{"id":316,"date":"2015-08-20T18:27:47","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T16:27:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=316"},"modified":"2025-10-22T15:08:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T14:08:50","slug":"trams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/trams\/","title":{"rendered":"Trams"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/trams_small1.jpg\" alt=\"Modern tram in Vienna\" class=\"wp-image-14392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/trams_small1.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/trams_small1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Trams are perhaps the most frequent form of surface public transport in Vienna, and the tram system dates back to the 1800s. (I should point out that one or two upgrades have taken place since then.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Frequent and user-friendly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lines 1, D, 2 and 71 are key for visitors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a short <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-city-tours-l205280\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_CityTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">guided tour<\/a>* for your Vienna trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/public\/\">Public transport in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Vienna tram system<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/newviennesetram.jpg\" alt=\"New Viennese tram\" class=\"wp-image-48978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/newviennesetram.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/newviennesetram-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(One of the very latest <em>Flexity<\/em> trams to join the fleet, but not yet a common sight)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna&#8217;s municipal trams are easy to spot, being large and unsurprisingly tram-shaped. The distinctive red and white(ish) city colours are another big clue, unless an advertiser has rebranded the vehicle. They travel along rails embedded into the road surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The German word for one is <em>Stra\u00dfenbahn<\/em> (literally &#8220;street railway&#8221;), though the slang term <em>Bim<\/em> is equally common and even used at times by the Wiener Linien transport authorities that operate Vienna&#8217;s tram fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just under thirty regular tram lines serve the city, and your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/public\/\">public transport ticket<\/a> is valid for all of them. According to the operators, this network covers around 171km. Which makes it the sixth-largest in the world. (Melbourne claims to be the biggest.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each line draws its power from overhead electric cables and has a number or letter designation (e.g. 9 or D). Most lines run from the early morning until after midnight, with special night (bus) services also operating along selected routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the bulk of the working day, intervals between vehicles on a line are generally 3-8 minutes in my experience, with delays rare. For example, Vienna is geared up for snow, so there have to be serious blizzards to keep the vehicles off the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(And snow has the added bonus that you get to see the tram version of a snow plough.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-content-ids=\"975002,1035993\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_hoponhopoff\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Important lines for visitors<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/moderntram.jpg\" alt=\"A modern tram\" class=\"wp-image-43481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/moderntram.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/moderntram-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Most trams take this <em>Niederflur<\/em> design, with easy accessibility through raised platforms and a low entry height)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The lines of most interest to visitors are those that travel along part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1546\">Ring boulevard<\/a> that encircles the very centre and old town (no trams actually enter the old town):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Line 1 travels between the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/prater\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35726\">Prater<\/a> recreational area and the south of the city via much of the Ring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Line D travels around parts of the Ring and runs between the Hauptbahnhof main railway station, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/belvedere\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3308\">Belvedere palaces<\/a>, and the north<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Line 71 is another &#8220;Ring&#8221; tram that starts in the centre and continues out past Belvedere to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/zentralfriedhof\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"301\">Zentralfriedhof cemetery<\/a> and its famous composer graves, via St. Marx with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/marx-halle\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"62019\">Marx Halle event venue<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/mozarts-grave\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1117\">Mozart&#8217;s grave<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Line 2: the final &#8220;Ring&#8221; tram goes from the banks of the Danube down to (and round much of) the city centre, then out to the west of Vienna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2 tram is a mysterious and magical beast much like Harry Potter&#8217;s Knight Bus. It feels like you could be anywhere in the city and suddenly find yourself next to a tram stop for the 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some trams operate outside the normal system: you might spot the occasional old timer tram, as you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rentabim.at\/\">hire one<\/a> for special trips (we took our wedding guests through Vienna on one back in the day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re interested in old-timer transport vehicles, then I recommend you visit the city&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/transport-remise\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26596\">Transport Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the past, we&#8217;ve also had the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/vienna-ring-tram\/\">yellow sightseeing tram<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/pink-manner-tram\/\">Manner tram<\/a>, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/christmas-tram\/\">Str\u00f6ck Christmas tram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using trams<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oldnewtrams.jpg\" alt=\"Old and new trams\" class=\"wp-image-47447\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oldnewtrams.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/oldnewtrams-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Old and new trams)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I cover <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/public\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"310\">ticket requirements and procedures<\/a> elsewhere. But here some tips on the practicalities of tram use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna has largely (but not completely) migrated from the old-style trams (see the picture of the number 2 above) to the new <em>Niederflur<\/em> trams. An even newer <em>Flexity<\/em> tram generation is on its way and already in operation on selected lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The modern trams are low-lying with raised tram stop platforms, so you can push a pram or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/accessibility\/\">wheelchair<\/a> straight on without going up steps. These trams also have dedicated areas for those wheelchairs and prams (with even more space available in the new Flexity models).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seats marked with coloured symbols for the old, the handicapped, pregnant women or parents with young kids should be kept free for the same. You can sit there, but you should (obviously) move as soon as someone fitting the above descriptions gets on board and needs your seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Same goes for those areas marked for wheelchair users or prams. You can occupy the space, but be prepared to move if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you approach your stop, you press the exit button on any door to warn the driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In reality, there&#8217;s nearly always someone waiting so the tram will almost certainly stop anyway, but you might need to press the button to get the door to actually open when the tram eventually comes to a standstill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, if you&#8217;re waiting at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/tramstop\/\">tram stop<\/a> and the tram arrives but nobody gets off at the door nearest you, then press the button on the outside to board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next stop is normally announced over a loudspeaker as you approach the destination. All trams also have several physical, LED and digital screen displays with information on the route and coming stops (what you get depends on the age of the tram).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp238032\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_ConcTour\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Driving around trams<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/oldhistoricaltram.jpg\" alt=\"Hofsalonwagen (royal tram) from 1900 Vienna\" class=\"wp-image-48979\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/oldhistoricaltram.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/oldhistoricaltram-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A royal tram from 1900&#8230;no longer in operation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/travel-and-weather\/driving\/\">driving in Vienna<\/a>, be aware that the trams are the royalty of the road. Two things to remember in particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some tram lines follow the road, so you can&#8217;t help but drive along the same route. But don&#8217;t block a line unless you have no choice: trams don&#8217;t take kindly to unnecessary delays and are bigger than you. They also have right of way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most importantly, you may find yourself on a lane running between a tram and a tram stop, so you&#8217;re driving more or less alongside a tram in the same direction. Once the tram is nearing or at a stop, you must stop, too, even if the road ahead is clear<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can only pass the tram&#8217;s right side at or near a stop if no people are boarding or leaving the tram, nobody is looking to board the tram, and the vehicle&#8217;s doors are all shut. To be safe, simply stop until the tram starts to move off again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find more tips on driving in Vienna <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/travel-and-weather\/driving\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2619\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trams are perhaps the most frequent form of surface public transport in Vienna, and the tram system dates back to the 1800s. (I should point out that one or two upgrades have taken place since then.) The Vienna tram system (One of the very latest Flexity trams to join the fleet, but not yet a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14392,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-316","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-transport","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=316"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86597,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/316\/revisions\/86597"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}