💰 This page covers what you need on the ground: card acceptance by neighborhood, ATM locations, transport payments, and day trips. For the full breakdown of Austrian banks, tipping customs, and general money tips:
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A little. Vienna is more card-friendly than its reputation suggests, but Austrians remain more attached to cash than the Dutch or Scandinavians. Keep €50–100 as a buffer, more if you plan to visit Heurigen (wine taverns) or flea markets.
Where You Will Need Cash
Heurigen (wine taverns): many in Grinzing, Nussdorf, and Neustift am Walde are cash-only. Traditional Beisln: some old-school pubs in Josefstadt prefer cash for beer and small orders. Naschmarkt Saturday flea market: antique sellers are mostly cash-only. Würstelstand: sausage stands sometimes prefer cash under €5. Tipping: given in cash by telling the waiter the total you want to pay. Public toilets at tourist sites (€0.50–1 in coins).
Where Cards Work Fine
Restaurants and cafes across the Innere Stadt, Neubau, and Mariahilf. Traditional coffeehouses (Café Central, Demel, Sacher). Museums (Schönbrunn, Belvedere, Kunsthistorisches). U-Bahn and trams (ticket machines accept contactless). The State Opera (even standing tickets). Vienna is easier on cards than Berlin, though not quite as cashless as Amsterdam.
Paying by Card in Vienna
Visa and Mastercard work at most restaurants, shops, and attractions. Contactless (Apple Pay, Google Pay) works at modern terminals. Amex is less widely accepted outside hotels.
Innere Stadt (1st District)
Vienna's historic center inside the Ringstraße. St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, Graben shopping street, and Kärntner Straße are all fully card-friendly. Department stores, luxury boutiques, and tourist-oriented restaurants accept contactless without issue. The Albertina, Kunsthistorisches Museum, and other state museums accept cards for entry. You can go entirely card-free here.
Neubau (7th District)
Vienna's hipster quarter around Museumsquartier and Spittelberg. Design shops on Kirchengasse, restaurants on Burggasse, and the bars along Neubaugasse all accept cards. The Museumsquartier complex (MUMOK, Leopold Museum, Kunsthalle) accepts cards for entry. Brunch culture is strong here and every spot takes contactless.
Leopoldstadt (2nd District)
The Prater area with the famous Riesenrad (Ferris wheel). The Prater amusement park accepts cards at most rides (buy tickets at machines or the main booth). Restaurants along the Donaukanal waterfront accept cards. The Karmelitermarkt has food stalls that take cards. The area around Praterstern station is well-served with bank ATMs.
Wieden (4th District)
A residential neighborhood south of the Ringstraße with excellent restaurants. The area around Karlsplatz and the Belvedere Palace accepts cards everywhere. Restaurants on Wiedner Hauptstraße and Favoritenstraße take contactless. The Belvedere (home to Klimt's "The Kiss") accepts cards for entry.
Josefstadt (8th District)
A quiet, residential neighborhood with traditional Beisl (Austrian pubs). Restaurants on Josefstädter Straße mostly accept cards. The older, more traditional Beisln (like Gasthaus Wickerl or Piaristenkeller) sometimes prefer cash, especially for beer and small orders. The Theater in der Josefstadt accepts cards for tickets.
Ottakring / Brunnenmarkt (16th District)
Vienna's longest street market. The Brunnenmarkt is a daily market with Turkish, Balkan, and Asian food stalls. Permanent shops along the market street take cards, but the individual market stalls selling produce, spices, and street food are mixed. The Yppenplatz end of the market has trendy restaurants that all accept cards. Bring some cash for the market stalls.
Naschmarkt
Vienna's most famous market, stretching along Wienzeile between Karlsplatz and Kettenbückengasse. Permanent food stalls and sit-down restaurants accept cards. The deli counters selling cheese, olives, and dried fruits mostly take cards. The Saturday flea market extension at the western end is more cash-oriented, with antique and vintage sellers preferring cash.
Heuriger (Wine Taverns)
The traditional wine taverns in the outer districts (Grinzing, Nussdorf, Neustift am Walde) are a quintessential Vienna experience. Many Heurigen are still cash-only or cash-preferred, especially for wine by the glass and cold buffet plates. Some of the larger, more tourist-oriented ones in Grinzing accept cards, but the authentic neighborhood Heurigen often do not. Bring €30–50 in cash per person.
ATMs in Vienna
For details on Austrian bank fees and best practices, see the Austria guide. Vienna has excellent ATM coverage from major Austrian banks.
Look for these bank logos. Erste Bank and Raiffeisen are the most common in Vienna. Bank Austria (UniCredit) is also widespread.
