Vienna City Card or Vienna Pass: Which One Is Best for Families?

Not sure if you should get the Vienna City Card or the Vienna Pass? That was one of my biggest questions too when I started planning our visit.

Both passes offer different kinds of value, and choosing the right one depends on how you plan to explore the city. I looked closely at both before our trip, and after using the Vienna City Card ourselves, I can honestly say it made getting around super easy, especially with kids.

In this post, I’ll break down the main differences between the two, share who each one is best for, and help you decide which one makes the most sense for your trip. Whether you’re aiming to hit all the big attractions or just want to get around without the stress of buying tickets each time, you’ll find a clear answer here.

What’s the Difference Between the Two?

Let’s start with a quick breakdown of what each pass actually includes, because while they sound similar, they’re really made for different types of trips.

Vienna City Card

Think of this one as a transportation pass plus discount card. It gives you unlimited rides on Vienna’s public transit system (U-Bahn, trams, and buses) and offers small discounts at museums, attractions, restaurants, and more.

While it doesn’t include free entry to attractions, the savings can still add up, especially if you’re taking it slow and not packing your days with big-ticket sights.

Vienna Pass

This one’s basically a prepaid sightseeing pass. It includes free entry to more than 70 attractions, including top spots like Schönbrunn Palace, the zoo, the Giant Ferris Wheel, and the Spanish Riding School.

It doesn’t include public transportation, but it does come with unlimited rides on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, which can be handy if you don’t want to deal with transit or just prefer less walking.

Quick Comparison Table

Vienna City Card: Overview

✳️ Best for Getting Around Vienna Easily

The Vienna City Card gives you unlimited access to public transportation within the city, including the U-Bahn (subway), trams, and buses. It’s available for 24, 48, or 72 hours, and you can add an airport transfer if needed (via S-Bahn or CAT).

You also get discounts at more than 200 attractions, restaurants, shops, and tours, including the Haus de Musik, Schonbrunn Palace, which has one of the best museums in Vienna for kids, as well as the iconic ferris wheel.

Most discounts are around 10–20%, so while it won’t get you into places for free, the savings can still add up if you’re planning to visit a few spots.

Why It’s Good for Families

• Kids ride free: One child under 15 travels free with each paying adult.
  
• No need to buy individual transit tickets each time you head out — just scan and go.
  
• Great for flexible plans and younger kids who might not handle a packed day of sightseeing.

Even if you’re mostly visiting free attractions or just want to explore without a strict schedule, the City Card makes it easy to get around, and you’ll still save a few euros here and there with the discounts.

Who It’s Best For

• Families planning to use public transit often
• Visitors planning 1–2 paid attractions per day (or mostly free ones)
• Anyone travelling with younger kids or strollers, where convenience is key

You can buy the Vienna City Card online before your trip, or pick one up when you arrive. Check prices and options here.

Vienna Pass: Overview

✳️ Best for Seeing All the Big Attractions

The Vienna Pass gives you free entry to over 70 attractions, including some of the city’s biggest highlights, like Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, the Giant Ferris Wheel, the Spanish Riding School, and more. If you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing in a short time, this pass can save you a good chunk of money.

The pass is valid for 1, 2, 3, or 6 consecutive days and activates with your first use at an attraction.

Bonus: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Included

The Vienna Pass includes unlimited rides on the city’s hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses for the length of your pass. We’ve used these in other cities and honestly, they’re such a fun and easy way to explore, especially when you’re short on time or when the kids need a break from walking.

It’s not public transit, but it can be a great way to get from one attraction to the next without dealing with U-Bahn stairs or figuring out transfer routes. Plus, you can just sit back and enjoy the views.

No Public Transit

One thing to keep in mind: the Vienna Pass does not include public transportation. If you plan to use the U-Bahn, tram, or buses, you’ll need to buy a separate travel card or day pass.

Why It’s Good for Families

• Many family-friendly attractions are included, like Haus de Musik, Giant Ferris Wheel, Time Travel Vienna, Madame Tussauds, and the Natural History Museum.
  
• Fast-track entry at some places means less time waiting in line, which is always a bonus with kids.
  
• Great option for older kids or teens who can handle a full day of sightseeing.

Who It’s Best For

• Families visiting for just a few days but want to see as much as possible
• Parents with older kids who are interested in museums, palaces, and guided tours
• Anyone planning 3–4 paid attractions per day

Thinking the Vienna Pass might be right for your family? Get all the details here.

Which One Saves More Money?

That depends entirely on how you plan to explore Vienna.

If you’re visiting a lot of paid attractions in a short time, the Vienna Pass will probably save you more — especially since it includes free entry to big-ticket sights like Schönbrunn Palace, the Giant Ferris Wheel, and several museums. The more you use it, the better the value.

But if you’re planning to visit just a few attractions and use transit often, the Vienna City Card is usually the better deal. It’s cheaper up front and still gives you small discounts at most places — plus unlimited public transportation, which adds up quickly if you’re getting around by tram or U-Bahn.

