Vienna U-Bahn — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets (2024)

It is a rapid transit system and a popular means of public transport in Vienna, Austria. Two of its lines were opened in 1898 and were later integrated into the modern underground system, which was opened on 8 May 1976. The transit system has a total length of 80 kilometres, serves 105 stations and includes nine interchanges. According to 2009 statistics, the system had a daily ridership of 1,300,000 passengers. By 2011, around 567.6 million people had used the metro system. Further expansion of the system is underway, which will increase the number of stations to 116, with a total track length of 90 kilometres. In 2009, the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) rated the metro system as the backbone of the best public transport system in terms of performance.

The metro opens every day, from around 5:00 am to around 1:00 am. A metro ticket costs from €1.10. You can show your ticket to the metro driver so they can tell you where you came from if you get lost. Fun fact: The excavation of the tunnels for the metro led to the discovery of ancient artefacts. A new line, the U5, is due to be built by 2023. You can take the underground from Stephansplatz station to many tourist attractions in the centre of Vienna.

The Vienna Underground, colloquially known as the U-Bahn, is a busy hub of activity, carrying around 1.4 million passengers every day. The fare for a journey on this network is quite affordable at €1.70. An interesting fact about the operation of the metro is that it runs 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, a plan that has been in place since 3 September 2010.

The Underground offers a comfortable journey with air conditioning on all trains. They have also made it easier for passengers to walk between platforms. However, the U-Bahn does not use driverless trains, nor does it have screen doors on its platforms. The underground is operated by a company called Wiener Linien.

The U-Bahn operates from 4.44 in the morning to 0.49 at night, Monday to Friday, Saturday, Sunday and on public holidays. There is an extra charge of €2, although it is unclear what this extra charge is for.

For more information, the official website of the Vienna Underground provides comprehensive details and updates on the underground. This portal is managed and regularly updated by Wiener Linien to ensure that all passengers have access to the latest and most accurate information about the operation of the underground.

Metros in Austria: The U-Bahn (Vienna Metro)

Vienna, the capital of Austria, has a rich historical background as part of an ancient empire, a fact recognised and protected by UNESCO. With a population of over 1.6 million, it is Austria’s most populous and economically vital city. Divided into 23 districts, Vienna has an annual temperature range of 26º C highs to -2º C lows.

Vienna International Airport, or Flughafen Wien-Schwechat, serves as the city’s primary air transportation hub. The city has an extensive public transport network that includes buses, trams, commuter trains, railways and underground systems. All transport within Vienna falls under one zone, so there’s no extra charge for travel within the city. The city’s rail services include the S-Bahn, RegionalExpress and Regionalbahn.

History

The concept of a metro in Vienna dates back to 1840, but it was repeatedly rejected until 1968. The city’s first railway, the Stadtbahn, opened in 1898 but proved inadequate for moving large numbers of people. This inefficiency led to the proposal of an underground railway in 1910, but World War I interrupted the plans. The Viennese government revived the idea of a metro between 1912 and 1914, only to abandon it in the late 1920s due to the country’s economic problems. In 1937 the construction of the underground was again considered, but the Second World War intervened. Finally, on 23 January 1968, the Viennese government committed itself to building the metro.

Construction began on 3 November 1969, with Karlsplatz being the first station to be built. The first lines, U1, U2 and U4, were opened to the public after successful tests on 8 May 1976 and an official inauguration on 25 February 1978. The U6 line was opened in 1989 and the U3 line was added in 1991.

