In the Green
1. Low-Impact Travel To and From the City
Vienna is a major international travel hub. There are direct train connections to the Austrian capital from 14 European countries. It’s also the European Union’s largest overnight rail hub, with the Austrian Federal Railways’ Nightjet trains serving over 30 cities, including Brussels, Amsterdam, Zurich, Berlin, Rome, and Paris. But for anyone traveling by air, there’s always the option of participating in a voluntary carbon offsetting scheme.
Continuing in the same eco-friendly vein couldn’t be easier after arrival, either. The city’s railway stations and Vienna International Airport are directly connected to Vienna’s outstanding public transportation network. It only takes about 20 minutes to get to the city center from the airport.
2. Eco-Friendly Transportation in the City
Consisting of subways, trams, and buses, Vienna’s extensive public transportation system gets passengers around the city quickly, safely, and reliably. The Vienna City Card, the capital’s official visitor card, is an especially convenient option. Besides unlimited access to the full public transportation network for 24, 48 or 72 hours, or seven days, it grants holders more than 200 discounts throughout the city (prices start at EUR 17). The Vienna City Card is also certified in accordance with the Austrian Umweltzeichen ecolabel, making it the first city card worldwide to obtain green certification (visit www.viennacitycard.at for details).
Vienna is also a pedestrian-friendly city. The free guidebook route offers a selection of themed walking tours, covering everything from Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) to the Ringstrasse boulevard. And if sightseeing on two wheels appeals, the city has a giant network of over 1,700 kilometers of cycling paths. The WienMobil bike-sharing system offers 24/7 bike rentals at numerous locations throughout the city.
3. Sustainable Sleeping Arrangements
Around 60 of Vienna’s hotels and accommodations are holders of the Austrian Umweltzeichen. This is awarded in recognition of their energy efficiency, waste reduction, eco-friendly purchasing, and sustainable cleaning practices. While not officially certified, many other hotels in the capital have likewise implemented various measures designed to reduce their environmental footprint and support social sustainability initiatives.
Check the Sleep & Stay section of www.vienna.info for a list of all certified accommodation providers. The Vienna Hotels & Info team is more than happy to provide assistance when it comes to finding a sustainable place to stay (contact: info@vienna.info).
Holders of a Vienna City Card can look forward to a 20% discount at numerous eco-certified partner hotels in the capital. So why not book that extra night?
4. Treat Yourself – With a Clear Conscience!
Anyone who values seasonal and local ingredients will be pleased to learn that Vienna offers sustainable dining experiences. In many cases, all it takes is a quick glance at the menu to find out where the products come from: lots of the city’s restaurants get their produce from organic farms and use high welfare meat and animal products, while going out of their way to source local, seasonal and fair-trade ingredients. Vienna’s young, creative districts, like the second and seventh districts, as well as areas around the city’s neighborhood markets, are home to a wide variety of organic restaurants and stores.
5. Paperless Trail
Want to explore the city at your own pace, using your smartphone to help you? Then ivie – Vienna’s official city guide app – is the perfect companion. The app is packed with informative and entertaining content about Vienna’s sights, surprising stories, and useful features for when you’re on the go (including things like a map of public restrooms in the city).
It also contains a choice of around 20 fascinating Walks and Guides, five audio tours (including the brand new Strauss audio guide right in time for the 2025 anniversary). All the Viennese classics are covered – Freud, Sisi, and the Ringstrasse. And modern architecture, a kids’ guide, and highlights for the LGBTIQ+ community complete the picture.
ivie and the Vienna City Card are the ideal combination: the City Card is available to purchase through the app and users can browse participating companies on their smartphone to check who’s offering which discounts.
ivie - Your Personal Vienna Guide
6. Green Art
Vienna’s museums are increasingly committed to providing low-impact and eco-friendly cultural experiences.
In all, 17 of the city’s museums and galleries have been awarded the Austrian Umweltzeichen ecolabel, in a clear endorsement of their sustainability credentials. A prime example of this in action is the Kunst Haus Wien, which was designed by Vienna’s eco-pioneer Friedensreich Hundertwasser – who also happened to create the Umweltzeichen logo. Other certified destinations include the Albertina, the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, the Naturhistorisches Museum Vienna, the Belvedere, the Vienna Museum of Technology, the Wien Museum, and the Jewish Museum Vienna.
7. Get To Know Vienna’s Local Neighborhoods
Discover a side to Vienna that goes beyond the tourist hotspots by exploring one of its countless local neighborhoods, known as Grätzel here. Each one offers a unique mix of architecture, urban atmosphere, and dining and shopping options, and has a character and charm all of its own. And visiting these neighborhoods helps support independent stores, local cafés, and restaurants.
Lots of different Viennese Grätzel have been given their moment in the sun on heartbeat.vienna.info, while the ivie app also contains a number of interesting local neighborhood walks.
8. Fresh Spring Water
Viennese water is famous. It is renowned for its excellent quality and crisp fresh taste. For over 150 years, it has been carried into the city straight from the source in the Lower Austrian and Styrian Alps via a sophisticated pipeline network, and can be drunk straight from the tap. Don’t forget to bring your refillable water bottle: there are around 1,500 drinking water fountains dotted around the city where you can quench your thirst or fill up your bottle.
The ivie app contains the locations of all the capital’s drinking fountains, alongside a host of other practical urban tips.
9. Conscious Shopping
One way to give a little back to the environment is to shop consciously and give preference to eco-friendly products that are made locally. Viennese craftsmanship’s exceptional quality precedes it on the international stage. Stylish headwear, fine silver, exclusive porcelain, and high-quality glassware are all produced by the likes of traditional artisans Lobmeyr and Mühlbauer.
Venturing off into the side streets around the main shopping areas is always worth it. A particularly strong concentration of small independent shops, boutiques, and ateliers dedicated to sustainability can be found around Mariahilfer Strasse.
10. The Barrier-Free Vienna Experience
Visitors with mobility restrictions can explore the city flexibly, safely, and sustainably using public transportation in Vienna. The subway is fully accessible for wheelchair users, with ramps and elevators available. The stations and trains themselves have tactile guidance systems to help visually impaired passengers get around. Virtually all of Vienna’s trams and buses are low-floor vehicles for greater ease of access. Numerous Viennese museums offer special services for blind, visually impaired, and deaf visitors.
Good planning is key. The Sleep & Stay section of www.vienna.info contains a wealth of information under “Accessibility”. In addition, the highly knowledgeable members of the Vienna Hotels & Info team are also happy to help out with any questions about accessible travel (contact: info@vienna.info).
Find out more about sustainability in Vienna
Text: Helga Gerbl
