Find the cheapest flights from Frankfurt to Vienna in 2026. Compare airlines, prices by month, and booking tips to save on your trip.
Route: Frankfurt (FRA) → Vienna (VIE)
Distance: Direct flights not available
Flight Duration: 3h 30m – 6h 30m
Prices by Month
| Month | Avg Price | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| January | €85 | low |
| February | €75 | low |
| March | €95 | medium |
| April | €110 | medium |
| May | €125 | medium-high |
| June | €145 | high |
| July | €165 | high |
| August | €160 | high |
| September | €135 | medium-high |
| October | €100 | medium |
| November | €80 | low |
| December | €155 | high |
Airlines on This Route
- Ryanair (direct): from €45 — Ryanair’s Vienna base is in Schwechat – ensure you fly into VIE, not other airports. Book 4-8 weeks ahead for best prices. Wednesday flights are cheapest.
- Austrian Airlines (direct): from €120 — Best for business travelers wanting comfort. As Star Alliance member, miles credit to United, Lufthansa, SWISS. Book 6 weeks ahead for €100-140 deals.
- Lufthansa (direct): from €115 — Often price-matches Austrian on this route. Check LH app for upgrade offers. Best connectivity if continuing beyond Vienna.
- Wizz Air (direct): from €55 — Vienna routes are newer for Wizz. Checked bag mandatory for most bookings. Prices spike during school holidays – book early.
- Eurowings (direct): from €65 — Part of Lufthansa group. Checked baggage often cheaper when bundled initially vs added later. Tuesday/Wednesday departures cheapest.
Booking Strategy
For Frankfurt to Vienna, this is a highly competitive short-haul route where timing is everything. The sweet spot for booking is 3-6 weeks before departure when airlines release their discounted inventory. Ryanair and Wizz Air typically offer the lowest fares (€40-80), while Austrian and Lufthansa provide better service at €100-180. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are consistently 20-30% cheaper than weekend departures. Use Google Flights to track price trends – the route sees significant drops on Tuesday afternoons when airlines adjust inventory. If Austrian Airlines is only €20-30 more than Ryanair, it’s worth the extra cost for better legroom, free baggage, and more convenient departure times from Frankfurt’s main Terminal 1 rather than Terminal 2 (Ryanair). Set fare alerts for both direct and connecting via Zurich/Munich – sometimes connecting flights are cheaper than direct during off-peak periods.
Route Tips
- Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 ( FRA) serves Austrian/Lufthansa; Terminal 2 handles most budget carriers including Ryanair – allow extra time if transferring between terminals (15-20 min via monorail).
- EU citizens need only a valid passport or national ID card. Non-EU travelers should check if they need a visa – Austria is in the Schengen Area.
- Vienna Airport has excellent train connections – skip expensive airport taxis unless you’re in a group or have heavy luggage. The €4.80 S7 train is the best value.
- Book Austrian Airlines through their website directly – they sometimes match or beat OTAs and offer better rebooking policies for direct bookings.
- If flying budget, carefully factor in baggage costs – a €30 ticket becomes €70+ once you add a checked bag, sometimes exceeding Austrian Airlines prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Frankfurt to Vienna?
The direct flight from Frankfurt (FRA) to Vienna (VIE) takes just 1 hour 25 minutes, one of the shortest international flights in Europe. Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa operate multiple daily direct flights (roughly every 1-2 hours). If booking indirect routes via Zurich, Munich, or Amsterdam, expect total travel times between 3 hours 30 minutes and 6 hours 30 minutes depending on connection duration. Early morning direct flights depart around 6:30 AM, with the last departures around 9 PM. The short distance of approximately 650km means even indirect routes rarely exceed 6 hours total door-to-door.
How much does it cost to fly from Frankfurt to Vienna?
