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Getting There By Air:

Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Tel: (01) 7007 22233.
Website: www.viennaairport.com  

Vienna International Airport (Wien Schwechat) is Austria’s main airport and is located 18km (11 miles) southeast of the city. The airport handled over 18 million passengers in 2007, traveling to destinations worldwide, including London, New York and Bangkok.

Airport facilities: There are two post offices at the airport, as well as ATMs, bureaux de change/banks and telephones throughout the terminals. The airport also offers cafes, snack bars, restaurants and bars, a grocery store, florists, pharmacies, newsagents, and over 70 duty-free shops and boutiques. There are 10 different executive lounges, and a business and conference center, the World Trade Center Vienna Airport (tel: (01) 7007 36000). There is also a VIP & Business Center (tel: (01) 7007 23300) which organizes events and press conferences, and provides banqueting, photocopying and telex services. In addition, there is a 24-hour Medical Center (including a vaccination center) and a Wellness Center (massage, showers, solarium and Wellness Bar). Car hire is available from Avis, Budget, Denzeldrive, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt.

Transport to the city: The City Airport Train (CAT) (tel: (01) 25250; website: www.cityairporttrain.at) takes passengers from the airport to the City Air Terminal in Wien Mitte in just 16 minutes. Services run from around 0530-2330 seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Wiener Linien (tel: (01) 790 9105; website: www.wienerlinien.co.at) operates both an S-bahn commuter train and bus services from Vienna International Airport. The S7 S-Bahn line trains (cheaper but slower than the CAT) run at least every half an hour 0500-2230 (journey time - 24 minutes) to Wien Mitte and Wien Nord where visitors can change to the U-Bahn.

The A4 Airport Motorway and B9 main road connect the airport with the city. Buses depart from the airport to Schwedenplatz every 30 minutes (journey time - 20 minutes). Other buses go to Südbahnhof and Westbahnhof rail stations twice an hour (journey time - 20 and 35 minutes, respectively) and Kagran via the Vienna International Center once an hour (journey time - 35 minutes). Buses are also available to Bratislava (Slovak Republic) and Budapest (Hungary).

Taxis to the city (journey time - 30 minutes) are metered but a fixed price of €30-35 to the city center can be paid at the booking counter.

Approximate flight times to Vienna: From London is 2 hours 10 minutes; from New York is 8 hours 50 minutes; from Los Angeles is 12 hours 30 minutes; from Toronto is 8 hours 45 minutes and from Sydney is 22 hours 15 minutes.

Getting There By Road:

Austria has an excellent network of roads, with Autobahnen (motorways indicated by an ‘A’) between major centers and connecting to the ‘E’ trans-European routes. Bundesstrassen (national roads) have a ‘B’ prefix. Traffic drives on the right. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 100kph (62mph) on main roads and 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas. Tolls are payable on a number of mountain roads, tunnels, motorways and main roads. Toll stickers (Autobahnvignette), which must be attached to the windscreen, are valid for either 10 days, two months or one year and can be purchased from tobacconists, border-crossing points, filling stations near the border and from automobile clubs ARBÖ (website: www.arboe.or.at) and ÖAMTC (website: www.oeamtc.at).

The minimum driving age in Austria is 18 years and drivers must carry a European driving license or an International Driving Permit. Third party insurance is mandatory. Seat belts must be worn and children under 12 years old may not sit in the front seat. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.05%. Winter tires are essential during the colder season and travelers who require snow chains can hire them at major border-crossing points.

Information on road conditions is available in English from the Austrian Automobile Club (tel: 0810 120 120; website: www.oeamtc.at). Regular road reports in German automatically interrupt the chosen radio station on car radios.

Emergency breakdown services: ARBÖ (tel: 123) or ÖAMTC (tel: 120).

