The €128 Vienna PASS is the best money you can spend on a museum-heavy trip, and the worst money you can spend if you’re mostly walking the Innere Stadt and eating schnitzel. The €22 Vienna City Card is a different product entirely — no free entry, just unlimited metro, tram, and bus for 24 hours. Most 2-3 day visitors need the City Card; heavy-sightseeing visitors need the PASS. Almost nobody needs both.
Here’s how to tell which card (if any) you need — the short answer is that most 2-3 day visitors want the €22 City Card, heavy-sightseeing visitors want the €128 Vienna PASS, and people staying one night and only using transport might skip both and just buy individual metro tickets.
In a Hurry? Which Pass for Which Visitor
- For 4+ paid attractions in 2-3 days: Vienna PASS (1-6 days) — €128 for 2 days, saves €30-80 vs individual tickets.
- For most 2-3 day visitors: Vienna City Card — €22 for 24h, unlimited public transport + 210 discounts at attractions.
- Budget alternative: Vienna EasyCityPass — €21 for 24h, near-identical to the City Card but through a different operator.
- In a Hurry? Which Pass for Which Visitor
- The Three Options — Compared
- 1. Vienna PASS (1-6 days) — from 8 for 2 days
- 2. Vienna City Card — from for 24 hours
- 3. Vienna EasyCityPass — from for 24 hours
- The Break-Even Math — When Each Pass Is Worth It
- What the Vienna PASS Gets You — Attraction-by-Attraction
- What the City Card Discounts Actually Look Like
- Public Transport in Vienna — What the Cards Actually Cover
- When You Don’t Need a Pass At All
- Pairing Passes with Specific Vienna Itineraries
- Where to Buy — Which Platform
- The Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Alternative
- Historical Note — The Vienna “Kaiserpass”
- Common Mistakes
- How to Actually Use Each Pass
- Practical Details
- The Decision Tree
- The Short Version
- Comparing Vienna’s Passes to Other European Cities
The Three Options — Compared
1. Vienna PASS (1-6 days) — from $128 for 2 days
The attraction-focused pass. Includes free entry at: Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere, Hofburg Imperial Treasury, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Albertina, Spanish Riding School morning training, Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, Schönbrunn Zoo, Madame Tussauds, plus 50+ smaller sites. Also includes the Big Bus hop-on-hop-off route. Does NOT include metro/tram — you’d still need transport tickets. Break-even is about 4 paid attractions in 2 days. Heavy-sightseeing visitors genuinely save money; casual visitors overpay. Our full review has the break-even maths.
2. Vienna City Card — from $22 for 24 hours
The mainstream pick for most visitors. €22 for 24 hours covers unlimited rides on every U-Bahn line, every tram (1, 2, 6, D, O), every bus, and the urban trains to Schönbrunn. Plus 210 attraction discounts (most typically 10-25% off) at major sites: Hofburg, Belvedere, KHM, Albertina, Prater rides, city tours, and most restaurants and cafés. Does NOT include free entry — you still pay for each attraction (at a discount). Best for 2-3 day visitors hitting 2-4 attractions and riding public transport 4+ times per day. Our full review has the full discount list.
3. Vienna EasyCityPass — from $21 for 24 hours
Essentially the Vienna City Card from a different operator. €21 for 24 hours, €29 for 48, €39 for 72. Same transport coverage (U-Bahn, tram, bus, urban trains). Different discount partners — some overlap with the City Card, some unique to EasyCityPass. €1 cheaper on the 24h, €3 cheaper on 48h. Pick this if you want to save a few euros; pick the City Card if you want to match the discount list to the specific attractions you’re visiting. For most visitors the difference is negligible.
The Break-Even Math — When Each Pass Is Worth It
Vienna PASS (€128 for 2 days):
Break-even means paying less than you would at individual ticket prices. Here’s the maths for a typical 2-day Vienna PASS user:
- Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour: €28
- Belvedere Palace: €19
- Imperial Treasury: €18
- Kunsthistorisches Museum: €25
- Schönbrunn Zoo: €28
- Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel: €17
- Albertina: €20
- Big Bus 1-day: €40
Total at gate: €195. With the PASS: €128 + transport tickets.
Verdict: if you hit 4+ of these in 2 days, the PASS pays for itself. If you hit 2 or fewer, you’re overpaying.
Vienna City Card (€22 for 24h):
Break-even is transport-only: 4 single journeys at €2.40 = €9.60. The attraction discounts are a bonus, not the core value.
A typical 24-hour Vienna day uses 6-10 single journeys (hotel → attraction 1 → attraction 2 → restaurant → attraction 3 → hotel → evening out → hotel). That’s €14-24 at single-ticket prices, so the City Card pays for itself in a single active day.
