Public Transport in Vienna

Here’s the map of the public transportation system in Vienna. Public transportation is widespread throughout the city. Moreover, a lot of the attractions in Vienna aren’t in the city center, thus require public transportation. This efficient system makes it much easier to explore these sights. For tickets, it’s based on an honor system. You may hop on and hop off without being challenged, but there is a good chance you get a ticket. Vienna employs people to ride the trains and watch out for those who try to ride for free. A single ticket will cost 2.40 euros so the extended passes are good options. I bought the 48-hour pass, which cost 14.10 euros which lasted me almost my entire stay. You may also buy the Vienna Card, but most of the time these Card Services aren’t worth it if you aren’t going to use at least a few of the services through the Card. More info about the Vienna Metro here.

Approximate Prices for Public Transport in Vienna

• Single ticket (one journey, one zone, all types of public transport) : 2.40 Euro ($2.86 USD)
• 24 hour pass: 8 Euro ($9.54 USD)
• 48 hour pass: 14.10 Euro ($16.82 USD)
• 72 hour pass: 17.10 Euro ($20.40 USD)
• Vienna City Card 24: 13.90 Euro ($16.58 USD)
• 48 hours: 21.90 Euro ($26.13 USD)
• 72 hours: 24.90 Euro ($29.71 USD)
• 8 – day tickets, weekly, monthly, and annual travel passes are also available for purchase

Other Useful Tips for Public Transport in Vienna

• Airport transfer will be a separate ticket since you are outside the city zone, there’s an easy train that takes less than 20 minutes
• If traveling with children, kids under 6 travel for FREE while children under 15 travel for discounted rates as well as for free on Sundays and public holidays
• You may purchase Vienna public transportation tickets from all of these locations: ticket machines at metro stations, ticket machines inside of trams/buses (could be more expensive), WL ticket offices in major train stations, and corner stores (tabacchi shops)
• Please do not try to hop on and hope off without buying a ticket, if you’re caught it will be subject to over 100 Euro fine and other complications
• Check the discounts offered in the Vienna City Card before purchasing. If you do not think you will use them then buy one of the other Vienna public transportation tickets.
• Use Google Maps for basic travel, this page for a guide to the various services, and Google Flights for plane fares

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in my best public transport tips for Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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Day 1 Itinerary for Vienna: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, & Museumsquartier

When you’re in a city like Vienna you want to explore the city centre to discover what it has to offer. For your first day itinerary for Vienna, venture inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral and admire its architecture. Go up one of the spires in the Cathedral to take in views of the city that you are about to spend a couple more days in. Talk a walk around the rest of the Hofburg Palace, pass by the many monuments and Spanish Riding School. Visit the Austrian National Library in Vienna. Afterwards, grab some lunch nearby before visiting the Museumsquartier. Decide on one or two museums to visit before dinner, I recommend the Natural Science Museum of Vienna or the Fine Arts Museum.

Day 2 in Vienna: Schonbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, & Karlskirche

The second day will be a lot of walking and traveling so rest well after your first night in Vienna. Get up early and take the train to Schonbrunn Palace. Take your time admiring the inside before venturing outside and wandering around the grounds. Afterward, take the train to Belvedere Palace to admire more grand grounds. If this ends up around lunchtime for you (you will most likely spend a lot of time in and around the Schonbrunn), then grab a bite near the train station at Wien Hauptbahnhof. If you wander a little south of the train station, there are many hotels in the area with decent restaurants. Afterward, walk towards Belvedere and admire the colorful houses across the street from you before reaching the Belvedere Palace. Walk around the grounds until you reach Lower Belvedere, from here you will take the tram towards Karlskirche. Walk around inside the church and admire the view from the scaffolding on top of the church.

Day 3 in Vienna: Hundertwasserhaus, Naschmarkt, & Vienna Opera House

Earlier in the morning, take the tram over to Hundertwasserhaus. Wander inside the small shopping area and admire the unique architecture. Walk by the river and Hundertwasser Museum on your way back into the city center. Take the tram back towards Naschmarkt to get a bite to eat. Walk around the market afterward then walk over to the Vienna Opera House for your scheduled guided tour. Enjoy your tour and get an early dinner before you return for a show at the Vienna Opera House. Get in line two hours before the show to get your discounted tickets at the Opera. This will be a perfect way to close out your 3-day stay in Vienna.

