Trams are perhaps the most frequent form of surface public transport in Vienna, and the tram system dates back to the 1800s. (I should point out that one or two upgrades have taken place since then.)
- Frequent and user-friendly
- Lines 1, D, 2 and 71 are key for visitors
- Book a short guided tour* for your Vienna trip
- See also:
The Vienna tram system
(One of the very latest Flexity trams to join the fleet, but not yet a common sight)
Vienna’s municipal trams are easy to spot, being large and unsurprisingly tram-shaped. The distinctive red and white(ish) city colours are another big clue, unless an advertiser has rebranded the vehicle. They travel along rails embedded into the road surface.
The German word for one is Straßenbahn (literally “street railway”), though the slang term Bim is equally common and even used at times by the Wiener Linien transport authorities that operate Vienna’s tram fleet.
Just under thirty regular tram lines serve the city, and your public transport ticket is valid for all of them. According to the operators, this network covers around 171km. Which makes it the sixth-largest in the world. (Melbourne claims to be the biggest.)
Each line draws its power from overhead electric cables and has a number or letter designation (e.g. 9 or D). Most lines run from the early morning until after midnight, with special night (bus) services also operating along selected routes.
During the bulk of the working day, intervals between vehicles on a line are generally 3-8 minutes in my experience, with delays rare. For example, Vienna is geared up for snow, so there have to be serious blizzards to keep the vehicles off the road.
(And snow has the added bonus that you get to see the tram version of a snow plough.)
Important lines for visitors
(Most trams take this Niederflur design, with easy accessibility through raised platforms and a low entry height)
The lines of most interest to visitors are those that travel along part of the Ring boulevard that encircles the very centre and old town (no trams actually enter the old town):
- Line 1 travels between the Prater recreational area and the south of the city via much of the Ring
- Line D travels around parts of the Ring and runs between the Hauptbahnhof main railway station, the Belvedere palaces, and the north
- Line 71 is another “Ring” tram that starts in the centre and continues out past Belvedere to the Zentralfriedhof cemetery and its famous composer graves, via St. Marx with the Marx Halle event venue and Mozart’s grave
- Line 2: the final “Ring” tram goes from the banks of the Danube down to (and round much of) the city centre, then out to the west of Vienna
The 2 tram is a mysterious and magical beast much like Harry Potter’s Knight Bus. It feels like you could be anywhere in the city and suddenly find yourself next to a tram stop for the 2.
Three trams operate outside the normal system: the yellow sightseeing tram, the Manner tram, and the Ströck Christmas tram. None have been running in recent times, but I can’t rule out a return (check locally).
You might also spot the occasional old timer tram, as you can hire one for special trips (we took our wedding guests through Vienna on one back in the day).
If you’re interested in old-timer transport vehicles, then I recommend you visit the city’s Transport Museum.
Using trams
(Old and new trams)
I cover ticket requirements and procedures elsewhere. But here some tips on the practicalities of tram use.
Vienna has largely (but not completely) migrated from the old-style trams (see the picture of the number 2 above) to the new Niederflur trams. An even newer Flexity tram generation is on its way and already in operation on selected lines.
The modern trams are low-lying with raised tram stop platforms, so you can push a pram or wheelchair straight on without going up steps. These trams also have dedicated areas for those wheelchairs and prams (with even more space available in the new Flexity models).
Seats marked with coloured symbols for the old, the handicapped, pregnant women or parents with young kids should be kept free for the same. You can sit there, but you should (obviously) move as soon as someone fitting the above descriptions gets on board and needs your seat.
Same goes for those areas marked for wheelchair users or prams. You can occupy the space, but be prepared to move if needed.
As you approach your stop, you press the exit button on any door to warn the driver.
In reality, there’s nearly always someone waiting so the tram will almost certainly stop anyway, but you might need to press the button to get the door to actually open when the tram eventually comes to a standstill.
Similarly, if you’re waiting at a tram stop and the tram arrives but nobody gets off at the door nearest you, then press the button on the outside to board.
The next stop is normally announced over a loudspeaker as you approach the destination. All trams also have several physical, LED and digital screen displays with information on the route and coming stops (what you get depends on the age of the tram).
Driving around trams
(A royal tram from 1900…no longer in operation)
If you’re driving in Vienna, be aware that the trams are the royalty of the road. Two things to remember in particular:
- Some tram lines follow the road, so you can’t help but drive along the same route. But don’t block a line unless you have no choice: trams don’t take kindly to unnecessary delays and are bigger than you. They also have right of way
- Most importantly, you may find yourself on a lane running between a tram and a tram stop, so you’re driving more or less alongside a tram in the same direction. Once the tram is nearing or at a stop, you must stop, too, even if the road ahead is clear
You can only pass the tram’s right side at or near a stop if no people are boarding or leaving the tram, nobody is looking to board the tram, and the vehicle’s doors are all shut. To be safe, simply stop until the tram starts to move off again.
Find more tips on driving in Vienna here.