How To Get Around In Vienna
Get Around - By Public Transport
Vienna boasts a first-rate public transportation system with buses, trams (trolleys), rail, commuter train, and metro. Within a few minutes’ walk, the extremely effective metro will get you anywhere you could wish to go. The subway by itself has the second highest per-capita ridership worldwide; it does not include the 27 tram lines, hundreds of rail lines, or innumerable buses.
Fares
Public transportation is a single zone (Kernzone 100) inside the city borders, covering most of the locations you probably will visit—the whole subway and tram network. Any train, including high-speed trains, can be used as long as you are traveling between two Vienna stations; trams, buses, night buses, and an inter-urban railway (the Wiener Lokalbahn) inside the city bounds.
Should the time and date not show on your ticket, you have to validate (stamp) it either before boarding a bus or tram or before you approach the train or metro station. You are not needed to show your ticket by the bus or tram operator. Though there are few spot checks, missing a ticket costs €100.
Tickets are sold in tobacco stores (Trafik), counters at subway and rail stations, vending machines (Visa and MasterCard accepted). They can also be bought online for printing or via a mobile app for mobile phone presentation.
- Single Trip Ticket € 2.20 A single direction uninterrupted trip to anywhere, with as many transfers as needed (children, bikes, dogs €1.00). Single tickets can also be purchased in trams and buses but cost €2.20 full fare, €1.10 reduced.
- Shopping ticket/Einkaufskarte € 6.10 Valid workdays from 8AM to 8PM
- 24-hour ticket € 7.60 Valid from time stamped.
- 48-hour ticket € 13.30 Valid from time stamped.
- 72-hour ticket € 16.50 Valid from time stamped.
- Week ticket/Wochenkarte € 16.20 Valid Monday 0 AM through next Monday 9AM.
- 8-day Climate Ticket € 38.40 Valid for an entire day until 1AM the following day, each day you stamp the ticket (fold it and stamp a new box as needed). It is possible stamp the ticket multiple times for multiple people on a single day if traveling in a group. (For example, this ticket may be used by four people on two separate days, but four sections must be stamped each day.)
Children under 14 do not need a ticket on Sundays, holidays, or during Austrian school vacations. If children attend Austrian schools between the ages of 15 and 19 they are also exempt.
If you are here for a few days and want to do lots of sightseeing and/or shopping, the Vienna Card (Wien Karte) is a great deal. It costs €21.90 and offers 72 hours of free public transit inside Vienna. The card also provides you access to discounts at many stores and attractions (often €1 or €2 at big museums and art galleries). One can buy it in the subway, hotels, and airports.
Network
Every BB station shows the best rail (heavy rail and underground) transportation chart. Maps are often somewhat rudimentary as there are so many lines; tram network maps are absent as well. Ask about or verify the best connection ahead of time to be sure. Major stations are properly marked, and connections are designed to match-up should service be irregular.
U-Bahn
The most often used form of mobility in Vienna is the five U-Bahn lines, often known as U1. On these subterranean, metro, or subway lines, trains operate every 1.5 to 5 minutes during the day, passing most of the main metropolitan monuments.
Tram
Tram (Bim, Straßenbahn) lines are just distinguished by a letter or number (O, 1). For a leisurely pace and to see more of the city, the 27 lines that stop locally are quite convenient.
The famous Ring lines have recently been changed: you may take tram 1 (heading for Prater-Hauptalle) from Oper to Schwedenplatz and tram 2 (directed for Ottakring) back to Oper. There is a tourist tram around the ring.
Bus
Bus lines are denoted by a number that finishes in a letter (for instance, 3A, 80B). Though you are not likely to need to ride a bus, it is reasonable to suppose that should you come across one, you could hop on and it will get you to a better method of transportation, the U-Bahn. Although most “B” buses have less expensive tickets (€1), normal tickets and passes are also acceptable.
Rail
Tourists frequently ignore Vienna’s suburban train network. It is divided into three types of trains: S-Bahn (S), which mostly serves the inner suburbs and stops at all stations with a few exceptions, Regionalbahn (R), which is generally more distant than the S-Bahn and makes limited stops on parallel S-Bahn routes, but otherwise all stops, and RegionalExpress (REX), which mostly serves the outermost suburbs and makes very limited stops in the inner suburbs (although not all RegionalExpress trains are suburban trains). The network also crosses the boundaries of neighboring nations.
The most important rail streches:
- Stammstrecke (Meidling–Hauptbahnhof (main station)–Quartier Belvedere–Rennweg–Mitte–Praterstern–Florisdorf) trains run every 2–5 min. This is not a line itself but rather the result of the bunch of lines using the same stretch.
- S45 runs in the northwest of the city every 10–15 min along a beautiful railway built by architect Otto Wagner.
