Vienna PASS: All incl. Sightseeing Pass for 85+ Attractions

Vienna’s great palaces and museums can add up quickly, and the Vienna PASS bundles entry to up to 90 sights with unlimited rides on four hop-on hop-off bus routes. It works best when you arrive with a plan and want to fit several major stops into each day.

I like two things in particular: one pass covers many headline attractions, so you can change your mind without buying another ticket, and the buses give you an easy way to link sights spread around the city. The guidebook and app also help you check what is included and plan your route.

The trade-off is that this is not a casual sightseeing card. You can visit each attraction only once, some popular sights require a reservation or time slot, and the pass does not include Vienna’s regular public transport. To get your money’s worth, you need to keep moving.

Key points before you buy

• Schönbrunn can fill a full day: The palace, zoo, Maze, Gloriette and other included attractions are grouped around the same large site.
• The buses cover four routes and 50 stops: Unlimited rides are useful for sightseeing and linking far-flung stops, but service hours and frequency matter to your plans.
• Fast-track entry is available at many, not all, sights: It can save time at busy ticket desks, but it does not replace a required time slot.
• One visit per attraction: Choose your stops with care, especially if you are considering a short one-day pass.
• Regular city transport costs extra: The pass includes sightseeing buses, not a Vienna public transport travelcard.

What the pass gets you around Vienna

The Vienna PASS is an attraction pass with a sightseeing bus package attached. Depending on the validity you choose, it provides free admission to up to 90 attractions, unlimited rides on four hop-on hop-off routes, fast-track entry at various sights, and a guidebook. An app and bonus booklet add city information and offers from selected local businesses.

Among the best-known included attractions are Schönbrunn Palace and Zoo, the Giant Ferris Wheel, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Albertina, the Natural History Museum, the Belvedere palaces, the Hofburg, the Imperial Treasury, the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna State Opera guided tour. You can also use it at places such as the Leopold Museum, mumok, the Danube Tower, Madame Tussauds, the Imperial Burial Vault and the Museum of Military History.

That breadth is the pass’s main advantage. It can make a museum you had not planned to visit feel like an easy choice, because you do not need to buy a separate admission ticket. But included does not mean unlimited: each attraction can be visited once, and special exhibitions or particular parts of a complex may not be covered by the basic entry. Check the exact inclusion before building your day around a specific room, tour or add-on.

Passes are available for 1, 2, 3 or 6 consecutive days. The supplied price is $128 per person, but the cost depends on the duration you select, so check the current price for your dates before comparing it with separate tickets.

Schönbrunn is the best place to plan ahead

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the strongest reasons to consider the pass. The former imperial residence is a major attraction in its own right, and the broader complex includes the Zoo, Maze, Gloriette and other sights. With the pass, you can combine several of these without buying each admission separately.

Do not assume, though, that the pass grants entry to every room or experience at the palace. The included palace access has been described as covering the State Apartments, while additional features may have separate terms. Check the current pass details for the exact visit you want, and look up time-slot rules before setting off.

The most useful practical tip is to get there early if you need to reserve a palace time. A pass can cover admission without guaranteeing the time you want, and popular slots may be limited. Some visitors have collected a slot at the group centre outside the main gate, but procedures can change, so confirm the current instructions before your visit.

The zoo can make Schönbrunn a long stop, especially with children. If you want both palace interiors and the zoo, leave enough time rather than treating the complex as a quick morning visit. The pass is particularly useful here because several included sights are close together, but a one-day pass can feel like a race if you try to add too many other parts of Vienna.

Museums and imperial sights in the city centre

In the central districts, the pass brings together several of Vienna’s most rewarding museums and historic sites. The Kunsthistorisches Museum is a natural choice for art and imperial collections; the Albertina combines major art displays with a former palace setting; and the Natural History Museum offers a very different change of pace. The Leopold Museum and mumok add modern and contemporary art to the mix.

The Hofburg area is another useful cluster. The Imperial Treasury, Imperial Furniture Collection and Spanish Riding School sit within a broader story of Habsburg power and court life. The Imperial Burial Vault offers a more focused visit, while the Vienna State Opera guided tour gives you a look inside one of the city’s best-known buildings.

This is where the pass’s fast-track benefit may save time, particularly when it lets you avoid the ticket-purchase queue. But do not read fast track as a promise that every door is open without a wait. Timed visits, capacity limits and attraction-specific rules still apply. The State Opera tour, for example, requires advance registration for a group visit, and available language groups may fill early.

The pass also includes attractions beyond the main imperial circuit, such as the Giant Ferris Wheel, Danube Tower, Madame Tussauds and several museums. These can be worthwhile additions, but the sensible choice depends on your interests. Do not spend half a day crossing town for a stop that does not appeal to you simply because admission is included.

The sightseeing buses: useful, but not a city travelcard

Unlimited rides on four hop-on hop-off routes are part of the package, with 50 stops, onboard Wi-Fi and audio commentary in 16 languages. There is also a children’s channel in English and German, plus an app-guided walking tour. For a first visit, the buses can help you get your bearings and connect sights that are less convenient to reach on foot.

