Vienna Travel Card
Vienna Travel Card Decision Tool – Vienna City Card Vs Vienna Pass
Vienna Travel Card. What is the Vienna city card? And is the Vienna Pass worth it? Which type of discount card will save you money in Wien? Actually, the two main city passes for my hometown – the Vienna City Card and the Vienna Pass – are pretty different. To help you make the right choice I have compared the two city cards and each of their variations.
Vienna Travel Card Options: General Differences
To begin with, the Vienna City Card is a discount card including public transport, covering 210 discounts for Vienna museums, attractions, shops, restaurants, coffeehouses and guided tours. As for transport, you can use the card for the underground, buses and trams within Vienna’s core zone (Kernzone). But is this Vienna city card worth it?
When it comes to added transport options, the Vienna City Card offers three additional top up versions:
a) Vienna City Card + Hop-On / Hop-Off
Adds use of a Hop On Hop Off Bus. You will also get a discount on the train and buses from and to the airport.
b) Vienna City Card Transfer
Adds airport transfer; either by City Airport Train (CAT), ÖBB Railjet (first class), express train S7 or Vienna Airportlines (coach).
c) Vienna City Card Transfer and Tour
combines a) and b)
Is It Worth Buying The Vienna Pass?
As a rule of thumb, the Vienna Pass is worth buying if you visit 2 – 4 attractions per day that the pass covers. In contrast to the Vienna Card, the Vienna Pass is an All-Inclusive city pass. Rather than offering discounts, it covers the full ticket prices for a range of attractions. In the table below you will find examples of breaking even with a Vienna Pass.
While the Vienna City Card provides free access to public transport, you need to pay extra for this option when getting the Vienna Pass.
Conveniently, Vienna Pass owners get fast track entrance to some of their chosen attractions included in the Pass.
If you travel with small children, do bear in mind that kids under the age of 6 can use local public transport for free. Children under 15 years of age travel free on public transport during Vienna school holidays, Sundays and public holidays.
Seniors aged 65 years and over can buy tickets for one or two journeys at the Vienna Transport Authority’s (Wiener Linien) reduced senior fare.
To easily compare the Vienna City Card with the Vienna Pass, I have chosen the two most similar card options of each: Vienna City Card vs Vienna Pass; and Vienna City Card Tour vs. Vienna Pass with Travel Card.
Buy Vienna City Card And Vienna Pass
On a practical note, you can order the Vienna City Card online and collect it together with the 96-page coupon book at a customer service desk at Schwechat airport. This means you can start saving right when you arrive. For example, use it first to get a discount on the CAT airport train to town. If you prefer a Hop on Hop off bus select the Digital City Card.
Likewise, buy the Vienna Pass online. As an add on, you can also opt for the additional travel card.
My tip: If you decide for the Vienna City Card, maximise it for transport, museums and attractions. Carefully select the discount opportunities on restaurants, wineries and shops. Many of them are institutions frequented mostly by mainstream tourists. Trust your own choices of restaurants in Vienna and select your food, drink and shops that you are comfortable with.
Get Your Time in Vienna Sorted
Discover Vienna’s charm effortlessly! Start with a stroll through the historic city center, visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Palace. Explore world-class museums like the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Belvedere.
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