Lines and Stations

The Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) consists of five lines: U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6, with a total of 104 stations, most of which are underground, except for U6, which runs partly above ground. The integrated fare system allows passengers to switch between the underground, trams, suburban trains and buses with a single ticket, making navigation around the city quick and easy. Below are the characteristics of each line:

U1 (Red Line): One of the longest lines in the network, the U1 connects the east of the city with the centre-south. Major attractions such as the cathedral and the Prater amusem*nt park have their own stations on this line. The 19 stations of the U1 are Reumannplatz, Südtiroler Platz/Hauptbahnhof, Keplerplatz, Karlplatz, Taubstummengasse, Nestroyplatz, Stephansplatz, Donauinsel, Vorgartenstrasse, Praterstern, Schwedenplatz, Grossfeldsiedlung, Kagraner Platz, Rennbahnweg, Alte Donau, Kaisermühlen/Vienna International Centre, Kagran, Aderklaaer Strasser and Leopoldau.
U2 (Purple Line): The shortest line, the U2 runs from the eastern side of the city to the city centre. Its 20 stations include Seestadt, Hausfeldstrasse, Aspern Nord, Donauspital, Aspernstrasse, Stadlau, Hardeggasse, Donaumarina, Donaustadtbrücke, Krieau, Stadion, Praterstern, Messe-Prater, Schottenring, Taborstrasse, Rathaus, Schottentor, Museumsquartier, Volkstheater and Karlsplatz.
U3 (yellow line): The U3 runs from the south-east to the west side of Vienna. Its 21 stations are Ottakring, Hütteldorfer Strasse, Kendlerstrasse, Schweglerstrasse, Johnstrasse, Zieglergasse, Westbahnhof, Volkstheater, Neubaugasse, Stephansplatz, Herrengasse, Landstrasse, Stubentor, Kardinal-Nagl-Platz, Rochusgasse, Erdberg, Schlachthausgasse, Zippererstrasse, Gasometer, Enkplatz and Simmering.
U4 (Green Line): Particularly popular with visitors, the U4 covers Vienna’s city centre and major sights, including Schönbrunn Palace. The 20 stations on this line are Hütteldorf, Unter St. Veit, Ober St. Veit, Hietzing, Braunschweiggasse, Meidling Hauptstrasse, Schönbrunn, Margaretengürtel, Längenfeldgasse, Kettenbrückengasse, Pilgramgasse, Stadtpark, Karlsplatz, Landstrasse, Schottering, Schwedenplatz, Friedensbrücke, Rossauer Lände, Spittelau and Heiligenstadt.
U6 (brown line): Running from north to south on the west side of the city, the U6 does not go through the city centre and is therefore less useful for tourists. The 24 stations on this line are Siebenhirten, Erlaaer Strasse, Perfektastrasse, Tscherttegasse, Am Schöpfwerk, Niederhofstrasse, Bahnhof Meidling, Gumpendorfer Strasse, Längen.

Interconnections

The Vienna Underground connects with other transport systems operated by Wiener Linien, such as trams (including the S-Bahn), buses (1 to 99), Nightline and collective taxis. The U-Bahn also connects with the Badner Bahn, which serves the metropolitan area and is operated by Wiener Lokalbahnen.

Airport Connection

Vienna International Airport (Flughafen Wien-Schwechat) does not have a direct underground line. Instead, passengers must change to the S-Bahn. From the airport, passengers can take the S-Bahn S7 towards Floridsdorf (under €5) to Wien-Mitte station, where they can change to the U3 underground line. To reach the city centre, passengers can take the U3 from Wien-Mitte station to Stephansplatz station.

Operation Schedule and Timetables

The frequency of trains varies depending on the time of day, with an average frequency of every 5 minutes. During rush hours, trains run every 2-4 minutes, while the frequency drops to 7-8 minutes after 20:30. On Friday and Saturday nights and the eve of public holidays, trains run every 15 minutes. The metro runs every day, including public holidays. The opening and closing times for each line from Monday to Friday are as follows:

U1: Opens at Reumannplatz station at 5:05 am, and closes at Leopoldau station at 12:35 am.
U2: Opens at Seestadt station at 5:01 am, and closes at Karlsplatz station at 12:58 am.
U3: Opens at Ottakring station at 4:54 am, and closes at Simmering station at 12:21 am.
U4: Opens at Hütteldorf station at 4:52 am, and closes at Heiligenstadt station at 12:45 am.
U6: Opens at Siebenhirten station at 5:08 am, and closes at Floridsdorf station at 12:48 am.

