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Followup: Recent experience at Customs in Vienna

Posted by (Austin, TX, USA) on

This is a follow up to my original question which i posted last year. We reached Vienna about 20 minutes earlier than Scheduled and were through the customs in less than 5 minutes. Took CAT express (purchased them online on the phone as soon as we exited immigration) Round trip to the city walked up to Opera House and had a Sacher Torte. Just wanted to share. We were four people, 2 adults and 2 kids (13 year olds), on the way to Thessaloniki and then Chalkidiki. Most of our bags were checked in except a couple of roll ons. I think our biggest headache was jackets, walking made us warm and we did not know what to do with them :)

thanks

Murali

Hi all,

Quick question from a long time lurker. I have a 4 hour layover coming up in Vienna on the way to Thessaloniki. Has anyone >>ventured into the City in that duration. Not trying to do much, just catch a cup of coffee and enjoy the city. Thoughts? My past >>experience has been that the customs is pretty efficient (~30 minutes). it is more a matter of timing the train. thanks Murali

Posted by
11647 posts

When you say Customs I assume you mean passport control/ immigration too? Glad it worked out so you could see some of Vienna.
How was Thessaloniki? It has always interested me and have missed it on my trips to Greece.

Posted by
23650 posts

You should make it a point to keep customs and immigration separate in discussion since customs and immigration are not interchangeable. Immigration/passport control is where your passport is check and a determination is made about allowing you into their country or the Schengen. Customs is the control on what you are bring into the country and generally is a walk through the Green Door -- Nothing to Declare. You will encounter lines for immigration but nothing for customs.

Posted by
5518 posts

CAT - a total waste of money. Next time take the S7 instead.

Customs - you probably didn’t even notice walking through the green doorway that is customs as you exited the baggage area.

Immigration/Passport Control - assuming Vienna was your Schengen entry point, you would have had to go through passport control no matter what - even if you weren’t coming into the city and only changing gates.

Posted by
4072 posts

CAT - a total waste of money. Next time take the S7 instead.

Customs - you probably didn’t even notice walking through the green
doorway that is customs as you exited the baggage area.

Immigration/Passport Control - assuming Vienna was your Schengen entry
point, you would have had to go through passport control no matter
what - even if you weren’t coming into the city and only changing
gates.

My thoughts too especially about the CAT.

Posted by
2281 posts

Best train connection from the airport to the city is the RailJet (RJ), 15 minutes ride to main train station (Wien Hbf).
Alternatively the aforementioned S7 (Schnellbahn), 20 minutes ride to mid train station (Wien Mitte).
The fare (€4.10) is the same for either train. The ticket is valid for any connecting journey using public transport.

From both train stations there is a direct subway (U-Bahn) right to the very center of Vienna (St. Sthephen's Cathedral), 6 minutes ride.

Posted by
36 posts

Thessaloniki was good - spent a day on the ocean. However, we were in Porto Carras (Halkidiki) most of the time. We were there for the World Youth Chess Championships for two weeks. last 10 days of October. 81 Countries and 700 children. Our kids were there representing team USA. The resort and the adjoining village of Neos Maramaras was very nice. Late October, weather was pleasant - weather in 60s and 70s.

Overall great experience.

thanks

Murali

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