City tourists will know this all too well, as every large city offers its visitors advantage cards which offer reductions on all kinds of services. Even a stay in Vienna can be made lighter on the purse with the purchase of one of these cards, but the details depend on what you want to see and where you want to go.
Vienna City Card
The Vienna City Card is the official offering by Vienna Tourism and offers free travel on the underground, bus, and tram for 24, 48, or 72 hours. This is complemented by more than 210 discounts on TOP landmarks, restaurants, and shopping (for attractions, the discounts are an average of €1-2).
Note: One child (up to 15th birthday) may also travel free with each cardholder.
From 2017, the “red card” will be supplemented by a “white card”. The main difference here is that it is an expanded version. This has been expanded to include a 24-hour hop-on hop-off trip with Big Bus Vienna and a guided tour of the city, but does not include travel on public transport (underground, bus, and tram).
Note: One child (up to 16th birthday) may also travel free with each cardholder.
Where can you buy the Vienna City Card?
In the online shop at ViennaCityCard and in most hotels, in the tourist information offices at Albertinaplatz, Hauptbahnhof, and the Vienna Airport, at Wiener Linien sales and information points, and also with Big Bus Vienna.
Vienna Pass – the all-inclusive sightseeing card
Similarly to the “white card” of the Vienna City Card, the Vienna PASS is not for public transport, but rather combines sightseeing with the use of the hop-on hop-off buses from Vienna Sightseeing Tours.
Although this card is more expensive than the Vienna Card, the difference lies in the detail, as purchasing this city card gives you entry into more than 60 sights, including the Albertina, Hofburg, Schloss Schönbrunn, Leopold Museum, Museum of Art History, and the Natural History Museum, whose entry is already included in the price or free of charge because of it! In addition, all lines of the hop-on hop-off buses can be used as often as you want.
Tip: Vienna PASS holders enjoy a fast-track entry service, meaning they are granted priority at the entry points of many attractions and thus avoid queues at the ticket counters.
Where can I buy the Vienna PASS?
In the online shop at viennapass.com and In the customer centre at the State Opera, as well as in the tourist information offices and in most hotels.
Which card should I choose – the Vienna City Card or the Vienna Pass?
Vienna City Card: For stress-free connoisseurs, explorers, for relaxing in parks, on the Donauinsel, and merely visiting a few important sights. Also of interest for returning visitors to Vienna. This card covers the costs of public transport, allowing you to travel through Vienna free of charge, and also includes a few discounts for excursion destinations. Our tip: Buying online tickets for Schönbrunn Palace or the Zoo will save you a lot of time!
Vienna Pass: Interesting for all first-time visitors and break-style holidaymakers, who have a packed schedule ahead of them, or at least want to visit as many sights as possible. These type of visitors are focussed on the inner city anyway and are almost constantly travelling by bus or on foot, it pays off to make use of the free entries!
Are other discount cards available?
Flexi Pass – The flexible choice of discounts
With this offer, visitors to Vienna can choose 3-5 sights from over 30 sightseeing offers such as the Donauturm, the Belvedere, Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel, the Riding School, Schönbrunn Zoo, etc. What is included each time is access to the hop-on hop-off busses from Vienna Sightseeing Tours, valid for 24 hours.
Did you know?: The Flexi Pass is valid for 30 days after its first use! What’s more, this advantage card guarantees priority at admission checks for many sights.
Niederösterreich CARD
Although this discount card is primarily valid in Lower Austria, it also offers many discounts and free entry to place in the city and the surrounding area of Vienna respectively. During the 2017/2018 season, discounts are available on 25 attractions within the city of Vienna. You can purchase this annual pass online, at a Trafik, and at Raiffeisen banks.
Tip: The Niederösterreich-CARD (Lower Austria Card) is valid for a whole year! Those who are often in the Vienna area can used this card again and again.