On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, the opening and closing times vary as follows:

U1: Opens at Reumannplatz station at 12:35 am, and closes at Leopoldau station at the same time the following day.
U2: Opens at Seestadt station at 5:01 am, and closes at Karlsplatz station at 12:58 am.
U3: Opens at Ottakring station at 12:34 am, and closes at Simmering station at 12:48 am the following day.
U4: Opens at Hütteldorf station at 12:19 am, and closes at Heiligenstadt station at 12:45 am the following day.
U6: Opens at Siebenhirten station at 12:17 am, and closes at Floridsdorf station at 12:30 am the following day.

Fares, Tickets, and Cards

There are a variety of fare options for the Vienna Underground in the form of tickets and cards. These options can be divided into the following categories: Single tickets, Time-based tickets and Student tickets.

Single tickets: These tickets come in two types:

Single Ride Vienna (€2.20): Provides one-way access to all Wiener Linien services.
Single Ticket Vienna-Discount (€1.10): Available for children aged six to 15, military personnel, holders of the Vienna social pass and for persons transporting bicycles on suburban and regional trains of the ÖBB in Vienna.

Time-based tickets: There are several options under this category, each offering journeys for specific time periods:

90 Minutes Vienna (€2.80): Valid for up to 90 minutes.
24 Hours Vienna Ticket (€7.60): Valid for up to 24 hours from the date printed on the ticket.
48 Hours Vienna Ticket (€13.30): Valid up to 48 hours from the date printed on the ticket.
72 Hours Vienna Ticket (€16.50): Valid for up to 72 hours from the date printed on the ticket.
Day ticket (€5.50): Valid until 1:00am the following day.
Vienna monthly ticket (€48.20): Valid from midnight of the first day of the month until midnight of the second day of the following month.
Vienna weekly ticket (€16.20): Valid from midnight on Monday to 9:00 am on the following Monday.

Student tickets: These are specially designed for students and are available in two types:

Youth Ticket 2016/17 (€19.60): Designed for primary, secondary and vocational school students, it allows unlimited travel between home and school on weekdays up to the age of 25. Valid in Vienna, Burgenland and Lower Austria.
TOP Youth Ticket 2016/17 (€60): Similar to the Youth Ticket but with broader benefits, it provides unlimited travel to any destination in Vienna, not just school, and is valid until the holder reaches the age of 24.

Student tickets: These can be divided into three types:

Vienna Semester Ticket (€150): This ticket is available for the summer semester (1 February – 30 June) and the winter semester (1
September – 31 January). It requires proof of enrolment at a university or college and the Wiener Linien Entitlement Card and is valid for users up to the age of 26.
Holiday Monthly Ticket for Students in Vienna (€29.50): This offers unlimited travel during the holiday months of July and August for students enrolled at a university or college and is valid up to the age of 26.
Vienna Semester Ticket for people with main residence in Vienna (€75): This is valid for the summer and winter semesters and requires the user to have a primary residence in Vienna and to be enrolled at a university. It also requires the Wiener Linien
Entitlement Card and is valid until the user reaches the age of 26.

Student tickets and cards: These are divided into the Vienna Visitor and the Annual Travel Card:

Vienna Visitor: There are several options available under this category, including.
EASY City Pass Vienna: This provides unlimited travel in Vienna for 24 hours (€14.90), 48 hours (€17.90), 72 hours (€20.90) or one week (€26.90, valid from Monday 12:00 to the following Monday 9:00). Children under the age of 15 can travel free of charge.
The Official Vienna City Card: This card offers unlimited travel for 24 hours (€13.90), 48 hours (€21.90) or 72 hours (€24.90), plus discounts at over 200 locations including museums and restaurants. Each pass allows one child under the age of 15 to travel free with an adult.
QUEER City Pass Vienna: Designed for the LGBT community, it offers 24 hours (€14.90), 48 hours (€18.90), 72 hours (€21.90) or a week (€26.90, valid from Monday 12:00 am to 9:00 am the following Monday) of unlimited rides in Vienna, as well as discounts at certain museums, restaurants and other attractions.

