you can register online from home or on your phone as needed. This is one form of public transportation that lets you see the sights as you go.
If you do not have a credit card, you will need a Citybike Tourist Card for under $3.00. But using the bike is very inexpensive. In fact, the first hour you have the bike is free of charge. After that, you will pay just over a dollar per hour.
S Bahn Stations, Trams and Buses
Like many other European cities, you can get anywhere in Vienna's city limits using the public transportation system but you may need some other form of transport if you are heading to the outer limits where the buses and trams do not go. There are taxi stands at the airport and many other highly-trafficked places in the city.
Vienna public transport consists of buses, trains, trams, and underground lines with five S Bahn and U Bahn lines, 29 tram, and 127 bus lines. The system works on an honor system, meaning you do not have to show a ticket when you board a train, tram, or bus.
