Arrival in Vienna
Visa Requirements
Citizens of most countries DO NOT require a visa to enter Austria for a period not exceeding 90 days. You can check here to see if you are exempt.
Arriving by Air
All international flights arrive into and depart from Vienna International Airport (VIE). The airport is located approximately 20 km from the city center. (If you're looking for cheap fares one option is to fly into Bratislava - see below)
ICAR 2012 will NOT be providing a shuttle service to the city. However, given Vienna's efficient public transport system, there are many options to get from the airport to your destination.
City Airport Train (CAT)
From the arrivals hall follow the signs to the CAT. Trains depart every 30 minutes and the journey takes 16 minutes (non-stop). Tickets can be purchased from machines inside the arrivals hall or on the platform. Single tickets cost €11 or €17 for a return. The train arrives at the Wien Mitte station from where you can transfer to the Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) system to take you to your final destination. Additional tickets (€2.00) are required. See the Public Transport page for more information, including maps, of the U-Bahn system. The Wien Mitte station also operates as the City Airport Terminal where you may check in for your flight before traveling to the airport.
Suburban Rail (S-Bahn)
This is a cheaper option than the CAT. From the arrivals halls follow the signs to the Trains. You need to catch the S7 train (direction Wien Florisdrof) and get off at Wien Mitte. Tickets can be purchased from machines in the station and cost €4.00 each way. Trains depart every 30 minutes and the trip takes about 25 minutes. From Wien Mitte you can transfer to the Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) system to take you to your final destination. You do not need to purchase an additional ticket to use the U-Bahn. See the Public Transport page for more information, including maps, of the U-Bahn system.
Bus
The Vienna Airport Bus to the city (Schwedenplatz) departs from outside the arrivals hall. Buses depart every 30 minutes and the journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Tickets can be purchased from the driver and cost €8 one-way or €13 return. From Schwedenplatz you can transfer to the Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) system to take you to your final destination. Additional tickets (€2.00) are required. See the Public Transport page for more information, including maps, of the U-Bahn system. A number of conference hotels are within walking distance of Schwedenplatz. The conference venue is a 15 minute walk.
Taxi
This is the most convenient (and most expensive) option to get from the airport direct to your destination. Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall (follow the signs). The cost to the city is approximately €40 and the journey takes about 25 minutes depending on traffic. Cheaper rates can be obtained by booking online before you arrive at various companies:
Arriving by Train
The vast majority of international trains arrive at either of Vienna's two main stations, Westbahnhof or Südbahnhof (please note that Südbahnhof is currently undergoing major renovations and as such trains may arrive at a different station, e.g., Wien Meidling).
Arrival at Westbahnhof
Upon arrival you will need to transfer to the Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) system to get to your final destination. Follow the signs to the underground station adjacent to the main terminal. To get the city center, take the U3 (orange line) in the direction Simmering and disembark at Stephansplatz. (If you need to go somewhere other than the city, please check for the nearest U-Bahn station to where you need to go). Tickets cost €2.00 for a single journey and may be used on all forms of public transport (i.e., you can transfer between lines using the same ticket).
Arrival at Südbahnhof
Upon arrival you will need to transfer to the Vienna Underground (U-Bahn) system to get to your final destination. Follow the signs to the nearest underground station (Südtiroler Platz) adjacent to the main terminal. To get the city center, take the U1 (red line) in the direction Leopoldau and disembark at either Karlsplatz or Stephansplatz. (If you need to go somewhere other than the city, please check for the nearest U-Bahn station to where you need to go). Tickets cost €2.00 for a single journey and may be used on all forms of public transport (i.e., you can transfer between lines using the same ticket).
Due to reconstruction work at Südbahnhof you may arrive at a different station, most likely Wien Miedling (or Westbahnhof - see above). Getting to the city from Meidling is not that straightforward (even for locals) so your best option is to take a taxi from the station to your final destination. Fares should be less than €20.
Arriving in Bratislava
A number of low-cost airlines fly into and out of Bratislava - capital of Slovakia. Bratislava is located only 70km from Vienna and is reachable by public transport (bus or train) in approximately 60 minutes. For more information visit the Bratislava Airport website.
