What changed on 7 September 2026
ÖBB is rebuilding the S-Bahn core line (Stammstrecke). Its closure leaflet dates the main closure from 7 September 2026 to the end of October 2027, between Hauptbahnhof/St. Marx and Praterstern. Wiener Linien adds that Wien Mitte (Landstraße) is closed to S-Bahn trains for the duration.
Three things follow for airport travellers:
- The S7 runs only between the airport and St. Marx.
- The CAT (City Airport Train) is replaced by coaches between the airport and Wien Mitte.
- ÖBB long-distance trains (Railjet, RJX, Intercity) still run from Wien Hauptbahnhof to the airport, and the REX7 is diverted to Hauptbahnhof.
The Vienna Airport rail page still lists the S7 to Wien Mitte in 25 minutes. That is the normal pattern, not what runs now (checked 19 October 2026).
The options compared
All figures were checked on 19 October 2026 on the operators' pages and WienTourismus.
| Option | Where it ends | Time | Adult one way | Children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railjet / Intercity | Wien Hauptbahnhof (U1) | about 15 min | €5.50 | €2.80 ages 6–14, under 6 free |
| REX7 | Wien Hauptbahnhof | about 20 min | €5.50 | as above |
| S7 | St. Marx, then tram 18 or 71 | about 18 min to St. Marx | €5.50 | as above |
| CAT bus | Wien Mitte/Landstraße (U3, U4) | 21 min | €14.90 (€24.90 return) | under 15 free |
| Vienna Airport Bus | Westbahnhof, Hauptbahnhof, Schwedenplatz, Karlsplatz, Praterstern, Donauzentrum | 20–40 min | €11 (€20 return) | €6 ages 6–14, under 6 free |
| Taxi | Your door | traffic-dependent | agree the price first | — |
Railjet and Intercity: the default pick
ÖBB's airport connections page gives a non-stop 15-minute run to Hauptbahnhof every half hour. Departures from the airport run from 6:33 until about 23:00, plus one at 00:02. Trains also serve Wien Meidling (U6), just under 30 minutes away, sometimes with a change at Hauptbahnhof.
WienTourismus gives the fare as €5.50 for adults: €2.30 from the airport to the city boundary at Schwechat plus €3.20 within Vienna. Its S7 page says the same €5.50 ticket covers the S7, REX7 or Railjet. Children aged 6 to 14 pay €2.80 and under-6s ride free. Because the Vienna part is a city ticket, the U1 from Hauptbahnhof to Karlsplatz or Stephansplatz needs no extra fare.
The airport's rail page shows a fare "from EUR 4.10" without explaining it. This guide uses the WienTourismus breakdown, which matches the ticket structure. Check the price in the ÖBB app or at the machine before you pay.
Buy at the ÖBB counter in the arrivals hall, at machines in the arrivals hall, passages and platforms, or in the ÖBB app. Validate a paper ticket before boarding.
CAT by bus: simplest with luggage, if Wien Mitte suits you
The CAT bus page runs the service from 7 September 2026 to 31 October 2027. Coaches leave the airport from Terminal 3, bus bay 0, and stop at Marxergasse 1b by the CAT foyer at Wien Mitte. WienTourismus gives a 21-minute trip.
- Every 12 minutes from 7:00 to 19:00, otherwise every 15 minutes
- From the airport: first 06:10, last 23:37
- From Wien Mitte: first 05:30, last 23:15
The CAT price page lists €14.90 one way and €24.90 return. Children under 15 ride free, and €7 applies with partner cards such as the KlimaTicket, a Wiener Linien annual pass, the ÖBB Vorteilscard or a student ID. Online tickets stay valid for 6 months and machine tickets for 30 days. Wiener Linien treats the CAT as separate from the city network, and CAT sells Vienna transit tickets as an add-on, so budget for an onward city ticket.
WienTourismus dates the CAT buses from 24 August 2026, a little earlier than CAT's own page. Both agree the buses run now.
S7 to St. Marx: only if you are staying nearby
The S7 page describes the shortened run. From St. Marx, take tram 18 toward Hauptbahnhof, tram 71 toward the centre, or bus 74A to Landstraße (U3/U4). The nearest U3 station is about a 10-minute walk away. It costs the same €5.50 as the Railjet, so pick it only if your hotel is in the 3rd district near the tram 18 or 71 corridor.
Vienna Airport Bus: five direct city stops
The airport's bus page lists five routes:
- VAB1 to Westbahnhof via Hauptbahnhof, 40 minutes
- VAB2 to Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz, 20 minutes, around the clock
- VAB3 to Donauzentrum via VIC/UNO City, 40 minutes
- VAB4 to Karlsplatz, 25 minutes (new since 5 September 2026)
- VAB5 to Praterstern, 30 minutes (new since 5 September 2026)
The operator's route page gives half-hourly service on VAB1 and VAB4, and on VAB5 during the day. Its price table lists €11 single and €20 return, €6 and €11 for ages 6 to 14, free under 6, and a €27 family ticket for two adults and two children up to 18. An online ticket is valid on the travel day and the following day; a single bought from the driver is valid only for that departure.
Already have a Vienna pass?
Wiener Linien states that a core zone ticket is not valid to or from the airport. WienTourismus says that holders of a Vienna City Card or a multi-day ticket add a €2.30 ticket for the airport-to-boundary leg, from ÖBB machines or counters. Validate both. That makes Railjet or S7 the clear choice for pass holders, at €2.30 against €14.90 for the CAT.
Our guide to Vienna public transport tickets covers which city tickets are still sold after the 48- and 72-hour tickets ended.
Worked costs: what a family pays
Two adults and a 10-year-old heading for a hotel near Karlsplatz (fares checked 19 October 2026):
- Railjet + U1: 2 × €5.50 + €2.80 = €13.80, about 15 minutes plus a short U1 ride
- Vienna Airport Bus VAB4: 2 × €11 + €6 = €28, about 25 minutes door to Karlsplatz
- CAT bus: 2 × €14.90 = €29.80 to Wien Mitte (child free), plus city tickets onward
The VAB4 earns its higher price if you would rather not haul bags through Hauptbahnhof and down to the U1. Otherwise, the train wins on both time and money.
Taxi: agree the price before you get in
The airport taxi page sends you to the rank in front of the arrivals hall or the City Transfer counters. It lists four companies (Airport Driver, ATS, Flughafentaxi ttc and 40100). It warns against people who approach you in the arrivals hall offering a ride, saying they often lack a licence.
The City of Vienna's taxi tariff page says the binding Vienna tariff does not apply to trips beyond the tariff area or the state border. The airport is outside the city limits, so no official airport fare is published. Confirm a price with the company or at the counter before you set off. A taxi makes sense for groups of three or four with heavy bags, or for a late arrival after the 23:37 CAT.
If you are still airside, our guide to EES passport control at Vienna Airport explains the new border checks.
