Various cards and passes can save you time and money on a trip to Vienna. But which ones make sense for your needs?
I’ve looked at common choices to help you decide if any are worth purchasing.
- All allow you to buy in advance without knowing when you’ll visit (but the duration of validity varies between passes and cards)
- Browse & book a variety of Vienna card & pass options* from one source
- See also:
Which pass should I buy for Vienna?
Or should you even buy a pass?
Here’s an overview of four main choices with my opinion on whether and when they make sense.
The Vienna Pass
(The zoo is one of the many attractions covered by the Vienna Pass)
Main benefit
Free one-time entry to all of the dozens of locations included in the pass during a fixed time period (one, two, three or six days).
Prices start from €99 for adults (one day) at the time of writing, though online purchase options often have a discount.
Who is it for?
If you’re planning to visit various paid sights, particularly Vienna’s many museums and similar institutions, then you have the potential to save a fair amount of money.
Extremely useful if you want to just pop into places to see the highlights (like Klimt’s The Kiss painting at Belvedere) and don’t want to worry about the cost of individual tickets for quick visits. Lets you skip ticket counter queues in many popular places, too.
Also a sound choice if you just want to forget about having to buy tickets, since the Vienna Pass really does include all the main tourist sights.
Who is it not for?
Kind of obvious, but the pass makes little sense if you’re not going to actually make use of it as it’s quite an upfront investment.
If you’re only planning one or two paid attractions and more general sightseeing on foot, then consider one of the other options on this page or skipping a pass altogether.
The Vienna Pass focus is also primarily on entrance tickets to sights; it doesn’t include too many activities (concerts, tours and similar).
→ More: see my detailed review of the Vienna Pass or their website*
Vienna Welcome Card
(A network travel card with additional discounts, particularly for other mobility services)
Main benefit
A network travel pass for Vienna’s excellent public transport system. Cards valid for 24/48/72 hours or 7days and the time period includes discounts at selected attractions, services and events. A 72-hour ToGo version just covers discounts.
Prices start at €14.90 at the time of writing for the travel pass versions (€9.90 for the ToGo card).
Who is it for?
Those planning on using Vienna’s municipal trams, buses and subways. The extra cost for accessing discounts compared to a standard travel pass is low.
These discounts are particularly interesting if you want to use additional travel options like bikes, e-scooters, a river tour etc. Paid upgrade options also include hop on hop off buses and airport transfer on an express train.
Who is it not for?
Those exploring largely on foot. Though the ToGo card is then an option if the discounts match your needs, such as if considering taxis or other mobility services.
If you’re planning to buy a lot of museum entrance tickets, then consider one of the sightseeing passes instead.
→ More: see my detailed review of the Vienna Welcome Card or their website*
The Vienna City Card
(As well as discounts, the Vienna City Card also works like a network travel pass)
Main benefit
Also a network travel card for Vienna’s public transport system for a fixed time period (24hrs, 48hrs, 78hrs or 7 days), plus entitlement to seven days of discounts.
These discounts cover a range of locations and activities (including tourist attractions, tours, stores and restaurants). Also has a 7-day discounts only option with no public transport component.
Prices start from €17 (24hr basic card) at the time of writing.
Who is it for?
This is the city’s municipal tourist pass, suited to those doing a little bit of everything (shop, eat, drink, sightsee) and planning to make use of the reliable and frequent trams, buses and subways to visit attractions.
One kid under 15 also qualifies for free travel with each card bought, so definitely an option for families.
Convenient paid upgrades (when available) include airport transfer and a hop on hop off bus tour.
The premium you pay on top of the price of an ordinary network travel pass is relatively low, given the variety of discounts you get.
Who is it not for?
The discounts are mostly quite small, so this is not a direct alternative to those passes that get you free entry, for example, if you’re visiting museums or similar.
→ More: see my detailed review of the Vienna City Card or their website
Flexi Pass
(A Hop on Hop off 24-hour bus ticket is one choice among the Flexi Pass options)
Main benefit
Free one-time access to two, three, four or five attractions from a pool of numerous locations and activities.
Prices start from €55 for an adult two-attraction card at the time of writing. Again, online purchase options may come with discounts. Valid for 60 days from the first time you use it.
Who is it for?
A little like a mini Vienna Pass, as largely for museums and similar attractions.
Not as wide a choice as with the Vienna Pass, for example. But a cheaper alternative if you only want to visit a small number of places, have a fixed idea of what you wish to see, and the Flexi Pass covers your choices.
Who is it not for?
More intense sightseers looking for a wider variety of options or activities.
More information: see their website*
Final tips
Obviously, do the calculations.
Some of the attractions included in the sightseeing passes are already relatively inexpensive and might not justify using a pass for them. Others are really quite expensive and you stand to save a decent amount.
If you’re visiting: choose your sights and activities, then see if you can find a pass to match. All common sense, really.
These main options each address different needs, but you can still enjoy Vienna without any of them, of course. Alternative options include, for example:
- Some tailor-made passes* for specific locations and needs
- Simply take in the sights and sounds on a walk around town paying for one or two paid attractions as required