Planning a trip and using Vienna’s Schwechat Airport as your departure or arrival point? You’re in the right place.
This comprehensive guide provides all the details you need to travel comfortably between Airport and the city center. We’ll explore transportation options, public transport connections to and from Schwechat Airport, and the fares for each one.

Where Is Vienna Airport? Essential Information

Vienna Airport, known in German as “Flughafen Wien-Schwechat”, is located about 18 kilometers southeast of Vienna’s city center. It is identified by the IATA code “VIE.”

The airport has four main passenger terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 1A, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 (primarily serving low-cost airlines).

Vienna’s Schwechat Airport offers a wide range of services, including restaurants, bars, duty-free shops, lounges, currency exchange services, car rental facilities, taxi services, short- and long-term parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout the airport complex. It is also fully accessible for passengers with reduced mobility.

As a major international hub, Vienna Schwechat Airport connects Vienna to numerous destinations across Europe and beyond. Austrian Airlines, the country’s national carrier, is among the key airlines operating here.

How to Get from Vienna Airport to the City Center and Vice Versa

Vienna offers several convenient options for getting to and from the airport. Upon arrival at Schwechat, you’ll quickly notice the efficiency of Vienna’s public transport system. The extensive network makes it incredibly easy to reach the city center from Vienna Airport.

City Airport Train (CAT)

The City Airport Train (CAT) provides a fast and direct connection between Vienna Airport and the Wien Mitte railway station, completing the journey in just 16 minutes. As the fastest transportation option available, the CAT connects Wien Mitte – Landstrasse with the U3, U4 subway lines, and suburban trains.

This service runs daily with regular departures from Vienna Airport to the city center from 5:37 AM to 11:38 PM.

Why Choose the CAT?

• Ultra-fast service
• Easy ticket purchasing
• Clean and well-maintained trains
• Clearly marked platforms
• A free and comfortable lounge at Wien Mitte

Departure Times:

• From Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte: Daily from 6:08 AM to 11:38 PM, departing every 30 minutes.
• From Wien Mitte to Vienna Airport: Daily from 5:37 AM to 11:07 PM, departing every 30 minutes.

Ticket Prices:

• One-way ticket: €14.90
• Round-trip ticket: €24.90 (valid for six months from purchase)

Discounted fares are available for Vienna City Card holders or online bookings. Children under 15 travel free, and wheelchair users can enjoy reduced fares. Passengers with the Austrian Klimaticket, Wiener Linien annual pass, or ÖBB Vorteilscard can receive a 50% discount by presenting their discount card to the ticket inspector.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.cityairporttrain.com, from vending machines, or at the tourist information desk at the airport.

ÖBB Railjet

Austrian Railways (ÖBB) Railjet trains provide non-stop connections between the Airport and Vienna Central Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) or Wien-Meidling station.

The Railjets offer fast and comfortable travel:

• To Vienna Central Station (U1): Just 15 minutes
• To Wien-Meidling (U6): Around 30 minutes

Timetable:

• From Vienna Schwechat Airport: Departures every 30 minutes from 6:33 AM to 11:03 PM.
• To Vienna Schwechat Airport: Departures every 30 minutes from Wien-Meidling (5:34 AM to 10:00 PM) and Vienna Central Station (5:42 AM to 10:12 PM).

Tickets and Costs:

• Adults: €4.40 (€2.00 for the airport-to-city border + €2.40 for the Vienna urban area).
• Children (6–14 years): €2.20 (€1.00 for the airport-to-city border + €1.20 for the urban area).
• Children under 6 travel free.

Vienna City Card holders or Wiener Linien multi-day ticket users only need an additional ticket for the airport-to-city border (€2.00). Tickets are available at vending machines, ÖBB counters, or online at www.oebb.at.

Vienna’s Airport Lines Buses

Vienna Airport Lines buses connect the airport directly to key locations such as Donauzentrum, the Exhibition Center, Vienna International Center (VIC)/Austria Center Vienna, and major train stations like Vienna Central Station and Westbahnhof.

Routes:

1. 1. VAL1: Vienna Airport – Vienna Central Station (south entrance, U1) – Westbahnhof (U3, U6) in 40 minutes.
      • Operational: 4:30 AM–3:30 AM, every 30 minutes.
   2. VAL2: Vienna Airport – Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz (U1, U4) in 22 minutes.
      • Operational: 4:15 AM–3:45 AM, every 30 minutes.
   3. VAL3: Vienna Airport – Donauzentrum (U1) in 39 minutes.
      • Operational: 6:00 AM–8:00 PM, every hour.

Check the Vienna Airport Lines website for updated schedules.

S7 Commuter Train

The S7 line offers direct service from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte and Wien Praterstern stations, with convenient transfers to subway and suburban trains. The journey to Wien Mitte takes 25 minutes, while Wien Praterstern takes 30 minutes.

Timetable:

• From Vienna Airport: Daily from 5:19 AM to 1:19 AM, every 30 minutes.
• From Wien Praterstern to Vienna Airport: Daily from 4:15 AM to 12:45 AM, every 30 minutes.
• From Wien Mitte to Vienna Airport: Daily from 4:19 AM to 12:49 AM, every 30 minutes.

Tickets and Costs:

As for tickets, those with Vienna City Card or Wiener Linien tickets valid for several days need only an additional ticket to cover the section from the airport to the Vienna metropolitan border, at a cost of €2.00, available from vending machines or ÖBB ticket counters.

Fares for adults are €4.40 (€2.00 for the section from the airport to the Vienna metropolitan area + €2.40 for the section in the Vienna urban area), while children and teenagers aged 6 to 14 inclusive pay €2.20 (€1.00 for the section from the airport to the Vienna metropolitan area + €1.20 for the section in the Vienna urban area). Children under the age of 6 travel free of charge.

Taxis in Vienna

If you want convenient transport from one point to another in Vienna, you can simply hail a taxi. The interactive city map shows all taxi ranks in the city.
Here are some taxi companies and their information:

• • Taxi 60 160: Order a taxi on Tel. +43 1 60 160, www.taxi60160.at (Registration required)
  • Taxi 40 100: Order a taxi at Tel. +43 1 40 100, www.taxi40100.at (Registration required)
  • Taxi 31 300: Order a taxi at Tel. +43 1 31 300, www.taxi31300.at (No registration required)

More information, prices and special fares can be found on the respective websites. Payment can be made by credit card, debit card or cash.

Taxi to the Airport

Fixed rate of 42 € (Taxi 40100, 60160) or 39 € (Taxi 31300) for up to four passengers.
You must specify your request for an airport taxi when booking, otherwise additional charges (18 €) may apply for the taxi ride to Vienna.
The fixed rate only applies to direct journeys from an address in Vienna to the airport.

Uber

A convenient and cost-effective alternative, Uber offers rides to or from Vienna’s Airport for approximately €30.

Reaching Vienna’s Airport and traveling to the city center is easy thanks to its proximity and the wide range of transportation options available.

Vienna is a city full of attractions that sell out quickly. I recommend booking some of them in advance, read which ones here. Once in the city you can explore it by following my itinerary, delve into the life and work of Sigmund Freud and visit the museum dedicated to him.

Safe travels—or as they say in German, Gute Reise!

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