What is the best way to get to a vein? How to get from Vienna to Salzburg: options, features
Let's figure out how you can get from Vienna airport to the city center and which way is better. We also indicate prices, schedules, stops, and provide useful links.
Airport Vienna-Schwechat(Flughafen Wien-Schwechat, code VIE) is located outside the city, approximately 18 km away. Thanks to a well-connected transport network, getting to and from Vienna Airport is very easy. There are different ways, and we will tell you about each of them: by train, bus, taxi and rented car. In addition, from Vienna airport you can travel to Bratislava and other European cities - more on that at the end of the article.
Look for interesting excursions on the Sputnik and . Individual and group, without crowds of tourists and in Russian.
How to get from/to Vienna Airport by train?
City Airport Train/CAT
The CAT train is the most fast option to get from Vienna Airport to the city center, it goes non-stop in just 16 minutes! This way you will avoid traffic jams and stress. To find the train at the airport, follow the special green CAT signs.
Where to take the train in Vienna? The terminal is a 10-minute walk from St. Stephan’s Cathedral at Wien Mitte station. Trains run daily, the first leaving the airport at 6:09, the last at 23:39. The first train leaves from Wien Mitte station at 5:36, the last one at 23:06. At the City Air Terminal you can check in for your flight and check in your luggage (at least 75 minutes before departure).
Ticket one way costs 11-12 euros, round trip - 19-21 euros. Children under 14 years old can travel for free. You can buy them in the arrivals hall in special CAT machines, on the platform or on.
(Photo © andynash / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0)
S-Bahn trains
You can get from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte station by train S7. Travel time is 25-30 minutes, traffic interval is 30 minutes. You can get from the airport to Vienna Central Railway Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) by Railjet trains in 15-18 minutes, interval is 30 minutes.
If you are traveling by train S7, then you can take the metro. The cost of tickets is 3.90 euros (judging by the website, travel by public transport is already included in the price - in general, you need to buy two different tickets, since the airport is located outside the city. We advise you to check this on the spot.). The schedule and prices can be viewed at, where you can also purchase tickets. In addition, they are sold in vending machines and at train stations.
Bus from Vienna Airport (and back)
You can get from Vienna Airport to the city center by bus if you are not afraid of traffic jams. The buses are comfortable and fast.
Vienna Airport Lines
There are three routes of this carrier that will take you from Vienna Airport to the city center:
- Wien Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz. This route allows you to leave for Vienna at night. Buses from the airport depart at 1:20, 2:50, 4:50 and 5:20, during the day and in the evening - every 30 minutes until 00:20. The journey takes 20 minutes. There are also services from Morzinplatz every 30 minutes from 00:30 to 23:30.
- Wien Donauzentrum (via VIC). From Vienna-Schwechat every hour from 7:10 to 20:10, back from 5:58 to 18:58. The journey takes 40 minutes.
- Wien Westbahnhof. To the city every 30 minutes from 6:05 to 00:05, back - from 5:15 to 00:40. The journey will take about 40 minutes.
Tickets cost 8 euros one way and 13 euros both ways; children from 6 to 14 years old are 4 and 8 euros respectively, up to 6 years old - free.
Tickets can be purchased at , from vending machines at the airport, from the Austrian Railways ÖBB ticket office or from their machines, as well as from the driver. The stop is located right in front of the airport.
Air Liner
You can get to the airport from Vienna and vice versa by Air Liner express buses. Fare below than Vienna Airport Lines: for adults one way - 5 euros, return - 9 euros, for children from 6 to 11 years old - 2.5 and 4.5 euros respectively, under 6 years old - free.
Buses depart from Wien Erdberg- VIB Vienna International Busterminal, which is located at Erdbergstraße 200 A 1030 Wien. The stop is located in front of the terminal and Erdberg station (line U3). Stop at airport number 9 on the lower floor (Busterminal 3).
You can purchase tickets at, from the driver and at the Vienna International Busterminal (open daily from 6:30 to 23:45). Buses run from the city to the airport from 5:05 to 22:05, from the airport to the city - from 5:30 to 22:30.
How to book a hotel in Vienna? You can find a convenient accommodation option for yourself on the well-known service Roomguru.ru - the site compares prices of a variety of booking systems and finds the best one.
(Photo © kijasek / flickr.com / Licensed CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Taxi from Vienna airport
This is the most comfortable way to get from Vienna Airport to the city center, as a taxi will take you directly to your hotel. Please note that there may be traffic jams. In addition, this option is the most expensive: a taxi from Vienna airport to the center costs from 37 euros and more. However, if there are several of you, it will be quite inexpensive.
There are several companies at the airport (cars are in the same place as the buses - in front of the arrivals hall), but it is better to use a proven service and order a transfer from Vienna Airport in advance. This way you will avoid having to explain the route and will not stumble upon a dishonest driver, since payment is made online. The driver will meet you with a sign and help you stow your luggage. On the website you can choose a luxury car and even a minibus with a capacity of 6 to 19 people. In addition, you can order a transfer from Vienna to neighboring European cities, such as Bratislava or Prague.
Vienna-Schwechat Airport(German) Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) or Vienna International Airport(English) Vienna International Airport) is the largest airport in Austria and is located near the city of Schwechat, 18 km southeast of Vienna.
You can get from the airport to the center of Vienna by train, high-speed shuttle train, bus or taxi.
by taxi
You can get from Vienna Airport to the city by taxi - this is the most comfortable, but also the most expensive form of transport. It’s worth using if you have a lot of luggage, are traveling with small children, or love comfort and are willing to pay for it.