Tips and Guidelines

Recommendations:

Confirm your ticket’s validation point with the metro driver to assist with your journey if you get lost.

Use the 8-day ticket, which gives you 8 journeys. Stamp the ticket sequentially from the first slot to avoid invalidating it.

If you are staying for a week, consider the EASY City Pass Vienna (One Week) or the Vienna Weekly Ticket for cost efficiency. If you plan to visit many tourist attractions, the Vienna Card or the EASY City Pass Vienna can help you save money.

Metro Etiquette and Rules

The following actions are not allowed in the metro:

Alcohol consumption.
Goods selling.
Begging.
Misuse of emergency facilities.
Unleashed or unmuzzled dogs (excluding guide and police dogs).
Smoking.
Playing loud music.
Littering.
Damaging metro property.
Riding bicycles, skateboards, or other similar vehicles within the metro.

Dogs in cages do not need to be leashed or muzzled and there is no charge to take them. However, dogs outside cages must be kept on a lead and muzzled in the metro and station lifts.

Bicycles can be taken free of charge on the metro, but must be placed where a blue bicycle sign indicates. Entry and exit must be through doors marked with a blue bicycle sign. Bicycles are allowed from 9:00 to 15:00 and from 18:30 to closing from Monday to Friday. Bicycles may be brought in at any time on weekends and public holidays.

Keep escape routes and guidance systems for visually impaired passengers clear. Dispose of rubbish in the containers provided and be respectful of other passengers.

Fun Facts

All trains are air-conditioned.

Some stations feature art installations, such as Anton Lehmden’s work at Volkstheater station.

Archaeological artefacts discovered during the construction of the metro are on display at Stephansplatz, Stubentor,

Schwedenplatz and Rochusgasse stations.

The design of the carriages is similar to those in Munich, Nuremberg and Berlin.

The Donauinsel station leads to a beach.

For a panoramic view of the Danube Canal, take the U4 line from Landstrasse to Friedensbrücke.

Future Expansions

In 2023, a new underground line called the U5 will be built. The trains on this line will be fully automated. Previously, in September 2017, five new stations were inaugurated on line U1, at Oberlaa, Alaudagasse, Neulaa, Altes Landgut and Troststrasse. In 2023, five more stations are expected to be added to the U2 line, at Rathaus, Pilgramgasse, Neubaugasse, Reinprechtsdorfer Strasse and Matzleinsdorfer Platz. There are also plans to build a sixth station at An Den Alten Schanzen, but no date has been set for its construction.

Nearby Attractions

Stephansplatz is the nearest underground station to the city centre. Here are some instructions on how to reach popular tourist attractions from this station by underground:

Belvedere Palace: The journey takes about 15 minutes. From Stephansplatz station, take the U1 underground line in the direction of Reumannplatz and get off at Karlsplatz after two minutes. Walk four minutes to Kärntner Ring/Oper, then take a six-minute tram on line D towards Alfred-Adler-Strasse. Get off at Schloss Belvedere and walk three minutes to Prinz Eugenstraße 27, A-1037.
Austrian Parliament Building: This takes about 10 minutes. From Stephansplatz take the U3 towards Ottakring and get off at Volkstheater after three minutes. From there it is a seven minute walk to Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring 3, 1017.
Spanish Riding School: The journey takes about 10 minutes. Take the U3 towards Ottakring from Stephansplatz and get off at Herrengasse after two minutes. From there it is an eight minute walk to Michaelerplatz 1, 1010.
Karlskirchen: The walk takes about 8 minutes. From Stephansplatz take the U1 in the direction of Reumannplatz and get off at Karlsplatz after two minutes. It is a six minute walk to Karlsplatz 1, 1040.
Vienna City Hall: Estimated journey time 14 minutes. From Stephansplatz take the U3 towards Ottakring and get off at Volkstheater after three minutes. Walk four minutes to the U2 platform and take a train towards Seestadt for two minutes. Get off at Rathaus and walk five minutes to Friedrich-Schmidt.