View from Kettenbrückengasse towards Wienzeile
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Travelling by bus to Vienna’s city center

As a general rule, buses are only permitted to enter Vienna’s Old Town (Altstadt) with an entry ticket. Here you can find out which areas are considered to be part of the Altstadt, where and for what purpose buses are still permitted to drive, and how you can obtain an entry ticket as a bus driver or Old Town business. The bus entry tickets for 2025 can be ordered now.

In which areas of Vienna’s Altstadt are buses permitted or prohibited?

Bus trips for sightseeing are prohibited all year round

  • Inside Vienna’s Altstadt in the area enclosed by Ringstrasse and Franz-Josefs-Kai
  • On the side roads inside the Ringstraße

Bus trips are permitted

  • On the Ringstraße itself
  • In the area around the Burgtheater
  • In the area around the Stock Exchange

Necessary trips (e.g. to hotels, restaurants or events) are only permitted with a bus entry ticket.

I am a driver for an international bus company and would like to drive the bus into Vienna’s Altstadt. Is that permitted?

As a rule, bus tours for sightseeing in Vienna’s Altstadt are not permitted.

Necessary trips (e.g. to hotels, restaurants or events) are only permitted with a bus entry ticket.

You or your company can obtain these from the hotel, restaurant or event to which you wish to travel.

I am a driver for an international bus company and would like to drive a bus into Vienna’s Altstadt. Is that permitted?

As a rule, bus tours for sightseeing in Vienna’s Altstadt are not permitted.

Necessary trips (e.g. to hotels, restaurants or events) are only permitted with a bus entry ticket.

If your company is an Austrian bus tour operator, you can either apply for this yourself, or you can obtain them from the hotel, restaurant or event you wish to visit.

Where can I let passengers who want to visit the Altstadt get on and off the bus?

The following drop-off and pick-up points can be used by your bus passengers to visit Vienna’s Old Town (Altstadt):

  • Börseplatz
  • Burgring
  • Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz
  • Johannesgasse
  • Josef-Meinrad-Platz
  • Schwedenplatz
  • Weiskirchnerstraße
  • Votivkirche

Please also refer to the instructions for guides and drivers (in German) for boarding and disembarking passengers.

Who can apply for a bus entry ticket for Vienna’s city center?

The bus entry tickets for necessary journeys (“transfer journeys”) are issued to

  • Austrian bus operators
  • Viennese hoteliers
  • Viennese restaurant owners
  • (Cultural) event organizers in Vienna

A valid business license is required. The business or event location to be reached must be located within the Ring/Kai area.

A necessary “transfer” journey is defined as a journey to or from a hotel, event venue or catering establishment.

How much does the bus entry ticket cost? How long is it valid for? Where can I order one?

The 2025 bus entry ticket can be ordered online for €45 plus VAT.

  • Hoteliers can obtain a “Hotel Ticket” with permanent validity for their bus travel partners here. This card is also valid during advent and expires on December 31 of each year.
  • Restaurant owners and (cultural) event organizers can obtain the “Organizer Ticket" with continuous validity for their bus tour partners here. This card is also valid during advent and expires on December 31 of each year.
  • Austrian bus tour operators can obtain a "Transfer Ticket" with permanent validity here. This card is also valid during advent and expires on December 31 of each year.

How is bus access in Vienna controlled on Advent Saturdays?

Many day visitors come to the city by bus on Advent Saturdays. The Vienna City Council therefore issues an “Advent Bus Entry Ticket” for a specific zone. This zone includes the 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th districts, which may only be accessed with a special “Advent Bus Entry Ticket”. Information about this will be published online in the fall.

For more detailed information, please refer to the information sheet issued by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (in German).

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