Take a taxi you can do it right at the airport.
Zby ordering airport transfer in advance,
you can save money and pay about 29 EUR. This can be done on the website - www.red-cab.at. It is also possible to order a minibus.
If your plane is late,
then you don’t have to worry that there will be problems with the transfer: the service will track your flight and meet you on time (the driver will meet you with a sign with your name on it).
Taxi payment Possible in cash or by credit card, tips are optional but appreciated.
The cost of travel by taxi is determined by the meter, there is an additional fee for boarding (about 2.5 EUR). From Vienna Airport to the city center it will be approximately 40 EUR.
Travel time By taxi from the airport to the center of Vienna will be about 20 minutes.
Graz (Austria) is another city rich in history, where almost a thousand years of history and the modern rhythm of life coexist harmoniously. Very often tourists come here for a day or two from Vienna. In this article we will tell you how to get to Graz from Vienna or Moscow, what is worth seeing, what you need to know about transport and where you can eat delicious (and beautiful!) food in Graz.
Despite the fact that most of the attractions in Graz are related to history, young people will also find many interesting places for themselves - Graz has 4 large universities, where a total of more than 50 thousand students study - almost 20% of the city's population, which contributes significantly contribution to the cultural image of this green city.
The second largest city in Austria with a population of 270 thousand people and at the same time the administrative center of Styria is located just 200 km south of Vienna.
Airport Graz-Talerchow located 15 minutes by train from Graz Central Station. This airport is small, and unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Russia here. But without transfers you can go to Greece, Italy, Germany, Spain and several other European countries.
How to get from Moscow to Graz
While there are currently no direct flights from Moscow to Graz, the transport problem can be solved in two ways:
Airplane with transfer
Option one is to buy air tickets Moscow – Graz with a transfer in Vienna (there are options with transfers in Zurich or Munich).
You can fly from Moscow at 6.50 and be in Graz already at 10.45 local time, or you can buy a ticket at the same price with a 9-hour transfer in Vienna, so that you have time to quickly explore the Austrian capital. There is a second flight from Moscow at 14.35.
The cost of a round-trip air ticket with a transfer in Vienna on October 3-10 will be 18,800 rubles. without luggage and 21,700 rubles. with luggage.
Plane + train
You can go the other way and transfer to the train upon arrival in Vienna. The railway station, by the way, is located right at the airport.
The cost of an air ticket from Moscow to Vienna for a direct flight on the same dates will be 12,300 rubles. without luggage and 15,200 rubles. with luggage, round trip flights 2 times a day.
First you need to get to Vienna Central Station, and from there change trains to Graz. The travel time will be 3 hours, the cost will be 24 €, but check your arrival time in advance with the travel schedule on the official website of the Austrian railways OBB - there are tickets that are 2 times more expensive.
If you search for connecting trains by arrival time, OBB gives the same price for a train ticket from Vienna to Graz both departing from Vienna Central Station and departing from the airport with a transfer in the center of Vienna. Considering the fact that a separate ticket from the airport to the train station costs 3.90 €, it would be wiser to immediately buy a ticket to Graz for 24 € with departure from the airport, so as not to overpay.
The total cost of the road to Graz and back from Moscow will be 15,900 rubles. without luggage (and with the condition of returning to the station the same way) or 18,800 rubles. The benefit is not so significant compared to the first option, and you will have to spend more time on the road.
How to get from Vienna to Graz
Train
This type of transport has already been mentioned above. Trains from Wien Hbf Central Station to Graz run every hour from 5.58 to 22.59; sometimes there are transfer options in the schedule between them, but they cost more.
For a detailed train schedule Vienna - Graz, visit the official website of the Austrian railways OBB - just enter the desired date and route points.
If you leave early in the morning on the first trains, the ticket will cost only 14 €; during the day the price ranges from 19 to 24 €. Travel time is 2 hours 35 minutes.
Bus
A search for buses on Busradar immediately shows several dozen Vienna - Graz per day. Some of them depart from the Vienna Felberstrasse stop near the western railway station Wien Westbahnhof, some from Vienna Matzleinsdorferplatz at the railway station of the same name closer to the southern part. Both stops can be easily reached from the center by train from another station, by bus, tram, and to the western station - also by metro (red or brown line).
The cost of a one-way trip is 9 €, the travel time is just under 2.5 hours. We buy the ticket in advance on the official FlixBus website.
Where you can go from the city of Graz
Since we’ve touched on the issue of transport, let’s look at what other cities are within comfortable transport accessibility to Graz.
From Graz to Ljubljana
The distance between these two cities is almost the same as between Graz and Vienna - almost 200 km. The journey to the Slovenian capital by car will take about 2 hours, and by public transport you can get there in several ways in at least 3 hours.
The first way is bus Graz – Ljubljana. showed that there are 3 such buses per day: one from FlixBus late at night at 1:40 and two from Hello Fernbus at 11:40 and 23:40. All journeys take 3 hours and cost the same - 19€ one way.
If we dig deeper, we find out that FlixBus regularly operates services on the popular route No. 907 Vienna - Ljubljana - Trieste - Venice, where between the first two cities stops are made in Graz and Maribor or only in Graz, and Busradar just found us part of this route. Check out the schedule:
That’s how we unexpectedly found out that buses regularly run from Graz to Venice.
The second method is traditionally the train, but in this case this type of transport cannot be called convenient: you will have to make at least one transfer, and tickets are more expensive. The only direct train from Graz to Ljubljana runs once a day at 10:38 (timetable may change in autumn, check OBB website) and costs €28.30 one way.
