The Vienna Airport is located about 18 kilometers southeast of Vienna, Austria’s capital city. Known as the Schwechat Airport due to its location in the town of Schwechat, it is the busiest airport in the country.
Schwechat Airport is one of Central Europe’s major transportation hubs and is continually expanding, connecting Vienna with numerous destinations in Europe, Asia, the U.S., and Canada.
In 2012, the airport served over 22 million passengers, highlighting its significance. The airport has two terminals, which are close enough that you can walk between them. If you’re planning a short trip to Vienna, flying in is a convenient option as the airport is well-connected to the city center.
For easy access to the city’s attractions, consider the Vienna Tourist Card with public transport and discounts, which can be a great travel companion. Get yours here: Vienna Tourist Card.
How to Get from Vienna Airport to the City Center
Here are the best transportation options:
1. Private Transfer
This is the most convenient but also the priciest option. If you arrive by plane feeling tired or carrying lots of luggage, a private transfer is ideal for getting to your hotel quickly and starting your trip without delay.
It’s best to book this service in advance online through this link.
You can also book a round-trip private transfer to and from the airport, especially convenient for groups of three or more.
2. City Airport Train (CAT)
The CAT directly connects the airport to Vienna’s main transportation hubs in just 15 minutes, with no transfers needed.
This train station also offers check-in services for certain airlines, allowing you to check luggage between 18 hours and 75 minutes before your flight.
A valid CAT ticket is required for this Vienna airport transportation service.
- Vienna Airport – Vienna City Center: daily from 06:09 to 23:39, every half hour
- Vienna City Center – Vienna Airport: daily from 05:36 to 23:06, every half hour
A single ticket for the City Airport Train (CAT) costs €11, while a round trip is €17. Children under 14 and wheelchair users travel for free. The easiest way to purchase tickets is online, where you can get a small discount of around two euros through this link.
Once you reach the city center, you can get around with ease thanks to the Vienna metro.
3. Intercity Express (ICE)
Another option for getting from Vienna Airport to the city center is the Intercity Express (ICE), operated by the Austrian Railway (ÖBB). These trains provide direct connections to Weks, Linz, and St. Pölten and stop at Meidling and Vienna’s Central Station.
From Wien Meidling and Vienna’s Central Station, there are two connections per hour to the airport, running from 5:30 to 22:00 daily, with trains departing every 30 minutes.
First Route:
- Vienna Airport – Wien Meidling: Daily from 06:33, every 30 minutes until 23:03
- Wien Meidling – Vienna Airport: Daily from 05:24, every 30 minutes from 09:01 to 22:01
Journey time: 26 minutes Ticket Price: €3.90 (consisting of €1.70 for the outer zone + €2.20 for Vienna’s urban area) Children under six travel for free; children and youth ages six to fifteen pay €4.20.
Second Route:
- Vienna Airport – Vienna Central Station: Every day from 06:33, every 30 minutes
- Vienna Central Station – Vienna Airport: Journey time of 18 minutes, every day from 05:39, and every 32 minutes from 09:11 to 22:11
Journey time: 18 minutes Ticket Price: €3.90 (€1.70 for the outer zone + €2.20 for the urban zone) Free for children under six; children and youth ages six to fifteen pay €4.20.
Tickets are available at www.oebb.at, in ticket machines, through the ÖBB Ticket-App, or directly on the train.
4. S7 Commuter Train
The S7 commuter train connects Vienna Airport with the Floridsdorf district, taking about 37 minutes with several stops along the way.
- Vienna Airport – Wien Floridsdorf: Daily from 05:18 to 00:18
- Wien Floridsdorf – Vienna Airport: Daily from 04:36 to 23:36
Schedules are available on the ÖBB website: [oebb.at](http://www.oebb.at).
Tickets:
Since the airport is outside Vienna’s metropolitan area, two tickets are required: one for the outer zone at €1.70, and one for the urban area at €2.20.
With a Vienna Card or a multi-day pass (Wiener Linien), only an additional €1.70 ticket is needed to exit the metropolitan area.
Note: This single €1.70 ticket is only available through ticket machines.
Children under six travel for free.
Tickets can be purchased at machines and also at the Tourist Office located in the airport.
NOTE: Single tickets bought directly on buses or trams cost €2.30 due to an additional surcharge.
5. Taxi
Taking a taxi is another convenient option. However, the main drawback is its higher cost.
The journey to Vienna’s city center typically takes about 30 minutes, with fares generally ranging between €45 and €55 depending on the location of your hotel.
6. Bus
While it is possible to travel by bus from the airport to the city center, this is honestly the least recommended option.
It is more expensive than the train, slower, and more complex to navigate.
History of Vienna Airport
Vienna Airport was initially constructed as a military base in 1938 and was later taken over by the British at the end of World War II in 1945.
In 1954, the airport replaced Aspern Airport as the primary airport for Vienna and all of Austria.
At that time, it had only one runway, which was extended to 3,000 meters in 1959. Construction on a new terminal building began in 1960, and a second runway was added in 1972.
The Vienna Airport has welcomed Olympic teams twice, as Austria hosted the Winter Olympics on two occasions.
Pope John Paul II also used this airport during his visit to Austria.
As a point of interest, in 1985, the Israeli airline El Al’s ticket counter at the airport was the target of an attack by Palestinian terrorists.