Vienna Airport is in Schwechat, around 20 km southeast of the city centre, and you can be in the city in fifteen minutes. Right now, there’s one thing you need to know before choosing your transport: the S-Bahn line through Vienna is closed from 7 September 2026 until the end of October 2027.
This means the CAT airport train is running as a bus, and the S7 no longer goes to Wien Mitte. The usual advice is therefore out of date. Here’s a guide to the options currently available, including prices, journey times and my recommendations.
Contents
1. Railjet and REX7 to Wien Hauptbahnhof
The train to Wien Hauptbahnhof is the option I’d recommend for most people right now. ÖBB’s Railjet runs non-stop from the airport to the main railway station in around 15 minutes, and this route isn’t affected by the closure.
The regional REX7 train takes the same route in around 20 minutes, stopping at Schwechat and Kaiserebersdorf along the way. From Hauptbahnhof, take the U1 three stops to Stephansplatz and you’ll be right in the centre.
Hauptbahnhof is also a useful starting point if Vienna is just the first stop on your trip, with direct trains to destinations including Prague. I’ve put together a separate guide to the best things to do in Prague.
Prices and tickets
An adult single ticket costs €5.50. That includes €2.30 for the journey from the airport to the city boundary and €3.20 for travel within Vienna. Children aged 6 to 14 pay €2.80, and children under 6 travel free.
The €3.20 portion is a standard single ticket for Vienna, which allows you to change services along the way as long as you don’t break your journey. If you already have a ticket valid within Vienna, such as a Vienna City Card, you only need the €2.30 supplement.
You can buy tickets in the ÖBB app, on ÖBB’s website, at ticket machines or at the ÖBB desk in the airport. Railjet and REX7 cost the same, so take whichever train leaves first.
Departures and journey times
Railjet leaves the airport every 30 minutes from 06:33 to 23:02, with a final departure at 00:02. From Wien Hauptbahnhof towards the airport, trains run every 30 minutes from 05:42 to 22:42.
The trains continue to Wien Meidling, where you can change to the U6. That journey takes just under 30 minutes from the airport. You’ll find current departure times on Vienna’s official tourism website.
2. CAT by bus to Wien Mitte
The City Airport Train is normally the fast airport train to Wien Mitte. While the railway is closed, CAT is operating non-stop buses between the airport and Wien Mitte. This arrangement continues until the end of October 2027.
The journey takes 21 minutes. In the city, the bus stops at Wien Mitte The Mall on Marxergasse 1b, where you can change to the U3 and U4. From there, it’s around a 12-minute walk to Stephansplatz. At the airport, buses stop directly outside the arrivals hall at Terminal 3.
Prices and tickets
A single ticket costs €14.90 and a return costs €24.90. Children under 15 travel free, and CAT says tickets bought online are 20% cheaper.
You can buy your CAT bus ticket here and have it ready on your phone when you land.
I find the price hard to justify while CAT is operating as a bus. You’re paying almost three times as much as for the train, and the bus uses the same roads as everyone else. It makes most sense if you’re staying near Wien Mitte or travelling with children under 15.
CAT’s city luggage check-in service, City Check-in, is also suspended throughout this period.
Departures and journey times
Buses run every 12 minutes between 07:00 and 19:00, and every 15 minutes early in the morning and in the evening. The first departure from Wien Mitte is at 05:30 and the last is at 23:15. From the airport, the first bus leaves at 06:10 and the last at 23:37.
Check the current timetable on CAT’s website. The new CAT trains aren’t expected to return to the tracks until autumn 2027.
3. Vienna Airport Bus
The airport buses have become a better option during the closure, with two new routes added. There are now five routes running directly to different parts of the city, often saving you a change of transport.
The five routes
- VAB1: Wien Hauptbahnhof and Westbahnhof. The journey to Westbahnhof takes around 40 minutes, with buses every 30 minutes.
- VAB2: Morzinplatz near Schwedenplatz, on the edge of the Innere Stadt. The journey takes 20 to 22 minutes, with buses every 30 minutes.
- VAB3: Donauzentrum via Kaisermühlen VIC. The journey takes around 40 minutes, with one bus an hour.