From Graz to Klagenfurt
Klagenfurt is an Austrian town in the south of the country next to many alpine lakes, including the warmest alpine lake, Wörthersee. True, the closer autumn is, the less relevant this is. Be that as it may, tourists who are interested in history, architecture and gnomes (Zwegenpark is 45 km from the city, open until mid-September) will want to visit Klagenfurt.
Regarding transport, again there are 2 options. This is either a direct OBB IntercityBus bus (runs 7 times a day, last time at 18:45, travel time - 2 hours, cost 28.60 €), or a private train with 1 or 2 transfers. The travel time by train will be 3-3.5 hours, but the cost will be halved - to 14 €.
If possible, always buy train tickets in advance, as they can be very expensive on the day of travel.
From Graz to Salzburg
In summer, children under 15 years old can use public transport for free and without this tourist ticket.
You can see a detailed map of transport zones in Styria.
The official website of Graz public transport has a convenient route planner in the Route Planner section.
Sights of Graz
Graz, like any Austrian city, is rich in impressive historical sights - castles, old museums, centuries-old streets and old buildings. The list of attractions in Graz is quite impressive, and we will list just a few of them. If you are faced with the question of what to see in Graz in 1 day or in a few hours, feel free to choose our list.
To make all the information more clear, we have prepared Graz sightseeing map.
Schlossberg Castle
Schlossberg Castle is located in the heart of Graz on a high mountain, and is the most popular and recognizable landmark in the city. It was built approximately in the 10th century, and there are many interesting legends surrounding its creation.
According to one of them, the devil himself created Schlossberg in exchange for the soul of the first who dared to climb the mountain to the castle. When he flew from Africa with a huge rock in his hands, he saw a celebration - it was Easter Sunday, when the devil was powerless and could not take anyone's soul. He got angry and threw the rock away, and it split into two parts - the larger one, where Schlosberg stands today, and the smaller one, where the Catholic Church of Kalvarienberg is located.
Unfortunately, during the time of Napoleon the castle itself was destroyed, and after that it was not restored. Only the Urturm clock tower has survived, which can be reached by steps or by cable car. Separately, a ticket for the funicular costs 2.20 €.
You can extend your enjoyment of the city view and dine at the Schlossberg restaurant - see the section “Where to eat in Graz”.
Working hours: Monday - Thursday from 10 to 24, Friday - Saturday - from 10 to 02.00, Sunday - from 10 to 22.
Kunsthaus
The Kunsthaus in Graz is a museum of modern art, which is no less interesting on the outside than on the inside. Part of the building from above looks like an alien bubble among the traditional red tiled roofs. This is a very “young” museum - it was built in 2003 by London architects, who kindly called their creation “friendly alien”.
A list of current and upcoming exhibitions can be viewed. Entrance to the museum costs 9 €, family ticket (both parents + child) - 18 €, children under 6 years old - free.
Address: Lendkai 1, 8020 Graz, Austria
Working hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 10 to 17
Eggenberg Castle
Eggenberg Castle in Graz is a perfect example of the mastery of maintaining harmony in lush architectural structures. The castle was built in the 17th century by order of Prince Eggenberg, who had a great love for astrology, which was embodied during construction: 365 windows, 31 rooms on each floor, 24 state rooms with 52 doors, 4 corner towers - everything corresponds to the number of days in a year and month, hours in a day, weeks in a year and the number of seasons. Already inside, in the Planetary Hall, 7 celestial bodies (7 days of the week) are depicted on the ceiling, and 12 zodiac signs are depicted on the walls.
Today, Eggenberg, like any other superbly preserved Austrian castle, invites tourists to admire its magnificent decoration. By the way, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Entrance fee: 11.50€, children: 5.50€, family ticket: 23€.
Address: Eggenberger Allee 90, 8020 Graz
Working hours: front rooms - from March 26 to October 30, Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17; gardens from November to March from 8 to 17. From April to October from 8 to 19.
Arsenal
The peculiarities of the city's geographical location were the reason that Graz, throughout its centuries-old history, was an important center for the defense of Austrian lands from invaders. This issue became especially acute when the city needed protection from the Turks, who had their eyes on Austrian lands back at the end of the 15th century.
Largely thanks to the large arsenal, where weapons for almost 16 thousand soldiers were stored, the Turkish conquest was stopped. Maria Theresa, by the way, later abolished all non-capital arsenals, except for the arsenal in Graz, since local residents insisted that it had great historical and cultural significance.
Many people, when they see tons of old iron armor, have a question: how does it all not rust? It's not only about professional care, but also about the wooden finishing of the premises - wood on the floor, ceiling and walls absorbs excess moisture well.
A ticket to the Arsenal Museum costs €9 for adults, and free for children under 6 years old.
Address: Herrengasse 16, 8010 Graz
Working hours: March 26 – October 30 from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 to 17; from November to March 2017 from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 to 14 for guided visits only.
You can purchase a 24 or 48 hour ticket at a discounted price to visit the Arsenal, Kunsthaus, Eggenberg Castle and some other sites on Our Museums & Museum Sights. A one-day ticket for an adult costs 13 €, for 2 days - 19 €.
Attractions outside the city
Outside the city there are many more attractions, without visiting which the impression of Graz may be incomplete - you must agree, it is not at all interesting to visit only the places beloved by tourists, behind which the real city is not visible. If you came to Graz by car, then be sure to include a few more places in your travel plan.
Austrian Aviation Museum
It would be a great idea to go here with children, and even more so with boys. The museum displays virtually every model of helicopter, jet, glider and other model aircraft that once flew over the Austrian skies.