Rail goes to the suburbs of Vienna (all rail stations there start with “Wien”). You need another ticket. These are available as railway point-to—-point tickets or as zones in VOR, Austria’s Eastern Transit Region. One can easily buy extra zones close to the city’s outskirts. Having a Vorteilscard will make a train ticket less expensive; if you wish to transfer to a bus, the VOR-ticket is also valid within the same zone.
Interurban
The Wiener Lokalbahn (WLB), also known as the Badner-Bahn, is an interurban railway that runs from the Opera as a tram on-street southwest through Vienna to Meidling station, where it becomes a railway and continues on to Baden via the 23rd District, suburbs, and the rolling wine hills of Lower Austria.
Night Services
Regular buses, trains, and trams run until roughly 00:30 (just after midnight). Most of the commuter train is closed between one and four in a.m. The full U-Bahn network runs continuously Friday and Saturday evenings as well as on nights before holidays. Every night of the year there is also a dense network of night buses called “NightLiners”. Regular tickets are accepted. Most buses stop at “Kärntner Ring, Oper,” which lets easy transfer possible. Intervals fall every fifteen to thirty minutes. Daybreak service will start at five in the morning.
Get Around - By Taxi
Usually found at a taxi stop or flagged down on the street, taxis are rather plentiful. Though you can always haggle over a price, fares are set at meter rates. Always negotiate since fares are not set whether you are headed to the airport or outside of municipal limits. Other forms of transportation are also accessible: pedicabs, horse-drawn carriages.
Airport taxi
- Fixed price of €36 (Taxi 40100, 60160) or €39 (Taxi 31300) for a maximum of 4 passengers
- You must specify an airport taxi when making a booking, otherwise additional costs will be charged (€13) for the taxi to return to Vienna.
- The fixed price is valid ONLY for direct trips from an address in Vienna to the airport.
- Group fares on request
Airport service companies
- Airport Cab, Tel. +43 (0) 676 786 10 65, www.vienna-airport-cab.at
- Airport Driver, Tel. +43 1 22 8 22, www.airportdriver.at
- Airport Service Ilse Ernst, + 43 (0) 676 380 57 97, http://www.airportservice.at/
- Airport Taxi Wien, +43 (0) 660 49 13 433 , www.airport-taxi-wien.wien
- ATS Airport Transfer Service, Tel. +43 1 7007 359 10, www.ats-vie.com
- Blacklane Flughafentransfer, www.blacklane.com
- Das Flughafentaxi Wien, www.das-flughafentaxi-wien.at
- Fahrtenschmiede, Tel. +43 1 934 61 41, www.fahrtenschmiede.at
- Fluxi – das Flughafentaxi, Tel. +43 (0) 664 781 04 16, www.fluxi.at
- FlyTaxi, Tel. +43 (0)660 6666 800, www.flughafen-wien-taxi.com
- greenride, Tel. +43 (0) 660 1 40 40 40, www.greenride.at
- MozartLimousines, Tel. +43 (0) 664 888 733 73, www.mozartlimousines.com
- NTaxi, Tel. +43 (0) 660 6000-160, www.ntaxi.at
- Talixo, www.talixo.de
- Vienna Cars, Tel. +43 (0) 660 53 999 33, www.vienna-cars.at
- Vienna Driver, Tel. +43 (0) 664 366 16 60, www.viennadriver.com
- VIP Airport Taxi, Tel. +43 (0) 676 373 28 03, www.flughafentaxi-vip-airporttaxi.at
- Wiener Fuhrwerk, office@wienerfuhrwerk.at, www.wienerfuhrwerk.at
- Wien Transfer, www.wientransfer.com
- WillTaxi, Tel. +43 (0) 660 12 70 477, www.willtaxi.at
Special transports
The following companies offer transport with special minibuses for wheelchair users and their escorts:
- Airport Driver, Tel. +43-1-22 8 22, www.airportdriver.at
- ATS Airport Transfer Service, Tel. +43 1 7007 359 10, www.ats-vie.com
- Airport Jet-Set Service, Tel. +43-1-7007-33140, www.airportservices-vie.com
- Blaguss Minibus-Service, Tel. +43 1 610 70-0, www.blaguss.com
- Taxi Mann Mödling, Tel. +43 2236 30300, www.taximann-moedling.at
- Wiener Lokalbahnen Verkehrsdienste GmbH, Tel.: +43 1 815 60 70; www.verkehrsdienste.at
Limousine service
If you want to rent a limousine – with or without a driver – the following services are available to you:
- Austrian Business Cars & VIP-Sightseeing, Tel. +43 1 606 07 37, www.abc.or.at
- Blacklane Chauffeurservice, www.blacklane.com
- E & M Limousinenvermietung, Tel. +43 1 208 45 45, www.e-und-m.at
- greenride, Tel. +43 (0) 660 1 40 40 40, www.greenride.at
- MozartLimousines, Tel. +43 (0) 664 888 733 73, www.mozartlimousines.com
- SIXT ride, www.sixt.com
Get Around - By Car
If at all possible, stay away from driving inside Vienna’s middle ring. For someone unfamiliar with the city, the tiny, mostly one-way streets in this neighborhood can be somewhat confusing. Another big problem is parking; limited availability and rules all around the day. Luckily Vienna has a good public transit system, so a car is not required to travel about the city core.