Verdict: if you’re riding public transport 4+ times in a day, City Card wins. If you’re walking everywhere from a central hotel, just buy single tickets at €2.40 each.
Vienna EasyCityPass (€21 for 24h):
Same maths as the City Card with the added benefit of being €1 cheaper. Break-even is similar. Best if you’re matching discount partners to specific planned activities.
What the Vienna PASS Gets You — Attraction-by-Attraction
The Vienna PASS includes free entry to the following major attractions (not exhaustive):
Palaces and Imperial: Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour), Belvedere (Upper + Lower), Hofburg Imperial Apartments + Sisi Museum, Imperial Treasury, Schönbrunn Carriage Museum.
Art museums: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Albertina, Leopold Museum, MUMOK, Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), Museum of Military History.
Music and Theatre: Haus der Musik, Mozarthaus Vienna, State Opera guided tour, Spanish Riding School morning training.
Nature and Family: Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, Madame Tussauds Vienna, Prater Tower swing ride.
Religious: St. Stephen’s Cathedral catacombs, Pummerin bell tower, Capuchin Imperial Crypt, Augustinian Church treasures.
Science and Specialty: Natural History Museum, Technical Museum, Butterfly House, Vienna Observatory, Sigmund Freud Museum.
City tours: Big Bus hop-on-hop-off (full 2-route network), Vienna Walks guided tour (select daily routes).
Not included: Vienna State Opera performances (only the building tour), classical concerts, food tours, premium private tours.
Most visitors can realistically do 3-4 major attractions per day in Vienna. Over 2 days with the €128 pass, 4 attractions would save you €20-60. Over 3 days with the €159 pass, you’re likely saving €50-100 (3-day pass users are usually heavy-sightseeing visitors).
What the City Card Discounts Actually Look Like
The Vienna City Card includes 210 discount partners. Typical discounts:
- Museums and attractions: 10-20% off (about €2-5 per ticket)
- Guided tours: 10-25% off
- Restaurants: 10-15% off on bill, or free appetiser/drink
- Shops: 10% off selected tourist shops
- Transport add-ons: Vienna Airport Lines city transfer 15% off
The discounts are small but they add up. On a 3-day Vienna visit hitting 4 attractions at 15% off, you save €8-12. Not a lot, but on top of the €60-70 you save in transport vs single tickets, the total is worth it.
The EasyCityPass has similar 10-25% discounts at a different (partially overlapping) list of partners. For most visitors the net savings are within €5 of each other.
Public Transport in Vienna — What the Cards Actually Cover
Vienna’s public transport system (Wiener Linien) is genuinely excellent — the U-Bahn runs every 2-5 minutes in core hours, the tram network is extensive, and buses fill in the gaps. All three of these systems are covered by the City Card and EasyCityPass. The Vienna PASS does not include transport.
U-Bahn (metro): 5 lines (U1, U2, U3, U4, U6 — no U5 at the moment; it’s under construction). Runs 5am-midnight weekdays, 24 hours Friday-Saturday nights. Tickets valid on the U-Bahn also work on regional trains within the city (S-Bahn).
Trams: 30+ routes, many of which run along tourist-heavy streets (Ringstrasse, Mariahilfer Strasse). Trams 1, 2, D, and O are the most useful for sightseeing. Tram 1 runs the Ringstrasse loop — an informal “tourist tram.”
Buses: 130+ routes, mostly suburban but several go through the centre. Buses 2A, 3A, and 13A are inner-city routes that complement the U-Bahn.
Urban trains (S-Bahn): 8 lines extending into Vienna’s suburbs. Useful for Schönbrunn (S50), the airport (S7), and Prater.
Single ticket price: €2.40, valid 1 hour, one direction. You need one per trip. Not worth buying individually if you’re doing 4+ trips per day.
8-day ticket: €42.40, valid 8 separate days of travel (any dates, not consecutive). Good for multi-stop travellers.
Airport transfer: the City Airport Train (CAT) is 30 minutes from the city, €14.90 one-way. The S7 S-Bahn is 25 minutes, €4.30. Most tourist passes don’t cover either; buy single tickets or factor into transport costs separately.
Late-night and Sunday: reduced frequency but all lines run. Night buses fill in the gap on weeknights between midnight and 5am.
Reliability: 99% on-time performance. Vienna’s public transport is consistently rated the best in Europe by EY Cities surveys.
When You Don’t Need a Pass At All
Three scenarios where buying any pass is wasteful:
1-night Vienna stopover. If you have less than 24 hours and are only doing 1-2 attractions, buy individual tickets. A single €14.50 Giant Ferris Wheel ride + a €25 KHM ticket + 4 single metro tickets = €49 total. The €22 City Card saves €4-5; the €128 PASS costs €79 more than you’d spend.
