From Vienna Airport to the City by Train – The Cheap Way!
There’s no need to take the expensive City Airport Train (CAT) from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte, as the cheap local trains are just as good.
In this guide, I’ll show you the best way to travel by train from Vienna Airport!
Vienna Airport trains
Vienna Airport has its own railway station, where you can catch a train to the city centre as well as to many other destinations across Austria.
There are a few types of trains to choose from, each with its own price, route, pros, and cons.
Going to the main railway station
If you need to travel to Vienna’s main railway station (Wien Hbf), the best option is to take one of the Railjet trains, which take just 15 minutes and cost €4.50 for a single ticket.
You can easily buy your ticket online via the website of the ÖBB — the Austrian Railways — or from one of their ticket machines at the airport station.
However, Wien Hbf isn’t the closest station to the city centre, where most of Vienna’s sights are located and where the majority of tourists tend to stay.
If you need to get from Vienna Airport to the city centre, it’s best to take a train to Wien Mitte station, as it’s the most centrally located in the Austrian capital.
Wien Hbf. ©AndyBTravels
The City Airport Train (CAT)
There are two different trains that can take you from Vienna Airport to the city centre station of Wien Mitte: the City Airport Train (CAT), which is the express service, or one of the S-Bahn trains, which are standard suburban trains.
The CAT is the most expensive option, with a single ticket from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte costing €14.90.
This train takes 16 minutes to travel non-stop between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, and generally is the most comfortable option as it’s usually not very crowded on board.
When flying with certain airlines, you can check in your luggage at Wien Mitte before your flight instead of at the airport if you take the CAT, allowing you to board the airport train with just your hand luggage.
You can buy CAT tickets online or from their ticket machines at the airport; note that a return ticket is cheaper than two singles.
The City Airport Train (CAT). ©Flughafen Wien AG
The cheap option: The suburban train
The cheapest way to travel from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte station in the city centre is by taking the S-Bahn, the suburban trains operated by ÖBB.
With a travel time of 23 minutes, the S-Bahn from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte is only slightly slower than the City Airport Train (CAT), but at just €4.50 for a single ticket, it’s also much cheaper.
For what is essentially a suburban commuter service, the S-Bahn trains between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte are actually surprisingly smart, with level boarding, an on-board toilet, and plenty of space for luggage — whether in the overhead racks or the large open areas with fold-out seats.
In the YouTube video below, you can see what the journey is like from Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte station in the city centre by S-Bahn suburban train.
Buy tickets online on the ÖBB website, or from their ticket machines at the airport station.
Conclusion
There are several ways to get from Vienna Airport to the city, with the Railjet connecting the airport station to Vienna’s main railway station (Wien Hbf), and both the City Airport Train (CAT) and the suburban S-Bahn trains running to Wien Mitte, the most centrally located station.
For most travellers, there’s no need to choose the expensive City Airport Train when travelling from Vienna Airport to the city centre, as the S-Bahn trains are only a few minutes slower and perfectly comfortable.
Want to read about more airport trains? Read my articles about the Helsinki Airport Train and the Oslo Airport Train!