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in my best itinerary for Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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Currency used in Vienna, Austria
Euro

Austria uses the Euro, which is currently exchanged at $1.10 for 1 Euro. So it’s not that much more expensive, but keep in mind that you’re always spending 10% more. This might not seem like a huge difference but a 40 euro meal turns into a $48 meal. Make sure you know this exchange rate well during your travels. It’s essential for the best budget in Vienna, Austria.

My Budget for Vienna, Austria

• $22 USD one-way bus ticket from Budapest to Vienna
• $266 USD for a 3-night stay at an Airbnb (Late March)
• $150 USD for food & drink
• $50 USD for visits/tours of several palaces, museums, etc.
• $25 USD for public transport
• $513 USD TOTAL for a 3-night trip to Vienna, Austria

The Best Budget Tips & How to Spend Money in the Vienna, Austria

• Vienna is one of the hardest places to budget because it’s one of the richest cities in the world, so make sure to use these best budget tips
• Go to a local grocery store for snacks and breakfast to cook in your Airbnb
• You might be able to save money by walking around the city more, but it was hard for me in the bitter cold of late March
• Venture outside of the city center to find cheaper restaurants, markets, etc.
• If you want to see the palaces but don’t want to purchase the tickets for indoors then you should know that you can explore all of the grounds for free! Although, sometimes they’re a nice escape from the cold.

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in my best budget & spending tips for Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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Where to Stay for a Trip to Vienna, Austria

Above, I included a labeled map of the main districts in Vienna. The most convenient place to stay is in District 1 (Inner Stadt). This district is home to St. Stephens Cathedral and mostly contains pedestrian-only streets. Moreover, I’d also recommend staying in districts 4 -7 in the West since these are near most attractions. For my stay, I stayed in an Airbnb in District 1 for relatively cheap in Vienna.

Hotel/Airbnb Recommendations for Vienna, Austria

The Airbnb I Stayed in, Charming Apartment by Cathedral, Hosted by Patricia

It’s good to know that when looking where to stay in Vienna, it will be slightly expensive, especially if you want a good location. Furthermore, I chose this Airbnb because it was an amazing location in Inner Stradt (around the corner from St. Stephen’s Cathedral), relatively cheap, with great/updated amenities. The only drawback was that it’s in an apartment building and up a few floors, through an outdated stairwell/elevator which can complicate your move-in/out.

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in guide for where to stay and the best location for Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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St. Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna is in the middle of the city. The Romanesque and Gothic architecture together molds a beautiful church. Construction was completed in 1160, nearly 900 years ago. The roof portrays 230,000 uniquely colored tiles. Inside, the grandiosity of the columns and high ceiling matches that of the Milan Duomo. Saint Stephen’s in Vienna is one of the most groundbreaking cathedrals of Eastern Europe. You may enter the cathedral for FREE, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Then you could buy a ticket to the Catacombs, North Tower, or South Tower for 6.50 euro each, separate tickets. You can also buy an all-inclusive ticket for all of these for 16.90 euros. Trying to decide between the North and South Tower? The South Tower is taller, yet you walk up the stairs which bring you to the gift shop (343 total steps). The North Tower is not as high, but there is an elevator up to the top and you go outside for the views of Vienna. Due to this reason, many people say they like the North tower more, but do whatever you please.

Schonbrunn Palace

As I mentioned earlier, Vienna is known for its old money, this palace was the summer home for many Habsburg rulers. Franz Joseph, the longest-reigning Austrian emperor, built most of these astonishing buildings. Now, the Austrian government controls Schonbrunn Palace as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will want to plan to stay here for around 3-4 hours. To get to Schonbrunn Palace, take public transportation to Schonbrunn station. You may get here by bus, subway, and tram. All tickets for the palace come with an audio guide. This is especially helpful since each room inside has an immense history. The basic ticket (Imperial Tour) costs 18 euros and you can walk through 22 rooms. I didn’t buy the higher-priced tickets because I wasn’t too interested in the history. However, if you’re interested, I’d recommend going through all 40 rooms for 22 euros. There’s more info about the tickets available here. Once you exit the Palace, wander around the grounds for a while. Here is a map to the Palace Grounds. The Schonbrunn Zoo also lives on the palace grounds. Additionally, the archway, Gloriette, is located directly up the hill behind the Palace. Inside, there is a cafe which is a perfect rest stop to get out of the cold. On the way to Gloriette you should see Neptune Fountain. Walk up the hill directly behind the fountain for a picturesque view. Then I’d also recommend seeing the Roman Ruin and Obelisk Fountain on your way out of the Schonbrunn Palace Grounds.

