One thing first: in Vienna, you really don’t need a car. The city is so well connected by underground, tram and bus that you’ll usually get almost anywhere faster (and a lot more relaxed) on public transport – no hunting for a parking spot. From our place in Hernals, the tram and the suburban train have you in the city in no time, and the whole of Vienna – our 17th district included – sits inside the so-called core zone (Kernzone Wien). Which means: one ticket, and you can go everywhere.
So you can set off the moment you’ve dropped your bags, here’s all you need to know – without the fine-print headache.
Which ticket suits your stay?
The lovely thing about the new, simplified system is that there are only a handful of tickets, and they’re quick to explain.
- Single Ticket – 3,20 € (online 3,00 €). For a spontaneous hop from A to B. You can change lines as long as you keep heading in the same direction and don’t pause for the return trip.
- 24-hour Vienna ticket – €10.20 Perfect for a short visit. Unlimited travel for 24 hours from your first ride. If you’re hopping on more than three or four times a day, it’s already paid for itself.
- 7-day Vienna ticket – €28.90. Our favourite for anyone staying a few days and wanting to explore Vienna at their own pace. Seven days, as many rides as you like – usually the most relaxed option by far.
- 31-day Vienna ticket – €75.00 For longer stays, a workation, or anyone who wants to get to know the city properly.
With the time tickets, by the way, you choose when they start – they only kick in from the moment you decide.
What’s changed in 2026?
Here’s an important heads-up, because plenty of older travel guides still say otherwise: the 48-hour and 72-hour tickets were discontinued on 1 January 2026 – and so were the old 48/72-hour ViennaCityCard and EasyCityPass versions. So if you’re with us for two or three days, your best bet is a 24-hour ticket (one or several in a row) or simply the 7-day ticket. For a three-day stay, the 7-day ticket is often cheaper than you’d expect.
Travelling with children?
Then we’ve got good news for you – Vienna is genuinely family-friendly here:
- Children travel free up to their 6th birthday – – no ticket needed at all.
- On Sundays and public holidays, and during the Vienna school holidays, children and teenagers travel free up to their 15th birthday across the entire Wiener Linien network.
In plain terms: if you’re out and about as a family on a Sunday or during the holidays, only you as the grown-up needs a ticket. That makes more than a few day trips noticeably cheaper.
Where do you get your ticket – and how do you validate it?
The easiest and cheapest way is digital: through the WienMobil app or the online ticket shop, you buy your ticket straight to your phone, and the short-term tickets are around 5% cheaper there than the printed versions. Handy detail: digital tickets already show their validity, so there’s nothing extra to stamp.
If you’ve got a paper ticket (from a machine or a Trafik newsagent), just remember to validate it before your first ride – otherwise it isn’t valid. If you buy your ticket onboard the tram, do it right away at the machine as you get on, and look for the „Bitte entwerten“ (please validate) prompt.
And since the question sometimes comes up: travelling without a valid ticket is no minor matter in Vienna and now costs €135. So with the right ticket in your pocket, you’ll travel not only more relaxed but a good deal cheaper too.
Still unsure? Just ask us
Christian and I know the routes around Hernals inside out, of course – which tram gets you into the centre fastest, how to reach Schönbrunn, or where the nearest stop is. If you’re not sure on arrival which ticket suits your days with us best, just say the word. We’re happy to point you in the right direction and slip you a tip or two for the road.
You’ll find all current tickets and prices straight from the source at the Wiener Linien.
Safe travels through our Vienna …
