Vienna PASS: is it worth it?
Unlike the discount-only Vienna City Card, the Vienna PASS gives genuinely free entry to Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and a dozen more sights. That real value comes at a real price, and it only pays off with a properly busy schedule.
Also searched as: Vienna City Pass · City Pass Wien · Wien Pass
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links — it never changes the ranking. · Verified 2026-07-01
At a glance
How does the Vienna PASS work?
- It runs on consecutive days. The clock starts at first use and never pauses, so a rest day inside the window is a day you paid for and did not use.
- Public transport is not included — budget for it separately when comparing totals.
- Most sites have a pass-holder queue, but timed reservations still apply wherever the attraction requires one.
How much does the Vienna PASS cost?
These are the official adult prices we last verified on 2026-07-01. Children, youth and seniors often pay less, and the calculator applies each attraction’s own age rules to your group.
Cheapest way in: €79
Prices change without notice — always confirm on the operator’s site before paying.
Prices by duration
What’s included
- Schönbrunn Palace (Grand Tour) · Reservation required
- Belvedere Palace (Upper Belvedere)
- Kunsthistorisches Museum
- St. Stephen's Cathedral (South Tower)
- Albertina Museum
- Vienna State Opera Guided Tour
- Giant Ferris Wheel (Prater Riesenrad)
- Danube Tower (Donauturm)
- Hofburg Imperial Apartments & Sisi Museum
- Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Zoo)
- Danube River Cruise
- Leopold Museum (MuseumsQuartier)
- Natural History Museum Vienna
What’s not included
- Spanish Riding School (Gala Performance)
Is the Vienna PASS worth it?
The Vienna PASS clears its price fast if you're combining Schönbrunn with two or three other paid sights in a day — the free entries alone can approach the cost of a one-day pass before you count anything else. For a lighter schedule of one museum a day, the 15%-off Vienna City Card, which includes transport, is usually the cheaper route.
Where it wins
- Genuine free entry, not just discounts, at Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere, KHM and more
- Skip-the-line access at nearly every included site
- Covers pricey palaces and museums that add up fast on their own
- Multi-day tiers (up to 6 days) reward a busier trip
Where it falls short
- Expensive relative to the Vienna City Card, which only gives discounts
- Public transport is not included
- Schönbrunn Palace is free but still needs a timed-entry booking
- Spanish Riding School gala performances are excluded — never bundled into any pass
Best for: Sightseers packing Schönbrunn Palace plus two or more major museums or viewpoints into each day.
What you get
The Vienna PASS gives free entry — not a discount — to more than a dozen sights, including Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Albertina, the Hofburg’s Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum, the Giant Ferris Wheel and a Danube river cruise. Tiers run from a one-day pass at €79 up to six days at €194, and skip-the-line entry is included almost everywhere.
Run the numbers on a genuinely full day: Schönbrunn Palace (€26), the Belvedere (€21.90) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (€21) already total €68.90 — close to the €79 one-day price — and a fourth stop, like the Hofburg Sisi Museum at €16.90, pushes it well past break-even. Spread across two days at €119, add Schönbrunn’s zoo (€26) and the Natural History Museum (€16) to that same list and the pass clears its price with room to spare.
The catch
The PASS is not cheap, and it doesn’t include public transport, unlike the far less expensive Vienna City Card. That card only discounts admission by 15% and adds transport, so it’s a different product for a slower pace, not a lesser version of the same one.
Schönbrunn Palace is free with the PASS but still requires a timed-entry reservation, same as buying direct. And the Spanish Riding School’s gala performances sit outside every Vienna pass; seating is too limited for any bundle deal, so book those separately, and well ahead, if they matter to your trip.
Our verdict
Buy the Vienna PASS if your days are genuinely full — palace, museum, viewpoint, repeat. Two or three paid sights a day clears the price comfortably, and a multi-day tier stretches that further. For a slower trip built around one museum a day plus getting around, the Vienna City Card’s discount-and-transport combo usually works out cheaper; compare your actual list in the calculator.
Alternatives to consider
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vienna PASS worth it in 2026?
Only with a busy itinerary. A single day covering Schönbrunn Palace (€26), the Belvedere (€21.90) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (€21) already totals €68.90 in single-ticket value against a €79 one-day pass — add a fourth stop and it pulls ahead. Doing one sight a day won't clear the price.
What's the difference between the Vienna PASS and the Vienna City Card?
The Vienna PASS gives free entry to its attractions; the Vienna City Card only gives a 15% discount plus public transport. The PASS costs more but pays for itself faster if you're visiting several paid sights — the City Card suits a lighter schedule.
Does the Vienna PASS include the Spanish Riding School?
No. Gala performances have extremely limited seating and are ticketed separately by the Spanish Riding School itself — no Vienna pass, PASS or City Card, bundles them in.