Austria’s capital, Vienna (Wien), offers a dizzying array of transportation and sightseeing passes — including the popular Vienna Pass — which can be confusing if you’re planning a trip. In this post, I’ll break down the different types of passes available in Vienna, share my personal experience after actually visiting, and ultimately recommend the best-value transportation ticket. If you’re planning a trip to Vienna, read on till the end for practical advice!
Table of Contents
Transportation Options & Maps
Vienna is known as one of Europe’s most advanced cities, and its public transport is top-notch. You’ll likely find yourself using the subway (U-Bahn) and trams the most.
While buses and suburban trains are great, Vienna’s main attractions are clustered around U-Bahn and tram stations, so you’ll rarely need other public transit.
Vienna Subway Map
The U-Bahn (subway) runs 5 main lines: U1, U2, U3, U4, and U6. Most travelers will use U1 and U3, which pass through Stephansplatz (the heart of Vienna).
Tram Lines in Vienna
Trams are extremely well-connected and can take you just about anywhere you need to go. There are over 20 lines, which can look overwhelming, but simply follow Google Maps, and you’ll be fine.
For more detailed information on routes, timetables, and official maps, visit the Wiener Linien official website.
Vienna City Ticket
Vienna City Ticket is the most basic and essential transportation pass in Vienna, letting you use subways, trams, and buses throughout the city.
Vienna City Ticket Price Table
| Type | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Single Ticket* | 2.40 |
| 24 Hours | 8.00 |
| 48 Hours | 14.10 |
| 72 Hours | 17.10 |
| 7 Days | 19.70 |
There’s a range of options, from a single 80-minute ticket to 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, and 7-day passes. Just pick what matches your itinerary. You can purchase these at subway stations, tram/bus stop vending machines, or using the official “WienMobil” app.
Important Note: If you buy your ticket at a vending machine, you must validate (punch) it before use. If you buy through the app, just have the QR code ready for inspection.
If you’ll be in Vienna for about 2 days and plan to use public transit more than four times, the 24-hour ticket is ideal. If you’ll use transit three or more times per day for a more relaxed schedule, opt for the 48-hour or 72-hour ticket.
Vienna City Card
The Vienna City Card is the city’s official transport and discount pass, accredited by Vienna’s transport authority. Realistically, though, the perks aren’t game-changing. You get unlimited public transit and discounts at select attractions. Some card types also include airport transfers or hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tours.
Vienna City Card Price Table
| Pass Type | 24h | 48h | 72h | 7 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City Card | 17€ | 25€ | 29€ | 35€ |
| + Airport | 39€ | 47€ | 51€ | 57€ |
| + Hop-on Hop-off | 48€ | 56€ | 60€ | 66€ |
Most attraction discounts are just €1–€3 each, so you’d have to visit a lot of places to make up the price difference (the City Card is about €9 more than the basic City Ticket for a 24h pass). Check the places you want to visit before purchasing.
Official info: viennacitycard.at
EasyCity Pass
Here’s where I got tripped up on my own trip. The EasyCity Pass is similar to the City Card, bundling unlimited public transport with discounts for attractions and restaurants. Intriguingly, it’s sold right at the subway vending machines, so I mistakenly thought it was an official transportation ticket—but it’s not.
EasyCity Pass Price Table
| Type | Price (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 24 Hours | 15.90 |
| 48 Hours | 21.90 |
| 72 Hours | 26.90 |
| 7 Days | 35.90 |
It’s nearly twice as expensive as the basic City Ticket (24h at €15.90), so you’re better off just buying a City Ticket. While it’s a bit cheaper than the City Card, there aren’t many useful partners, and discounts are, again, only €1–€3—so it’s not great value.
Since you can buy this right from the subway vending machine, it’s easy to get tricked (like I did). Double-check before buying—get the City Ticket instead.
Vienna Pass / FLEXI Pass
The last options are the Vienna Pass and Vienna FLEXI Pass. Spoiler alert: Unless you want to hit every attraction in the city, these passes can be overpriced.
While technically not transport passes, both include access to the hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses, allowing for some transportation convenience.
The Vienna Pass covers around 90 attractions, and the FLEXI Pass about 60. Most visitors, though, only bother with a handful of famous sites, so the unlimited access doesn’t offer much extra value.
Vienna Pass / FLEXI Pass Price Table
| Option | Vienna Pass (by days) | FLEXI Pass (by visits) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day / 2 visits | €89.00 | €49.00 |
| 2 days / 3 visits | €125.00 | €65.00 |
| 3 days / 4 visits | €148.00 | €80.00 |
| 6 days / 5 visits | €179.00 | €89.00 |
Both passes are quite expensive, so you’d have to visit a lot of costly attractions to break even. For reference, the most expensive admission in Vienna is Schonbrunn Palace at about €25, and the Upper Belvedere, home to Klimt’s “The Kiss,” is €19.50.
In summary, the Vienna Pass is only worth it if you plan to visit 5+ attractions in a single day. The FLEXI Pass should only be considered if the average admission price of the attractions you want to visit is €20 or more.
The Bottom Line: Which Vienna Pass Should You Buy?
In summary, Vienna offers five main types of passes: the City Ticket, City Card, EasyCity Pass, Vienna Pass, and FLEXI Pass.
For most travelers, the plain City Ticket (basic transportation) is the best value. Sometimes, another pass might offer more specific benefits, but it generally makes more sense to pick and choose the attractions you’re truly excited about, rather than racing around just to “get your money’s worth.”
Take it slow, choose a simple pass, and truly enjoy the best of Vienna at your own pace!
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