Vienna PASS or Vienna City Card
Updated September 18, 2026
Verdict
Buy the City Card if you want transport and will pay your own way into one or two attractions. Buy the PASS only if you will enter four or more paid sights in a day, which for most Hofburg-centred trips means no.
These two are confused constantly and they are not the same kind of product. The Vienna PASS, about $125, buys entry to around 85 attractions and unlimited hop-on hop-off buses. The Vienna City Card, about $22, buys public transport and discounts at more than 200 partners, with no admission included. Choosing between them is really a question about how many paid attractions you will enter in a day. Prices read 18 September 2026.
| Criterion | Vienna PASS | Vienna City Card |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Entry to around 85 attractions | Public transport plus discounts |
| Price | About $125 | About $22 |
| Entry at the Hofburg | Included | Not included; discounts only |
| Public transport | Hop-on hop-off buses only | U-Bahn, tram and bus |
| Rating | 4.4 from 3,218 reviews | 4.4 from 1,400 reviews |
| Break-even | Four or more paid sights in a day | Immediate, if you need transport at all |
The maths for an imperial day
The three sights most Hofburg visitors pay for — the palace route at EUR 20, the Imperial Treasury at EUR 16 and the Albertina at EUR 20.90 — come to about EUR 57, roughly $65. The PASS is about $125. To beat single tickets you need Schoenbrunn and two or three more attractions on the same day, which is a real itinerary for some people and a forced march for most.
Where the City Card actually pays
If you are staying outside the first district, or plan a trip out to Schoenbrunn, you need a transport ticket anyway, and the City Card is that ticket with discounts attached. The discounts are small and real: the Albertina charges holders EUR 18.90 instead of EUR 20.90. Note that the palace operator asks City Card holders to book a time-slot ticket.
The third option most people should price
The Vienna FLEXI Pass, about $68, lets you pick two to eight sights, and its listing covers the Sisi Museum, the Treasury, the Spanish Riding School and Schoenbrunn. For a trip that is about imperial Vienna rather than about seeing everything, it beats both of these more often than either vendor's marketing suggests.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Vienna PASS and the Vienna City Card?
The PASS buys entry to around 85 attractions for about $125. The City Card is a transport ticket with discounts, about $22, and includes no admission.
Which is better for the Hofburg?
Neither is needed for the Hofburg alone: the palace ticket is EUR 20. The PASS wins only across four or more paid attractions in a day.
Can I use the Vienna City Card to enter the Hofburg?
No. The operator asks card holders to book a time-slot ticket; the card gives discounts elsewhere, such as EUR 2 off at the Albertina.
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