For families especially, it comes down to pace:

• Fast-paced, sightseeing-packed trip? Vienna Pass will likely save more.
  
• Slower days with a few key stops + transit? City Card makes more sense.

Our 2-Day Itinerary Example

(This is based on Days 2 & 3 of our 4-day family itinerary in Vienna, which is perfect for a slower-paced visit with kids.)

While our own family is one adult and two kids, we’ve used the more common setup of two adults and two kids here to give a clearer cost comparison for most families.

Vienna Pass: How much We’d Spend for 2 Days

• 2-Day Vienna Pass:
  €129 per adult × 2 = €258
  €65 per child × 2 = €130
  (Includes Belvedere, Schönbrunn, Natural History Museum)
  
• Transit not included:
  €17.10 per adult × 2 = €34.20
  (children ride free with Vienna transit ticket, or pay ~€8.60 each for 48-hr pass, but we’ll assume free with parents for comparison)

Total: ~€422.20

Verdict: Which One Saves More?

With two adults and two kids, the Vienna City Card still comes out ahead, especially when you’re only doing 1–2 paid attractions per day and using public transit. The Vienna Pass would make sense only if you were cramming in 3–4 attractions daily to get the full value.

👉 Quick note: Our own family is one adult and two kids, and even with that setup, we still found the Vienna City Card to be the better option. We used a 2 adults + 2 kids example here because it’s a more typical family setup and makes it easier to compare costs.

For families taking it slower, mixing in free outdoor spaces and playgrounds, the City Card is not only more affordable, but it also gives you a bit more breathing room and downtime.

Can You Use Both?

Technically, yes — you can buy both the Vienna Pass and the Vienna City Card. But for most families, it’s not worth it.

If you’re getting the Vienna Pass, you’re already spending quite a bit upfront to cover attraction entry. You’ll still need to buy a transit ticket, but that’s usually cheaper than stacking on the City Card just to get around.

If you go with the City Card, you already get unlimited public transit and discounted entry to most attractions — which is plenty for a slower-paced trip or if you’re only planning to do one or two big sights per day.

What I’d recommend instead:

• If you’re using the Vienna Pass, just buy a standard 48- or 72-hour transit pass.
  
• If you’re using the City Card, skip the Pass. You’ll still save with the included discounts, and you won’t feel like you have to “rush through” attractions to make the price worth it.

Our Experience + Recommendation

When I was planning our trip, I looked closely at both the Vienna City Card and the Vienna Pass. I knew we weren’t going to pack every day with big-ticket attractions. I wanted a balance of sightseeing, playgrounds, and just wandering through the city (plus time to visit the Christmas Markets).

I ended up choosing the Vienna City Card, and it was the right fit for us. It made getting around super simple (no fumbling with transit tickets in the cold) and we still saved money on a few museums and sights, even with a relaxed pace.

But if you’re planning to plan a lot of big-ticket attractions into just a day or two, the Vienna Pass could be worth it, especially if you’re travelling with older kids or teens who can handle a faster-paced itinerary. But if you’re spreading things out over a few days, the cost of the pass goes up, and it’s harder to get your money’s worth unless you’re doing 3–4 attractions a day.

For most families, especially with younger kids, the Vienna City Card offers more flexibility, better value, and a less rushed experience.

Where to Buy

Both the Vienna City Card and the Vienna Pass can be bought online ahead of time or in person once you arrive.

• Vienna City Card
  You can buy the City Card online before your trip (print it or save it on your phone), or pick one up at tourist information centres, at the airport, or at major transit hubs around the city.
  
• Vienna Pass
  The Pass is easy to buy online in advance, and that way you can start using it as soon as you arrive. You can also get it at select tourist info desks and hop‑on hop‑off bus stops in Vienna.

✨ Tip: Buying online in advance saves time when you arrive,  and lets you start sightseeing right away. Plus, if you’re arriving at Vienna airport, you can add an airport transfer option to the Vienna Pass, so you don’t have to worry about buying extra tickets to get from the airport to the city centre.

Our Take: Vienna City Card or Vienna Pass?

So which one is better for your family?

The Vienna City Card is ideal if you want easy access to public transit, plan to visit 1–2 attractions per day, and like having the flexibility to mix in playgrounds, markets, and slower-paced exploring.

The Vienna Pass works best if you’re planning to pack your days with big sights and want to save on multiple attraction tickets — especially with older kids who can handle the pace.

For our family, the City Card was the better fit. It kept things simple, saved us money, and let us explore Vienna without feeling rushed.

Planning your trip to Vienna?

Check out these helpful posts to make the most of your visit:
Start with my guide to the best things to do in Vienna with kids, and don’t miss the top museums in Vienna for families. If you’re still figuring out logistics, here’s a full post on where to stay in Vienna with kids, plus our detailed 4-day Vienna itinerary and everything you need to know about getting from the airport to the city centre.