Traffic Congestion and Driver Behavior
Driving in Vienna at busy times is not advised. The streets of the city usually grow crowded in the mornings and early nights; the local drivers are not known for their civility or patience. Should you have to drive, use cautious and be ready for delays.
Pedestrian Right of Way and Local Driving Habits
At all crosswalks, Vienna’s pedestrians have the right of way even in absence of a pedestrian signal. Particularly at unmarked crossings, be sure you slow down and give pedestrians priority. Always be alert; local drivers are used to this and may pull out suddenly.
Vienna’s Radial Road Network
Major highways and trunk roads radiating outward from the city center like spokes on a wheel define Vienna’s radial pattern road network. Many of these highways bear names honoring historically important sites such Linzer Straße, Prager Straße B3, Brünner Straße B7, Budapester Straße B10, and Triester Straße B17.
Autobahns and Expressways
Among the various autobahns the city hosts are the A1 Westautobahn, A2 Südautobahn, A4 Ostautobahn, and A22 Donauuferautobahn. These fast roads offer effective links to other areas of Austria and surrounding nations.
The Ring Road and Traffic Congestion
Although the A23 Vienna Southeast Tangente, a ring road around the southern portion of the city, is an essential transportation route, its notoriously bad traffic. The S1 outer ring highway was built to help ease traffic, and plans call for finishing the ring road east of the Danube.
Parking Challenges and Solutions
Parking in Vienna—especially in the central areas—can be difficult. Common short-term parking areas are those which allow residents to use unrestricted parking usually requiring a parking sticker. Through the creation of “people’s garages” in places with limited parking, the extension of short-term parking zones, and the development of park-and-ride facilities, the city is actively addressing parking concerns though.
The City’s Vision for Sustainable Transportation
The city government wants to encourage more environmentally friendly travel and lessen reliance on personal mobility. This endeavor to build a cleaner and more livable city includes initiatives such bus lanes, 30km/h zones, and public transportation funding.
Get Around - By Bicycle
Vienna calls bikers to start a two-wheeled journey with its small scale and gorgeous streets. Riding a bike provides a different viewpoint; it lets you meander through lovely areas, find hidden treasures, and really enjoy the lively city environment. Although most people consider riding in Vienna to be a leisure activity, it is a good way to get around the city.
Navigating Vienna’s Cycling Infrastructure
Vienna has a vast system of cycling lanes, trails winding through parks, and routes following the picturesque rivers. These beautifully kept paths guarantee a safe and fun experience for both casual and experienced bikers. But riding a bike across the city can provide difficulties because of its maze-like streets. Many times, the roads follow winding routes, and many crossroads and traffic signals are not well placed for bikes, which could cause either perhaps dangerous or annoying circumstances. Moreover, the irregularities of bike routes, which could suddenly change between on-street and off-street sections or disappear completely, might be confusing.
Unless these paths are blocked, Vienna’s cyclists are legally required to use approved bike lanes or paths wherever they find themselves. Cyclists have to follow normal traffic rules in the lack of specific cycling infrastructure. Riding at night calls for functioning brakes and lights to guarantee visibility and safety.
Cycling Beyond the City Center
If you want to travel outside Vienna’s city center and discover the nearby suburbs or countryside, public transit is a handy choice for your bicycle. On the U-Bahn (subway), rush hour rules apply; bicycles are accepted on board outside of peak hours. Trains also let bicycles on, albeit with a ticket equal for children’s fee. This adaptability helps bikers to start longer trips and explore the beautiful splendor outside of cities.
CityBike: Vienna’s Shared Bike System
Vienna’s short-term bike-sharing program CityBike offers a practical and easily available means of two-wheel city exploration. Cyclists can simply rent a bike with a credit card or a tourist pass from several stations thoughtfully placed around Vienna. Use is free in the first hour; then, there are nominal fees for the next hours. Returning the bike right away will help to maximize costs since the mechanism refreshes the free hour following a 15-minute interval.
Pedal Power: Guided Tours and Bike Rentals
Pedal Power presents a special chance to find Vienna’s hidden gems with informed experts by offering guided cycling trips that fit different interests and skill levels. Pedal Power also provides bike ren for individuals who may rather explore alone.
Get Around - On foot
Walking may also be quite enjoyable. The inner ring is rather small, with several nice cobblestoned and paved streets. It takes roughly 20 minutes to traverse.
Bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes because this is the most prevalent mode of transportation.
