Vienna Airport to Centre: Train, Bus, Taxi Guide

Quick Answer

Vienna Airport (VIE / Schwechat) to city centre — fastest to cheapest: 1. CAT (City Airport Train): 16 minutes non-stop to Wien Mitte, €14.90 single, €25.50 return. Trains every 30 min, 5:38am-11:38pm. 2. ÖBB S-Bahn S7: 25 minutes to Wien Mitte, €4.40 single. Trains every 30 min, 5am-midnight. Cheapest fast option. 3. Vienna Airport Lines bus: 30-45 minutes to multiple stops (Schwedenplatz, Westbahnhof, Hauptbahnhof), €11 single. 4. Taxi: 20-30 min driving, €40-60 metered, €36 fixed-rate. Avoid unmarked taxis. 5. Uber/Bolt: €25-40 typical. Often cheaper than taxi. 6. Rental car: €30-80/day. Pickup at terminal car park. Distance: airport is 18 km southeast of Vienna centre. Currency: Euro. Tickets: buy CAT online for 10% discount. S-Bahn ticket from any ÖBB machine. Book Uber/Bolt in app. Best option: S-Bahn S7 (best value), or CAT if speed matters more than €10.

Vienna International Airport VIE terminal — Vienna International Airport (VIE)

CAT (City Airport Train) — fastest non-stop

Duration: 16 minutes non-stop airport to Wien Mitte (city centre).
Frequency: every 30 minutes.
Hours: 5:38am-11:38pm daily.
Price: €14.90 single, €25.50 return. Online 10% discount: €13.40 single.
Children under 14: free with adult.
Where to board: CAT platform underground at airport (signs everywhere). Trains have CAT branding (green).
Wien Mitte station: connects to U3 + U4 metro lines, S-Bahn, trams. Zentrum + Stephansplatz 5 min metro.
Luggage: generous rack space. WiFi onboard.
Pre-check-in: at Wien Mitte for some airlines (Austrian, Lufthansa Group). Check bags before boarding train. Free.
Tickets: CAT vending machines at airport + Wien Mitte. Or online cityairporttrain.com.

S-Bahn S7 — cheapest fast option

Duration: 25 minutes to Wien Mitte (3 stops).
Frequency: every 30 minutes.
Hours: 5am-midnight (last train).
Price: €4.40 single ticket. Best value.
Plus city centre: single airport-Wien Mitte ticket includes all U-Bahn + tram + bus connections within Vienna for journey continuation.
Where to board: ÖBB platform at airport. Trains marked S7 going to “Floridsdorf” or “Wien Mitte.”
Stops on route: Schwechat — Fischamend — Wien Praterstern — Wien Mitte.
Tickets: ÖBB vending machines at airport. Or ÖBB app. Or pay onboard with surcharge.
Note: S7 not as fast as CAT but 1/3 the price. Best value.
Vienna Day Pass €8.20: covers airport S7 + 24h unlimited transport in Vienna.

Vienna Airport Lines bus

Duration: 30-45 minutes depending on stop.
Routes: 3 main routes from airport — Bus 1 (Schwedenplatz/Morzinplatz, 30 min), Bus 2 (Westbahnhof, 45 min), Bus 4 (Hauptbahnhof, 25 min).
Frequency: every 30-60 minutes depending on time.
Hours: 5am-midnight.
Price: €11 single, €18 return.
Pros: direct to specific city centre points (no metro change).
Cons: traffic dependent (especially morning rush).
Where to board: bus terminals at airport — exit Arrivals, signs to Vienna Airport Lines.
Tickets: from driver, ticket machines, or online viennaairportlines.at.
When to choose bus: heading to Westbahnhof or Hauptbahnhof directly, or hotel near Schwedenplatz.

Duration: 20-30 minutes (traffic-dependent).
Taxi metered: €40-60 to centre.
Fixed-rate taxi: €36 to most central districts. Ask for “Vienna fixed rate” / “Pauschaltarif.”
Where to board taxi: taxi rank outside Arrivals. Do NOT accept rides inside terminal — those are unmarked + overcharge.
Uber: available. €25-40 typical. App-based, cashless.
Bolt: available. €20-35. Often cheapest of all options.
Free rides: sometimes Bolt offers €5-10 first-ride discount.
Avoid: unmarked “private taxis” inside terminal (3x overcharge), drivers offering “fixed price” without taximeter (overcharge).
Late night: after midnight when no public transport, taxi/Uber +20% surcharge.
Family of 4: Uber XL €30-50 cheaper than CAT (4×€14.90 = €60).