Belvedere Palace

Another result of the Hapsburg’s money, the Belvedere Palace was completed in 1723. This palace has few attractions but it’s worth seeing. The Belvedere Palace has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To get here, take the D Tram line to Shloss Belvedere (which leads you to the upper Belvedere). Inside, you can visit a couple of museums. The Upper level highlights pieces by Monet, van Gogh, Klimt, Schiele, and Funke. Visit the lower level to discover treasures and learn a brief history of the families who have lived in the palace. The Upper Belvedere will cost 16 euros while the lower level will cost 14 euros. Outside the palace, you can explore the grounds. Find the map of the Belvedere Palace grounds here. There’s a garden as well as a courtyard behind the palace. Once you walk down to Lower Belvedere, you will find a main street with a tram stop to find your way to your next destination.

Vienna Opera House

Considered one of the greatest Opera Houses in the World, the Vienna State Opera opened in 1869. I strongly recommended a guided tour at the cheap price of 9 euro. They will show you some of the executive rooms, function halls, and bring you next to the construction of the stage for the current show. Also explore the opportunity to see an Opera at the Vienna Opera House for as little as three euros. Tickets are standing room only but you will have bars to lean on during the show. I recommend getting into line for cheap tickets at the Vienna Opera House around 2 hours before the show. They will begin to sell these tickets an hour and 20 minutes before the show. The line starts at the WEST Entrance. The entrace is easy to miss but if you continue to walk on the West Side you will find it. Also, the line starts inside, so you do not have to worry about the cold. Make sure you dress nicely, but it doesn’t have to be formal. Nice jeans are fine, as long as there are no holes or rips. They WILL point them out and kick you out of the line. Make sure you bring cash to pay for your tickets, since you cannot pay with a card. Once you get your tickets, go straight to your seating area so you can get the best spots. All standing room areas are first come first serve. Make sure to use a coat/scarf to tie around the pole and save your spot.

Hundertwasserhaus

The Hundertwasserhaus is one of the most visited attractions in Vienna. This apartment complex portrays an extremely unique and intricate design by Austrian artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Hundertwasserhaus opened in 1986 for people to move in. To get here, take the Line 1 Tram to Wien Hetzgasse, then walk a few minutes. Once there, admire the building and many unique structures around. Nearby, there is an entrance to a mall area with lots of small shops. This mall keeps consistent with the design of the intricate design of Hundertwassenhaus. Before leaving this area, I recommend continuing your walk to the Museum Hundertwasser. It’s a whole museum dedicated to the artist, which shows a similar design but less known by tourists.

Karlskirche

Close to the Vienna Opera House and Naschmarkt, the Karlskirche is a beautiful picturesque Baroque church. Constructed in 1737, this building is considered one of the most beautiful in Vienna. You can visit inside for 8 euro which comes with a ticket to the elevator inside. There’s information on tickets available here. Unfortunately, the interior tarnished by the scaffolding for the elevator. Though, you should still visit Karlskirche. Due to the small amount of space on the elevator and scaffolding, there are only a few people allowed up to the top at once. So spend some time looking around inside while keeping an eye out on the line for the elevator, so you don’t have to wait in line most of the time you’re inside. You get to walk around in the rafters of the church and take a peek outside the large glass window in the center of the dome, to view the skyline of Vienna from Karlskirche.

Naschmarkt

The most popular open-air market in Vienna, Naschmarkt is a beautiful space to walk around and take a look at some local shops and restaurants. Naschmarkt is located near the Karlskirche and the Vienna State Opera House. There are a few touristy places here though since it can be a hotspot. It’s not very big but great if you want to grab a quick bite to eat or buy some local produce/goods. The website is a little outdated but you can find out more information about the Naschmarkt here.

