You've made it to Vienna and are ready to start your travels in the heart of Austria's capital, but Vienna International Airport (VIE) lies 19km away from the city centre. The airport at Vienna is unique in that you have an abundance of travel options to choose from that will get you to the main city, so let's get started (most of the information mentioned in this article can be found here).
Taxi
If you want ultimate convenience and an option that brings you directly to your desired destination, taking a taxi is the way to go. A taxi ride to downtown will take 20 minutes but will cost around 35€ and 40€, so make sure to have enough euros on you before you leave the airport. To find the taxi queue, keep walking past baggage claim, out the main doors, and you can hail a taxi there.
Express Train S7
If you're looking to save some euros, try taking the commuter express train S7 Schnellbahn. Costing 4€ for adults and 2€ for children one-way (children under six years old ride free), you can take the S7 train from the airport to the underground transport hub in downtown Vienna called WIEN MITTE in 30 minutes. From WIEN MITTE, this connects to other public transport options if you need to continue travelling to your destination (the S7 ticket can be used for these further connections).
To get to the S7 train platform, follow the Schnellbahn sign (it looks like a ‘S’ in a circle) towards the tracks once you've collected your baggage. You can buy tickets from the automated machines at the top of the escalator and pay for them with either cash or cards. Make sure you validate your ticket (the machine will ask you) when purchasing it, as you won’t want to run into any problems once on board!
Trains run daily between 04:00 and midnight. Those to Vienna leave in the ‘Floridsdorf’ direction at 17 and 42 minutes past the hour and those back to the airport leave at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour in the ‘Flughafen Wien’ or ‘Wolfsthal’ direction. While this option does take longer than the others, the price really just cannot be beaten.
City Airport Train (CAT)
On the more high-end side of the spectrum, we have the City Airport Train (CAT) which provides a very comfortable transit with more modern trains than the S7, bringing you directly to the city centre from the airport. To reach the CAT platform, pass baggage claim and follow the green CAT signs and you will soon be on your way! Travelling along the same tracks as the S7 commuter train, the CAT is much faster because it makes no stops.
Operating between roughly 06:00 and 23:30, travel time runs 16 minutes flat with trains leaving the airport every half hour (note—at 6 and 36 minutes past the hour) and arriving at their own hub of WIEN MITTE. One-way tickets cost 11€ and round trip tickets 17€. You can purchase tickets online in advance or in person at the CAT terminal. Children up to age 14 travel free!
Airport Lines Bus
Another option that’s quicker than the commuter train and cheaper than a taxi or the CAT is the bus service available from Vienna Airport Lines. With three lines from the airport to different city locations, travellers have an affordable way to get to various places across the capital.
Walk past the baggage claim area and follow the signs for the buses. A bus ride into the downtown bus stop, Schwedenplatz, will take 22-minutes, costing 8€ for adults and 4€ for children one-way (children under six ride free). Buses run from around 04:50 to 00:20 and leave the airport every 30 minutes at 20 and 50 minutes past the hour. You can purchase tickets directly from the driver in the bus.
Let's Recap!
If you're looking for convenience and a direct way to get to your destination, a taxi is your top bet. If you want to save a little but don't want to compromise on comfort, try taking the CAT which will bring you into the heart of downtown Vienna. If you wish to further save on cost and are on a tight budget, the S7 train follows the exact same route as the CAT but will take longer to get there. Lastly, you may want to consider taking the bus, as it is faster than the S7 train but cheaper than the CAT.
All in all, whichever way you end up arriving into Vienna, we hope you have a wonderful time exploring the city and safe travels!
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