Vienna is a city that’s worth visiting even if for only a single night.
Don’t believe us? Eat a sachertorte, spend an evening at the Vienna State Opera, and tell us otherwise.
It’s a city of art and culture as refined as its castles and squares are grandiose. Four major Vienna train stations give you instant access to the city’s best sites and convenient U-Bahn subway lines.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Creativemarc. Image Location: Wien Hbf, Vienna, Austria
Vienna train stations: what to know
Including what is the Vienna main train station and how to get to it from the airport.
How many major train stations are in Vienna?
Vienna is well-connected by rail, hosting train lines, a U-Bahn, an S-Bahn, and Straßenbahn tram lines. Four of the major Vienna train stations are Wien Hauptbahnhof, Wien-Meidling, Wien Westbahnhof, and Wien Mitte.
What is the main train station in Vienna?
The main train station in Vienna is Wien Hauptbahnhof, also called Wien Hbf and Vienna Central Station. (Quick tip: Wien—pronounced "veen"—is German for "Vienna", in case you're new to reading train departure boards in different European languages.) Wien Hbf is the heart of Vienna’s railway network where the ÖBB Austrian Federal Railway trains connect Vienna to the rest of Austria and Europe.
Where is the Vienna main train station?
Vienna’s main train station, Wien Hbf, is located south of the city center in the Favoriten neighborhood. If you explore the area, you’ll find the Generali-Arena where the FK Austria Wien and AFC Vienna Vikings play, as well as the Böhmischer Prater amusement park. If you’d rather walk north into the city center, you’ll pass the Schloss Belvedere and the Karlskirche along the way.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Thiago Montoto. Image Location: Wien Hbf, Vienna, Austria
Is there a train station in Vienna airport?
Yes, if you’re flying into Vienna International Airport (VIE), you can take a train into the city center. The City Airport Train (CAT) runs directly from the Vienna Airport to Wien Mitte train station in 16 minutes. From Wien Mitte, you can hop an S-Bahn train (lines 1, 2, or 3) or tram (line 0) to Wien Hbf.
Does the Vienna train station have a subway stop?
Yes, all four main Vienna train stations are connected to other forms of transport. Vienna main train station, Wien Hbf, is across the street from the Südtiroler Platz U-Bahn station’s U1 line. Wien Mitte holds hands with the Landstraße U-Bahn station’s U3 and U4 lines. Wien-Meidling is best friends with the U6 line at the Meidling U-Bahn station and Wien Westbahnhof’s eponymous U-Bahn station serves the U3 and U6 lines.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Kate Wieser. Image Location: Wien Hbf, Vienna, Austria
What's near Vienna's main train station?
We’re not playing favorites; Wien Hbf just so happens to the Vienna, Austria, train station that you’ll likely visit first if you're arriving in Vienna by train from another city. Wien Hbf gets the ‘W’ with its L’s: a lounge and luggage storage. You can kick your feet up with your hands free of bags, leaving you to stroll the station’s shopping and dining options.
You can check quite a lot off of your shopping list without leaving the station, from clothing and books to cell phones, tobacco, and even a new pair of eyeglasses. You can fill your stomach just as easily. Go ahead and pass the McDonald’s and Burger King (unless you need a fries fix) and get yourself a Vienna sausage at WürstelBoutique or schnitzel at Wiener Wald for a local taste. Thai, Turkish, Indian, Japanese, and Italian restaurants offer a more multicultural affair.
Hotels near Vienna's main train station
Vienna's main train station is surrounded by hotels, both directly across the street and a few footsteps farther. Here are our top picks of the best hotels near the main station.
Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere
See Vienna in all of its glory from the floor-to-ceiling window views in your Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere suite. Are the king suites with skyline or Schweizergarten views fantastic? Yes, they are. Do you really need to rent out the penthouse suite just to play the foosball table, surrounded by 15th-floor views? No, but when in Wien, right?
Do Step Inn
The smallest in a foursome of Vienna hostels, Do Step Inn has both dorms and private rooms, as well as a shared lounge and kitchen. What makes Do Step Inn ideal is that it’s a self-check-in hostel, perfect for late-night or early-morning arrivals from Vienna's main train station.
Motel One
Motel One, one of the hotels near Vienna main train station despite its “motel” name, is a great place to stay if you want an alternate option than the restaurants in Wien Hbf. In this hotel, an organic breakfast is full of fare like dairy items made in the Bavarian Alpine foothills. Snacks in the One Lounge like organic chocolate and toasted sandwiches keep you satiated until you’re ready to try as many of the 53 gins available before you board your train (there are alcohol-free gins, too, which may be a better option).
Image Credit: Getty Images, Charday Penn. Image Location: Wien Hbf, Vienna, Austria
City of music... and more
Vienna is one of our must-see cities in Europe and we’d love to introduce you to its museums, palaces, and underrated Lindengasse fashion mile. Only staying one night on your way to scoping out the Sound of Music filming locations in Salzburg? Boutique Stadthalle is a great choice for a sustainable stay.
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Header Image Credit: Getty Images, kickstand. Image Location: Wien Hbf, Vienna, Austria