Vienna International Airport

Vienna International Airport (VIE) is Austria's largest and busiest airport, located approximately 18 km southeast of Vienna city center in the town of Schwechat. As the main hub for Austrian Airlines (Lufthansa Group/Star Alliance), it serves as a critical gateway between Western and Central/Eastern Europe, handling around 30 million passengers annually.

The airport is known for efficient operations and consistently ranks among Europe's most punctual airports.

The airport has one terminal with multiple check-in areas and three main piers:

• Terminal 1: Check-in areas 1 and 1A, gates B, C, and D
• Terminal 2: Check-in area 2, gates F and G (opened 2012, primarily Austrian Airlines and Star Alliance)
• Terminal 3: Check-in area 3, gates F and G (shared with Terminal 2)

All areas are connected within the same building complex, with security checkpoints leading to the respective gate areas. Terminal 2/3 features modern facilities designed for efficient Star Alliance hub operations.

Vienna Airport is located 18 km (11 miles) southeast of Vienna city center in Schwechat.

Travel time overview:

• City Airport Train (CAT): 16 minutes to Wien Mitte
• S-Bahn S7: 25 minutes to Wien Mitte
• Bus: 20-30 minutes to various stations
• Taxi to city center: 20-35 minutes (traffic dependent)

The airport has a train station directly below the terminal, with excellent rail connections to Vienna city center and beyond.

Taxi

Licensed taxis queue outside the arrivals hall. Vienna taxis are typically sedans in various colors with a yellow "TAXI" rooftop sign.

Destination	Fare	Time
Vienna city center (Stephansplatz)	€36-45	20-30 min
Wien Hauptbahnhof (Main Station)	€35-42	20-25 min
Wien Mitte	€32-40	18-25 min
Bratislava (Slovakia)	€80-100	60-75 min

Fixed-price airport taxi services are available and can be booked in advance. The fixed fare to the city center is approximately €36-39 when pre-booked.

Uber

Uber operates at Vienna Airport with pickup at designated areas.

• Pickup location: Follow signs to rideshare pickup area outside arrivals
• Services available: UberX, Uber Comfort, Uber Green
• Typical fare to city center: €25-40
• Advance booking: Reserve through the app for guaranteed pickup

Alternative: Bolt also operates in Vienna with similar pricing.

City Airport Train (CAT)

The CAT is a dedicated express train connecting the airport to Wien Mitte station in the city center.

To Wien Mitte:

1. Follow signs to "CAT" in the arrivals area
2. Purchase ticket at machine or counter (also available online)
3. Board the green CAT train (non-stop service)
4. Arrive at Wien Mitte in 16 minutes

Ticket Type	Price	Notes
Single adult	€14.90	One-way
Return adult	€24.90	Valid 30 days
Online booking	€12.90	Discounted single

Frequency: Every 30 minutes Operating hours: Approximately 05:36-23:39

The CAT offers in-town check-in at Wien Mitte for Austrian Airlines flights (available 3-24 hours before departure), allowing you to drop bags and receive boarding passes before heading to the airport.

S-Bahn (S7)

The S7 is the budget option, running the same route but making local stops.

To Wien Mitte:

1. Follow signs to "S-Bahn" or "ÖBB" in the arrivals area
2. Purchase ticket from ÖBB machines
3. Board S7 toward Vienna
4. Exit at Wien Mitte (25 minutes) or continue to other stations

Ticket Type	Price	Notes
Single adult	€4.40	Core zone + airport supplement
Vienna Card (24h) + airport	€21.90	Unlimited transit + airport
Vienna Card (48h) + airport	€25.90	Unlimited transit + airport

Frequency: Every 30 minutes Operating hours: Approximately 04:30-00:30

The S7 continues beyond Wien Mitte to Floridsdorf, serving multiple stations in Vienna.

Regional Trains (ÖBB)

From the airport station, direct trains run to Vienna's main stations and beyond.

Destination	Journey Time	Frequency
Wien Hauptbahnhof	15 min	Every 30 min
Wien Mitte (S7)	25 min	Every 30 min
Bratislava (Slovakia)	60 min	Hourly
Salzburg	2.5 hours	Several daily
Graz	2.5 hours	Several daily

Bus

Vienna Airport Lines (VAL) operates bus services to various Vienna locations.

Route	Destination	Time	Fare
VAL 1	Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz	20 min	€9.50
VAL 2	Wien Hauptbahnhof	20 min	€9.50
VAL 3	Donauzentrum/Kagran	20 min	€9.50

Buses depart from outside the arrivals hall. Purchase tickets from the driver or online.

