{"id":6691,"date":"2018-11-03T05:35:40","date_gmt":"2018-11-03T04:35:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=6691"},"modified":"2026-01-29T07:51:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T06:51:07","slug":"wi-fi-hotspots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/wi-fi-hotspots\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Wi-Fi hotspots"},"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\/2018\/10\/wifi_small.jpg\" alt=\"Wi-Fi symbols\" class=\"wp-image-6699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wifi_small.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/wifi_small-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re worried about roaming charges or using up your bandwidth, a free Wi-Fi hotspot would come in useful. Fortunately, Vienna is a wired-up town, with plenty of public and private access points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wide availability of public hotspots<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>City-sponsored public Wi-Fi has numerous access points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Freenet service covers hundreds of locations, too<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/Vienna-VR-Virtual-Reality-Experiences-l219199\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WiFi\" rel=\"sponsored\">VR experience<\/a>* in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitor-questions\/\">Top visitor questions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/introduction-to-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30431\">Introduction to Vienna<\/a> for visitors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to find a Wi-Fi hotspot<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"277\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/freewave.png\" alt=\"WiFi notification\" class=\"wp-image-14557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/freewave.png 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/freewave-300x166.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Phone notification when Freewave WiFi is available)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>OK, the first thing you need to know is Wi-Fi is generally called WLAN here in Austria. So look for Gratis WLAN (which means &#8220;free Wi-Fi&#8221; in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/languages-do-they-speak-english-in-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"332\">local language<\/a>) in museums and other public locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, if you search for WiFi in Vienna, you&#8217;ll likely discover the <em>Wirtschaftsf\u00f6rderungsinstitut der Wirtschaftskammer<\/em>, which is a business education and advice facility run by the local Chamber of Commerce!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyway, enough of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wi-Fi \/ WLAN access points are everywhere. Here are your main options, in addition to anything offered by, for example, your accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note that most obviously require you to agree with terms and conditions before connecting. And you may have restrictions on both speed, availability, and access to particular websites and online services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Vienna&#8217;s public WLAN<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The city of Vienna provides hotspots for public use at around 400 locations around town. Here&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/stadtplan\/en\/grafik.aspx?lang=en&amp;bookmark=yUnlRNbeqUXHotdGKnE9Ru5Rphlnqnnkur2pd3IMpr4C\">their map<\/a>, which also includes the locations of many non-municipal hotspots, too. Red refers to municipal hotspots, blue to privately-run hotspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Accessing the public WiFi brings up a useful page with local information. This includes an option to access the wider Internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city centre has three areas strong on these public hotspots: the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/rathaus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"79\">Rathausplatz<\/a>, along the Graben pedestrianised area up to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/freyung-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29646\">Freyung square<\/a>, and dotted around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1546\">Ringstrasse<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Freewave<\/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\/03\/schoenbrunnforecourt.jpg\" alt=\"Sch\u00f6nbrunn forecourt\" class=\"wp-image-44660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/schoenbrunnforecourt.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/schoenbrunnforecourt-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\">(Habsburg history and free Wi-Fi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many hotels, restaurants, bars, caf\u00e9s, shopping centers, etc. work with the Freewave network to provide free Wi-Fi for their customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing, Freewave manage more than 850 hotspots in Austria, with around half or more in Vienna. You can view a full list and map <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freewave.at\/hotspots\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to that map, the first district alone (the historical centre of Vienna) has well over 100 such hotspots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of writing, these first district spots include many of the well-known <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/coffee-houses\/\">coffee houses<\/a>, such as Caf\u00e9 Central, Caf\u00e9 Korb, or Caf\u00e9 Landtmann, and even the official tourist information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of January 2026, other notable Freewave locations listed include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/hofburg-visitor-information\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2711\">Sisi Museum<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/mq\/\">MuseumsQuartier<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/leopold-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4014\">Leopold Museum<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/imperial-furniture-collection\/\">Furniture Museum<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/prunksaal\/\">National Library<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/sigmund-freud\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"986\">Sigmund Freud Museum<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/\">Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/a> (including the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/gerstner-schonbrunn\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"74321\">caf\u00e9-restaurant<\/a> in the palace forecourt and the caf\u00e9 in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/gloriette\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"125\">Gloriette<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"venue\" data-content-ids=\"219199,205287\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_VR\"><\/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\">McDonalds &amp; Starbucks<\/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\/08\/starbuckssign.jpg\" alt=\"Starbuck's sign\" class=\"wp-image-51231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/starbuckssign.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/starbuckssign-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\">(Popular for coffee and internet)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Two traditional sources of Wi-Fi live in Vienna, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you pop in for a burger or coffee (most McDonalds have a McCaf\u00e9 section with good coffee and cake), nearly every McDonalds in Austria has free Wi-Fi. Find one of their restaurants <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcdonalds.at\/restaurant-finder\">here<\/a>. Search for Wien (which is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/visitorinfo\/wien\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"343\">word for Vienna<\/a> in German) and check the WLAN box on the &#8220;Detaillierte Suche&#8221; map filter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find Starbucks outlets in Vienna using their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.starbucks.at\/en\/store-locator\">store locator<\/a> (in English, so you can search for Vienna not Wien). Click on the info icon for availability of Starbucks Wi-Fi under amenities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Trains and stations<\/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\/05\/westbahnhofstation.jpg\" alt=\"Westbahnhof station\" class=\"wp-image-47273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/westbahnhofstation.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/westbahnhofstation-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\">(Westbahnhof railway station)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three options around public transport:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Austrian Federal Railways (\u00d6BB) have onboard Wi-Fi on selected train services. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oebb.at\/en\/reiseplanung-services\/im-zug\/wlan-im-zug\">here<\/a> for details. Obviously, you can&#8217;t expect perfect connectivity all the time; we have lots of mountains and tunnels in Austria<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Also check availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots from \u00d6BB or Wiener Linien (the Vienna transport authority) if at a major railway or subway station in the city<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The CAT express train that travels <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/airport-to-city\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3799\">from the airport to Vienna<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/city-to-airport\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3754\">back again<\/a> has Wi-Fi as well<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy surfing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re worried about roaming charges or using up your bandwidth, a free Wi-Fi hotspot would come in useful. Fortunately, Vienna is a wired-up town, with plenty of public and private access points. How to find a Wi-Fi hotspot (Phone notification when Freewave WiFi is available) OK, the first thing you need to know is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6699,"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":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6691","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-visitorinfo","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691","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=6691"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88383,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6691\/revisions\/88383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}