If you live in Austria, I highly recommend purchasing the yearly KlimaTicket Ö for all of your public transportation needs and more. The KlimaTicket Ö is easy to use and very economical. “Klima” stands for Climate, as in a healthy climate, and “Ö” stands for Österreich, or Austria. Alternatively, you can just get a KlimaTicket for specific regions as opposed to the entire country.
Keep reading for more details:
Price
The KlimaTicket Ö costs just over 3.50 euros per day, or 1,300 euros per year. That might sound like a lot to spend all at once. But, if you figure this covers all of your public transport in country for the entire year, then in my opinion it is worth it. For example, since one-way bus fares can be as low as 2 euros for a short trip, to more than 5 euros for a mid-length trip (40 minutes, plus or minus), and more than 10 euros for an hour-long trip, you can easily reach your daily expenses in two short rides per day.
Also, although it’s a big expense all at once, you can choose to pay for it in monthly installments with no extra charge. It is automatically taken out of our bank each month so it is really an easy, no brainer option.
Discounts
Another piece of good news is that the price is only 2.70 euros per day for travelers aged 25 and younger, 65 and older, and those who are disabled. This discount works out to only 975 euros per year, which is an even better deal.
Valid in Austria and neighboring countries
In addition to being able to use your ticket throughout the entire country, you can also use it to cross into every adjacent country up to the first train stop.
Since Austria borders eight (Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia), that is an extraordinary benefit.
For example, let’s say you are in Salzburg, Austria, and you want to go to Passau, Germany, you can do it with your KlimaTicket Ö for no additional fee. If you want to go farther, you can pay for a ticket for the German portion of your travel. On the other hand, if you are in Vienna for instance, you can take a day trip to Znojmo, Czechia, or Sopron, Hungary, for no additional euros. The options go on and on.
All of Austria, or just a province or two?
If the yearly price for the entire country is too high for you or if you don’t travel that much, there are other options. Austria, which is made up of nine states, or provences, offers seven separate, regional KlimaTicket.
Check out these links for further details:
• For Upper Austria: KlimaTicket OÖ (→ OÖVV)
• For Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland: KlimaTicket VOR (→ VOR)
• For Vorarlberg: KlimaTicket VMOBIL (→ Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg)
• For Styria: KlimaTicket Steiermark (→ Verkehrsverbund Steiermark)
• For Salzburg: KlimatTicket Salzburg (→ Salzburger Verkehrsverbund)
• For Carinthia: KlimaTicket Kärnten (→ Verkehrsverbund Kärnten)
• For Tyrol: KlimaTicket Tirol (→ VVT)
The details
You can obtain your tickets either in person or online. Klimatickets are sold at the travel/service offices of the national rail company offices and at the offices of the state transport companies or here on-line. You can even display your digital KlimaTicket in the following apps: ÖBB (Austrian app). WESTbahn (Austria and southern Germany app) and Wiener Linien (Vienna app). One thing to note is that prices may vary between states as well as official start dates for the different plans.
The pros and cons of shopping in person or online
If you buy your ticket in person, it may be ready to use at once. However, if you buy your ticket online, the earliest possible start date is 15 days after purchase. In either case, you can only acquire the ticket at most one month before using it.
If you are employed/student and live in Austria
If you are employed and live or work in Austria, talk to your employer about them possibly getting you a KlimaTicket or reimbursing you for your own ticket. As their website indicates, “Employers have the option to buy “KlimaTicket” for their employees tax-free as a preferential public transport ticket (tax-free weekly, monthly and annual tickets) or to reimburse their employees for the full purchase price, again tax-free.”
Also, the various universities offer subsidies/discounts.
Highlights
The KlimaTicket really benefits people who travel for personal, business or leisure purposes. The savings from buying tickets are fantastic, but the real savings can occur if you use local transit, as my family does. The KlimaTicket also helps people save money if they have long commutes or if their family lives far from their home.
Regional buses are especially useful for those who do not have a car or for those not wanting to drive since they can take you practically anywhere in the country. You can also use your ticket to get discounts at museums and movie theatres, on bike rentals, and for other adventures. Take a look at the many options here.
Why my family likes the KlimaTicket
Whatever version you have, the KlimaTicket is convenient, inexpensive, climate friendly, and once you have it, you can hop on your favorite form of public transportation and go to your chosen destination without spending another euro cent.
The freedom of movement it offers is amazing because there is almost no stress with your planning.
If you want to travel, to say Linz, you just find the right train and go to the station. You can wait for the weather forecast on your free day and just go, go, go! Since rules and regulations can change, be sure to do your own research to confirm the latest costs, policies and benefits. I have heard the KlimaTicket may even have family discounts, too!
Gute reise/happy traveling!
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See more about Austria in Dispatches’ archives here.
Mary Porcella is a Europhile who has lived in Germany, Norway, Italy, and the U.S. She is a writer, editor, and photographer who loves seeing new places, returning to old haunts, and meeting up with family and friends. Her travels have taken her to more than 20 European countries, and she hopes to visit the rest in the not-too-distant future.