Walking-only traveller. Central Vienna is 2×2 km. If you’re staying near Stephansdom and walking to everything, you won’t ride public transport enough to justify the City Card.
Pre-booked everything through GetYourGuide. If you’ve already bought skip-the-line tickets for Schönbrunn, Hofburg, and KHM separately, buying the Vienna PASS would duplicate those purchases at full price.
1-night concert visit. If your only “activity” is a Vienna classical concert and one walking tour, skip all passes and buy tickets individually.
Multi-city Eurail pass users. Eurail passes already include most intercity travel. Combined with a €22 City Card for Vienna’s local metro, you don’t need the Vienna PASS.
Pairing Passes with Specific Vienna Itineraries
2-day “classic Vienna” itinerary: Day 1 Schönbrunn Palace + Schönbrunn Zoo. Day 2 Kunsthistorisches Museum + Hofburg. 4 major attractions → Vienna PASS (€128) saves €30-40. Add City Card (€32 for 48h) for transport.
2-day “city walker” itinerary: Day 1 walk Mariahilfer Strasse + Ringstrasse + Stephansplatz (free). Evening classical concert. Day 2 1-2 museums + Giant Ferris Wheel. Mostly walking → EasyCityPass (€29 for 48h) is enough.
3-day “heavy sightseer”: palaces, museums, concerts, plus day trip to Wachau or Hallstatt. Vienna PASS 3-day (€159) + City Card 72h (€42) = €201 total. Covers most of a Vienna guidebook’s “must-do” list.
1-night business trip with 1 evening free: single-ticket public transport + one evening concert. No pass needed.
Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 kids 8-12), 3 days: Vienna PASS adult €128 + kid €74 = €404 total for 2 days. Covers 2 days of Schönbrunn + Zoo + KHM + Ferris Wheel + Prater. Easily saves €100+ vs individual tickets.
Solo backpacker, 2 days: EasyCityPass 48h €29 + walk and see what’s free. Maybe 1 paid museum entry (€20-25). Total Vienna budget €65-80 for 2 days’ transport + sightseeing.
Where to Buy — Which Platform
GetYourGuide: the three products above all bookable via GetYourGuide. Voucher is emailed; exchange at the airport Info office or city tourism counters. Easy cancellation up to 24 hours.
Viator: also carries all three passes, same prices usually. Use Viator if you already have a Viator account.
Vienna Tourist Office (direct): buy at Albertina Platz 1 (central Vienna) for slightly less (no 3rd-party markup). Same product, €1-3 cheaper.
At the airport: Vienna Info counter at Vienna International Airport sells all three. Convenient for arrival pickup.
Online before arrival: recommended for the Vienna PASS because it comes with an activation delay. Activating 12 hours before your first attraction saves some hassle.
The Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Alternative
The Vienna PASS includes the Big Bus hop-on-hop-off network for free. If you like that format of sightseeing, the PASS is a better buy than paying €40 separately for a 1-day Big Bus ticket.
Routes: Big Bus runs two routes — Red Route (inner-city: Ringstrasse, Stephansplatz, Hofburg, Belvedere, Albertina) and Blue Route (wider: Schönbrunn, Prater, UN complex). Both on the same ticket.
Frequency: buses every 15-20 minutes 9am-5pm, less frequent in winter.
Stops: 25+ combined across both routes. Get off at any major attraction.
Audio guide: 11 languages, included. Decent commentary; doesn’t replace a proper guided tour.
Alternative operator — Vienna Sightseeing: separate company with their own routes. Not on the Vienna PASS; you’d buy separately (€36 for 1 day).
When the bus is worth it: as a city orientation on day 1 (especially for first-time visitors) and as transport between far-apart attractions (Schönbrunn to Belvedere).
When it isn’t: if you’re confident with the U-Bahn, buses are slower and you’re paying for the scenic route. Our dedicated Vienna HOHO bus guide covers routes and operator differences.
Historical Note — The Vienna “Kaiserpass”
Vienna tourist passes have been around since the Habsburg era. The original “Kaiserpass” in the 1880s was a physical brass coin sold by the tourist office at Ringstrasse — it unlocked free museum entry during the Hofball season. Rudolf Crown Prince (son of Franz Joseph) is documented as being a subscriber.
The modern Vienna PASS dates from 2013. The City Card was launched earlier, in 1995, and has been rebranded twice. The EasyCityPass entered the market in 2018 as a budget alternative.
None of this is essential for your decision — but if you like the historical continuity, knowing that imperial Vienna had a version of the modern tourist pass is a fun detail for your trip. You’re buying into a 140-year-old tradition of “pay once, see the city.”
