Parking at Schwechat: A Guide to Vienna Airport

International Airport is located 18 kilometers southeast of Vienna, near the Austrian town of Schwechat. Originally used for military purposes, it now manages 4 terminals, which are among the busiest in Central Europe.

Vienna-Schwechat (VIE) is the main international gateway to Austria and offers connections to many places around the world. Depending on the season, it transports passengers to over 190 destinations in more than 70 countries. As the largest airport in Austria, it serves as a key link between Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Asia.

The airport is the base for Austrian Airlines and is also a central hub for passengers heading to various corners of the world. Therefore, parking at Schwechat becomes an important issue.

>>> Since you will leave your car at Vienna Airport, you might find information about how to rent a car abroad useful.

A few words about the history of the airport

Schwechat was built in 1938, originally as a military airport. In 1945, it was taken over by British authorities, and 9 years later, an operating company was established. The Aspersen name replaced Schwechat, which became the main airport in the country.

There was only one runway, which was later extended by another 3,000 meters. The airport quickly progressed by leaps and bounds. In 1960 construction of a new terminal building began, the hustle and bustle of which contributed to the establishment of a second runway.

Structure of Vienna Airport Schwechat

Vienna Airport currently operates four terminals. Terminal 1, Terminal 1A, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. The main departure zones are:

Terminal 1: is prepared for all flights of Austrian Airlines, Star Alliance, and their partners. It serves passengers outside the Schengen area, for example, with Emirates.
Terminal 1A: a small arrival terminal serving low-cost airlines.
Terminal 2: handles arrivals and departures within the Schengen area.
Parking at Schwechat is located nearby. Terminals 1 and 3 are in the same building.

How to get to Schwechat Airport

Excluding taxi services, you can get to Vienna Schwechat Airport from Bratislava in two ways.

For transportation, you can use the bus services of Flixbus from Bratislava Airport M. R. Štefánik or the bus company Slovak Lines, which runs there and back at hourly intervals and will take you directly to the terminals. Daily, it transports passengers from the Nivy Bus Station, the Main Train Station, and under the SNP Bridge in Bratislava. Keep in mind that tickets may sell out.

However, a number of cars arrive at Vienna Airport daily. You can get here relatively quickly from Bratislava via the highway. The journey takes less than an hour, and whether you are flying, or your relatives or friends are, you will need to solve parking at Schwechat. How to avoid panicking in the wide maze of the airport will be discussed in this article. We hope it will be clear enough for each of you.

Parking at Schwechat

Vienna International Airport has several parking options. Most of the spaces are located under a roof. The clear parking system adapts its services to meet all requirements and is prepared for any situation.

Before arrival, do not forget to check the maximum vehicle height, as it varies from place to place. Payment can be made by card or cash at the cashier, at automatic payment stations, or you can reserve a space online. This is especially recommended during the busy peak season. Due to limited capacity, reserve your spot online in advance, especially if you are coming to parking lot C.

Parking at Schwechat is managed by online reservation, which is simple and can be handled by anyone. Just print the paid ticket and scan its QR code at the bottom of the arrival pillar. A green light will illuminate, and you can go. The online reservation system will ultimately always be cheaper. Additionally, it offers several attractive rewards, such as any choice of space or extended parking time.

Parking options

Parking at Schwechat features a simple parking area system, which is marked in the traffic guidance system: parking lot 3 and 4, parking space C, parking space A, short-term parking K3, departure terminal, and VIP terminal.

Parking P3 and P4 / Parking Garage 3 and 4:

Offers direct access to the terminals from the garage and is protected from the weather. It is recommended for departures from Terminal 1/1A (parking lot 3) or Terminal 3 (parking lot 4). More comfortable, but more expensive.

Maximum entry height (Parking 3): 2.05 m
Maximum entry height (Parking 4): 2.00 m
Price: max. 5.20 €/hour

Parking space PC / Parking lot C:

Located approximately 8-10 minutes walk from the terminals. Most of the parking lot is located underground, thus protected from the weather. It is also the cheapest outdoor parking, located near the terminal of Vienna Airport.

Maximum entry height: 2.50 m
Price: max. 4.40 €/hour

Parking space PA:

Located only 5 minutes walk from the terminals of Vienna Airport along parking lot 4 or underground, where there is also a walkway to the building. A parking service Easy Parking is also available.

Maximum entry height: 2.50 m
Price: max. 4.50 €/hour

Short-term stop – parking lot K3:

Located near the exit from the arrivals hall and is an ideal place for quick pickups of passengers.

Maximum entry height: 2.30 m
Price: 5.50 €/hour (online reservation not available)

Departure terminal – access road:

The departure terminal serves for quick unloading of passengers with 10 minutes of free parking, which can be used for one license plate and once a day. After that, fees are charged by the minute/quarter hour. A fee of 2.90 euros is charged for the second entry for every 15 minutes.

Look for the label “Ausstiegszone / drop-off zone” on the parking map of Schwechat Airport.

Price: 2.90 €/15 minutes (10 minutes free)

VIP terminal:

The VIP & General Aviation Terminal is a unique parking spot right by the building.

Price: 5.40 €/hour

Mazur Parkplatz:

Approximately 2 km from the terminal, with shuttle service between the parking lot and the terminal.

Price: € 4.20 €/hour, each additional started hour – € 3.00. Maximum for 1 day – € 31.50. Maximum for 1 week (8 days) – € 105.00.

Premium parking services

Vienna Airport at Schwechat also offers visitors premium parking services, such as parking assistant, oversized vehicle parking, and cleaning services.

Easy Parking

Easy parking is a premium valet parking service. You will drop off your car in the easy parking zone at Terminal 3 on the left side. A professional driver will park your car in parking garage 4 or parking lot A. It depends on your preferences. Parking at Schwechat thus becomes an easy choice.

You can pick up your keys daily 24 hours a day at the cashier of parking garage 4 (located directly at the parking lot).

King Size Parking

King Size Parking provides parking spaces for all larger and wider vehicles. In parking garage 4 on level 1, it offers an exclusive 3.5 m wide parking space for all cars with significantly larger bodies. It is located near Terminal 3 and will cost you 8 €/day.

Cleaning services

On level 2 of parking garage 4, you will find interior cleaning service, where you can park from Monday to Sunday for a maximum of 6 hours.

Which parking lot at Schwechat is the most worthwhile.

If you need parking for 1-2 days, Parking C or Mazur are often the best choice. Mazur tends to be a bit cheaper, but it may be less convenient if you don't want to spend time transferring to the airport.

For a stay of several days (3-7 days): Mazur is probably the most advantageous in terms of price.

If you need maximum comfort, to be right at the terminal, covered parking space, and minimize walking, then your choice is Parking Garage 3 or 4. However, the price is significantly higher.

If you want to combine price and convenience – Parking C is a good compromise. Relatively close, the route is partially protected, and the price is in the middle between Mazur and garages.

Conclusion

The international Vienna Airport is not as large as it seems. You can easily orient yourself here if you catch some main points. Parking at Schwechat included. Before entering, the main access road splits into 3 parts. To the left to parking lots P4 and PC. At the beginning to the right to the covered parking lot P3 and straight down this road to parking lot K3. You can find a clear map on the website Vienna Airport.