The public transport system is definitely one of Vienna’s plus points: cheap, frequent, fast, clean, efficient, and rarely overcrowded.
The four main forms of transport are subway (U-Bahn), local train (Schnellbahn or S-Bahn), tram (Tram or Straßenbahn) and bus (Autobus).
Vienna works on an honesty system with no ticket barriers at stations and no formal, permanent ticket checks on the subway, local trains, trams and buses. However, uniformed and non-uniformed inspectors patrol the vehicles and the stations and can ask to see your ticket at any time.
Children up to six years of age always travel for free on Vienna’s public transport services. During the Vienna school holidays as well as on Sundays and public holidays, all children up to fifteen years ride for free on public transport. This rule also applies to students attending an Austrian school up to the age of 24 – student ID required!
Most of the public transport network is accessible with a pram. Some Trams and some S-Bahn trains do still have steps though. Look for the pram logo on doors and inside carriages to know where to go with your pram and check here to know in which stations the lifts are out of order. At tram stops, look for the wheelchair symbol on the electronic displays telling you when the next “wheelchair-friendly” tram is due.