They are particularly handy for places such as Schönbrunn and Belvedere, where the route can save you from planning every connection yourself. The buses also let you see parts of Vienna between stops, which is a pleasant bonus when you have time to sit back and listen to the commentary.

Still, a sightseeing bus is not always the quickest way across town. It follows set routes, and intervals can vary. Some routes may stop running earlier than you would like, and a missed stop or unclear boarding point can disrupt a tight schedule. Check the route map, stop locations and operating hours before you rely on a bus to get you to a timed visit.

Most important, the Vienna PASS does not include a regular public transport travelcard. If you plan to use the metro, trams or city buses, budget for those separately. The hop-on hop-off buses are best treated as a sightseeing and attraction-linking option, not a full replacement for Vienna’s everyday transport network.

How to decide if the price adds up

A pass is worthwhile when the cost of the sights you actually want to visit approaches or exceeds the pass price. Make a short list before buying, then compare the current individual admission prices with the price of your chosen pass. Include only places you genuinely want to see. A string of rushed visits to make the numbers work is a poor bargain.

The one-day option suits a tightly planned visit with several attractions close together or a clear priority such as Schönbrunn. The two-day pass gives you more breathing room and is often a better fit if you want both palace grounds and city-centre museums. Three or six days can make sense if you enjoy museums and want to spread visits out, but a longer pass is not automatically better value if you take long breaks or spend much of your time outside the included sights.

The advertised $128 per person is a useful starting point, not enough by itself to decide. Confirm the price for the number of days you need, then check the admission fees and any time-slot limits for your must-see attractions. The pass is strongest when you use it for several costly entries and the bus, rather than buying it mainly for one or two sights.

A practical plan for using your days

Before activating your sightseeing schedule, group attractions by area. Put Schönbrunn and its nearby included sights together; set aside another block for the Hofburg and central museums; then choose farther stops such as Belvedere, the Danube Tower or the Giant Ferris Wheel based on the bus routes and opening times.

Reserve any attractions that require a time slot as early as the rules allow. This matters for the State Opera tour and can matter at Schönbrunn. Do not leave these checks until you arrive at the entrance, when the remaining times may not suit your day.

Use the guidebook and app to confirm opening days, current inclusions and special booking instructions. Museums and historic sites do not all keep the same hours, and some attractions may require advance reservations even when admission is covered. The bonus booklet can be handy for partner discounts, but treat those as a small extra rather than the main reason to buy.

You will need to exchange your voucher for the actual pass at the Vienna Sightseeing Office at 3-5 Opernring, no. 17-24, facing the State Opera. The office is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The person who placed the order must collect it and show official photo ID, so bring a passport or ID card. Children under six receive free admission to the all-inclusive offers when accompanied by an adult with a Vienna PASS.

Who will get the most from it

This pass suits an active first visit, especially if you want to see major museums and palaces in a short stay. It is also useful for families who plan to visit several included attractions, since children under six enter the all-inclusive offers free with a pass-holding adult. The buses and the guidebook can make a busy itinerary easier to manage.

It is less suited to a slow trip built around cafés, long museum visits or a few carefully chosen sights. If you prefer to spend a whole day in one museum, or you already know you will use Vienna’s metro and trams more than the sightseeing buses, compare the pass with individual tickets before committing.

Should you book the Vienna PASS?

Book it if you have a clear list of several included attractions, want to use the hop-on hop-off buses, and are willing to plan around reservations and opening times. For a packed two- or three-day visit, it can make admission costs easier to manage and help you see more than you might otherwise fit in.

Skip it if you plan only a handful of sights, want a leisurely pace, or mainly need regular public transport. The key question is not how many attractions are on the list, but how many you will realistically visit. Check the time-slot rules first, count your likely admissions, and choose the shortest pass that comfortably fits your plans.

FAQ

What does the Vienna PASS include?

It includes free entry to up to 90 attractions, unlimited rides on four hop-on hop-off bus routes, fast-track entry at various sights and a guidebook. The pass also comes with an app and bonus booklet.

How many days can I buy the pass for?

The Vienna PASS is available for 1, 2, 3 or 6 consecutive days.

Does the Vienna PASS include Vienna’s metro and trams?

No. A regular public transport travelcard is not included. The pass covers unlimited rides on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses.

Can I visit an attraction more than once?

No. Each attraction can be visited once. Hop-on hop-off bus rides are unlimited during the pass’s validity.

Do I need to reserve any attractions in advance?

Yes. Advance reservations are required for some attractions. Check the individual attraction’s rules and opening hours before you go.

Where do I collect the pass?

Exchange your voucher at the Vienna Sightseeing Office at 3-5 Opernring, no. 17-24, facing the Vienna State Opera. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

What identification do I need to collect the pass?

Bring an official photo ID, such as a passport or ID card. The person who ordered the pass must be present to collect it.

Do children under six need a Vienna PASS?

Children under six receive free admission to the all-inclusive offers when accompanied by an adult who holds a Vienna PASS.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The booking also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.