Entry cost is 5€ for adults, 4€ for children under 14 years old, free for children under 6 years old.
Address: Thalerhofstraße 52, 8073 Feldkirchen bei Graz
Lurgrotte Caves
Graz and its surroundings boast more than just historical sights. 30 km north of Graz is one of the largest Austrian cave systems - Lurgrotte.
The cost of an hour-long excursion for adults is 7.5 €, for children from 15 to 18 years old - 6 €, under 15 years old - 5.5 €.
Address: Lurgrottenstraße, 8102 Semriach
Working hours: from April 15 to October 31 daily from 10 to 16, from November 1 to April 14 on weekends and holidays from 11 to 14, excursions are conducted for groups of 5 people.
Turquoise lake Grüner See
You've probably ever heard about a park that turns into a lake in the summer, or seen a photo of a diver swimming past a bench underwater. Grüner See is the same lake. Graz is the most suitable transfer point to get there. This lake, which was so called (literally from German - “green lake”) because of the unusual turquoise color of the water, is located 80 km north of Graz - it would be wise to combine a trip here with the Lurgrotte caves.
In autumn and winter, the depth of the lake does not exceed 2 meters, but when the snow on the alpine peaks begins to melt in the spring, the water level gradually rises to 10 m and reaches its peak around June.
But there is only bad news for divers - from January 1, 2016, diving in the lake is completely prohibited, as the regular influx of tourists can affect the ecosystem of the lake, which can cause it to lose its unique turquoise color. Those who want to go boating or just swim here will also be subject to the same ban.
But in the warmer months you can still walk along the forest paths around the lake and enjoy the unique alpine scenery.
Weather in Graz
Graz and its surrounding areas have fairly mild weather in autumn and winter. Temperatures above 20 degrees usually stay here until mid-September. In October, temperatures range from 5 to 15 degrees, and cold weather and possible frosts begin only closer to December.
In the coldest month, January, temperatures rarely drop below -10, but the humidity can make it feel much colder outside.
You can always check the current weather forecast.
Where to stay in Graz
There are more than enough hotels in Graz. To give you a general idea of how much a night in a hotel in Graz costs for two this fall, here are the average prices for different rooms as of mid-October.
The most inexpensive room for two in the city center will cost 45-55 €. Own apartments through Booking will cost 65-85 €. You can look for apartments that are rented out by locals on Airbnb, but the price range is very wide. Country apartments or rooms in hotel centers with their own spas and swimming pools will not cost much more - 95-110 €.
Where to eat in Graz
RestaurantDer Steirer
Remember the old phrase “We are what we eat.” To feel like a real Styrian for a few moments, you need to try the most traditional dishes of local cuisine, which are prepared in the Der Steirer restaurant in the very center of the city, a 3-minute walk from the Kunsthaus.
Nearby is The Sterier Shop, where you can buy a few bottles of local wine and regional delicacies.
Address: Belgiergasse 1, 8020 Graz
Working hours: daily from 11 to 24
Restaurant Schlossberg
The Schlossberg restaurant is located on the highest point of the city - on the Schlossberg mountain, offering breathtaking views of the city. The restaurant serves both local and international cuisine. In fine weather you can dine on the outdoor terrace. The restaurant has a so-called “beer garden” where you can try the freshest Austrian beer and wine.
Address: Schlossberg 7, 8010 Graz
Working hours: Monday – Saturday from 11 to 24, Sunday from 11 to 18
CafeKaffee Weitzer
Kaffee Weitzer, located at the hotel of the same name in the historical center of the city, is a typical cozy Austrian cafe with a variety of local pastries and coffee, where you can read the latest edition of international newspapers.
Address: Belgiergasse 1, 8020 Graz
Working hours: Monday – Friday from 7 to 19, Saturday – Sunday from 9 to 19
Markets Kaiser Josef andLendplatz
At the local farmers' markets Kaiser Josef and Lendplatz in the squares of the same name, you can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables, hot bread and dried meats, jam and honey. If you want to cook something yourself, these are the best places to buy meat and fish.
Styria is famous for its “black gold” - pumpkin seed oil. Despite the fact that this oil can no longer be called outlandish, it is always better to buy such products first-hand - at farmers' markets. In Austria they take the quality of this oil very seriously - in 1998 an association of pumpkin oil producers was organized, whose members sell their products at the Kaiser Josef and Lendplatz markets.
We once again confirmed the statement that outside the capital in any country there is also something to see. Green Styria, as well as the administrative center of the region - Graz, clearly deserve a separate big trip.
Getting from Vienna to Graz is quite easy. With a clear conscience I can say that there are no pitfalls on this route, and after reading my answer to your question, you will quickly and easily get to Graz.
I will tell you how to get there by car, train, bus, plane and taxi. You have a choice of means of transportation, as they say, to suit every taste and budget.
Travel by car
To travel to Graz by car you will take the motorway E-59. What can I say? Not a track, but a dream! As a driver, I see this in my dreams: four lanes in each direction, a median strip, bump stops. Road signs are duplicated on the roadway, signs, good road lighting. In a word, you will travel all 200 kilometers of the trail with pleasure, and you will cover this distance in approximately two hours and twenty minutes. But this is the case if you won’t sit in roadside cafes for a long time. There is no need to worry about the availability of gasoline in the tank - there are a sufficient number of gas stations along the highway.
Photo of the E-59 motorway in Vienna:
And a few kilometers away:
Train ride
From 5:55 a.m. to 8:55 p.m., trains from Vienna to Graz go every hour. So, your choice of time when to leave Vienna will be the envy of any tourist.