Bank Austria
Best ATM Locations by Area
Innere Stadt: Erste Bank on Graben. Bank Austria (UniCredit) on Kärntner Straße. Raiffeisen near Stephansplatz. Multiple options within a short walk of any tourist landmark.
Naschmarkt area: Erste Bank and Raiffeisen on Wiedner Hauptstraße near Karlsplatz U-Bahn. Withdraw before heading to the Saturday flea market.
Neubau / Museumsquartier: Bank Austria on Mariahilfer Straße (Vienna's main shopping street). Raiffeisen near Museumsquartier U-Bahn.
Hauptbahnhof (Main Station): Bank ATMs inside the station, useful before catching a train to Bratislava, Salzburg, or Budapest.
Airport: Bank ATMs in arrivals. Avoid the currency exchange counters.
⚠ Avoid Euronet ATMs
Euronet machines appear near Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz, and around the Ringstraße. They charge high fees and push DCC. Austrian bank ATMs (Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria) are plentiful and charge no operator fee for Visa/Mastercard withdrawals. Your home bank may still charge a foreign transaction fee.
Paying for the U-Bahn, Trams & Taxis
U-Bahn, Trams & Buses (Wiener Linien)
Vienna's public transport is run by Wiener Linien. A single ride costs €2.40, a 24-hour pass €8, a 48-hour pass €14.10, and a 72-hour pass €17.10. Buy tickets at the red machines in U-Bahn stations, which accept coins, bills, and contactless cards. You can also buy tickets on the WienMobil app with your credit card. Vienna's U-Bahn operates on an honor system (no turnstiles), so validate your ticket before boarding.
The Vienna Card (from €17/24h) combines unlimited transport with museum discounts. Buy it online, at the airport, or at tourist info offices.
Taxis & Ride-Hailing
Vienna taxis are required to accept card payments. The base fare is €3.80 with €1.42 per kilometer. A ride across the center costs €8–15. Bolt and Uber both operate in Vienna and charge your card through the app. Bolt is typically the cheapest option. A taxi from the airport to the city center costs about €36 (fixed fare with some companies).
Airport to City Center
The City Airport Train (CAT) runs from Schwechat Airport to Wien Mitte station in 16 minutes for €14.90 one-way (contactless at machines). The S7 S-Bahn takes about 25 minutes and costs €2.40 with a valid Wiener Linien ticket (add €1.80 for the airport zone). ÖBB Railjet trains also stop at the airport station en route to Wien Hauptbahnhof. All accept contactless cards at machines.
Tipping in Vienna
The Austria guide covers general norms. Here are the Vienna specifics.
Vienna Tipping Specifics
Restaurants and Beisln: Tip 5–10% by telling the waiter the total you want to pay. If the bill is €47, say "Fünfzig" (fifty) and they bring your change. Or say "Stimmt so" (keep the change) if the amount is right. Do not leave coins on the table; it is considered impolite in Austria.
Coffeehouses: At legendary coffeehouses (Café Central, Café Sacher, Demel), round up or leave 5–10%. The Herr Ober (waiter) is a respected professional in Vienna's coffeehouse culture, and a small tip is expected.
Heurigen: Round up or leave 5–10% in cash. Self-service buffet Heurigen do not require tips, but table-service ones do.
Tour guides: €5–10 per person for guided tours. Fiaker (horse carriage) drivers: €5–10 total for a 20-minute ride.
Hotels: Porters €1–2 per bag. Housekeeping €1–2 per night. Concierge who arranges opera tickets: €5–10.
Prices in Vienna
Vienna is mid-range for Western Europe. It is cheaper than Zurich or Paris, comparable to Munich, and more expensive than Prague or Budapest.
| Item | Price (EUR) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Kleiner Brauner (espresso) | €3–4.50 | $3.30–5 |
| Melange (Viennese cappuccino) | €4–6 | $4.40–6.60 |
| Wine at a Heuriger (quarter liter) | €3–5 | $3.30–5.50 |
| Half-liter beer at a Beisl | €4–5.50 | $4.40–6 |
| Würstelstand sausage | €4–6 | $4.40–6.60 |
| Apfelstrudel at a coffeehouse | €5–7 | $5.50–7.70 |
| Sachertorte at Hotel Sacher | €9.50 | $10.45 |
| Lunch menu (Mittagsmenü) | €9–14 | $9.90–15.40 |
| Wiener Schnitzel at a Beisl | €14–20 | $15.40–22 |
| Dinner with wine (per person) | €30–50 | $33–55 |
| Single ride (U-Bahn / tram) | €2.40 | $2.65 |
| 72-hour pass | €17.10 | $18.80 |
| CAT airport train | €14.90 | $16.40 |
| State Opera standing ticket | €4–6 | $4.40–6.60 |
| Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour | €29 | $32 |
| Kunsthistorisches Museum | €21 | $23 |
USD estimates based on approximately €1 = $1.10. Rates fluctuate. Coffee at a Kaffeehaus includes a glass of water and you can sit as long as you like.
