Review: ÖBB First Class Lounge Wien Hbf (Vienna Main Station)

May 10, 2026 Koen 1 Comment

This review covers my visit to the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf, the main railway station in Vienna, Austria.

A visit to the ÖBB Lounge at Wien Hbf

If you are travelling by train from Vienna in first class, there is a good chance that you will be able to use the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf.

ÖBB, the Austrian Federal Railways, operates six lounges across Austria, with its first class lounge at Wien Hbf being the largest.

I have visited this lounge multiple times over the years, and depending on your travel itinerary and your needs, it can be a worthwhile experience that enhances your journey.

Let’s take a look at what this lounge is like, the facilities it offers, and the exact entry requirements!

wien hbf hauptbahnhof vienna main railway station — *The main entrance to Wien Hauptbahnhof (Wien Hbf), the main railway station of Vienna. ©Paliparan*

railjet train wien hbf — *ÖBB Railjet train at Wien Hbf. ©Paliparan*

Where to find the ÖBB Lounge at Wien Hbf

You will find the entrance to the ÖBB Lounge at Wien Hbf in the central hall, where also the ticket office and main entrance are also located.

Near the far end of this main hall, beside a couple of fast food restaurants, there is a door leading to the lounge.

The entrance is easy to recognise thanks to the bright red ÖBB lettering above the door, with the word “lounge” displayed in white next to the door.

This door leads to a corridor where you will find a lift and stairs taking you one floor up to the actual lounge entrance.

If you are passing through Wien Hbf for the first time ever, you may find it easier to locate the lounge entrance by looking at the pictures and reading the descriptions below.

main station hall — *The main hall of Wien Hbf. From here, the lounge entrance is located at the far end of the hall on the left-hand side. ©Paliparan*

ÖBB first class lounge vienna main railway station wien hbf — *Entrance to the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Vienna’s main railway station. ©Paliparan*

ÖBB first class lounge entrance — *Once you’ve passed through the door, simply head up one floor the actual lounge entrance. ©Paliparan*

entrance doors — *The actual entrance to the lounge. ©Paliparan*

ÖBB Lounge entry requirements

There are two ways you can get complimentary access to the ÖBB Lounge:

– With a first class train ticket
– By holding a qualifying rail card or first class rail pass

You can access the ÖBB Lounge with most first class train tickets, provided the train is operated by ÖBB or a partner company and the ticket costs at least €15.

Your booked connection must be on a Railjet (RJ or RJX), InterCity Express (ICE), EuroCity (EC), InterCity (IC), D-Zug (D-train), Nightjet (NJ), or another sleeper train if you want to access the lounge.

This means that you cannot access the ÖBB Lounge if you are travelling on a regional or suburban train.

If you are travelling on a night train, you can access the ÖBB Lounge if you have a bed in a sleeper carriage, even if it says second class on your ticket.

You can also access the ÖBB Lounge if you hold a first class Interrail or Eurail Pass, or a qualifying railcard such as the BahnCard 100 1st class of Deutsche Bahn, the General Subscription (GA Travelcard) 1st class of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), the MÁV START Premium or Klub VIP card of the Hungarian Railways, or any similar Railteam partner card, combined with a valid international long-distance ticket.

For a full list of tickets and cards that grant free access to the lounge, please check the ÖBB website.

lounge reception — *Lounge reception desk. ©Paliparan*

Lounge opening hours and access limits

The ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf is open daily from 06:00 until 23:30.

You can enter the lounge from 90 minutes before departure, as well as up to 90 minutes after your train arrives, so it is possible to use the ÖBB Lounge at Vienna’s main railway station as both a departure and arrival lounge.

Lounge access is limited to a maximum of twice daily per location.

Pay for access

Even if you are travelling in second class, it is possible to visit the ÖBB Lounge for a small surcharge of €10, payable on arrival at the reception.

This is only possible if you hold an ÖBB second class ticket with a minimum value of €8.

Tickets for seated carriages on a night train are excluded from paid lounge access.

wien hbf vienna railway station main hall train departures board — *View over the station hall and train departures board of Wien Hbf. ©Paliparan*

A look around the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf

The ÖBB First Class Lounge basically consists of two large rooms with seating, one directly behind the reception desk and a second seating area at the back, accessible via a short corridor.