Train schedule:
Trains depart from the station Wien Meidling, - South railway station. Station address: Eichenstraße 25, 1120 Wien.
Photo of the station:
Station layout:
The easiest way to get to the station is by metro. And you can do this from anywhere in Vienna. You need to take the U6 metro train. The cost of a train ticket is 59 euros. Travel time is 2 hours 40 minutes. The trains are quite comfortable. You can buy tickets either at the station or on the website: http://www.oebb.at.
Here is the appearance of one of them, “Johann Strauss”:
The train arrives at the Graz Hbf station.
Photo of the station:
How to save money?
If you are traveling not alone, but with a company of up to 5 people, then buying a ticket will be very profitable Einfach-Raus-Ticket. Its cost is 28 euros. And in this way you can significantly reduce costs by paying not 59 euros for a ticket, but only 28. It is profitable to buy such a ticket even if you are traveling together. If you have planned to return from Graz to Vienna on the same day, you can also use the Einfach-Raus-Ticket and thus you will spend a minimum amount on travel per day. The Einfach-Raus-Ticket is valid from 9:00 on the day of purchase until 3:00 the next day.
Travel by bus
Buses run from Vienna every day. The first one leaves the station at 6:30 am, and the last one at 11 pm. Buses leave every two hours. They depart from Vienna International Bus Station. Travel time from 2 hours 12 minutes to 3 hours. The ticket price is currently 4.25 euros.
Bus schedule:
Buying tickets
You can buy tickets at the station or on official websites: http://www.eurolines.com/en/ and http://meinfernbus.de/en.
The routes are served by MeinFernbus and Eurolines buses.
Photo of the MeinFernbus bus:
The interior of the bus looks very nice and neat:
Air travel
The advantage of flying by plane is the speed of the flight: only 35 minutes. However, the prices are very high! Ticket prices fluctuate within 180 – 230 euros.
A good option:
The plane departs from Schwechat airport () at 9:55 a.m. and arrives at Taperhow airport () at 10:30 a.m. The flight is operated by Austrian Airlines. Economy class ticket price – 180 euros.
Photo of the Austrian Airlines aircraft:
You can save a little on plane tickets if you early book tickets.
Taxi ride
To travel to Graz, you can order a taxi for yourself. At the moment, the minimum cost of a personal transfer from Vienna to Graz by economy class car is 218 euros. If you are traveling in a company of 7 people, then a good option would be to order a minibus for 7 passengers. In this case, the cost of travel for one person will be 37 euros, and the total fare is 255 euros.
I don’t know which of these routes you will like, but I wish you a safe journey and pleasant impressions from a walk in a city with wonderful architecture - Graz!
Vienna is the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, which says a lot. The imperial style in architecture is still available in large quantities. In this article I will tell you how to organize your independent trip to Vienna, what to see, what museums to go to, where to eat deliciously and meaningfully. What day trips can you take from Vienna that aren't expensive? And how much will all this cost? I will provide all the necessary links.
Vienna is an ancient city, but most of the outstanding buildings were made in the 19th century under the penultimate emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph. Vienna is Sissi, Mozart and Klimt. Vienna is a cake with the indecent name "Sacher", Tafelspitz, Wiener schnitzel, strudel and coffee. Vienna has world-class museums comparable to the Louvre and the famous Vienna Opera. Vienna is German neatness and pedantry in everything.
Currency
Euro, so for most people the prices will be clear, but not happy. Austria is quite an expensive country. The price level in Austria is higher than in Germany.
Language
German. In tourist areas, English is spoken and there are signs in English. Some public transport ticket machines even switch to Russian. All major Viennese museums have audio guides in Russian.
Why go to Vienna
If you love painting and art, this is your city. In Vienna you can see paintings by Pieter Bruegel, such as “The Tower of Babel”, “Hunters in the Snow” or numerous portraits of the Infanta Margarita by Diego Velazquez, engravings by Durrer and many outstanding paintings that are the pride of world art.
If you are an opera lover this is your city. The Vienna Opera is one of the most famous in the world. In addition, throughout the city center there are ticket sellers for all kinds of concerts, mainly classical music.
If you are a coffee fan, this is your city, it has its own sophisticated culture of consuming this aromatic drink. Viennese coffee shops are a different story.
Prices in Austria
Prices in Austria are high. But plane tickets to Vienna are relatively cheap, especially from Moscow. According to the Numbeo portal, the cost of living in Vienna is 58% higher than in Moscow. the cost of food in cafes and restaurants is 30% more.
In the center of Vienna, breakfast in a cafe will cost you 9-10 €; in less central places you can find breakfast for 5-7 €. A cup of coffee in the center of Vienna costs from 5 to 8 €, and the same amount for one modest cake.
Visiting restaurants in Vienna is quite expensive.
Hotels and apartments in Vienna
My favorite method of searching for hotels on booking is:
- Fill in the number of people and other important options
- Sort the resulting list by user ratings
The room rate in the low season starts from 65 €, but most options still cost 80-90 € per night. In Vienna, due to the high cost, apartments with a kitchen are very common; this will allow you to save on food. Hotels in Vienna are quite decent. German accuracy makes itself felt.
If you were unable to find a hotel on booking, you can try to rent a room or apartment from the owners on the airbnb website. If you are not yet registered on this site, then by following my link you can (or 22 €) for your first booking. And if you are registered, you can still receive a gift if you register a new profile linked to a different e-mail address. See what we filmed in Vienna.
It is important to choose accommodation in Vienna in the first transport zone, so as not to overpay for travel on public transport by half.
