About Westbahnhof
Westbahnhof is on Vienna’s inner-city ring road, and pedestrians can walk down the Mariahilfer Strasse to reach famous landmarks and fun-filled attractions. The station opened in the mid-19th century and to be used by the western railway.
The station was bombed during WWII and reopened in 1952 to become Austria’s primary railway station for international travelers. It held onto that role until the opening of the Wien Hauptbahnhof station, and this made a tremendous impact on the efficiency of regional train travel through Vienna.
Despite no longer being an international railway hub, Westbahnhof remains one of the most important stations in Vienna. Foreign and domestic riders frequently skip through Westbahnhof on intercity and regional services to other areas of Austria. Travelers can reach other Austrian cities such as St. Pölten, Linz, Wels, Salzburg, Amstetten, and St. Valentin.
Passengers transiting through Westbahnhof have all the needed amenities to recharge before continuing their journey through Austria. There are dozens of shops and restaurants right beside one of Vienna’s iconic retail avenues, and you can transfer to the airport via bus.
Things to do near Westbahnhof
Westbahnhof is a major transport link in Vienna, and it’s a common starting point for tourists visiting the city’s Historic Centre. Although the railway station is a few kilometers from the city center, travelers get to walk down one of Vienna’s stylish shopping streets.
Stop for a bite to eat, redecorate your wardrobe, or visit intriguing museums before reaching Vienna’s top tourist attractions. Many locals also transit through Westbahnhof when commuting around the city, and there are several modes of transport near the railway station.
- Watch a fantastic musical performance at Raimund Theater
- Catch live sports, play billiards, sing karaoke, and participate in drinking games at the energetic Travel Shack Vienn
- Stop by the Garda ice cream shop and taste some of Vienna’s tastiest scoops of ice cream
- Go for a swim and let the kids splash around inside Stadthallenbad
- Browse through historic photographs and check out all sorts of cameras at the WestLicht museum
- See how Austrian design has transformed over the centuries at the Imperial Furniture Collection
- Study one of the most elaborate buildings from famous architect Otto Wagner
- Watch the latest movies at Lugner Kino
- Learn about Vienna before and after WWII inside the Third Man Museum
Transit Options in Westbahnhof
- S-Bahn via line S50
- U-Bahn via lines U3 and U6
- Westbahnhof Tram Stops via lines 5, 6, 9, 18, 49, 52, 60
Luggage Storage near Westbahnhof
If you’re a shopaholic, you’re in for a treat once you drop off your luggage near Westbahnhof. The railway station sits adjacent to Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna’s longest shopping street. This pedestrian-friendly thoroughfare is lined with malls, department stores, and eateries, and leads directly towards Vienna’s Historic Center.
Motor traffic has decreased dramatically in recent years, and city lounges provide a laid-back atmosphere for tourists and locals. It’s easy to spend an entire afternoon shopping for the latest fashion before reaching your desired attractions, and storing your luggage in Westbahnhof helps you travel lighter.
Attractions and Activities near Westbahnhof
- Leopold Museum: The Leopold Museum is about a 25-minute walk from the Westbahnhof railway station and houses a massive collection of Austrian art. Some of the country’s prized artists, such as Gustav Klimt and Richard Gerstl, have their works on display inside the facility.
The museum opened in 2001 after Rudolf and Elisabeth Leopold spent decades finding notable works from Austrian artists. When the museum first opened, the collection was over 5,000 works, but it has expanded to roughly 6,000 items during the present day.
Most of the artwork comes from the late 19th and early 20th century, but the museum also features contemporary pieces. Egon Schiele is showcased most frequently with more than 200 of his works within the museum.
The Vienna Succession of 1897 sparked the transition of Austrian art to the modern era, and its impact on the visual arts resonates within the museum’s rotating exhibits and permanent collection. - Museum of Natural History Vienna: Just a five-minute walk past the Leopold Museum, visitors can enter one of the world’s grandest natural history museums. The facility hosts dozens of exhibits and features millions of objects that fascinate some of the world’s renowned scientists.
Its exhibition halls include the world’s biggest meteorite collection, paleolithic artifacts, extinct mammals, dinosaur fossils, and a wide range of minerals. The facility’s hands-on stations foster a more rewarding learning environment for visitors.
Discover the mysteries of outer space at the Digital Planetarium and use the museum’s full-dome projections to study the edges of the galaxy. Make sure to inquire about the special exhibitions scheduled during your visit to leave no stone unturned inside this illustrious center of learning. - Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo: Housed inside a WWII era flak tower, the Haus des Meeres Aqua Terra Zoo has become one of Vienna’s most beloved attractions. The exotic world contains sharks, snakes, crocodiles, monkeys, turtles, and thousands of marine and tropical species.
The entire facility is 11 stories, and one of the more impressive zones is the two-story shark tank that features hammerhead sharks, stingrays, turtles, and more. Witness the incredible diversity of marine life at the surf reef and see all sorts of interesting fish swimming amongst coral reefs.
Once you enter the tropical house, it will feel like you’ve left Vienna for the Amazon rainforest. There are hundreds of unique species roaming the lifelike environment, and you’ll witness reptiles, birds, and mammals. The top floor has a rooftop terrace to give visitors an excellent panoramic view of Vienna before continuing their adventure.