Getting from Vienna Airport into Vienna - local thoughts

City Airport Train (CAT) - You will be bombarded with green CAT advertising from the moment you step off the plane. Do not be tempted. Remember, you are better than this. But if for some reason you really want to take the CAT, then there is a handy dandy green desk to the right as you exit baggage claim. You can also purchase your CAT ticket online. A single ticket is 14.90 Euro and a roundtrip ticket brings the cost each way to a bit less. The problem with the CAT is that is only makes one stop at Wien Mitte, which is great if you are staying near Wien Mitte, but very inconvenient if you are staying anywhere else in the city. Imagine you are staying at one of the many hotels near Rennweg. Your CAT blows past Rennweg, stopping at Wien Mitte. You then have to get back on another train, backtracking to Rennweg. Why didn't I just take the S7 and get off at Rennweg, you might ask yourself. Anyway, the CAT also takes the same tracks as the S7 and take 16 minutes as opposed to 20-25, so not really a time saver. The CAT also runs every 30 minutes. I think you can see my feelings, but ultimately, it is your choice. The only advantage I have ever found with the CAT is that you can check in your luggage at the CAT station at Wien Mitte for some, not all, airlines. For some, this may be useful. The CAT also has a zero entry floor.

https://www.cityairporttrain.com/en

Bus

VAL - The Vienna Airport Lines (VAL) bus is another option for getting to the city, particularly outer districts. There are three lines which you can read about in the link below. The cost is 11 Euro one way or 20 Euro round trip. For me personally, I do not like to risk it with traffic, but this might be convenient for those staying near the UN. The bus is also the best option for late night, very early morning departures to the airport.

https://www.wien.info/en/travel-info/arrival-departure/airport-to-center/bus-connections-341992

Car

Uber - Pretty self-explanatory. Download the Uber app. Pay in advance. Get to your accommodation, door to door, in probably 20 minutes. Cost will be 40-50 Euro most likely, but pricing is transparent before you pay. No need to speak to the driver and explain where you are going because you enter that information in the app. Tipping can also be included in the app payment. Uber pick up is on the departure floor, not the arrival floor.

Taxi - there is a taxi desk at the airport, so you can walk up and order one, paying a flat fee on the spot. You might want to tip your driver some cash. This will be the gold plated option. You can also order taxis in advance online, pre-paying. Here is a helpful link with a full explanation.

https://www.wien.info/en/travel-info/arrival-departure/airport-to-center/taxi-360908

I can attest the Railjet is very easy if you need to get to the Hauptbanhof. I've done this a few times and will do so again next week.

Very good summary.

I agree that S7/REX7 and Railjet is a great option the majority of time. But if one arrives late especially after a long day of travel and being tired (as we recently did), using a taxi to get you door to door takes away much of the worry and hassle navigating a new new city at night.

I hear you. If I am traveling for business, I definitely take an Uber - and I know how to get around.

One note if taking taxi or car, have a printout of your hotel address with you. I told my driver at the airport Hilton Vienna Plaza on the Schottenring and he had never heard of it. I showed him the address, he put it into Google maps and voila. He was surprised when we got there, there seem to be several Hiltons in town.

Of course, it's standard advice when travelling to ALWAYS carry your hotel's address with you, just a business card can suffice. Or even a pen!

Emily, I know how much work doing something like this is. I also know how helpful it can be. Thank you.

One thing I have found out is that you can use the Check In and Luggage Drop at the CAT terminal at Mitte, even if you are not travelling to the airport using the CAT. I have done that on a few occasions, when I would just drop my luggage in the morning, then spend some more time in Vienna, and then I just took the S7 to the airport...

Thank you, Emily! Very much appreciated! My daughter & I will be there in a few months for the Christmas Markets.

My husband & I took the CAT to the airport several years ago, and I remember reading afterwards that it wasn’t the cheapest option. We were staying near St.Stephen’s which is the area my daughter & I will be staying.

Emily

You make me wish I was going to Vienna, with all the incredibly detailed and useful information you share!

The CAT website says you can only use the city check-in process with a valid CAT ticket. Perhaps that has changed recently.

First visit I took the CAT--I arrived late, early evening, due to flight delays, and was overly tired, frazzled, nursing a blister and had gotten sick from some fruit on the plane--as you say, the CAT is right there and at that point I wasn't searching for the other options I had researched. Second visit I was prepared and took the S7--equally pleasant but much cheaper experience. I love Vienna for many reasons, one of which is its excellent and well-run transit options.

I prefer the OeBB's RailJets going to Hauptbahnhof (main train station) in only 15 minutes. From there you can get to any location in Vienna rather easily. There are only a few places where taking the S7 is a real advantage.

The CAT is expensive and its tickets do not entitle you to continue your journey using public transport in Vienna.
The ridiculous thing is that 50% of the CAT company is owned by OeBB, in direct competition to its RailJet trains.

City check-in and baggage drop at the CAT terminal at Wien Mitte is only available for a few airlines (11 at the moment).
https://www.cityairporttrain.com/en/info-service/cat-city-check-in/

Yes, the convenience of the Railjet (15 minutes, non-stop to Hauptbahnhof) cannot be understated. Especially as it is such a bargain. Only downside to me is those steps.

Emily, for our listeners, explain how the RailJet tickets get you on the Vienna metro.

Emily, for our listeners, explain how the RailJet tickets get you on
the Vienna metro.

There is no such thing as a "railjet ticket".

Public transport in Vienna is integrated, and mode neutral. Tariffs are set by the tariff union called VOR in that part of Austria.
So when you buy a ticket from the airport to the city what you buy is a VOR transport ticket that entitles you to one trip from the airport to any point within Vienna City and that using any means of transport that is part of the VOR system. So anything except for the CAT train and private operators like Westbahn and Regiojet.
Which means that you can take any ÖBB train to a point in the city, and then continue on metro, tram and bus till your destination. And "any "OBB train" means, Railjet as well as regional trains an S-Bahn.

This is integrated public transport. Quite common in central Europe. It works the same way in Switzerland and Germany for example.