Vienna

Vienna airport to city centre: trains, buses, taxis and costs

Take the S-Bahn (S7) to Wien Mitte, then change to the U-Bahn: cheapest option, roughly €4–5 and 25–30 minutes (2026 estimate, check current fares). The City Airport Train runs the same route non-stop in about 16 minutes for roughly €15. Taxis cost about €40–50 in 25–40 minutes. Choose the S-Bahn unless you are late or carrying heavy bags.

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Updated Sep 20264 min read

GuideVienna

Key facts

Cheapest reliable optioncheck: S-Bahn S7 to Wien Mitte, roughly €4–5, 25–30 min (2026 estimate, check)
Fastestcheck: City Airport Train (CAT) non-stop to Wien Mitte, about 16 min, roughly €15 (2026 estimate, check)
Taxi to centrecheck: Roughly €40–50, 25–40 min depending on traffic (2026 estimate, check)
Airport buscheck: To Wien Westbahnhof or Schwedenplatz, roughly €8–10, 30–45 min (2026 estimate, check)
First/last trainscheck: S-Bahn and CAT run through the day and stop around midnight; night buses and taxis cover the small hours (check)
Payment: Ticket machines and the ÖBB app take cards; validate paper tickets before boarding
Airport code: VIE, Vienna International, about 18 km southeast of the centre

Options at a glance

Vienna airport (VIE) sits about 18 km southeast of the centre. Three modes cover almost every trip: the S-Bahn commuter train, the City Airport Train and a taxi, with airport buses as a fourth option. All reach the inner districts in under 45 minutes outside rush hour.

Fares below are 2026 estimates. Confirm current prices with ÖBB, the CAT or the airport before you travel.

Options at a glance
Option	Goes to	Time	Cost (2026 estimate)
S-Bahn S7	Wien Mitte, then U-Bahn	25–30 min	€4–5 (check)
City Airport Train (CAT)	Wien Mitte, non-stop	16 min	€15 (check)
Airport bus	Westbahnhof or Schwedenplatz	30–45 min	€8–10 (check)
Taxi	Any city address	25–40 min	€40–50 (check)

Prices are 2026 estimates; check current fares before you travel.

Trains: S-Bahn and City Airport Train

The S-Bahn line S7 is the default. It leaves the airport station below the terminal and stops at Wien Mitte-Landstraße, where U-Bahn lines U3 and U4 connect most inner districts. Buy a ticket from a machine or the ÖBB app and validate it before boarding; inspectors do check.

The City Airport Train (CAT) uses the same tracks but runs non-stop to Wien Mitte in about 16 minutes. It costs roughly three times the S-Bahn fare, so it only pays off if you are tight on time or value the guaranteed seat and luggage space. City check-in for some airlines is offered at Wien Mitte (check).

Both trains share the airport station; follow signs from arrivals. Services run through the day and stop around midnight, with night buses covering the small hours (check the current timetable).

S7: cheapest, stops more, same station as CAT
CAT: fastest, non-stop, higher fare
Wien Mitte: U3 and U4 interchange for the centre
Validate paper tickets in the blue machine before boarding

Buses, taxis and ride-hailing

Airport buses run to Wien Westbahnhof and Schwedenplatz, useful if your hotel is on the west side or near the Danube canal. They take 30–45 minutes depending on traffic and cost roughly €8–10 (2026 estimate, check). Buses are less frequent than trains and can sit in the same jams as cars.

Taxis from the official rank outside arrivals charge roughly €40–50 to the inner districts, or a fixed airport rate if one is posted (check). Journey time is 25–40 minutes outside rush hour; allow an hour in the morning and evening peaks. Ride-hailing apps work at VIE but pick-up points are signposted, so follow the app instructions rather than the taxi rank (check).

If you are arriving late at night, a taxi or pre-booked transfer is simpler than juggling night buses with luggage.

Buses, taxis and ride-hailing
Situation	Best choice
Solo, daytime, light bag	S-Bahn S7
Tight connection or meeting	CAT
Hotel near Westbahnhof	Airport bus
Family or 3+ bags	Taxi or pre-booked transfer
Arrival after midnight	Taxi or night bus

Split the taxi fare across a group and it can undercut the CAT.

What it costs

For one person, the S-Bahn is by far the cheapest way into the centre at roughly €4–5 (2026 estimate, check). A single Vienna transport ticket covers the airport zone only if you buy the right fare; a standard inner-city ticket is not enough (check).

Taxis make sense for groups: three or four people splitting a €40–50 fare pay less each than the CAT. Rental cars are a poor choice for a city stay because parking in the inner districts is expensive and restricted; pick one up only when you leave Vienna.

What it costs
Travellers	S-Bahn total	CAT total	Taxi total
1	€4–5	€15	€40–50
2	€8–10	€30	€40–50
4	€16–20	€60	€40–50

All figures are 2026 estimates; check current fares.

Tips

Buy your ticket before boarding; there are machines at the airport station and in the terminal, and the ÖBB app works. Validate paper tickets in the blue box or you risk a fine.

If you hold a Vienna transport pass, check whether it already includes the airport zone; many do not, and you need a supplement (check).

Wien Mitte is the best arrival point for the centre: U3 reaches Stephansplatz in a few stops, U4 runs along the Danube canal. Westbahnhof suits the Mariahilf and Neubau districts.

Allow extra time on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings, when roads and trains are busiest.

Keep small change for ticket machines that reject notes
Screens in the terminal show the next S7 and CAT departures
A pre-booked transfer meets you in arrivals and removes the taxi queue

Questions people ask

How do I get from Vienna airport to the city centre?

Take the S-Bahn S7 to Wien Mitte for roughly €4–5 in 25–30 minutes (2026 estimate, check), then change to the U-Bahn. The City Airport Train is faster at about 16 minutes but costs roughly €15. Taxis take 25–40 minutes and cost about €40–50.

How much is a taxi from Vienna airport?

Expect roughly €40–50 to the inner districts, more in heavy traffic (2026 estimate, check). The ride takes 25–40 minutes outside rush hour. For three or four people a taxi can be cheaper per person than the City Airport Train.

Is there a train from Vienna airport?

Yes. The S-Bahn S7 and the City Airport Train both run from the station under the terminal to Wien Mitte, through the day until around midnight (check). The S7 is the cheaper option; the CAT is non-stop and faster.

Which is better, the S-Bahn or the City Airport Train?

The S-Bahn S7 costs roughly €4–5 and takes 25–30 minutes (2026 estimate, check). The CAT costs about €15 and takes 16 minutes. Take the CAT only if time matters more than the roughly €10 difference.

Do trains run at night from Vienna airport?

Regular S-Bahn and CAT services stop around midnight (check). Night buses and taxis cover the small hours; check the current timetable before a late arrival.

Deep dive

Every source; changeable facts are marked check