How to get to Vienna on your own
By plane
Vienna is a hassle-free city in terms of getting there. There are direct flights from St. Petersburg and Moscow. Flying with a transfer is not profitable, the price does not change downwards.
Our low-cost airline Pobeda flies from Moscow, their prices are reasonable, but you need to carefully study all their requirements for hand luggage, since a fine for violations can make your flight not at all budget-friendly. At Pobeda you will have to pay to choose a seat in the cabin. In fact, Pobeda will land you in Bratislava, and from Bratislava will take you to Vienna by bus to the central station (1.30 hours), this will allow you to save on the transfer.
It’s better to start inquiring about tickets 3-4 months before departure; then tickets will only become more expensive. In the high season, on the eve of departure, tickets will cost significantly more than on average throughout the year. Travel time is 2 hours 40 minutes.
Calendar of price changes by month. If you do not live in Moscow, do not hesitate to change the city, the calendar is interactive.
Transfer in Vienna from the airport
The minimum cost of a transfer in Vienna by train S7 is only 4.40 €. This train travels with stops for only 25 minutes. Tickets for it need to be bought at a public transport ticket machine; in fact, this is ordinary public transport in Vienna. The airport is located in the second zone. You need to buy 2 tickets for 2.20 € and validate them. For children from 6 to 15 years old, tickets are purchased at half price.
The high-speed City Airport Train (CAT) travels only 16 minutes to the same station as the previous one without stops, but this pleasure will cost 11 € for a one-way ticket and 17 € if you take a ticket in both directions. But travel for children under 14 years old is free.
Bus No. 1187 fare 8€ one way.
All three types of transport run from early morning until late at night with an interval of 30 minutes. At night, the only way to get to or from the airport is by taxi. Order . Taxi transfer costs 37€. You make an order and a small prepayment on the website, the driver will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign with your name. There is no need to explain where to go, just enter the address of your hotel on the website. This method also works in the opposite direction.
Taking a taxi directly from the airport costs 40-45 euros.
Trains are traditionally intended for those who are very afraid of flying and are willing to overpay.
By bus
You can travel by bus to Vienna only with a very favorable special offer. offer, since without special offers the cost of tickets is comparable to a plane ticket. From Moscow to Vienna you will have to travel 52 hours with one transfer. There are no buses from St. Petersburg to Vienna at all. But you can actually get from Ukraine or Belarus to Vienna by bus. View bus tickets on the website.
By your car
From St. Petersburg to Vienna is only 1868 km, 23 hours of pure driving. You will have to travel through the Baltic states and Poland. In the Baltics and Poland, roads to Warsaw are slow through all settlements, the coverage is excellent, there are many cameras recording speed. Beyond Warsaw everything is much better; a highway has already been built there.
From Moscow to Vienna 1945 km, 22 hours of pure driving. In any case, the journey to Vienna by car will take at least 2 days, but it will allow you to explore something additional along the way.
In both cases, the road will run through, where you can make a one-day stop, then through Katowice (Poland), Ostrava (Czech Republic), Brno (nearby you can see the Austerlitz Museum). The latter cities, of course, do not belong to the category of must see, but if you wish, you can also find something interesting in them.
In Vienna itself, a car will be a burden. Parking costs €2 per hour, but in the center you can only park your car for money for 2 hours; you need to use parking passes. In P+R parking lots you can leave your car for only 3.40 per day, but this is far from the center. But if you are planning a trip to Austria, a car will be a beneficial aid.
Ready tours
Ready-made tours to Vienna are most often offered for three days without meals and transfer, 3* hotel not in the center from 20,000 rubles. In general, ready-made tours for Vienna are not the most suitable option, but you can try. Look . It makes sense to take ready-made tours at the last minute if you want to leave within the next week. It is always worth checking reviews of hotels offered in tours on the website.
Public transport in Vienna
There are two public transport zones in Vienna. The fare differs within the zone and when leaving the zone. If you are leaving the first zone, you need to buy two tickets and validate two tickets at once.
A one-time trip in one direction within one zone costs 2.20 €; if you change direction, you need to buy another ticket; you can change from transport to transport in one direction.
Children under 6 years old travel on public transport for free. From 6 years to 15 years old at half price, and on Sundays, weekends, and during school holidays in Vienna, travel for children under 15 years old is free.
A weekly pass costs €16.20 and is only valid from Monday to Monday.
The Vienna card costs €24.90 and allows you to make an unlimited number of trips within three days (cards are available for 1 and 2 days). The same card provides discounts on tickets to museums and discounts in some restaurants (the discounts are not very significant). With this card you can carry with you one child up to 15 years old inclusive, this is the most significant bonus. More information about the Vienna card can be found on the official website wien.info.
What to see in Vienna on your own
From land walks, I recommend walking from St. Stephen's Cathedral along Graben Street to the Hofburg and Maria Theresa Square, taking a tram along Ringstrasse or walking along it, going to look at the Hundertwasser houses, and exploring the surroundings of Schönbrunn Palace. This program can be completed in 2-3 days. If you plan to visit the main museums in Vienna, you need to spend a week in Vienna.
The opera is recommended only for fans; this event is expensive, for example, a ticket to La Traviata on November 23, 2016 costs from 52 to 285 €, cheap seats are located very far from the stage. After being on your feet all day, are you ready to listen to singing in a foreign language for several hours? If yes, then welcome to the official box office of the opera house, and if not, then the interior of the theater can be viewed without the performance, it will cost much less, only 7.50 €.