Austrian National Library

As part of the extensive Hofburg Palace in the Vienna City Centre, the Austrian National Library is one part of the Hofburg that I strongly recommend you see. The hall, that you purchase entrance for, is relatively small but it is grand. The grandeur of the Austrian National Library is equivalent to a historic Baroque church. Tickets cost 8 euros, there are other areas of the library to explore, but this is the part I recommend. The hall also has many old transcripts and interactive boards to learn about the large history behind the library. More information about tickets and the rest of the library can be found here.

MuseumsQuartier

If you’re into museums, the Museumsquartier has everything to offer in Vienna. Most of the museums in this area were created in a Baroque style and cost millions to construct, which results in museums that are architectural masterpieces both inside and outside. If you’re interested in art, you’ll find the Mumok and Leopold Museum here. The Mumok in Vienna contains modern and contemporary artworks by artists such as Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. The Leopold Museum is more about Austrian art, which contains pieces by Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. Both of these museums were opened in 2001 in an effort to explore art in Vienna. On the other side of the Museumsquartier, you will find a beautiful square which contains the Natural History Museum and Museum of Fine Arts. These Museums have been around for longer, and thus tend to be much better organized and are much grander. When I was talking about amazing Baroque Museums earlier, these two buildings in Vienna are the highlight of Baroque Architecture. The Natural History Museum of Vienna will cost 12 euros, while the Museum of Fine Arts will cost 16 euros. The Museum of Fine Arts contains a lot of the pieces owned by the infamous Habsburg family. Find more information about the Mumok Museum & Tickets in Vienna. More information about the Leopold Museum & Tickets in Vienna. More information about the Natural History Museum & Tickets in Vienna. Find more information about the Museum of Fine Arts & Tickets in Vienna.

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in my best sights & attractions of Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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Cafe Sacher & Cafe Central in Vienna

I cannot make a write about the best restaurants in Vienna without mentioning their historic cafes. Note that both of these cafes are very touristy, expect long waits at times. Everything is famous for a reason. You will spend more money than you ever thought for a slice of chocolate cake or apple strudel, but they are part of the experience. Both have an immense history behind them. Cafe Sacher, home of the original Sacher torte, has many famous visitors every year. In the guest book, you can find signatures ranging from Justin Bieber to Queen Elizabeth and John F. Kennedy. But what is a Sacher Torte? It is a dense chocolate cake with a layer of apricot jam before the hard, dark chocolate icing. It’s fair to say that Sacher Torte is probably the best damn chocolate cake you’ll have in your life. Moreover, Cafe Central in Vienna has more relevance to historical figures. Cafe Central used to be a meeting spot for high-ranking officials during the World Wars including Adolf Hitler and Leon Trotsky. Other famous Austrians such as the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, also used to frequent Cafe Central.

Like I said earlier, Vienna is old money, with old money comes lots of tradition. After the old money cafes, wiener schnitzel comes in for dinner. That original Vienna wiener schnitzel is made of veal, make sure you at least try it, even if you don’t like veal. Figlmuller serves this original schnitzel as well as their own original Figlmuller Schnitzel, the first-ever pork schnitzel. The wait for dinnertime will be long, so I’d recommend getting there for an early dinner if possible (I had around a 30-minute wait outside in a line). You will spend a decent amount of money for what seems like just fried meat, but the portion size will amaze you once your plate comes around, so make sure you build up an appetite before going to Figlmuller. Menu and more info for Figlmuller, home of the schnitzel, is found here.

1516 Brewing Company: A Must Try Brewery

1516 Brewing Company is all you can expect from a brewery near the city center of Vienna. There is a bustling crowd, great beer, and even better bar food. It’s a good place to sit down and eat or just grab a drink if you’d like. If you’re looking to stray away from you feeling like high-end royalty in these old classy restaurants, then 1516 Brewing Company is the answer. Menu and more info for 1516 Brewing Company in Vienna found here.

Remember if you would like to learn more about any of the places included in my best restaurants for Vienna, Austria, then you can visit my all-inclusive guide for free here!

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