Vienna Airport offers extensive parking options.

Terminal Parking

Location	Type	Price
Parkhaus 3	Short-term	From €4.50/hour, €36/day
Parkhaus 4	Terminal parking	From €4/hour, €29/day
Holiday Parking	Long-term	From €10/day
C Parking	Economy	From €8/day

Tips:

• Book online at viennaairport.com for discounts (up to 50% off walk-up rates)
• Parkhaus 3 and 4 are closest to terminals
• Holiday and C parking require shuttle (runs every 10-15 minutes)
• Electric vehicle charging available in Parkhaus 3

Drop-off

Drop-off zones at the departure level allow brief stopping. Longer stops incur charges.

Vienna Airport offers diverse dining options reflecting Austria's culinary traditions.

Airside (After Security)

Sit-down restaurants:

• Meinl am Graben: Famous Viennese delicatessen, excellent coffee and pastries (Pier East)
• Motto am Fluss: Austrian and international cuisine (Terminal 3)
• Gustino: Italian restaurant with good pasta options
• Mercado: Fresh market-style dining

Quick bites:

• Anker: Traditional Austrian bakery, fresh bread and pastries
• Felber: Another excellent bakery option
• Nordsee: Fresh seafood sandwiches and salads
• Henry: Coffee bar with light snacks
• Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King: International chains

Bars:

• Wein & Co: Austrian wines and small plates
• Airport Pub: Beer and casual dining

Landside (Before Security)

• Meinl am Graben: Also has landside location
• DO & CO: Upscale Austrian cuisine
• Various cafes and bakeries: In the check-in areas

Austrian Specialties to Try

• Wiener Schnitzel: Breaded veal cutlet, Austria's national dish
• Apfelstrudel: Classic Viennese apple strudel
• Sachertorte: Famous chocolate cake (available at Meinl)
• Melange: Viennese coffee similar to cappuccino

Free WiFi is available throughout Vienna Airport with no time limit.

Detail	Information
Network name	VIE_free_WIFI
Registration	Accept terms (no email required)
Time limit	Unlimited
Coverage	All terminals and gate areas

Quality: Generally reliable for browsing and email. Can slow during peak hours. For faster connections, airline lounges offer premium WiFi.

Prepaid SIM cards are available at the airport in the arrivals area.

Where to Buy

• A1: Main Austrian carrier, shop in arrivals
• Magenta (T-Mobile Austria): Available at airport shops
• Drei (3): Budget-friendly options
• Hofer/Lidl SIMs: Available at supermarkets in the city

Prices

Provider	Price	Data
A1	From €10	Various data packages
Magenta	From €10	Various data packages
Drei	From €8	Budget-friendly options

Important: EU roaming rules apply in Austria. If you have an EU SIM, you can use it at domestic rates.

Tip: eSIMs are increasingly popular. Providers like Airalo, Holafly, and Nomad offer instant activation without visiting a store.

ATMs are located throughout the terminal on all levels. Major Austrian banks represented include Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, and Bank Austria.

ATM Locations

• Arrivals hall: Multiple ATMs near exits and baggage claim
• Departures level: Near check-in areas
• Airside: After security in gate areas

Currency

Austria uses the Euro (€).

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange counters are available in arrivals and departures areas. However, exchange rates at airports are typically unfavorable (3-5% worse than market rates).

Better alternatives:

• Withdraw euros from ATMs using a no-fee debit card
• Use Wise, Revolut, or similar services for better rates
• Pay directly with credit/debit card (widely accepted in Austria)

Vienna Airport offers extensive shopping, with a focus on Austrian products.

Duty Free

Location	Hours
Heinemann Duty Free (multiple locations)	05:00-22:00
Various gate area shops	05:30-21:00

Products: Austrian wines, Mozart chocolates, Manner wafers, perfumes, cosmetics, spirits, tobacco, luxury goods.

Notable Stores

• Palmers: Austrian lingerie and loungewear
• Swarovski: Crystal jewelry and ornaments (Austrian brand)
• Julius Meinl: Gourmet Austrian foods and coffee
• Manner: Famous Viennese wafer shop
• Wolford: Austrian luxury hosiery
• Austrian Delights: Traditional Austrian souvenirs

Tips

• Pre-order online for in-store pickup
• Non-EU residents can claim VAT refunds on purchases over €75
• Mozart chocolates and Manner wafers make excellent gifts
• Austrian wines, especially Grüner Veltliner, are well-priced

Vienna Airport has numerous lounge options, with Austrian Airlines operating premium facilities.