If you like excursions, I recommend reading the article. I mention Prague there, not Vienna, but that doesn't matter. Look for acceptable offers on the four sites mentioned in the article. Due to the high prices in Austria, you will have to dig around on all four sites to find something interesting and not very expensive.
20% discount when ordering three excursions at the same time: “Sightseeing bus tour of Vienna” (or “Sightseeing tour of Vienna in a mini-group”), “Vienna Woods” and “Excursion to Salzburg”! To receive a discount, go to the TEZ Excursions website, add the three specified excursions to your cart and enter the promotional code VIENNA-3 in the discount coupon field in the cart. The validity period of the offer and excursions is from December 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019.
First day
The most central landmark of Vienna is St. Stephen's Cathedral. The silhouette of the cathedral is drawn on all metro maps. This cathedral is the heart of old Vienna. From ancient cellars to observation decks on towers, it can be explored and is well worth the effort. St. Stephen's Cathedral is the apotheosis of art and culture throughout Austria. You need to buy a ticket to the Cathedral; without a ticket you are only allowed to stand at the entrance. You can read more about the different types of tickets and what you will see in a separate article.
View of Vienna from the North Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral After visiting the cathedral, it is worth continuing your walk along Graben Street. This is one of the most important streets in Vienna, now completely pedestrian, it remembers the ancient Romans. Read more about what you can see in a separate article with photographs.
Graben street with chandeliers Almost all houses have shops and cafes on the ground floors. On the Kolchmarkt stands the famous Café Demel, one of two historical cafés associated with the famous Sachertorte. You can read more about the two historical cafes in a separate article. In fact, this cake will be served to you in any Viennese cafe; you don’t have to go to historical places to try it. During the high tourist season, the queue to historical cafes can be long; in December there was no queue at all, I checked it personally.
The price for a piece of cake in different cafes in Vienna is almost the same, the only difference is the length of the queue in high season. You can also buy Sachertorte in shops in Vienna.
Leave the museums for the next day so that you can approach them with fresh energy. However, my recommendations regarding museums are not binding; always think about whether it would be interesting to you personally. Options are possible: you can go to museums, or you can go to parks, depending on weather conditions and your preferences. Weather conditions may vary; in the event of prolonged rains, museums can save the situation.
Second day
The Ringstrasse is a must-see street; it is a circular boulevard 5.3 km long. You can ride along this boulevard on a special tourist tram. The trip takes only 25 minutes. The tram offers audio accompaniment in Russian via headphones. The ticket costs 8€, for children from 6 to 15 years old - 4€. If the weather is favorable, you can walk along the Ringstrasse. You will see the building of the Vienna Opera, the Burgtheater, the parliament, the town hall, everything there is very monumental and majestic.
Parliament building on Ringstrasse Sissi is one of the legends of Austria and Vienna as well, so you should think in advance whether you would like to learn more about the beloved Empress of the Viennese and visit the Sissi Museum, the imperial chambers and the silver pantry. To make it easier for you to make your choice, I wrote. A comprehensive ticket to the three museums listed costs €11.50, but there are options with tickets, read the review. The museums offer a Russian audio guide.
Hofburg, under the arch there is the entrance to the Sisi Museum In the evening, if you are inspired by the fate of Franz Joseph and Empress Sissi, you can visit the pretentious restaurant “Plahuta” and taste the emperor’s favorite dish in the most proper restaurant. Read how we ate. Let me warn you right away that this is not a cheap pleasure and it is better to reserve a table in advance.
The third day
For art lovers, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is highly recommended. Numerous masterpieces are collected there. Read more in my review “”, sometimes it is called that. A whole day is not enough to explore it completely with feeling, sense and arrangement. During the break, you can have lunch or drink a cup of coffee right under the main dome of the museum.
Main staircase of the Kunsthistorisches Museum The cost of an adult ticket is 14 €, you can take a complex ticket for the Museum of Art History + = 20 euros (save 6 euros).
The museum offers a Russian audio guide (cost 4 €), but according to experts, it is much poorer than the English version.
Fourth day
Vienna, as the former capital of the Habsburg Empire, still holds treasures collected by entire generations of kings and emperors. You can touch this wealth by visiting the “Habsburg Treasury”. There you will see nothing less than the famous Spear of Destiny, the Holy Grail, the crown of Charlemagne and much more.
Royal regalia in the Habsburg Treasury The museum offers a Russian audio guide (cost 4€).
You can spend from 1.5 to 2 hours exploring the treasury.
Next, you can get acquainted with modern, but very interesting architecture. I invite you to explore the Hundertwasser houses. You can read more about who he is and how to get there in a separate article. This walking tour through the neighborhoods of Vienna will cost you absolutely free.
Hundertwasser House Fifth day
I suggest visiting Schönbrunn Palace and everything located next to it. One day is definitely not enough for everything. The Schönbrunn Palace itself is the former summer residence of the imperial family. It is surrounded by a beautiful park and nearby there is a magnificent zoo and greenhouses. In the Residenz cafe, tourists are offered a strudel baking show followed by eating this strudel (more about this event on the website wien.info). See prices for combined tickets on the official website of Schönbrunn Palace (English), combined tickets will help you save a little, as the prices are steep.
The Vienna Zoo is very good, it is the oldest zoo in Europe. Read.
Sixth day
In addition to the already mentioned Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Belvedere in Vienna there are still at least three interesting art museums - Albertina (Dürer), Leopold Museum (modern art), Mumok (modern art). Therefore, art lovers in Vienna have plenty to explore.
If you and your children can visit, it is located on Maria Theresa Square, opposite the Kunsthistorisches Museum, they are also called the twin museums. We really liked it; many tourists visit this museum even without children.
