Question 1

Getting Around

Accepted Answer

A single ticket on Vienna's public transport cost €3.20 on paper or €3 bought digitally in October 2026, and is valid for 80 minutes in one direction. A 24-hour ticket cost €10.20 on paper or €9.70 digitally. Check fares before you go. The 48-hour and 72-hour tickets were withdrawn on January 1, 2026. Tickets are sold at machines in subway stations, at Wiener Linien ticket offices, at most tobacconists and in the WienMobil app. Most tickets must be validated before the journey starts. Use the blue machines at subway entrances, or the machine on board a tram or bus. The subway runs from about 5 am to about midnight, and through the night on Fridays, Saturdays and the nights before public holidays.

Question 2

What to Eat

Accepted Answer

Wiener schnitzel and Tafelspitz, which is boiled beef, are two of the classic Austrian dishes. Sachertorte, Apfelstrudel and Kaiserschmarrn are the best-known desserts, and many Austrian sweets began in Vienna's imperial kitchens. Grüner Veltliner is Austria's best-known white wine. Coffee houses have long menus, and the Wiener Melange is one of the specialties to try. UNESCO recognized Viennese coffee house culture in 2011. Drinking fountains in many parts of the city are there for refilling a water bottle.

Question 3

Tipping and Currency

Accepted Answer

In Austria a tip of 5 to 10 percent is normal in restaurants, coffee houses and taxis, and the amount depends on the service. Nobody is obliged to leave a tip. Look at the bill first. If a tip is already included, do not pay it again. A tip can be left in cash or added when you pay by card. Austria's currency is the euro. The main credit cards are usually accepted, though some businesses set a minimum purchase.

Question 4

Schönbrunn and St. Stephen's

Accepted Answer

Schönbrunn Palace is open every day of the year, public holidays included, from 8:30 am. Schönbrunn closes between 5 pm and 6 pm depending on the season, and last admission is 45 minutes before closing. The gardens open daily at 6:30 am. The Schönbrunn palace ticket was €42 for adults in October 2026, including an audio guide. Check before you go. The visit takes about 75 minutes. St. Stephen's Cathedral has two towers to visit. An elevator goes up the north tower to the Pummerin bell, and the south tower is a climb of 343 steps. Each tower was €8 for adults.

Question 5

History

Accepted Answer

An Ottoman army besieged Vienna in 1683 and was defeated outside the city on September 12 of that year. An earlier Ottoman advance reached Vienna in 1529 and also failed. The emperor signed the order to build the Ringstraße on December 20, 1857, and Emperor Franz Joseph I opened its first section on May 1, 1865. The Ringstraße runs for 5,200 meters around the inner city and is 57 meters wide. The zoo at Schönbrunn began as the menagerie of Emperor Franz I Stephan. Schönbrunn became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, and Vienna's historic center followed in 2001.

Question 6

Traveling with Family

Accepted Answer

Vienna Zoo, at Schönbrunn, has about 500 species and opens at 9 am. Zoo tickets were €29 for adults and €17 for ages 6 to 18 in October 2026, and children under 6 were free. Check before you go. The closing time changes with the season. The Children's Museum at Schönbrunn Palace is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, with last admission at 4 pm. A combined ticket for the Children's Museum, the Maze and the zoo was €39 for adults and €29 for children from age 6.

Question 7

Accessibility

Accepted Answer

Every subway station in Vienna can be reached by wheelchair, by elevator or by ramp. Elevators are sometimes out of service. Check before you travel by calling +43 1 7909-100 or at wienerlinien.at. Low-floor vehicles run on all bus routes and almost all tram routes, and about 90 percent of tram services use them. At St. Stephen's Cathedral, the north tower has an elevator. The south tower is reached only by its 343 steps. Ask your cruise line about the gangway and the route from your berth before you plan a day on wheels.

Question 8

Shopping and the Naschmarkt

Accepted Answer

Shops in Vienna are usually open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6:30 pm, and on Saturday until 5 or 6 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, shopping is limited to the large railway stations, the airport, museum shops, and souvenir and candy shops. The Naschmarkt has more than 130 stands, which sell mainly fresh fruit and vegetables and open from 6 am. Many stalls close between 6 and 7 pm, and its food stalls and restaurants stay open until 11 pm. The Naschmarkt is closed on Sundays, when only its restaurants open. A flea market runs beside it on Saturdays from 6:30 am to 2 pm.

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