Vienna International Airport (VIE)

Terminal 2 — Main Terminal

Terminal 2 is the original and central terminal building, substantially expanded and modernised in the 2000s. It houses all airline check-in areas, the main security checkpoint, and connects directly to both the CAT/S7 rail station and the Terminal 3 bridge connection. Check-in zones A–E are in T2; the terminal handles Austrian Airlines and the majority of legacy carriers.

• Airlines: Austrian Airlines (primary hub carrier), Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Air France, KLM, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Aeroflot (suspended), LOT Polish, Finnair, SAS, SWISS, and most full-service carriers
• Check-in: 154 counters; Austrian Business Class dedicated row (Check-in Zone B); automated bag-drop kiosks
• Lounges (T2 airside):
  • Austrian Airlines Business Lounge — Austrian/Lufthansa Group Business, Star Alliance Gold. Multiple locations airside. Full hot buffet, premium Austrian wines and Sekt (sparkling wine), Viennese coffee station.
  • Austrian Senator Lounge — Austrian Senator and HON Circle, Star Alliance Gold eligible. Premium tier with à la carte menu option.
  • Lufthansa Business Lounge (T2) — For Lufthansa business class passengers transiting
  • Jet Lounge (T2, independent) — Priority Pass, Lounge Key, DragonPass; walk-in ~€35

Terminal 3 (opened 2012)

Terminal 3, opened in June 2012 at a cost of €500 million, is a modern glass-and-steel structure connected to T2 via The Bridge — a 300-metre glass-roofed indoor shopping and restaurant boulevard at the arrivals level. T3 added 10 million passengers of annual capacity and handles primarily LCC and leisure carriers.

• Airlines: Wizz Air (focus city, large presence), Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Level (IAG LCC), Vueling, Corendon, and leisure/charter operators
• Gates: Own set of departure gates (G+ pier); aerobridges and remote stands
• Lounges (T3):
  • Jet Lounge T3 — Priority Pass eligible; walk-in ~€35. Food, bar, showers.
• The Bridge (connecting T2–T3): 300m of shopping (Swarovski, Zara, Douglas, Interspar supermarket), dining (Vapiano, Nordsee, traditional Viennese Würstelstand), and the CAT/S7 train station access. Open to all passengers and visitors without passing security.

Pier West & Pier East

Airside gates are spread across multiple piers extending from T2 and T3. Pier East (T2) handles long-haul and wide-body gates; Pier West (T2) handles medium-haul European. Gates are connected airside; no re-screening needed between piers. Allow 15–20 minutes to walk to far gates.

Getting to and from Vienna International Airport (VIE)

Vienna Airport is exceptionally well-connected to the city centre by a choice of four rail options and excellent motorway access. For most passengers, the CAT (City Airport Train) or S-Bahn represents the best balance of speed and cost.

CAT — City Airport Train (Premium)

The City Airport Train (CAT) is Austria's dedicated non-stop airport express, operating between Vienna Mitte/Landstraße station (central Vienna, on the U3/U4 metro lines) and Vienna Airport:

• Journey time: 16 minutes non-stop — one of the fastest city-centre connections in Europe
• From Vienna Mitte: connects directly to U3 (Erdberg, Simmering, Wien Mitte/Landstraße) and U4 (Karlsplatz, Schönbrunn, Hütteldorf)
• Fare: €14.90 single (~€14.90); €24.90 return (~€24.90)
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes; hourly before 07:00 and after 22:00
• Operating hours: First departure from airport ~05:39; last from city ~23:33
• City check-in: passengers can check in bags at Wien Mitte station the evening before departure (Austrian Airlines, select other carriers). Large luggage storage lockers at Wien Mitte.
• Fully reservable seats; comfortable, quiet, reliable

S-Bahn S7 (Cheaper Alternative)

ÖBB's S7 suburban rail runs between the airport and Wien Mitte / Wien Praterstern / Wien Floridsdorf on the same tracks as the CAT but stops at multiple suburban stations:

• Journey time: ~25–30 minutes to Wien Mitte; ~35 minutes to Praterstern
• Fare: €4.20 single (~€4.20) with a standard Vienna single ticket; or covered by Wiener Linien day/week passes that include zone 100 (airport zone)
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes (combined with CAT, gives a train every 15 minutes to Wien Mitte)
• Operating hours: Roughly 05:00–00:30
• Considerably cheaper than CAT; only 10–14 minutes slower. Recommended for budget travellers.

