Vienna is one of the most magical cities in Europe. However, its history and beauty come with a price tag attached.
But there is one way that you may be able to save money in Vienna.
The Go City® Vienna Explorer Pass gives you free access to many of its top attractions and activities. But is the Vienna Explorer Pass worth it?
In this Vienna Explorer Pass review, I’ll give you my honest opinion on whether you should buy this pass for Vienna attractions. Discover how it works, what is included, how much it costs and where to buy it.
All information and prices are taken from the Vienna Explorer Pass official website and are correct as of March 2023.
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VIENNA EXPLORER PASS AT A GLANCE
The Vienna Explorer Pass provides free access to many of the city’s top attractions and activities. It is valid for 60 days.
Types of pass: Available for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions
Cost: From €83 – 259. Deep discounts are often available.
What is the Vienna Explorer Pass?
The Vienna Explorer Pass is a city sightseeing pass
You choose credits to visit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 attractions from a list of top Vienna attractions, tours and activities, and then download these credits to the Go City® app. If you want to go old-school, you can print your pass at home using the link in the confirmation email.
Your Vienna Explorer Pass will be activated when you visit your first attraction. It will then be valid for 60 days.
What is Free with the Vienna Explorer Pass?
You can check the full list of attractions and activities that are free with the Go City® Vienna Explorer Pass here on the official website.
Many of Vienna’s most popular attractions are there, including Schloss Schönbrunn, Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Hofburg Palace.
>>> SAVE MONEY ON VIENNA’S BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS WITH THE VIENNA EXPLORER PASS. CLICK HERE TO BUY.
Popular Vienna Explorer Pass attractions
Here are some of my favourite Vienna attractions included in the pass along with the full adult ticket price at the time of writing this article.
Guided Tour of Schönbrunn Palace (€48)
Once belonging to the powerful Habsburg Empire, Schloss Schönbrunn is one of Europe’s most magnificent palaces
Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna (€18)
Housed in another former Habsburg Palace, the vast collection of the Kunsthistoriches Museum transports you from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance. (I also like its café!)
Imperial Treasury Vienna at the Hofburg Palace (€14)
If you can’t get enough of the Habsburgs, step inside this historic palace which is home to the Imperial Treasury.
Classical Concert at Haus der Musik (€44)
Soak up Vienna’s rich musical heritage – both Mozart and Beethoven are buried here – by attending a classical music concert.
Giant Ferris Wheel (€13.50)
Take a ride on the iconic Riesenrad Ferris wheel, the setting of a pivotal scene in the 1949 film noir The Third Man.
Spanish Riding School (€18)
See the horses and riders strut their stuff at the Spanish Riding School, one of the oldest equestrian institutions in the world.
Schönbrunn Zoo (€24)
Explore the oldest zoo in the world, home to 700 different species of animal, spread across 17 hectares.
Transport & Tours included in the Vienna Explorer pass
Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour (€35)
Choose between two operators to see the best of Vienna from an open-top bus with included audioguide in five languages.
Danube Cruise (€24)
Get a different perspective of Vienna on this 75-minute cruise.
Guided Bike Tour (€40)
Explore the city on two wheels on this 3-hour guided bicycle tour. For a DIY option, electric bicycle hire is also included in the pass.
Walking tour of Hitler’s Vienna (€25)
Learn about Hitler’s early years on this two-and-a-half-hour walking tour.
Craft Beer Tasting Tour (€39)
Sample four local brews plus nibbles on this 2-hour tour.
Do You Need to Book Ahead with the Vienna Explorer Pass?
You don’t need to pre-book most of the pass’s Vienna attractions. However, there is a handful that you will need to book in advance, including the popular Schönbrunn Palace.
Find out which attractions require a reservation here.
Which Attractions Are Not Included in the Vienna Explorer Pass?
Even to my critical eye, the Vienna Explorer Pass is pretty comprehensive. The obvious exclusions are the Belvedere Palace, home to Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss (1908), and the excellent tour of the Vienna Opera House.
Although the pass does allow you to zip around on the hop-on-hop-off bus for free, it does not include public transport.
Vienna Explorer Pass Price
The cost of your Vienna Explorer Pass will be determined by how many credits, or attractions, you select. One credit grants you access to one of the included attractions.
It comes in these different flavours: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 credits.
Adult prices apply to those aged 15 and over. Child prices are for those aged 6 to 14.
The Vienna Explorer Pass prices quoted refer to full face value as of March 2023 and deep discounts may be available. Check the current cost here.
2-Choice Pass – Adult €83 | Child €62
3-Choice Pass – Adult €127 | Child €106
4-Choice Pass – Adult €169 | Child €143
5-Choice Pass – Adult €193 | Child €157
6-Choice Pass – Adult €233 | Child €177
7-Choice Pass – Adult €259 | Child €197
The more choices you select, the cheaper the pass is on a cost-per-attraction basis.
Cost of the Vienna Explorer Pass vs Individual Tickets
The only way to work out if the Vienna Explorer Pass is worth it is to do a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation, costing the attractions that you would like to see with and without the pass.
