Today I am going to give you a quick introduction to Vienna’s public transport system. Actually, Vienna’s is quite a small city compared to many other capitals of the world. The best way to move around is by foot, as it will give you the chance to marvel at the city’s spectacular buildings and its beautiful facades.
However, sometimes it’s more comfortable to use public transport, for example when visiting the Schönbrunn castle or the Prater amusement park, both sights that are situated outside the city center.
What kind of public means of transport are there in Vienna?
Vienna’s public transport system consists of a subway network, trams and busses. In addition there are also rapid trains that connect the city with the suburbs and also the Vienna International Airport.
Currently, there are 5 subway lines in the city: U1 (red line), U2 (purple line), U3 (orange line), U4 (green line) and U6 (brown line). You can find a detailed map here.
Vienna’s subway network is quite well developed and gives you the chance to move around the city quickly. By subway, it only takes about 15 min from the city center to the Schönbrunn Palace.
In my opinion, most tourists will do fine with the underground system but if you want to visit more specific places, like the Kahlenberg or the “Kirche am Steinhof”, an Art Nouveau church built by Otto Wagner you will need to use a bus to get there. Here you can find detailed time tables for all bus lines in Vienna.
Vienna’s public transport system is supplemeted by a network of trams. You can find an overview of the different tram lines as well as the corresponding time tables here. Unfortuntely, there is no more tram that allows you to ride around the famous Ringstraße, without having to change trams.
If you want to enjoy Vienna’s imperial boulevard on a tram ride, you can board the Ring Tram. It departs every 30 min at Schwedenplatz on a lap of the famous Ringstraße. Daily from 10.00 a.m to 5:30 p.m, all year around. The price for one circuit is 8 € and includes a multimedia system with explanations of the most important sights in 8 languages. You can purchase the tickets directly on the tram.
Vienna public transport: How much does it cost?
Tickets are valid for all the means of public transport. If you buy a single ride, you may change from subway to bus or tram if needed, but without interrupting your travel. A single ride ticket costs 2,20 € for adults.
There are also weekly (16,20 €) and monthly (48,20 €) passes, as well as an annual pass (365 €). Tourists however, mostly go for the 24 (7,60 €), 48 (13,30 €) or 72 (16,50 €) hours options. If you plan on visiting a lot of sights and museums, you should have a look at the Vienna Card. This is a combination of a 48 or 72 hour public transport ticket and a discount voucher for numerous attractions and services in the city. Click here for further information on the Vienna Card.
What are the service hours of Vienna’s public transport?
The service hours may vary between busses, trams and the underground. As regards the subway, the first trains usually depart around 5 a.m. in the morning, the last ones at 0:15 a.m. From Friday to Sunday (Fri-Sat and Sat-Sun) trains are operated at night as well. (approx. every 15 min)
If you are looking for the service hours of bus and tram lines, please have a look at the website of the Vienna Transport Authority.
If you want to find out the best and fastest connection for your destination, you can use the journey planner on the website of the Vienna Transport Authority.
If you have any questions or remarks regading Vienna’s public transport, please do not hesitate to contact me or leave me a comment!