Routes to the city: The Westautobahn (A1) connects Vienna to Linz, Salzburg and Western Europe. The Südautobahn (A2) leads to Graz, Klagenfurt and the Italian border. The Ostautobahn (A4) passes the airport on its way to Bratislava and Budapest. The A22 connects the city to Prague, in the north.

Approximate driving times to Vienna: From Linz - 2 hours; Budapest - 2 hours 35 minutes; Salzburg - 3 hours.

Coach services: Eurolines Austria (tel: (01) 798 2900; website: www.eurolines.at) offers coach services throughout Europe, departing from their bus station at the U3 U-Bahn station Erdberg and occasionally from Südbahnhof. Coach services within Austria are operated in partnership with Blaguss Internationale Buslinien, Stubenring 4 (tel: (01) 213 100; website: www.blaguss.com). National services are also provided by Postbus (tel: (01) 71101; website: www.postbus.at) and a number of private operators.

Getting There By Rail:

Österreichischen Bundesbahnen or ÖBB (tel: (01) 930 000; website: www.oebb.at) operates the rail network in Austria. In addition to the usual onboard services (restaurant and bar cars, snack trolleys and telephones), ÖBB offers mini-office compartments (with power points for laptop computers) and women-only compartments for those seeking hassle-free travel.

Vienna’s major rail stations and their U-Bahn connections are Westbahnhof, Europaplatz, on the U3 and U6, Südbahnhof, Südtirolerplatz, on the U1, Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, Franz-Josefs Platz, on the U4, and Wien Mitte, Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 1, on the U3 and U4. Facilities at most main stations include lounges, left luggage offices, ATMs, food stalls and gift shops. Timetable information is available 24 hours a day (tel: 05 1717).

Rail services: Intercity trains within Austria follow the main eastbound route from Bregenz to Vienna (journey time - 8 to 9 hours) via Innsbruck, Salzburg and Linz, or travel north from Graz (journey time - 2 hours 30 minutes) or Klagenfurt (journey time - 4 hours 30 minutes), via Bruck an der Mur. There are departures to the major cities at least once every two hours. Domestic rail services pass through breathtaking Alpine scenery but unfortunately this is bypassed by the majority of international services. Travelers should watch out for the stunning view of the Melk Abbey on the main line approaching Vienna from the west.

There are international services from most Central and Eastern European capitals. Trains are available from most Western European countries, including Paris (journey time - 14 hours) and Berlin (journey time - 11 hours) and from as far east as Moscow (although this journey takes one and a half days). The service to Prague takes about four hours.

Getting Around:

Public Transport
The Vienna Transport Authority, Wiener Linien (tel: (01) 790 9105; website: www.wienerlinien.co.at), operates the U-Bahn (underground), S-Bahn (commuter rail), Strassenbahn (tram) and bus network. Public transport operates between 0500 and 2400. After midnight, half-hourly night buses radiate out from Schwedenplatz, Schottentor, and outside the Staatsoper.

The U-Bahn system comprises five lines. The U2 follows the Ringstrasse from Karlsplatz to Schottenring. The U4, with its art nouveau stations, completes the ring and leads off into the northern and western suburbs. The east-west U3 and north-south U1 cross in the center of the Innerestadt (inner town). The U6 is basically a tram on a dedicated track that runs parallel to the Gürtel.

Vienna has one of the largest tram networks in the world. The trams are affectionately referred to as ‘Bims’ for the noise they make.

Tickets must be validated upon boarding. There is no additional charge for transfers. There is a fine for passengers who are caught without a valid ticket - on-board inspections are carried out at various times. Tickets are available at Wiener Linien ticket offices and service centers, vending machines and tobacco/newsagent (tabak) outlets.

The Vienna Card (website: www.wienkarte.at) is a pass that allows for 72 hours of travel on the U-bahn, trams and buses (except night buses) and offers discounts on attractions, at many shops and restaurants (see Passes in Sightseeing). Other passes include the 24-hour network pass, the 72-hour network pass, the weekly season ticket, and the eight-day strip ticket, which can be used for two people traveling together. Passes are available from Wiener Linien ticket offices and service centers.