- VAB4: Karlsplatz, near the State Opera. The journey takes around 26 minutes, with buses every 30 minutes.
- VAB5: Praterstern. The journey takes around 28 minutes, with buses every 30 minutes.
Prices and tickets
A single ticket costs €11 and a return costs €20. Children aged 6 to 14 pay €6 for a single and €11 for a return, while children under 6 travel free.
You can buy tickets online on the Vienna Airport Bus website, from the company’s ticket machines or from the driver. Drivers only accept cash, so have euros ready if you’re buying on board.
Departures and journey times
VAB1 runs latest into the night. It leaves the airport every 30 minutes from 04:30 to 01:00, making it a useful option if you land late.
VAB2 leaves the airport between 04:15 and 00:15. The airport has an overview of bus connections where you can check your route.
4. S7 to St. Marx
For years, the S7 was the standard budget option because it ran directly to Wien Mitte and Praterstern. During the closure, it only runs between the airport and St. Marx station, a journey of 18 minutes.
From St. Marx, you’ll need tram 18 or 71, or bus 74A, to continue towards the centre. The ticket costs the same as Railjet: €5.50 for an adult.
I’d therefore only choose the S7 if your hotel is near St. Marx or along one of those two tram routes. For the city centre, the train to Hauptbahnhof is faster and easier at the same price.
ÖBB has a page about the closure showing the revised routes. The City of Vienna also publishes an overview of the changes.
5. Taxis, Uber and Bolt
A taxi takes 20 to 25 minutes from the airport to the city centre and is the easiest option for a group or anyone with lots of luggage. The taxi rank is just outside the arrivals hall, and you can also ask at the City Transfer desks inside.
Prices
If you take a taxi from the rank without booking, you’ll pay the metered fare. You can get a fixed price by booking in advance and providing your address:
- Taxi 31300: €37 for up to four people when booked through the app.
- Taxi 40100: €42 for up to four people on journeys from an address in Vienna to the airport.
With Taxi 40100, you must specifically request an airport taxi. Otherwise, an extra €18 is added for the car’s return journey to Vienna. Prices and other operators are listed on the tourism office’s taxi page.
Uber and Bolt also operate in Vienna and can be booked to and from the airport.
Private transfers
To arrange everything before you leave home, you can book a private transfer from Vienna Airport here.
Prices start at around €28 per person. That can make it cheaper than a taxi for one person, while two or more people will usually pay less for a pre-booked taxi.
Which option should you choose?
Here are my recommendations for the most common situations:
For most travellers: Take the train to Wien Hauptbahnhof and change to the U1. It costs €5.50, takes around 15 minutes to the main station and isn’t affected by road traffic.
If you’re staying near Schwedenplatz, Karlsplatz or Praterstern: Take the airport bus that runs directly there. You’ll pay €11 and avoid changing with your suitcases.
If you land late: VAB1 leaves the airport until 01:00. After that, a taxi is the realistic option.
For three or four people: A pre-booked €37 taxi costs less than €10 each for four people and takes you straight to your door.
For families with children under 15: Children travel free on the CAT bus, making it better value for a family heading to Wien Mitte.
Practical tips for Vienna airport transport
Check your travel dates. Everything in this guide applies while the S-Bahn line is closed, until the end of October 2027. After that, both the S7 and CAT are expected to run as trains to Wien Mitte again.
Buy your train ticket in the app. You can buy it in the ÖBB app while waiting for your luggage, so it’s ready when you head to the platform.
Bring cash for the bus. Vienna Airport Bus drivers only accept cash. Buy online if you’d prefer to pay by card.
Choose your hotel around the connection. Staying near Wien Hauptbahnhof gives you the quickest route to and from the airport. You can see hotels near Wien Hauptbahnhof here.
To help you choose a neighbourhood, I’ve written a guide to where to stay in Vienna.
Travel ressources & websites I use all the time 👇
• Booking.com has the best offers on hotels and unique places to stay
• GetYourGuide is the best place to book tours & activities with free cancellation
• Welcome Pickups is the best & safest place to pre-book airport transfers
Psst 👀 Have you subscribed to my Youtube channel and my Instagram where I provide more useful travel tips?