How to get around Vienna: 8 Must-Know Tips for Visitors
Visiting Vienna and planning to explore the city using public transport? We've got you covered! In this comprehensive guide, we'll share crucial tips to ensure a seamless and cost-effective experience on Vienna's public transport system. From ticket purchase to rush hour strategies, you'll find all the information you need for a hassle-free journey.
Tip 1: Don't Forget to Buy Your Vienna Public Transport Ticket
The first and most crucial tip is to always remember to purchase your ticket before boarding any tram, bus, or subway. Unlike many other cities, Vienna operates an open system, meaning there are no barriers to entry. This may tempt some to travel without a ticket, but beware! If caught without a valid ticket, you could face a hefty fine of more than 100 EUR.
As you cannot buy tickets on board buses or subways, it's essential to plan ahead and purchase your ticket in advance.
Tip 2: How to Buy a Ticket for Vienna Public Transport
Buying a ticket in Vienna is straightforward. One of the easiest ways is to use the ticket vending machines available at subway stations. The machines offer an option to set the language to English for convenience. Select the ticket type you need, such as a single ticket full fare. Remember to choose whether you want to use the ticket immediately or validate it later.
Payment can be made using cash or credit card. Alternatively, you can buy tickets online through the Wiener Linien Web online shop or the Wien Mobil App (available for Android and iOS). If you prefer in-person options, ticket purchases are also available at tobacco shops or Wiener Linien information centers.
Tip 3: Validate Your Vienna Public Transport Ticket
After buying the ticket, you have to validate it at one of these machines.
Validating Machine.
Picture Credit: Wiener Linien / Christoph H. Breneis
You can do that on the bus and on the tram. But if you use the subway, you have to validate the ticket before boarding, since these machines are not available on the subway trains. It is very important to do that, since some tickets are only valid once you stamped them. This means even if you bought a ticket but didn’t validated it and you get caught by a ticket inspector, you will get fined. Unfortunately this is a very common mistake for people visiting Vienna for the first time, so make sure that you avoid it!
By the way: If you bought your ticket online or in the app, you can just show it on your mobile phone! No need to validate it any more! Of course, you can also print the pdf ticket and take it with you.
Tip 4: Ticket Prices - Find the Best Option for Vienna Public Transport
When you buy a ticket, the most important thing to consider is, how many days do you want to use the public transport system. The distance of your trip doesn’t matter as long as you stay within the boarder of the city. Sometimes the city of Vienna is also called “Kernzone” (=”Core Zone”) or “Zone 100” at the ticket automates.
If you buy a ticket, it will be valid for tram, bus and subway and the trains, that run inside the city as well as the “Badner Bahn” and most regional Bus lines.
Your ticket will not be not be valid for the Westbahn, the City Airport Train (CAT) and the Airport busses (Airport Lines).
If you are in Vienna for one day, the most relevant tickets are the single fare for 2,40 EUR, the day ticket and the 24-hour travel card. The day ticket can only be bought online only and its valid from the time you bought it, until 1:00 a.m. the following day. The 24-hour ticket is valid for 24 hours starting from the time you validated it, or if you bought it online for the time that you selected.
If you are in Vienna for a couple of days, you might want to buy a travel pass for 48 or 72 hours. They are also valid from the moment you validated them. Or if you buy them online for the time that you selected.
And if you are in Vienna for one week, you might want to buy a weekly pass for 17,10 EUR. However, this ticket is always valid from Monday to Monday, even if you buy it on a Friday for example.
If you want to be more flexible, you should buy the 7 days Vienna ticket, where you can select the time, it should be valid for. But this is an online only ticket, and can only be purchased in the Web shop of Wiener Linien or the Wien Mobil app.
And last but not least: The 8-day climate ticket might also be interesting for you. It costs 40,80 EUR and is valid for 8, but not necessarily consecutive days. And it can be used by several people traveling. Just punch on strip per day and person traveling.
You can find all the ticket options described in english on the Wiener Linien Website.
To purchase the tickets, please go to the Wiener Linien Online shop. -German only 😢
More ticket options:
Annual pass: This one costs 365 EUR and you can use the public transport unlimited.
Semester Ticket: For students under the age of 26. Travel throughout Vienna, day and night, for five months.
Top youth pass: Ticket for schoolchildren and apprentices with unlimited rides.
Youth pass: Valid only between home and school or place of training.
Vienna city card: Also a ticket for visitors: Travel freely for 24, 48, or 72 hours or for a full week and get discounts at many venues.
Easy city pass: Also a ticket for visitors: Travel freely for 24, 48, or 72 hours or for a full week and get discounts at many venues.
Queer CityPass: The experience ticket for LGBTIQ visitors to Vienna. 24, 48, 72 hours or one week of "pure Vienna"
Tip 5: Check for Discounts on Vienna Public Transport
Senior travelers over 65 are also eligible for discounted single fare tickets.
Discounts offers for children.
Children under 6 travel for free
Children under 15 travel for free during school holidays.
Children aged 6 to 15 can avail of reduced-priced tickets.
Please check the school holidays for Vienna on https://www.schulferien.org/oesterreich/ferien/wien/
Tip 6: Check Working Hours and Avoid Rush Hour on Vienna Public Transport
During the day, public transport services are frequent and reliable. However, late at night (around midnight to 5:00 a.m.), the service is limited, with only the Vienna night lines operating. Rush hour occurs in the morning (approx. 7:30 to 9:00) and evening (around 4:30 to 7:00), so consider avoiding these times to find less crowded transportation.
Tip 7: Do's and Don'ts on Vienna Public Transport
When using escalators, stand on the right side to allow others to pass on the left. Eating is not allowed on subway trains, but you can drink non-alcoholic beverages or give snacks to your hungry kid :)
Be considerate when boarding and exiting, let passengers disembark before boarding, and avoid blocking reserved seats intended for specific groups.
Tip 8: Use the Wien Mobil App for Effortless Vienna Public Transport
To make your experience even smoother, consider using the Wien Mobil App. It offers timetables, connections, ticket purchases, and information about disruptions. Additionally, the app suggests alternative options, such as the Wien Mobil bikes for an enjoyable and budget-friendly way to explore Vienna (available for Android and iOS).
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Photo Credits Video
Ticket inspection: (c) Wiener Linien / Johannes Zinner
School kids entering a bus: (c) Wiener Linien
Vienna Night Lines: (c) Wiener Linien, Johannes Zinner and Manfred Helmer
Preferred seats: (c) Wiener Linien / Severin Wurm