U-Bahn (Metro) Connection at Wien Mitte

Both CAT and S7 terminate at Wien Mitte/Landstraße, where passengers connect to:

• U3: West to Stephansplatz (Dom/Rathaus), Mariahilfer Strasse, Westbahnhof
• U4: Karlsplatz (Kunsthistorisches Museum, Opera), Schönbrunn, Hütteldorf
• No surcharge on metro once you've paid the airport supplement

Long-Distance Train (ÖBB Railjet)

Vienna Airport has its own ÖBB mainline train station, allowing direct long-distance connections:

• Direct Railjets to Linz (~1.5 hrs), Salzburg (~2.5 hrs), Innsbruck (~4 hrs), Graz (~2.5 hrs)
• International: direct trains to Budapest (~2.5 hrs), Prague (~4 hrs)
• Exceptional convenience for inter-city connections without going into Vienna centre

Bus — Vienna Airport Lines (VAL)

• Line 1: Vienna Morzinplatz/Schwedenplatz (city centre): ~30 min; €8 single
• Line 2: Vienna Westbahnhof: ~40 min; €8 single
• Line 3: Vienna Südbahnhof/Hauptbahnhof: ~20–25 min; €8 single
• Frequency: Every 30 minutes; 24-hour service on all lines
• Tickets at airport bus counter or online. Night buses continue when rail services pause (midnight–05:00).
• Comfortable coaches with luggage space — good option for those with heavy bags

Taxi

• Official taxi rank outside arrivals (both T2 and T3 exits)
• Standard metered fare to Vienna city centre: approximately €35–45 (~€35–45); 20–35 minutes off-peak
• Fixed-rate transfers available through airport's official taxi association — approximately €36–40 to most central districts
• Night surcharge applies (22:00–06:00 and Sundays/holidays): +20–25%

Ride-Sharing (Uber & Bolt)

• Uber and Bolt operate at VIE; designated pickup zones outside arrivals in T2 and T3
• UberX to Vienna city centre: ~€25–40; typically somewhat cheaper than metered taxis in off-peak

Car Rental

• Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo: all in T2/T3 arrivals and car park
• Access via A4 Ostautobahn motorway directly to Vienna city ring; A2 south for Graz and Slovenia

Hotels Connected / At the Airport

• Moxy Vienna Airport ★★★ — Located within the airport campus; direct covered walkway to T2. Rates from €90–160/night (~€90–160). Modern, compact rooms; bar open late. Most convenient on-campus option.
• NH Vienna Airport ★★★★ — 5-min walk from T2; covered walkway. Rates from €100–180/night (~€100–180). Restaurant, bar.
• Ibis Vienna Airport ★★★ — 5-min shuttle. Budget option from €60–100/night (~€60–100).

Hotels 5–15 km

• Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Vienna ★★★★ — Schwechat, 2 km. Rates €80–150/night. Free shuttle.
• Courtyard Vienna Schwechat ★★★★ — 3 km. Rates €85–155/night. Shuttle service.
• Hilton Vienna Park / Hilton Vienna Plaza ★★★★★ — City centre (17 min by CAT). Rates €150–350/night.

Budget Options

• A&O Wien Hauptbahnhof — Hostel near Hauptbahnhof (25 min bus from airport). Dorms from €20/night; private rooms from €55.
• Wombat's Vienna Naschmarkt — Popular hostel, 30 min from airport by CAT+metro. Dorms from €25/night.

Parking at Vienna Airport

• Pre-book at viennaairport.com for 20–30% discounts vs gate prices
• EV charging in Garage 1 and Garage 2 (Tesla Destination, Smatrics, KELAG chargers)
• Drop-off/pick-up: free 20 minutes in designated vorfahrtszone at T2 and T3 ground level

WiFi

Free unlimited WiFi throughout T2, T3, and The Bridge under "Vienna Airport WiFi". Connect, accept terms — no registration or time limit. Speeds typically 30–60 Mbps. Available pre- and post-security throughout all areas.

Lounges

• Austrian Airlines Business Lounge (multiple T2 airside locations) — Hot buffet, Austrian wine and Sekt selection, Viennese coffee (Melange, Verlängerter), excellent schnitzel and local specialties at peak meal times. One of Europe's best airline lounges for regional food quality.
• Austrian Senator Lounge (T2) — Premium tier; quieter, à la carte options, premium spirits
• Jet Lounge T2 & T3 — Priority Pass, Lounge Key; walk-in €35. Good food, bar, showers. Particularly valuable for Wizz Air/Ryanair/easyJet passengers with Priority Pass access.