Common Mistakes
Buying the PASS when you won’t hit 4 attractions. You’ll spend €30-50 more than you saved. Do the maths before clicking.
Thinking the Vienna PASS includes transport. It doesn’t. Add the City Card or single tickets on top.
Buying the PASS for a 1-day visit. 1-day PASS is €89. Break-even is 3-4 major attractions in 8 hours. Tight.
Not activating the PASS on the right day. Pass days are calendar days, not 24-hour periods. If you activate at 6pm, that counts as day 1 — you’ve lost most of day 1’s value. Activate early morning.
Assuming the EasyCityPass is worse because it’s cheaper. It’s not worse — it’s a different operator with a different discount network. For most visitors the saving is negligible.
Skipping the pass entirely on a busy sightseeing trip. If you’re doing Vienna hard (3-day palace tour itinerary), the PASS genuinely saves money.
Buying at hotel concierge prices. Concierges often sell the same pass at full rate. Airport counter or online saves €3-8.
How to Actually Use Each Pass
Vienna PASS: scan the QR code at each attraction’s dedicated PASS entry line. Most attractions have a separate lane for PASS holders — shorter wait than the general queue. Keep your email voucher open on your phone; some attractions want to see both.
Vienna City Card: activate the card by pressing the start button (on physical cards) or by entering the first metro station. Tap on/tap off isn’t needed on Vienna’s system — the card is valid for the duration.
EasyCityPass: similar to City Card — activate at first use.
For all passes: keep a copy of the voucher email or physical card with you. Some partner discounts require showing the card at the cashier (not just using it as entry).
Practical Details
Vienna PASS: 1-day €89, 2-day €128, 3-day €159, 6-day €199. Includes free entry at 60+ attractions + hop-on-hop-off bus. No public transport included.
Vienna City Card: 24h €22, 48h €32, 72h €42. Unlimited public transport + 210 discounts. Includes free public transport.
Vienna EasyCityPass: 24h €21, 48h €29, 72h €39. Unlimited public transport + partner discounts. Includes free public transport.
Where to pick up: Vienna airport, main train station, Vienna Info office (Albertina Platz), or most hotels.
Physical vs digital: both options available. Digital is easier; physical is better if you like having something in your hand.
Refunds: all three are refundable before activation (up to 24 hours before travel date). After activation, no refunds.
Children: discounts available on Vienna PASS for kids 6-18. Under 6 free at most attractions anyway.
The Decision Tree
You’re in Vienna for 1 day: skip all passes. Buy individual tickets.
You’re in Vienna 2-3 days, doing 1-2 attractions, walking a lot: skip passes. Buy single metro tickets as needed.
You’re in Vienna 2-3 days, doing 1-2 attractions, using public transport frequently: City Card or EasyCityPass (€22 or €21). Pick based on discount partners you’ll actually use.
You’re in Vienna 2-3 days, doing 4+ attractions: Vienna PASS (€128-159) + single metro tickets as needed. The pass pays for itself.
You’re in Vienna 6+ days, doing heavy sightseeing: Vienna PASS 6-day (€199) — cheapest per-day rate.
You’re in Vienna 2-3 days, using public transport AND doing 4+ attractions: buy both the Vienna PASS and the City Card. €150 total vs €170+ at single-ticket prices.
The Short Version
Most 2-3 day Vienna visitors want the €22 City Card. Heavy sightseers want the €128 Vienna PASS. Budget travellers can substitute the €21 EasyCityPass for the City Card. Anyone walking from a central hotel to nearby attractions with only 1-2 paid entries should skip all passes and pay as they go.
The €3 cashback scheme aside, none of these passes are secret money-savers. They’re convenience products. Buy the one that matches what you’ll actually do, not the one that promises the biggest theoretical savings.
Comparing Vienna’s Passes to Other European Cities
If you’re pass-shopping across multiple European capitals on one trip, Vienna’s pricing sits in the middle:
Cheaper than: London Pass (£99 = ~€115 for 1 day), Paris Museum Pass (€72 for 2 days without transport), Amsterdam I Amsterdam Card (€80 for 48h, includes transport + 70 attractions).
Similar to: Berlin WelcomeCard (€45 for 72h transport + discounts) — our Berlin WelcomeCard guide compares the two structures.
More expensive than: Budapest Card (€25 for 48h) or Prague Card (€60 for 2 days).
The comparison matters if you’re running a multi-city European trip and wondering how much to budget for tourist passes. Vienna is one of the more pass-friendly cities because the transport + attractions density justifies them for typical 2-3 day visits.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this article are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. All recommendations are based on my own visit.