Taxis
Taxis are equipped with meters. Higher fares are charged for trips between 2300 and 0600, all day Sunday and public holidays - a surcharge for luggage is often levied and these rates are clearly posted inside the taxi.

There is also a small calling fee for licensed Radio Taxis (tel: (01) 31300 or 40100 or 60160) and a small surcharge for hailing a taxi from a Taxistandplatz. A tip of 10% or rounding up to the nearest Euro is common.

Driving in the City
While pedestrian tourists may appreciate the jumble of tiny streets in the Innerestadt, motorists will find it a nightmare. The area is best avoided during the day, although even at night it can be almost impossible to find a parking place on the street. Car parks are often located underneath squares and their entrances are fairly subtle. Parking is expensive. Short-term street parking is available in districts one to nine and 20 of Vienna’s 23 districts. The designated areas are indicated by a blue line on the road, often only marked at the entrance to the short-term parking zone. Tickets (valid for 30, 60 or 90 minutes) are available at centrally located vending machines and newsagents. Hours and restrictions for these areas vary. Parking is strictly policed and fines are high, especially if the car is towed way. Visitors should note that there are restrictions on parking camper vans anywhere near the city center. Outside the center, the Gürtel (Belt) provides a fairly efficient way of getting around the city but can be slow during rush hour, which is 0730-0900 and 1500-1830.

Car Hire
A national driving license is sufficient for nationals of EU states - other nationalities should obtain an International Driving Permit. The minimum age for hiring a car is usually 21 years, although many firms have a surcharge until 25 years. Third party insurance is mandatory in Austria and those hiring a car should make sure this is covered in the hire contract. A credit card is required.

All the major car hire firms are represented, including Avis, 10, Laaer-Berg-Strasse 43 (tel: (01) 601 870; website: www.avis.at), Budget, Schwechat, Flughafen (tel: (01) 7007 32711; website: www.budget.com), Europcar, 01, Schubertring 9 (tel: (01) 714 6717; website: www.europcar.at), Hertz, 01, Kärntner Ring 17 (tel: (01) 512 8677; website: www.hertz.com), and Sixt, 04, Wiedner Guertel 1A Suedbhf (tel: 0800 202 427 or 0800 1111 7498; website: www.sixt.at). Car hire is also available at the airport and at both Westbahnhof and Südbahnhof stations.

Bicycle Hire
The City of Vienna runs Vienna City Bike (tel: 0810 500 500; website www.citybikewien.at), a collection of 48 bike stands scattered throughout the metropolis. Each stand is stocked with blue and yellow bicycles which can be hired for a number of hours (the first hour is free) - a credit card or a bank card from an Austrian bank is required to rent bikes; just swipe your card in the machine and follow the instructions (in a number of languages). A Tourist Card, which allows tourists to rent bicycles without using a credit card, is available from Royal Tours, 01, Herrengasse 1-3 (tel: (01) 710 4606) for a small fee.

There are a number of private hire companies in the city, principally near the banks of the River Danube, with easy access to the miles of cycle paths along the Danube Island. Pedal Power, 02, Austellungsstrasse 3 (tel: (01) 729 7234; website: www.pedalpower.at), is located just west of the Praterstern U1 underground station. Bicycles are available for hire from March to October only.

Rad und Skaterverleih, Copa Cagrana, Donauinsel (tel: (01) 263 5242; website: www.fahrradverleih.at), is open from March to October and also has children’s, tandem and family bikes.

Bicycles may be taken on the U-Bahn for a half-price fare, except during the rush hours. There is a network of well-marked bicycle paths, but riders should take care in the Innerestadt and along major routes. The Wien Tourismus (see Sightseeing) provides brochures on cycling in Vienna. The Rad Weg, a booklet available from bookshops, shows all the cycle routes.

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