Day Trips from Vienna
Bratislava, Slovakia
Just 60 minutes by train or 75 minutes by Twin City Liner catamaran on the Danube. Both accept cards for tickets. Bratislava uses the Euro (same as Austria), so no currency change needed. The Old Town is compact and card-friendly. Restaurants on Oberátorská and Michalsá streets accept cards. An extremely easy and affordable day trip.
Wachau Valley (Melk & Dürnstein)
The scenic Danube valley about 80 km west of Vienna. Train to Melk from Wien Westbahnhof takes about 75 minutes (ÖBB, cards at machines). Melk Abbey (€15.50) accepts cards. The wine villages of Dürnstein and Spitz are charming but small: restaurants mostly take cards, but the smaller Heurigen along the valley prefer cash for wine. DDSG Blue Danube boats from Melk to Krems accept cards.
Budapest, Hungary
About 2.5 hours by Railjet train from Wien Hauptbahnhof. ÖBB tickets can be purchased online or at station machines with a card. Budapest uses the Hungarian Forint (HUF), not the Euro. ATMs in Budapest dispense HUF. Cards are widely accepted in Budapest's tourist areas but less so in outer neighborhoods. See the Hungary guide for details.
Salzburg
About 2.5 hours by Railjet or Westbahn train. Same currency (Euro), same card acceptance as Vienna. Salzburg's Altstadt (Old Town) is fully card-friendly. The Festung Hohensalzburg, Mozart's Birthplace, and Salzburg Museum all accept cards. The Grünmarkt morning market is mixed. Train tickets purchasable with contactless at machines.
Vienna Quick Reference
A quick reference for how to load your pockets depending on where you are heading.
| Destination | Cards? | Cash Needed? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innere Stadt sightseeing | ✅ Yes | Coins for tips | Fully card-friendly |
| Naschmarkt lunch | ✅ Mostly | Some for Sat. flea market | Food stalls take cards |
| Heuriger evening | ❌ Often not | €30–50 per person | Traditional wine taverns |
| Café Central / Sacher | ✅ Yes | Cash for tip | Iconic coffeehouses take cards |
| Schönbrunn Palace | ✅ Yes | Not needed | Book online |
| Bratislava day trip | ✅ Yes | Not needed | Same currency (EUR) |
| Budapest day trip | ✅ In tourist areas | Some HUF for local spots | Different currency (HUF) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tap my card on Vienna's U-Bahn and trams?
Not directly on the vehicle. Vienna's U-Bahn has no turnstiles and operates on an honor system. Buy tickets at the red Wiener Linien machines at U-Bahn stations, which accept contactless cards. Or use the WienMobil app to buy tickets with your card. A single ride costs €2.40, a 24-hour pass €8, and a 72-hour pass €17.10.
Do I need cash for a Viennese coffeehouse?
Most iconic coffeehouses (Café Central, Café Sacher, Demel) accept cards. A few traditional neighborhood Kaffeehäuser prefer cash, especially for orders under €5. The tip for your waiter (5–10% or round up) should be in cash, stated when you pay.
Is the Naschmarkt cash only?
No. Most permanent food stalls and restaurants at the Naschmarkt accept cards. The Saturday flea market extension at the western end is more cash-oriented, with vintage and antique sellers preferring cash. The food stands and sit-down restaurants along the main market take cards.
Do Vienna taxis accept credit cards?
Yes. Austrian taxis are required to accept card payments. A ride from Vienna Airport to the city center costs about €36 (fixed fare with some companies). Bolt and Uber also operate in Vienna and charge your card through the app.
How does tipping work in Vienna?
Austrians tip 5–10% at restaurants. The custom is to tell the waiter the total you want to pay including tip when they bring the bill. Say "Stimmt so" (keep the change) if the change is your intended tip. Tips must be in cash, even if you pay the bill by card. Do not leave coins on the table.
Do I need cash for a day trip to Bratislava?
No. Bratislava uses the Euro (same as Austria). The Twin City Liner catamaran and trains from Vienna accept cards. Bratislava's Old Town restaurants accept cards. The city is compact and card-friendly. No currency exchange needed.
Tap to Pay Across Every Bezirk
The Wise card converts at the real mid-market rate with no FX markup. Tap to pay at coffeehouses, museums, and restaurants. Hold EUR and 40+ currencies on one card. Free ATM withdrawals up to $100/month.
Get the Wise Card →Vienna money toolkit
Country-specific deep dives for Vienna: which card to bring, where the no-fee ATMs are at the airport, and how to dodge the local DCC traps.