Day trips from Vienna on your own
If you haven’t found excursions at reasonable prices, then below I’ll tell you how to organize a couple of trips yourself. Tickets for trains can be bought at the station or on the Internet on the website of the Austrian Railways, where you can plan any route for yourself in Austria and immediately see how much the ticket will cost; at the last moment, a ticket may cost more than one purchased in advance on the Internet. For out-of-town trips, you can also use Student Agency buses (English), bus tickets will cost less than train tickets, but Student Agency buses only go to neighboring countries.
In light of the high cost of tickets in Austria, renting a car can be financially justified. The car significantly saves time and effort, you will be able to see more. View prices (prices for car rental per day from 45 €). If you have a car, you can choose hotels not in the center, this will save money.
From Vienna to Bratislava on your own
If you want to take a break from the Austrian high prices, then you should go to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. The distance is only 66 km. Train departure from Vienna Central Station and arrival at Bratislava Central Station. Travel time is 1 hour, trains run every hour. The cost of a round trip ticket is 20.20€.
By bus, round trip tickets will cost only 10€, but the bus ride takes 1.5 hours. In Vienna, buses depart from the Stadion metro station in Bratislava and do not go to the center, but travel on public transport in Bratislava costs much less than in Vienna. Bratislava is very good for a one-day visit.
To the Vienna Woods on your own
You can see the Vienna Woods without going far from Vienna. You just need to get to the final tram stop. See all possible options for walks in the forest (in English), not far from Vienna. In general, of course, the Vienna Woods is a broad concept, it is very large.
Official tours of the Vienna Woods include visiting the town of Baden, Liechtenstein Castle and the town of Mödling, where Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide, an underground lake on the outskirts of Mödling in the town of Hinterbrühl. The cost of an organized excursion starts from 55€ per person, excluding tickets to the cave and castle.
In principle, you can organize this route yourself, but you will have to walk a lot.
From Vienna to Mödling Bahnhof you can get by train in just 20 minutes, the ticket costs only 4.40 €. Walk around the town towards the cave for 3.5 km, visit the cave with the largest underground lake in Europe (the cost of visiting the cave is 10 €, the tour lasts 45 minutes). From the cave to Liechtenstein Castle is only 1.5 km, but uphill (Adult ticket price 9 €), tours only in German and English. To get to Baden, if you have any energy left, you will in any case have to take the high-speed tram from the Mödling Bahnhof station and after a walk around Baden back to Vienna.
To Puchberg am Schneeberg on your own
People go to the small town of Puchberg mainly to climb Mount Schneeberg, about 2000 meters high, to go hiking or skiing in winter. From the mountain in good weather there is a breathtaking view of the valley. A special Salamander train will take you up the mountain along a cog railway for only 31 €; mountain railways or cable cars are traditionally expensive. In winter, the train operates on a truncated schedule and route. You can, of course, walk, but to do this you need to be in very good athletic shape. A train trip from Vienna to Puchberg (80 km) will cost 33 €, round trip and will take 1.5 hours.
To the Wachau Valley on your own
The Wachau Valley was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. There you will find very beautiful landscapes with ancient towns located along the banks of the Danube and a huge Baroque abbey. The best time to visit is of course summer and autumn.
The most popular method is to purchase a combined ticket at the train station. This route does not operate in winter. More details in English. language you can view the offer. The idea is that at the train station you buy a ticket that includes:
- travel by train to the town of Melk (1.5 hours)
- visiting a very beautiful Benedictine abbey on the banks of the Danube
- river boat trip to the town of Krems (1.5 hours). Many people stop earlier in the village of Dürnstein to go up to the local castle and admire the Danube from above.
- departure back to Vienna by train from Krems. (1 hour)
The route can also be done in the opposite direction. It does not matter. This pleasure will cost about 50 €.
From Vienna to Budapest on your own
The second way to take a break from the high prices of Vienna is a trip to Budapest. From Vienna to Budapest it is only 240 km and a train ride from Vienna Central Station to Keleti Station in Budapest takes 2 hours 30 minutes. The cost of round trip tickets is about 40 €. When traveling by bus, the cost of one-way tickets is only from 9 to 11 €, but by bus you will have to travel with a transfer in Bratislava and it will take 4 hours.
In principle, if you go in one day, then it makes sense to take an organized excursion to Budapest from Vienna, this is only 15 € more expensive than train tickets, but a walking tour of Budapest is included in the price and you don’t have to think about anything on your own.
The currency of Hungary is forints, so you will have to change money. In half a day you can get around and take a walk on the opposite bank of the Danube. Although Budapest certainly deserves more, perhaps spending a few days in the Hungarian capital is a good idea.
From Vienna to Salzburg on your own
Many people want to go to Salzburg, this is the birthplace of Mozart, the most musical city in Austria. From Vienna to Salzburg it is almost 300 km and the journey will take 2 hours and 20 minutes one way. The cost of round trip train tickets is 51€. Unfortunately, cheap buses do not operate in Austria. The train will pass by the city of Linz, also worthy of a visit, maybe another day. A ready-made excursion to Salzburg per person starts from 119 €. Salzburg is an interesting city, it is quite possible to plan an overnight stay there and continue exploring the next day.
Salzburg This is of course not everything that can be seen in Austria and neighboring countries, but the most popular for the first time. At different inspection speeds, it will take 1.5-2 weeks. We spent a week in Vienna and didn’t see everything on this list. Vienna is a city you want to return to.
(4
ratings, average: 5,00
out of 5)
