How to get from Vienna Airport to the city center – 7 ways, prices 2021
Schwechat International Airport, located 19 kilometers southeast of the center of Vienna, is the main and busiest air harbor in Austria. The airport does not limit its activities to receiving and sending aircraft. This is a real transport hub, serving about 20 million passengers a year and providing travelers with a wide choice of modern public transport, which will comfortably take visitors to Vienna anywhere in the city.
A train
Vienna has an extensive railway and metro network. Signs with the image of the train inform about where to go to the railway platforms. Departure is carried out in the underground floor of the airport terminal – below the arrivals hall. There are two types of trains: the Austrian Railways and the private express train (CAT).
City Airport Train (CAT)
The fastest transport between the airport and Vienna is the City Airport Train (CAT). A comfortable green double-decker train will take passengers to the center of the Austrian capital in 15 minutes without stops and traffic jams.
The silent express runs on schedule every 30 minutes every day from 6:00 am to midnight. Cozy carriages with easy chairs are provided with free Wi-Fi service, power outlets, USB ports, TVs and ample space for luggage.
Tickets for CAT can be purchased on the official website of the train or through the terminals, painted in bright green. Ticket vending machines are located directly at the airport building, Vienna railway stations and in several shopping centres. The fare is 11 euros one way and 19 euros both ways. You can pay in cash or by credit card.
Intercity Express (ICE)
The Intercity Express high-speed train runs from the airport to the Vienna Railway Station, and also runs to major Austrian cities and neighboring countries. Therefore, tourists who want to get to the center of Vienna should be careful when choosing the right platform. Travel time with stops at intermediate stations is 18-26 minutes. Intercity Express departs every half an hour from 7:00 to 22:00. The ticket price is 4.40 euros.
The train develops a maximum speed of up to 230 km/h, but it travels much more slowly for most of the distance. All carriages have toilets and air conditioning. The salons are equipped with comfortable chairs with folding tables, which are equipped with sockets for charging gadgets. It is also possible to use the free internet.
S7
The Intra-City Railway offers passengers an economical option for traveling to the center of Vienna. This is the S-bahn train line S7. The train makes nine stops at stations, so the journey takes 30 minutes. The price of a ticket, which is purchased from a machine on the platform, is low compared to other modes of transport – 2.20 euros. You must validate your travel card before boarding. The electric train runs from 4:30 to 23:45 every half hour. According to the economy option, the interiors of the cars are quite ascetic, but quite presentable.
Bus
At the exit from Vienna's Schwechat airport, there are bus stops from where shuttle trains leave for different parts of Vienna. Bus service in Austria is established at the highest level, no worse than the railway. There are 96 flights daily.
The city can be reached by three routes in the following directions: the western railway station, the historical center of the city and the Kagran station. This type of transport, which carries out transportation from 6:00 to 00:30, is perfect for passengers without small children and knowledge of the route. The final stops are the central districts of Vienna.
Vienna Airport Lines
Vienna Airport Lines, a subsidiary of the Austrian Railways, provides passenger services in comfortable buses in both directions between the center of Vienna and the airport. Flights are carried out without intermediate stops every 30 minutes. Travel time takes 35-40 minutes. The delay can only occur in the event of traffic congestion. One-way fare is 8 euros. Tickets can be purchased directly from the driver, on the official website of the carrier company, as well as from vending machines at bus stops.
Low-floor buses are equipped with modern technological innovations with a wide range of possibilities. They allow passengers to enjoy a fast and comfortable ride. The interior of the car has air conditioning, a TV, reading lights, Wi-Fi, USB sockets, and leather seats equipped with seat belts.
Eurolines
The center of Vienna can also be reached by a regular bus that runs through many European countries in Central Europe. The transport company Eurolines provides international transportation, providing the necessary quality and safety standards.
The bus route Bratislava – Wien, transiting through Schwechat Airport, is suitable for passengers wishing to get to Vienna. The ticket price, which can be purchased on the company's website, is 8 euros. Travel time does not exceed half an hour.
Taxi
Of all the above modes of transport that go to the capital of Austria from Schwechat International, the most comfortable is a taxi. Some tourists prefer not to burden themselves with finding the necessary public transport, and also not to depend on timetables and not stand in line for a train or bus ticket. The benefits of a taxi are especially noticeable when people travel with families with children and with heavy suitcases.
The airport has its own taxi service, but sometimes the car may not meet the requirements of the passenger. In addition, most drivers speak only German. In Europe, the KiwiTaxi online taxi booking system is very popular. Its advantage lies in the fact that you can pre-order a car while still in flight. The service provides a large selection of cars of different classes, depending on the number of passengers and the amount of luggage. It can be economy, comfort, business, premium, as well as minibuses. By the time the plane lands, tourists will already be waiting at the airport for a personal driver who will take them to any place in Vienna in 20 minutes.
The cost of the trip ranges from 16 euros (a seat on the tourist bus to the hotel) to 34 euros for an economy class car, 38 euros for comfort and 46 euros for business. You can pay for the service immediately via the Internet or in cash. The transfer price is fixed, so it will not change under any circumstances.
Rent a Car
Amateur tourists who are accustomed to free movement can rent a car and get from the airport to the center of Vienna on their own. The offices of the main car rental companies are located in the air passenger arrivals area. They are open daily from 7:00 to 23:00. Vehicle rental services are provided by the following global brands: Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Alamo, Buchbinder, EuropeCar and others.
For convenience, it is recommended to book a car online in advance. On the website, the client indicates the exact date of arrival at Schwechat airport and sees the most advantageous rental offers from different companies – the cost, characteristics of cars, rental conditions, as well as reviews from other customers. The minimum price for renting a simple car class is 36 euros per day. Station wagons and more elite cars will cost significantly more, over 70 euros. Transport is served to the client at the exit from the airport terminal with a filled tank. You can return the car to any city branch of the company.
To arrange a car rental, the customer must be over 20 years old, as well as have an international driver's license, driving experience of more than a year and insurance. Highways in Austria are paid, so you need a special Vignette card that gives permission to travel on the autobahns. You can buy it at gas stations or electronically for 9 euros, valid for 10 days. The maximum speed limit on motorways is 130 km/h, on ordinary highways outside the city it is 100 km/h, and within the city it is 50 km/h.
In general, international traffic rules apply: the mandatory fastening of seat belts for all passengers, the prohibition of using a mobile phone while driving, as well as the prohibition of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Austrian police strictly enforce these requirements.
It should be remembered that it is difficult to travel by car in the center of Vienna. The city has many pedestrian streets. Most parking spaces are occupied or have temporary restrictions. If the car is parked in the wrong place, then a fine of 145 euros is threatened.
In Vienna, tourism.com.de recommends the following hotels in the center: