All Vienna Tourist Passes Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
Vienna's two popular passes do very different things: the Vienna PASS gives free entry to sights like Schönbrunn (€28-38 on its own); the Vienna City Card is mostly transport.
Types of tourist pass
Habsburg palace-and-museum pass
Calendar days from midnight to midnight: Schönbrunn at opening, the Kunsthistorisches Museum after lunch, the hop-on bus in between.
In Vienna: Vienna PASS
Tram-and-U-Bahn card
Ride the U-Bahn, trams and buses for 24, 48 or 72 hours and show the card for money off at 200+ places.
In Vienna: Vienna City Card
Which pass for your trip?
Vienna PASS
- Schönbrunn, the Hofburg and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in 1-3 packed days. Free entry to up to 90 sights, plus the sightseeing bus.
Vienna City Card
- A relaxed stay, riding trams out to Schönbrunn and the Prater. Transport plus a discount at the sights you pick.
No pass needed
- St Stephen's, the Ring and Schönbrunn's park on foot. All free; buy the one or two paid tickets directly.
The passes compared
Vienna PASS
- Attractions
- Up to 90
- Price
- From €109
- Time to use
- 1, 2, 3 or 6 days
- Best for
- Schönbrunn plus the Ringstrasse museums in a rush
- Schönbrunn (€28-38) is on it
- Hop-on hop-off bus around the Ring
- Loses money at a coffee-house pace
Vienna City Card
- Attractions
- 200+ discounts
- Price
- From €19
- Time to use
- 24, 48 or 72 hours
- Best for
- Trams out to Schönbrunn and the Prater
- All city transport
- Money off at 200+ places
- Schönbrunn and museums only discounted
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | Vienna PASS | City Card |
|---|---|---|
| Schönbrunn Palace | Included | Discount or add-on |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Hop-on hop-off bus | Included | Discount or add-on |
| Public transport | Not confirmed | Included |
Worth knowing before you buy
Free entry vs discounts
The Vienna PASS gets you in free. The Vienna City Card only gives discounts.
Schönbrunn is the big ticket
€28-38 on its own, so it's a big part of the Vienna PASS's value.
Transport is the City Card's value
If you'll ride a lot, it pays for itself on transport alone.
Some top sights are free
St Stephen's Cathedral is free to enter, and Schönbrunn's park costs nothing.
Under-19s are often free
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is free for under-19s.
Whichever pass you pick, queues at Schönbrunn eat into your day. Check how busy each attraction is right now on beatthecrowd.co.
Check live crowds in Vienna →How pass companies make money
A pass in Vienna is a bet: the seller wins if you slow down, you win if you plan. Here's the business behind Vienna PASS and Vienna City Card.
Attractions such as Schönbrunn Palace give pass sellers a discount in return for guaranteed visitors.
Rainy days, late starts and skipped sights all count in the seller's favour.
Each extra day or pick on Vienna PASS is only a saving if you'd really use it.
FAQs
Which Vienna pass is best?
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For packed days of sights, the Vienna PASS. For getting around with small discounts, the Vienna City Card.
Which Vienna pass includes Schönbrunn?
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The Vienna PASS includes it; the City Card gives a discount.
Which Vienna pass includes public transport?
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The Vienna City Card: unlimited U-Bahn, trams and buses for 24, 48 or 72 hours. The Vienna PASS has the hop-on hop-off bus instead.
Do kids need a Vienna pass?
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Often not for museums: the Kunsthistorisches Museum is free for under-19s, so check each sight's youth rate before buying one for them.