Austrian Airlines Lounges

Austrian Senator Lounge:

• Access: Star Alliance Gold, Austrian Business Class
• Location: Near gates F, airside
• Facilities: Hot buffet, bar, showers, work areas
• Hours: 05:30-21:00

Austrian Business Lounge:

• Access: Star Alliance Silver, Austrian Economy with status
• Location: Near gates F, airside
• Facilities: Snacks, beverages, seating
• Hours: 05:30-21:00

Austrian HON Circle Lounge:

• Access: HON Circle members only
• Location: Near gates F
• Facilities: Premium service, private spaces

Priority Pass Lounges

Jet Lounge:

• Access: Priority Pass, LoungeKey, day pass (approximately €35)
• Location: Terminal 3, after security
• Facilities: Snacks, drinks, WiFi, seating
• Hours: 05:00-22:00

Air France Lounge:

• Access: Priority Pass (check current status), SkyTeam Elite Plus
• Location: Non-Schengen area
• Facilities: Hot food, bar, comfortable seating

Credit Card Access

• Amex Platinum: Access to certain partner lounges
• Priority Pass: Jet Lounge
• Diners Club: Various lounge access

Day Passes

Most lounges offer day passes for approximately €35-50 if you don't have membership or qualifying ticket.

Several hotels are connected to or near Vienna Airport.

At the Airport

NH Vienna Airport Conference Center

• Connected to terminal via covered walkway (5-10 minute walk)
• 4-star, modern facilities
• Conference center, restaurant, bar
• From €100/night

Moxy Vienna Airport

• Short walk from terminal
• 3-star, contemporary budget option
• Stylish design, bar
• From €80/night

Near the Airport

Hilton Vienna Airport

• 10-minute drive, shuttle available
• 4-star, full-service with pool and fitness
• From €120/night

Austria Trend Hotel Doppio

• In the Office Park near terminal
• Connected via walkway
• From €90/night

Park Inn by Radisson Vienna Airport

• Short shuttle ride
• 3-star, good value
• From €75/night

In Vienna (For Longer Stays)

For overnight stays before early flights, consider staying in the city and using the CAT (16 minutes). Wien Mitte is convenient with hotels nearby.

Vienna is Austria's capital and one of Europe's great cultural cities, famous for its imperial palaces, coffeehouses, classical music heritage, and pastries.

Getting to the City Center

• CAT to Wien Mitte: 16 minutes (€14.90)
• S-Bahn S7 to Wien Mitte: 25 minutes (€4.40)
• Taxi to city center: 20-30 minutes (€36-45)

Top Attractions

Attraction	Travel Time from Airport	Highlights
Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral)	30 min by CAT + walk	Gothic cathedral, tower views, city landmark
Schönbrunn Palace	45 min by train	Imperial summer residence, gardens, zoo
Hofburg Palace	35 min by CAT + walk	Imperial winter residence, Sisi Museum, Spanish Riding School
Belvedere Palace	30 min by train	Baroque palace, Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss"
Kunsthistorisches Museum	40 min by CAT + tram	World-class art collection, Egyptian and Greek antiquities
Naschmarkt	35 min by CAT + walk	Famous food market, restaurants, antiques on Saturdays

Layover Recommendations

• 5-hour layover: CAT to Wien Mitte, walk to Stephansdom, stroll through the historic center, coffee at a traditional Kaffeehaus
• 7-hour layover: Add Hofburg Palace or Belvedere, enjoy Sachertorte at Cafe Sacher or Demel
• Day trip from airport: Bratislava, Slovakia (1 hour by train), Wachau Valley wine region

Viennese Specialties

• Wiener Schnitzel: Breaded and fried veal cutlet (or pork for "Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein")
• Tafelspitz: Boiled beef with apple horseradish, Vienna's comfort food
• Sachertorte: Chocolate cake with apricot jam at Cafe Sacher
• Apfelstrudel: Warm apple strudel with vanilla sauce
• Kaiserschmarrn: Shredded pancake with fruit compote
• Wiener Melange: Viennese coffee, similar to cappuccino

Practical Tips

• Vienna Card: 24/48/72-hour unlimited public transit plus museum discounts (from €17)
• Vienna Pass: Access to 90+ attractions including hop-on-hop-off buses (from €87/day)
• Sunday closures: Most shops closed on Sundays; museums, restaurants, and attractions open
• Tipping: 5-10% in restaurants, round up for taxis
• Credit cards: Widely accepted, but some smaller shops and Heurigen (wine taverns) prefer cash
• Tap water: Excellent quality, safe to drink throughout Austria (comes from Alpine springs)