The Vienna metro is typically the top recommendation for traveling anywhere in the city.
Known locally as the U-Bahn, this network was inaugurated in 1976, although Vienna had a pre-metro system with similar functionality dating back to 1898.
It consists of five lines, nearly all of which operate underground.
Stations are usually named after city areas, streets, or notable buildings. Signage is clear in both German and English, making it easier to navigate without getting lost.
To help you get around the city, we’ve prepared this Vienna map.
For a more efficient and budget-friendly way to explore, we recommend the Vienna tourist card with public transportation and discounts on attractions. It’s an ideal choice to make the most of your visit. Get yours here: Vienna Tourist Card.
Vienna Metro Lines
Here are the routes for the five lines of the Vienna Metro:
- U1 Line (Red): Connects the northeastern part of the city with the south-central area, from Leopoldau station to Reumannplatz.
- U2 Line (Purple): Runs through the city center, from Stadion station to Karlsplatz.
- U3 Line (Orange): Begins in the west and stretches to the southeast, from Ottakring to Simmering.
- U4 Line (Green): A well-used line covering a significant portion of the center, running from Hütteldorf to Heiligenstadt.
- U6 Line (Brown): The longest line, traversing the city from north to south, with a route from Siebenhirten to Florisdorf.
We highly recommend getting the Vienna Card for free public transportation across the city.
You can also explore Vienna by hopping on a tourist bus with flexible stops. This is a great choice for those who want to combine convenient transport with sightseeing. Find prices and more details here: Hop-On Hop-Off Tour.
Curiosities about the Vienna Metro
You might wonder why there’s no Line 5 on the Vienna Metro. The truth is, it doesn’t exist.
Originally proposed, it soon became clear that the planned route was not feasible, and parts of it were integrated into other lines instead:
- The Praterstern-Stadlauer Brücke section was added to U1.
- The Schotternring-Hernals segment was planned as a branch of U4.
Despite numerous plans to build a U5 line over the years, they were postponed or discarded.
In the 1980s, there were discussions about building the Schottenring-Hernals branch and naming it U5, but nothing materialized.
Another proposal in the 1990s suggested a U5 that would cross the Danube to Stadlay, but this plan also never came to fruition.
Recently, there has been a rumor that Line 5 might follow the current route of bus 13.
Vienna Metro Operating Hours
The Vienna Metro runs frequently, with intervals ranging from 2 to 8 minutes depending on the time of day.
This highly efficient system facilitates seamless transfers for both tourists and locals.
With nearly 500 million passengers annually, the Vienna Metro continues to expand, with plans to extend several lines to cover suburban areas better.
Like the bus and tram, tickets can be purchased in advance at city transportation ticket counters, vending machines in metro stations, or at the tourist office located at Albertinaplatz.
Vienna Metro operates from 5:00 a.m. to midnight.
The metro network is managed by Wiener Linien, a public company owned by the Vienna City Council, which also oversees the city’s bus and tram services.