If you’re planning to explore Vienna, the tram is one of the best ways by which you can do most of your sightseeing and get around the city in comfort and style. The tramway network in Vienna is one of the world’s largest and is among the city’s most important public transportations since 1865. Known locally as “bims,” the Viennese trams serve over 190 million passengers yearly with 28 routes criss-crossing across 228 kilometers of rail. From the first horsedrawn tram, the bim has steadily evolved to the modern electric high-floor and low-floor trams that are being used today. The tram network is being managed and operated by Wiener Linien and runs from early morning until after midnight. The tram network has about four stations or depots and six parking facilities which also serve as stops. Intervals between trams are usually from 4-8 minutes with very rare delays even on the harshest of weather.
A special “tourist” tram is the Vienna Ring Tram which just goes around the historical boulevard of the Ringstrasse. Operating daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. the 31-seater yellow E1 tram takes visitors on a 30-minute tour through the interesting attractions on the Ringstrasse, ending at Schwedenplatz. Passengers can take in the popular sights such as the Imperial Palace, Vienna City Hall, the State Opera House and many more. Inside the car are LCD screens which show information about the highlights along the route. There are also headphones where information is narrated and passengers can choose from seven different languages.
