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Known for its classical music heritage, grand architecture, and café culture, Vienna is a rewarding city to explore—but whether it makes sense during a layover depends on how much time you have. Vienna International Airport is relatively close to the city, and with a long enough connection, it’s possible to step outside the terminal and see a few highlights.
That said, sightseeing during a layover isn’t always practical. Travel time, security queues, and your airline’s check-in requirements can quickly eat into your schedule. This guide is designed to help you decide if leaving the airport is realistic for you, and if so, which sights are easiest to fit into a short visit without feeling rushed.
Airport Overview
Vienna Airport is about 20 km southeast of the city. Depending on which train you take and where you’re going in Vienna, most trips land in the ~15–40 minute range (not including waiting time for the next departure). If you only have a few hours before your next flight, you should stay at the airport. Like most airports, the terminal has a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafés and free WiFi. With a longer layover, take advantage of the ‘VISITOR WORLD tour,’ which will give you insights into the hustle and bustle at the airport. Aviation enthusiasts will also get the chance to choose from a variety of tours, such as the Austrian Aircraft shipyard tour, AUA Aircraft shipyard Combi Tour XL, and many others. For more information on the airport, check out our Vienna Airport Guide.
Vienna Sightseeing Attractions
Below are a few of the top things to do in Vienna during your layover:
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing buses can be a low-effort way to get oriented in Vienna if you have a longer layover and want something structured. These tours follow set routes through the historic centre, passing major landmarks such as the State Opera, Hofburg Palace, and Ringstrasse, with recorded commentary provided on board.
Most Hop-On Hop-Off tours do not depart from the airport, so you’ll need to travel into the city first—typically to central areas near the Opera, Karlsplatz, or Ringstrasse, depending on the operator. Routes, stop locations, frequency, and operating hours vary by company and season, so it’s important to check current details before you go.
If you want to keep things simple, some travellers choose to stay on the bus for a single loop to get a general overview of the city. Others may prefer to hop off briefly for a short walk or a traditional Viennese coffeehouse stop near one of the central stops, then continue or head back toward the airport.
- How to get there: Most Hop-On Hop-Off tours depart from central Vienna rather than the airport. From Vienna Airport, you can take a train to Wien Mitte/Landstraße, then continue on foot or by public transport to the tour’s nearest stop. Allow at least 30–45 minutes to reach the city centre, depending on your train choice and connection time.
- Time Required: Even without getting off the bus, the full loop usually takes 1.5–2 hours, not including travel time from and back to the airport. This option generally works best if you have at least 6–7 hours total between flights.
- Plan Your Visit: Check out Tripadvisor for more tour details, visitor reviews, and reservation options.
Museumsquartier
If you are an artist or are simply interested in art, check out the Museumsquartier. Here, you will find the Leopold Museum, the MUMOK, and exhibition centres, such as the Kunsthalle Wien. Architecture lovers will be delighted by the quarter’s ancient Baroque buildings and modern establishments designed by architects Laurids and Manfred Ortner.
- How to get there: How to get there: Take a train from the airport to Wien Mitte/Landstraße, then continue by U-Bahn (often U3 toward Ottakring to Volkstheater, then a short walk). Plan roughly 30–45 minutes total from the airport, depending on connections and walking speed. You can check this Google Maps for more info.
- Time Required: This largely depends on how many museums you want to visit. You can easily spend a whole day here.
- Plan Your Visit: Check out Tripadvisor for more tour details, visitor reviews, and reservation options.
Vienna Opera House
It’s no mystery. Vienna is mainly known for its musical past. From Mozart to Strauss, Haydn, and Webern, Austria has been the birthplace of some of the most famous composers of all time. This is why the Vienna Opera House is a must-visit for all classical music lovers. It was, in fact, here that artists such as Wagner, Mozart, and Strauss performed some of their best compositions.
- How to get there: How to get there: From Vienna Airport, you can reach the city by CAT to Wien Mitte or ÖBB trains (including S-Bahn and mainline services)—then continue by U-Bahn/tram or on foot to the Opera area.
- Time Required: Guided tours usually last 40 minutes.
- Plan Your Visit: Check out Tripadvisor for more tour details, visitor reviews, and reservation options.
Neubau
Neubau is one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Vienna. Here, you will find stunning graffiti art, great restaurants and cafés where you have a well-deserved break, and unique shops selling vintage clothes.
- How to get there: Neubau (Vienna’s 7th District) is close to the inner city. From Wien Mitte/Landstraße, you can usually get there quickly by U-Bahn/tram (often via U3 and a short walk, depending on which part of Neubau you’re aiming for). Plan ~30–50 minutes total from the airport with normal connections. You can check this Google Maps for more info. The whole journey will take about one hour.
- Time Required: Budget at least two hours to see this neighbourhood without rushing.
- Plan Your Visit: Check out Tripadvisor for more tour details, visitor reviews, and reservation options.
Airport Transportation
Vienna Airport is about 20 km from the city centre. Once you land, you will have a few options to reach Austria’s capital. Here are the most popular ones.
- Trains: Several trains connect Vienna Airport with the city. The City Airport Train (CAT) runs non-stop to Wien Mitte in about 16 minutes and is the fastest option, though it is also the most expensive. You can also use ÖBB public trains, including the S-Bahn (S7) and other regional or long-distance services. These trains are significantly cheaper than CAT, but make more stops and therefore take longer. Some ÖBB railjet and intercity trains also run between the airport and Vienna Main Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof) with relatively fast journey times on direct services. Travel time and cost will vary depending on which train you choose and where you’re heading in the city.
- Taxi: Taxis and rideshare services are available at Vienna Airport. Prices can vary significantly depending on time of day, traffic, and demand, so it’s best to check the fare in-app or ask for an estimate before committing.
Before You Go: Layover Tips
Ready to explore the world capital of classical music? Great! But wait an extra second. We still need to discuss a few issues before you pack your things.
- Do you need a visa? For more information, check the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria website.
- When is your next flight’s check-in time? Even though Vienna Airport is quite close to the city, budget enough time to get back to the airport and go through all the security checks. When in doubt, always contact your airline to ask for extra info on when to arrive at the airport to avoid missing your flight.
- What’s happening with your luggage? If you need it, Vienna Airport has Baggage Storage / Safe & Cloakroom in Terminal 3, open daily 5:30 AM – 11:30 PM. Prices shown by the airport include €5/day (hand luggage) and €10/day (check-in luggage) (other rates also listed)..