City Airport Train Tickets | Pay Less Before You Ride

CAT tickets cost €14.90 (about $17) one way or €24.90 ($28) return, with a 16-minute ride to Wien Mitte.

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The decision around City Airport Train Tickets is simple: pay more than the S-Bahn for a nonstop airport train, luggage space, and the Wien Mitte city terminal. The City Airport Train, usually called CAT, runs between Vienna International Airport (VIE) and Wien Mitte-Landstraße, a central station with U3, U4, tram, bus, and S-Bahn links.

Buy CAT if your hotel is near the Innere Stadt, Landstraße, Stadtpark, Stephansplatz, or anywhere with an easy U3 or U4 connection. Skip CAT if you are staying near Wien Hauptbahnhof, traveling on a tight budget, or already have a Vienna transit pass that makes the S7 train much cheaper.

If you want to compare the CAT with buses, local trains, and transfers before paying, use the route search here:

City Airport Train Fares: What You Pay Now

City Airport Train fares are €14.90 for a single adult ticket and €24.90 for a return ticket. At a rounded planning rate, that is about $17 one way or $28 return.

The official CAT fare page lists online tickets as valid for 6 months from issue, which helps if your flight time changes or you do not know the exact train you will catch. The same official CAT ticket information lists reduced fares for eligible cardholders and free travel for children under 15.

Current CAT ticket prices include:

• Single trip: €14.90, about $17.
• Return trip: €24.90, about $28.
• Reduced single: €13.90, about $16, with an eligible ARBÖ or ÖAMTC card.
• Promotional or PRM fare: €7, about $8, only with the required partner card or PRM card.
• Children under 15: free on CAT.

Which City Airport Train Ticket Should You Buy?

A return CAT ticket is the better value if you will use the train both ways. A single ticket is cleaner if your return trip starts near Wien Hauptbahnhof, runs late at night, or lines up better with a taxi or airport bus.

Most first-time visitors choose between three ticket shapes:

• Single CAT ticket: best for one arrival or one airport departure.
• Return CAT ticket: best for a city-center hotel near Wien Mitte, Stephansplatz, Landstraße, or the U3 and U4 lines.
• CAT plus Wiener Linien ticket: useful if you need the U-Bahn, tram, or bus right after reaching Wien Mitte.

Do not buy the CAT only because it says airport train. Vienna has cheaper airport rail options. The CAT earns its fare when the nonstop ride, city check-in, or simple arrival at Wien Mitte saves you enough time and hassle to matter.

Compare The CAT With Other Vienna Airport Transfers

The CAT is the fastest train to Wien Mitte, but it is not the cheapest way from Vienna Airport to the city. Budget travelers should price the S7 or REX route before buying CAT tickets.

Use this comparison as the practical filter. Times can shift by station, traffic, and transfer wait, but the cost gap is clear.

Money-saving rule: one solo traveler near Wien Mitte may like CAT; two travelers should compare CAT with a taxi; three or four travelers often get better door-to-door value from a fixed-price car.

How Do You Use The Ticket At Vienna Airport?

CAT tickets work for a specific product, not for every Vienna airport train. A CAT ticket gets you onto the green City Airport Train between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, not onto the S7, REX, Railjet, U-Bahn, or Vienna Airport Bus.

At Vienna Airport, follow the train signs to the rail station beneath the terminal, then look for the CAT platform and branding. At Wien Mitte, the CAT uses the City Air Terminal, with U-Bahn and S-Bahn connections nearby.

The buying steps are simple:

1. Pick airport to Wien Mitte or Wien Mitte to airport.
2. Choose single or return.
3. Add a Wiener Linien ticket only if you need city transport after CAT.
4. Keep the digital ticket ready on your phone, or print it if you prefer paper.
5. Use the CAT platform, not the public S-Bahn platform, unless you bought a separate public transport ticket.

For departures from Vienna, allow extra time if you plan to use CAT City Check-in. The service is only for selected airlines, so travelers should verify airline eligibility before planning around baggage drop at Wien Mitte.

Where To Stay After Reaching Wien Mitte

Wien Mitte is a good arrival point if you want fast access to the Innere Stadt, Stadtpark, Landstraße, Stephansplatz, or the U3 and U4 metro lines. Hotels near those areas make the CAT feel more useful because the final transfer is short.

Staying near Wien Hauptbahnhof changes the calculation. ÖBB trains from the airport to the main station can be a better fit than CAT because they avoid crossing town after you arrive.

For hotels that make the airport train connection easy, compare the area around Wien Mitte and the central districts here:

Choose The Right Airport Ticket For Your Vienna Trip

Buy CAT if you want the cleanest nonstop train between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte. Buy the S7 or REX if price matters more than speed, and consider a taxi if your group has three or four people with luggage.

Use this verdict before paying:

• Fastest simple ride to Wien Mitte: CAT single or return.
• Lowest solo cost: S7 or REX with the correct airport-to-city ticket.
• Best fit for Wien Hauptbahnhof hotels: ÖBB airport train instead of CAT.
• Best fit for late arrivals with luggage: airport bus or fixed-price taxi, depending on your hotel location.
• Best family detail: CAT is stronger when children under 15 ride free.

The CAT is worth paying for when Wien Mitte is genuinely convenient. When your hotel or budget points elsewhere, Vienna’s cheaper public rail options can get you into the city with money left for the first coffee and pastry.