Page 254 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

252  SUR VIV AL GUIDE GE T TING AROUND VIENNA  253

Tickets and Travel Cards Travelling by Underground heavy. The U-Bahn operates
Vienna’s public transport seven days a week. From
ticketing system is less confusing Vienna’s underground system (U-Bahn) is one of Europe’s Sunday to Thursday, it runs from
than it appears at first glance. most modern networks and is a clean, fast and reliable way of about 5am to after midnight,
Buying a ticket in advance is the crossing the city. Construction commenced in the late 1960s, with trains departing every
easiest option. Tickets are sold at with the inaugural journey taking place in the mid-1970s. It 5–15 minutes. A 24-hour service
newsagents (Tabak Trafiken), from runs Fridays, Saturdays and
ticket machines at stations or has since undergone phases of refurbishment and expansion public holidays. Outside these
over the counter at U-Bahn and to a total length of 80 km (50 miles). A new U5 line is under hours, the U-Bahn service is
S-Bahn offices. Vienna city is zone construction, and five stations opened in 2017. complemented by Vienna
100 of the regional fare system; a NightLine buses (see pp254–5).
standard ticket covers all areas of The U-Bahn’s five colour-
Faxi Taxis lined up on a Vienna street the city and allows passengers to The Underground System voice announces stops and coded lines are U1, U2, U3, U4
change trains and lines and The U-Bahn is safe (see p240), also connections to trams & U6. There is no U5 line yet,
Taxis Public Transport switch from the underground to but in case of emergencies and buses. Signs indicate where but it is being built. The Vienna
Taxis are not flagged down, like Vienna’s transport network is a tram or a bus, as long as they there are help points on prams can be stored by the U-Bahn continues to expand
they are in New York or London. made up of trams (Strassen­ take the most direct route and most platforms. Smoking doors. Bicycles are allowed on as part of an ongoing city
They wait at official taxi stands bahn), buses (Autobus), under- don’t break their journey. A single is prohibited on U-Bahn a few carriages, although not transport project that is
outside stations, hotels and ground (U-Bahn) and commuter ticket costs €2.20 bought in platforms and on the trains before 9am or between expected to run until 2030.
elsewhere. There are taxi apps trains to outlying districts advance or €2.30 on board. themselves. Displays above the 3 and 6:30pm Mon–Fri. Be This will involve extending
for Android or Apple devices, (S-Bahn). The city’s transport Weekly season tickets (€16.20) train doors show stations and aware that doors are opened the U2 line and completing
and taxis can be summoned system, Wiener Linien, works on are valid from Monday to connections, and a recorded manually and can be stiff and the U5 line.
by phone on 60160, 40100 an honour system. The absence Monday at 9am. These are good
and 31300. A short ride can of ticket barriers at stations value for anyone using public
cost €10, with surcharges speeds transit, but tourists must transport for more than four Making a Journey Pull handle to
outside normal hours or for never travel without a ticket, as days. The 8­Tage­Karte (€38.40) is by Underground open door
baggage. The fare to the airport there are spot checks on-board, best for groups of travellers and
is fixed at €36. A 10 per cent tip with fines of over €100 consists of eight strips which, Look for your destination
is expected. Uber, Blacklane demanded on the spot. Tickets when stamped, are valid for a 1on a U-Bahn map. The
and MyDriver are smartphone- cannot be purchased on the day. Up to eight people may five lines are distinguished
based taxi services. Limousine tram or bus. Smoking is banned stamp the same ticket; start with by colour and number.
services, both to the airport in stations and on public strip one or you will invalidate Make a note of whether
and for city destinations, are transport. Children under 6 travel the other seven. Also available and where you need to
also bookable. for free year-round while those are 24-, 48- and 72-hour tickets change lines. Connections
to other forms of transport
Vienna’s Faxi Taxi pedicab is aged between 6 and 14 qualify costing €7.60, €13.30 and are also shown.
a quick way to get around the for half-price single tickets. The €16.50 respectively.The Vienna
centre of the city (see p250). latter can also travel free during Card is a 24-, 48- or 72-hour Insert your ticket into the
Find them at taxi stands or flag holidays providing they can ticket (€13.90/18.90/21.90) valid 2ticket-stamping machine
one down in the street. show proof of age. Rush hour on all transport. It comes with in the direction of the The door opens out
Journeys up to 2 km (1 mile) runs weekdays from about 7am addi tional discounts and arrow. Wait for the ping to the side
cost €5. One-way journeys to 9:30am, then again from benefits and only needs indicating that it is
more than 2 km cost €10. about 4:30pm to 6:30pm. punching once. validated, and pass
through the barrier.
DIRECTORY Follow the signs (with the
number and colour of the Sign showing stops
Green Travel Guided Tours Vienna Explorer Taxis line) to your platform. on line 3 of the
Tel 8909682. Tel 60160. ∑ 60160.at U-Bahn, including
Faxi Taxi DDSG–Blue Danube On the platform, check
Tel 0699 12005624. Handelskai 265. Tel 58880. Vienna Sightseeing Tel 40100. ∑ 40100.at 3the indicator boards connecting stops
∑ faxi.at ∑ ddsg-blue-danube.at Tel 31300. ∑ 31300.at for the direction and
Tours
Fiaker Segway tours Operngasse Top 3. Blacklane destination of the trains.
Elisabethstrasse 13. Map 5 C5. ∑ blacklane.com Stops along the
Carriage Company Tel 7297234. Tel 7124683. 4line are shown on
Wulf ∑ segway-vienna.at MyDriver a plan in the train.
Tel 0699 18154022. ∑ mydriver.com
Tram Museum Parking
Cycling Ludwig-Kössler-Platz. Uber
Tel 790946803. Parkgarage Am Hof ∑ uber.com
Citybike Twin City Liner Map 2 D5 & 5 C2.
Tel 0810 500 500. Schiffstation Wien City, Public Transport At stations with more than
∑ citybikewien.at Schwedenplatz, between Parkhaus City At your destination, 6one exit, use the map of the
Pedal Power Marienbrücke and Stephansplatz 6/ Wiener Linien 5follow Ausgang signs city to check which street or
square you will come out at.
Tel 7297234. Schwedenbrücke bridges. Schuler strasse. Tel 7909100. to reach street level.
∑ pedalpower.at Map 6 E2. Tel 72710137. Map 2 E5 & 6 D3. ∑ wienerlinien.at

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