Return flights typically range from €75 to €300 depending on airline, season, and booking timing. Budget carriers like Ryanair and Wizz Air frequently offer one-way fares between €25-60 when booked well in advance. Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa range from €90-250 for Economy. The cheapest round-trips (€80-120) are usually found in January, February, and November. December prices spike to €150-300 due to Christmas market traffic. Summer months (June-August) average €150-250. Business class on Austrian/Lufthansa runs €400-600 return with full refundability and lounge access.
Are there direct flights from Frankfurt to Vienna?
Yes, direct flights operate multiple times daily from Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Vienna International Airport (VIE). Austrian Airlines offers the most frequent service (roughly 10-12 daily departures), followed by Lufthansa (6-8 daily). Budget carriers Ryanair operates 2-3 daily flights, while Eurowings and Wizz Air have seasonal or variable schedules. The flight duration is approximately 1 hour 25 minutes. All direct flights land at Vienna’s main terminal with efficient baggage claim and customs for EU arrivals. No airlines currently operate connecting flights that are faster than direct options on this route.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Frankfurt to Vienna?
February offers the lowest average prices at around €75 for a round-trip, followed closely by January (€85) and November (€80). These months fall between the holiday peak and summer vacation season, with reduced business and leisure demand. March sees a moderate increase to €95 due to trade fair activity in Vienna. The absolute cheapest individual fares appear in late January through mid-February, with Ryanair and Wizz Air occasionally offering promotional one-way fares under €20. Avoid December (€155 average) when Christmas markets drive massive demand. For the best balance of weather and price, consider late March or late October.
Which airlines fly from Frankfurt to Vienna?
Five airlines currently operate direct flights: Austrian Airlines (most frequent, full-service), Lufthansa (similar service level, better connectivity), Ryanair (low-cost,basic), Eurowings (mid-market budget), and Wizz Air (low-cost Hungarian carrier). Austrian and Lufthansa include checked baggage, meals on longer flights, and earn Star Alliance miles. Budget carriers charge extra for everything but are significantly cheaper if traveling light. Indirect options via Zurich (Swiss), Amsterdam (KLM), or Paris (Air France) are available but rarely faster than direct flights and usually more expensive.
What airport do I fly into in Vienna?
You will land at Vienna International Airport (VIE), Austria’s main international hub located 18km southeast of the city center. The airport has two terminals connected by a free shuttle train. To reach central Vienna: the City Airport Train (CAT) takes 16 minutes to Wien Mitte station (€12 one-way, €22 return), the S7 commuter train runs every 30 minutes to Wien Mitte (€4.80 with VOR ticket, valid 2 hours), and taxis cost €40-50 to the city center (30-45 minutes depending on traffic). There are no direct U-Bahn lines yet, though construction is ongoing. Car rental desks are in Terminal 2 arrivals hall.
How far in advance should I book Frankfurt to Vienna flights?
For this route, book 3-6 weeks ahead for the best prices. Airlines typically release their cheapest inventory 6-8 weeks before departure, with the lowest fares disappearing by 2-3 weeks out. January-February trips should be booked 4-6 weeks in advance. December Christmas market travel requires booking 2-3 months ahead as prices rise sharply and sell out. Last-minute deals are rare on this competitive route – Austrian and Lufthansa rarely drop below €80 even for standby. Setting Google Flights alerts 6 weeks before your target date helps catch price drops. Weekend departures book up faster than weekday ones.
Is it cheaper to fly from Frankfurt to Vienna on weekdays?
Yes, Tuesday and Wednesday departures are typically 20-30% cheaper than Friday through Sunday flights on this route. A Tuesday flight in February might cost €60 while the same route on Saturday costs €95. Monday and Thursday fall in the middle range. This pattern holds across all airlines but is most pronounced with Ryanair and Eurowings. For the absolute lowest fares, combine a Tuesday departure with a Wednesday or Thursday return. Weekend premium is driven by business travelers returning Sunday evening and leisure travelers departing Friday after work. Off-peak seasons (January, February, November) show smaller day-of-week differences.
Data updated: 2026-03