Rental car

Duration: 25-30 min driving (peak hours up to 1h).
Companies at airport: Avis, Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Budget, Enterprise, Buchbinder.
Pickup: car park P3 (5 min walk from terminals).
Price: €30-80/day economy. €60-150 SUV/family. Pre-book online cheaper.
Vienna parking: central districts paid 9am-10pm. Hotel parking €20-40/night.
Highway tolls: Austrian motorway sticker (Vignette) required. €11.50 for 10 days. Available at gas stations + airport.
Drive on right side: EU citizens just need EU license. International Driving Permit recommended for non-EU.
Better off: using public transport in Vienna unless going to countryside.

Walking distance + airport layout

Distance from terminals: CAT + S-Bahn underground (5 min walk from Arrivals). Bus terminals + taxi rank at terminal exit.
Two terminals: Terminal 1 (Lufthansa, Star Alliance) + Terminal 3 (most others). Connected by walkway 5 min.
Free WiFi: 2 hours.
ATMs: in Arrivals + Departures.
Currency exchange: ATMs better rates than counters.
Showers + hotels: NH Hotel Vienna Airport in terminal. Affordable napping rooms.
Airport Lines + S7 + CAT all from same area: check tickets carefully.

From city centre back to airport

Allow extra time: 1.5-2 hours minimum airport before departure (3 hours intercontinental). Plus journey time.
CAT from Wien Mitte: 16 min. €14.90 single.
S-Bahn S7 from Wien Mitte: 25 min. €4.40 single.
Bus from Schwedenplatz/Morzinplatz/Westbahnhof: 30-45 min. €11.
Taxi from centre: 25-30 min. €36-60.
Pre-book taxi: via 31300 (Funk Taxi 1300) or Apps like Bolt/Uber.
Worth checking: if going to Bratislava continued — direct buses from Vienna airport.

Common scams + pitfalls

Fake taxi drivers inside terminal: approaching tourists offering “fixed price.” Always go to OFFICIAL taxi rank outside.
“No taximeter” trick: some drivers say their meter is broken. Refuse + ask for proper taxi.
Wrong-platform tickets: CAT and ÖBB platforms separated. Don’t board CAT with ÖBB ticket.
Uber pickup zone: may not be obvious — follow app instructions exactly.
Rush hour: 7-9am + 4-6pm. Public transport faster than taxi/car at these times.
Late night gaps: midnight-5am no S7 or CAT. Only taxi/Uber. €40-60.
Currency: all options accept Euro cash + cards. Avoid currency exchange at airport (high commission).

Frequently Asked Questions

Cheapest way Vienna airport to centre?

ÖBB S-Bahn S7 — €4.40 single, 25 minutes to Wien Mitte. Best value. CAT (€14.90, 16 min) is fastest but 3x price. Bus €11 if going directly to Westbahnhof or Hauptbahnhof.

How long Vienna airport to centre?

CAT (City Airport Train) 16 minutes non-stop to Wien Mitte. S-Bahn S7 25 minutes (3 stops). Vienna Airport Lines bus 30-45 minutes. Taxi/Uber 20-30 minutes (traffic-dependent).

Vienna airport taxi price?

Metered €40-60. Fixed-rate €36 (ask for Pauschaltarif). Use OFFICIAL taxi rank outside Arrivals — never accept rides inside terminal. Uber €25-40. Bolt often cheapest €20-35.

CAT or S-Bahn Vienna airport?

CAT if speed matters (16 min vs 25 min) and €10 extra acceptable. S-Bahn S7 if budget-conscious (€4.40 vs €14.90). Both go to same Wien Mitte station + onward transport.

Vienna airport open 24 hours?

Yes airport open 24h. But CAT + S-Bahn closed midnight-5am. Late-night arrivals must use taxi (€40-60), Uber (€25-40), or sleep at airport hotel.

Vienna airport CAT discount?

Online booking 10% off (€13.40 single). Children under 14 free with adult. Day-of purchase at airport €14.90. Vienna Card may include CAT discount — check current details.

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