Let’s take the example of a typical first-time solo traveller to Vienna who wants to visit the city’s most popular, and most expensive, attractions.
- Schönbrunn Palace (€48)
- Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna (€18)
Cost of individual tickets: €66
2-Choice Vienna Explorer pass: €83
YOU LOSE €17
However, this isn’t the end of the story. I’ve learned to take the face value of these Vienna sightseeing passes with a pinch of salt.
At the time of updating this review, the cost of the 2-Choice Vienna Explorer Pass was reduced to €59, This means that you would save money based on visiting these two Vienna attractions.
Let’s add a few more popular items to the list:
- Classical concert (€44)
- Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour (€35)
Cost of individual tickets: €145
4-Choice Vienna Explorer pass: €169
YOU LOSE €24
But once again, if the pass is discounted it’s a different story. This discounted price of a 4-attraction pass can be as little as €94, saving you €51.
As these examples show, the Vienna Explorer Pass can save you money, but only if there is a discount off the face value. Also, consider the convenience of not having to queue and buy tickets at each place, and it’s a no-brainer.
I haven’t even selected all of the high-cost attractions available. There is potential to increase the pass’s value further by using it for more expensive activities.
Should I Buy the Go City® Vienna Explorer pass?
There are some types of travellers for whom the Vienna Explorer Pass will be better than others.
Who is the pass good for?
If you are looking for a relaxed itinerary – As you have 60 days to max out your Vienna Explorer Pass, you can take your time exploring the city’s attractions.
If you are spending longer in Vienna – The generous duration of the pass is perfect for a longer-term visit.
If you are splitting your Vienna sightseeing over two visits – Some people bookend their visit to Austria with Vienna. With the 60-day window, you can use the pass upon arrival in Vienna and re-commence sightseeing upon your return visit.
If you want to set your budget in advance – No one likes a nasty shock when they check their credit card statement at the end of a holiday. With the Vienna Explorer Pass, you can take control over a chunk of your vacation budget.
If you are looking for convenience – No queueing to buy individual tickets. Enough said.
Who should skip the pass?
If you have already visited the big-ticket items – Perhaps you have already visited places like Schloss Schönbrunn. Or maybe you are not that keen on the city’s hop-on-hop-off bus or river cruise? The more expensive Vienna Explorer Pass attractions generate the biggest savings.
If you want to see as much of Vienna as possible over a short period of time – If intensive sightseeing is for you, then the Vienna Pass may be a better deal for you.
The Vienna PASS is a sightseeing card that gives you free access to a vast number of attractions and activities over a pre-determined period of time. You can choose between a 1, 2, 3 or 6-day pass.
The more sights you visit, the more money you will save.
>>> FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE VIENNA PASS HERE
If you are on a budget – In an expensive city like Vienna, it can be challenging to stretch the travel budget to the paid-for attractions.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Vienna Explorer Pass
Prioritise high-value attractions
To get the most bang for your buck, use the Vienna Explorer Pass for big-ticket items like Schloss Schönbrunn and the hop-on-hop-off bus.
Make sure that you have enough time to use all of your credits
Even though this pass has a generous 60-day window, make sure that you will have enough time to max it out. Don’t pay for credits that you won’t need.
Check opening hours in advance
Some Vienna attractions only operate on certain days of the week. Don’t be a hostage to fortune and check ahead.
Make sure that you make the necessary reservations
To avoid disappointment, check which attractions you will need to pre-book.
How to Buy the Vienna Explorer Pass
Buy your Vienna Explorer Pass from the official site here or from GetYourGuide here.
It’s worth comparing the price and cancellation terms offered by the two sites. Discounts are often available.
Is the Vienna Explorer Pass Worth it?
The Go City® Vienna Explorer Pass may be a good deal for some travellers. Its cost-effectiveness is predicated on choosing the most expensive attractions or activities and the availability of a discount on the face value of the pass
This sightseeing pass is convenient, includes a host of popular attractions, has a generous 60-day validity period and you have complete flexibility over how much you would like to see.
If you like a less intensive sightseeing schedule, visiting just one or two places a day, the Vienna Explorer Pass is likely to be a good deal for you. But if you want to blast through the city, ticking off as many sites as possible, then the Vienna City pass will be a better fit.
The Vienna Explorer Pass is not a good fit if you have your heart set on visiting Belvedere Palace.
However, Belvedere Palace is included in the Vienna Pass. You could take a mix-and-match approach, using a 1-day Vienna Pass to see The Kiss at The Belvedere and the Vienna Explorer Pass for the rest.
Wherever you decide, I hope that this Go City® Vienna Explorer Pass review has been helpful and have a fabulous time in this magical city
>>> GRAB YOUR GOLDEN TICKET TO VIENNA’S TOP ATTRACTIONS. CLICK HERE TO BUY THE VIENNA EXPLORER PASS OR HERE FOR THE VIENNA PASS.
