Vienna Hop-On Hop-Off Bus: 24 & 48-Hour Tickets

Two Routes Through Vienna's Palaces & Museums on Your Schedule

You ride two carefully planned routes on a modern electric bus, hopping off to explore Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, and the Danube waterfront at your own pace. The 24-hour ticket covers a full day; the 48-hour option includes a guided walking tour and a free Viennese sausage platter. Audio commentary in nine languages and real-time bus tracking via the Big Bus app keep you oriented without a guidebook.

Step-by-step itinerary

• Start at Opera / Walfischgasse
• Ride Red Route bus
• Hop off at House of Music
• Visit Museums Quartier and Hofburg
• Stop at City Hall and Votive Church
• See Schwedenplatz and Danube River Cruises
• Visit Prater and Uno City
• Stop at Danube Island and Blue Danube Piers
• Explore City Park
• Ride Blue Route bus
• Stop at Opera / Albertina
• Visit Mariahilfer Straße and Technical Museum
• Explore Schönbrunn Palace and Zoo
• Stop at Main Train Station and Belvedere Palaces

The Experience

Stepping onto the electric bus at Opera, you're moving through Vienna without the weight of planning. The Red Route pulls you toward the Danube and the Prater; the Blue Tour swings south toward Schönbrunn Palace and the Belvedere. You choose where to stop, how long to stay, and when to climb back on. The bus runs quiet—fully electric—which means you hear the city instead of the engine, and the ride stays smooth across cobblestones and wide boulevards alike.

The 24-hour ticket covers one full day of hopping between stops; the 48-hour option gives you a second day to linger. Both come with audio commentary in nine languages, free WiFi on board, and access to the Big Bus app so you can track the next bus in real time and activate your ticket on your phone. If you pick the 48-hour option, you also get a free guided walking tour—90 minutes, departing daily at 11:30am from Stop 1—and a Viennese sausage platter at ZUM KAISER, a one-minute walk from the Opera stop. The 24-hour Bus, Boat & Wheel ticket adds a Danube river cruise, though departures shift if water levels rise or rain turns heavy.

Thirteen stops on the Red Route alone mean you're not locked into a single path. Stop at the House of Music to hear how Vienna shaped Beethoven and Mozart. Get off at City Hall to walk the Naschmarkt, where vendors sell everything from spices to fresh fruit. The Blue Tour takes you past the Technical Museum and straight to Schönbrunn's gates—the imperial summer palace where you can wander the gardens or tour the rooms where Mozart performed as a child. Belvedere Palace sits on the same route, its art collection and baroque architecture worth an hour or two. The app tells you when the next bus arrives, so you're never guessing how long to stay.

Infants ride free on a lap; strollers and wheelchairs fit on board. Service animals are welcome. The buses themselves are accessible, and stops connect to Vienna's public transport network if you want to switch routes. Download the app before you arrive, activate your ticket on your phone, and board using the mobile version—no printing, no queuing at a ticket office.

What’s included

• Choice of 24-hour or 48-hour hop-on hop-off ticket.
• access to Red Route (13 stops) and Blue Tour (7 stops) on fully electric buses.
• audio commentary in 9 languages.
• free WiFi on board.
• Big Bus Tours app for real-time tracking and mobile ticket activation.
• free VOX Digital Walking Tour download.
• guided city walking tour (48-hour ticket only, 90 minutes, daily at 11:30am).
• free Viennese sausage platter at ZUM KAISER (48-hour ticket only).
• Danube river cruise (24-hour Bus, Boat & Wheel option only).

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Big Bus - Austria

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Vienna's main palaces, museums and landmarks without renting a car or buying separate transit passes—the ticket covers both routes, and the app shows you when the next bus arrives so you're not waiting blind.

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Top questions

How often do the buses run?

The reference content does not specify exact frequency, but the Big Bus app provides real-time tracking so you can see when the next bus arrives at your stop.

Can I use the same ticket on both the Red Route and the Blue Tour?

Yes. Your 24-hour or 48-hour ticket covers both routes, so you can switch between them as often as you like during your ticket's validity.

What happens if it rains heavily?

The Danube river cruise (included with the 24-hour Bus, Boat & Wheel ticket) may be cancelled or rescheduled if water levels are high or rain is heavy. Ask a Big Bus staff member at your stop for details on the day.

Is the walking tour included with the 24-hour ticket?

No. The guided walking tour is included only with the 48-hour ticket. It departs daily at 11:30am from Stop 1 (Opera) and lasts 90 minutes.

Where do I redeem the free sausage platter?

At ZUM KAISER sausage stand, Krügerstraße 1, a one-minute walk from Big Bus Stop 1 (Opera). It's open 10am to 11pm. Show your ticket to staff before ordering.

Can I download my ticket to my phone?

Yes. Use the Big Bus Tours app to store, activate, and display your ticket on your mobile device. You board using the mobile ticket.

Are children charged full price?

The reference content does not specify pricing for children. Contact Big Bus directly for age-based rates.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. The buses are wheelchair accessible, and strollers fit on board. Infants can sit on an adult's lap or in a pram.