Both rooms offer a variety of comfortable seating, ranging from long sofas along the walls to high-top seats and tables, as well as chairs beside large windows overlooking the main station hall and the departure boards.

In the second room, you can also find dedicated workspaces with high-top tables.

Most seats are within easy reach of a power socket to charge your laptop or phone.

I do think the ÖBB First Class Lounge at the main railway station of Vienna is a nicely appointed space, and the quiet surroundings make it a pleasant place to wait for your train departure.

ÖBB first class lounge Wien Hbf Vienna main railway station — *Inside the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf. ©Paliparan*

seats sofas lounge — *Seats in the lounge. ©Paliparan*

ÖBB lounge vienna railway station — *ÖBB Lounge at the main railway station of Vienna. ©Paliparan*

seats ÖBB first class lounge wien hbf vienna station — *The seats at the window overlooking the main station hall are my favourite. ©Paliparan*

Lounge buffet

The ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf has two small buffet counters where you can get drinks and snacks.

However, it is best to keep your expectations limited when it comes to food, as the buffet offers little more than croissants in the morning, along with a selection of cookies, apples, and some salty crisps and nuts throughout the rest of the day.

If you are hungry, you are much better off heading to one of the many fast-food restaurants or supermarkets at Wien Hbf to grab a bite before your train departs.

Although it has limited food options, the drinks selection at the ÖBB First Class Lounge at Vienna’s main railway station is clearly better.

There are coffee machines that make a decent brew, you can also get a cup of tea, or pick up a soft drink such as Coca-Cola, or local Austrian favourites like Almdudler, a carbonated herbal lemonade.

You will also find a selection of juices, iced teas, and bottles of still and sparkling water.

Beer and wine is also available at the ÖBB First Class Lounge, but only during evening hours.

lounge buffet — *Lounge buffet station. ©Paliparan*

coffee machine — *Coffee machine. ©Paliparan*

ÖBB first class Lounge wien hbf vienna station food selection buffet — *The food selection in the ÖBB Lounge is rather limited. ©Paliparan*

coffee croissant orange juice — *Croissant, coffee, and an orange juice during a morning visit to the lounge. ©Paliparan*

coffee cookies — *Coffee and cookies. ©Paliparan*

Other lounge amenities and facilities

The ÖBB First Class Lounge has toilets within the lounge, located in the corridor linking the two main rooms.

Wi-Fi is available and worked perfectly during my visit, with fast speeds.

Near the reception desk, you can also find a rack with newspapers and magazines to read.

My lounge experience

Although the ÖBB Lounge will pale in comparison to most airline lounges, I always enjoy a quick visit each time I pass through Wien Hbf.

There is just something pleasant about taking a seat overlooking the station hall, watching the people below, and looking up at the departure board with destinations as far apart as Amsterdam, Warsaw, and Zurich.

During my most recent visit, this was exactly what I did, working a little on my laptop and enjoying an espresso and some Almdudler while looking down into the station hall.

almdudler austria vienna wien — *Almdudler and some salty snacks during my most recent lounge visit. ©Paliparan*

wien hbf vienna main railway station ÖBB lounge train departures board — *I always enjoy looking out over the main hall and train departures board from the Vienna station lounge. ©Paliparan*

Conclusion

The ÖBB First Class Lounge at Wien Hbf, the main railway station of Vienna, provides a quiet and comfortable place to wait for your train departure.

It is also possible to access the station lounge after the arrival of your train in Vienna.

Of course, you need a qualifying first class train ticket or railcard to gain complimentary entry to the ÖBB Lounge, although in some cases it is also possible to pay for access if you travel in second class.

It is important to keep your expectations of the ÖBB First Class Lounge realistic when it comes to food and drinks, especially if you are used to airline business class lounges, as only snacks are available in this railway lounge.

The drinks selection is better, with a very decent range of soft drinks and good-quality coffee, while beer and wine are available in the evening hours only.

Unless you have some work to do, I don’t think it is worth arriving much earlier before the departure of your train just to access this lounge.

However, it is a nice place for a quick coffee or drink before you board, and it also works well if you have some time to kill during a train connection at Wien Hbf.