Shopping

• Duty-free (Relay/DUFRY): T2 and T3 airside — Austrian wines (Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Zweigelt), Manner wafers (Vienna's iconic pink-wrapped hazelnut wafers — the quintessential Austrian souvenir), Mozartkugeln, Austrian Schnaps, Swarovski crystal
• The Bridge retail: Swarovski flagship, Zara, Douglas, Drogerie Markt, Interspar supermarket (excellent for budget snacks and last-minute gifts)
• Airside luxury: Bulgari, Longchamp, Hugo Boss, TAG Heuer in T2 duty-free zone

Dining

• Landtmann's am Flughafen (T2 airside): Vienna's classic Café Landtmann brings its legendary Viennese coffee and Melange, apple strudel (~€8), Wiener Schnitzel (~€22) to the airport — highly recommended for an authentic Vienna café experience before departure
• Vapiano (The Bridge): Fresh Italian, reasonable prices; popular with families
• Nordsee (T2/T3): Fresh fish and seafood sandwiches, budget-friendly
• McDonald's, Burger King, Starbucks: T2 and T3, some 24-hour
• Würstelstand (sausage stand): authentic Vienna street food kiosk on The Bridge — Käsekrainer (cheese-stuffed sausage) with mustard and bread for ~€4–5

Medical & Accessibility

• Airport Medical Centre: T2, Level 0 (arrivals level), open 24/7
• Pharmacy (Apotheke): T2 departures level, open from first to last flight
• PRM assistance: request via airline minimum 48 hours ahead; Austria follows EU Regulation 1107/2006 for full PRM service
• Hidden disabilities: airport staff trained; sunflower lanyard scheme available at information desks

Currency Exchange & ATMs

• Travelex and Austrian exchange counters in T2 and T3 arrivals
• ATMs (Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria) throughout both terminals; accept all major cards
• Austria uses Euro — no currency risk for Eurozone visitors. Best rates from ATMs.

Luggage Storage

• Left luggage counters: T2 arrivals level (open ~05:00–23:00); T3 arrivals level
• Rates: €5/small bag/day; €8/large bag/day (~€5–8)
• Coin lockers also available: €3–5/4 hours

Smoking

Vienna Airport is completely smoke-free indoors throughout T2, T3, and The Bridge. Outdoor smoking areas are designated at terminal ground level (landside, before security) at both T2 and T3. No airside smoking zones. Austria lifted its controversial indoor smoking exemption for hospitality in 2019 — airports have been smoke-free longer.

Prayer Room

Multi-faith prayer rooms (Andachtsraum / Stille Raum) in T2 (Gate F area, airside) and T3 (airside). Open 24/7; ablution facilities adjacent. Signposted in English and German.

Hub Airline

• Austrian Airlines (Star Alliance) — Sole hub carrier; operates 130+ destinations on 6 continents from VIE. Fleet: A320/A321, A350-900, B777-200ER. Alliances: Star Alliance. Austrian's network is particularly strong in Central/Eastern Europe (Belgrade, Bucharest, Sofia, Kyiv, Tbilisi, Baku, Almaty) with frequencies unmatched by other carriers on these routes.

Major Airlines by Alliance

Star Alliance: Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, LOT Polish, Finnair, SAS, TAP Portugal, United Airlines (codeshare)

oneworld: British Airways, Iberia, Finnair (also Star Alliance), Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific

SkyTeam: Air France, KLM, Delta (codeshare), Czech Airlines

Unaligned/LCC: Wizz Air (major focus city), Ryanair, easyJet, Eurowings, Level, Corendon, Lauda (Ryanair Group)

Top Routes from VIE

Distances from Vienna International Airport

Vienna Airport Traffic Statistics

Austria's #1 airport; Europe's approximately #13–15 by passengers. Aircraft movements: approximately 230,000–240,000/year (2024). Cargo: approximately 230,000 tonnes/year — significant for central Europe logistics. Vienna Airport is publicly traded (VIE stock on Vienna Stock Exchange) — one of the few major European airports with full public market accountability. The airport's profitability returned strongly in 2023–2024, with a particular recovery in long-haul and Eastern European routes. Key growth markets: Gulf connections (Dubai, Abu Dhabi), Central Asian routes (Almaty, Tashkent), and recovering Eastern European markets.