Vienna’s transport is run by Wiener Linien and is among the best in Europe: five U-Bahn lines, 28 tram routes, an extensive bus network and the S-Bahn, all on one ticket.
The U-Bahn
U1 (red) runs north–south through Stephansplatz and Karlsplatz. U2 (purple) serves the MuseumsQuartier and the Prater. U3 (orange) runs east–west through Stephansplatz and Neubaugasse. U4 (green) follows the Wien river valley to Schönbrunn and Heiligenstadt. U6 (brown) runs along the Gürtel, mostly on Otto Wagner’s Stadtbahn viaduct, and is the one with the view.
There is no U5 yet — it is under construction. Trains run every two to five minutes in the day, and all night on Fridays, Saturdays and before public holidays.
Trams
The tram network is one of the largest in the world. Trams 1 and 2 run around the Ringstrasse in opposite directions and between them pass the Opera, the Kunsthistorisches, the Rathaus, the Burgtheater, the university and Stadtpark. Riding one full circuit for the price of a single ticket is the cheapest sightseeing in the city and better than the tourist tram that charges ten times as much for the same rails.
Tram D goes to the Belvedere and on to Nussdorf and the Heurigen. Tram 71 goes to the Zentralfriedhof.
Tickets
A single ticket covers one journey in one direction with unlimited changes — unlike Budapest or Prague, changing between tram, bus and U-Bahn is fine on one ticket.
For a visit, buy a time pass: 24, 48 or 72 hours, valid from first validation, covering everything within the core zone. The 72-hour pass pays for itself quickly. There is also a weekly pass, but it runs Monday to Monday regardless of when you buy it, which rarely suits a visitor.
Buy from machines at U-Bahn stations, from tobacconists, or in the WienMobil app.
Validation
Paper tickets must be stamped in the blue machines at the entrance to U-Bahn platforms or on board trams and buses, once, at the start. A time pass is stamped on first use only.
There are no barriers anywhere on the network. The system runs on trust and then checks: inspectors are plain-clothed, work in pairs, and issue a fixed penalty on the spot. Playing the confused tourist does not work and is not worth trying.
Night transport
The U-Bahn runs all night at weekends. On other nights, NightLine buses take over from around half past midnight, running every half hour, most of them radiating from Schwedenplatz. Ordinary tickets are valid.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis are metered and not cheap. You generally cannot hail one on the street — go to a rank or call. Uber and Bolt both operate and are usually cheaper.
Bikes
WienMobil Rad is the city bike scheme. Vienna has extensive cycle infrastructure and the Danube Canal and Prater routes are traffic-free and flat. Bikes can be taken on the U-Bahn outside peak hours for a half-fare ticket.
Walking
Everything inside the Ring is walkable and most of it is pedestrianised. The Ring itself is a two-kilometre circuit. From Karlsplatz to Schottentor on foot is twenty minutes; the tram takes eight and is more fun.
Zones and what your ticket covers
Vienna’s core zone covers everything a visitor normally needs, including Schönbrunn, the Zentralfriedhof and the Heurigen at Grinzing and Nussdorf. It does not cover the airport, which sits outside it — hence the supplement on the S7.
The S-Bahn is included within the core zone, which is worth knowing because the S45 along the Vorortelinie and the S-Bahn Stammstrecke are often the fastest way across the city and are ignored by most visitors.
Accessibility
Every U-Bahn station has lift access, and the network is one of the better ones in Europe for step-free travel. Newer trams are low-floor; the older red-and-white ones on some routes have steps, and the display at the stop tells you which is coming. Wiener Linien publishes live lift-outage information in the app.
Luggage, bikes and dogs
Luggage travels free. Bicycles need a half-price ticket and are allowed on the U-Bahn outside peak hours only. Dogs need a half-price ticket and a muzzle, which is enforced.
One habit worth adopting
Validate the moment you buy. A 72-hour pass runs from the stamp, not from purchase, so stamping it as you walk into the first station starts the clock at the right moment and removes any later ambiguity with an inspector.
The Vorortelinie and the Stadtbahn
Two pieces of Otto Wagner’s 1890s railway are still in daily use and both are worth riding for their own sake. The U6 runs along his Gürtel viaduct past the original station buildings, several of which are now bars. The S45 Vorortelinie curves through the western suburbs on his outer line, largely in a green cutting, and is the quietest scenic ride in the city.
Both are ordinary services on ordinary tickets.