Where To Stay In Vienna: The Ultimate Neighborhood Guide
Vienna is the capital of Austria as well as the largest and most populated city with about two million residents. Located along the Danube River, the beautiful city center has a plethora of historic buildings, conveniently located hotels, and it is within walking distance to many attractions. However, it helps to know where to stay in Vienna that will be the most convenient and enjoyable for your needs.
The Vienna suburbs have 23 districts in all. District 1 is the Innere Stadt or Inner City. Districts 3 through 9 are known as the Inner Suburbs and you will find that many of them are just as exciting as the Inner City. Each one of the districts has its own special style and atmosphere, so where you stay really depends on what you are looking to do during your stay in Vienna.
For example, where to stay in Vienna if you are interested in doing a bit of shopping is the Inner Stadt. This is where most of the shops are. This is also where many of the luxury hotels are located as well. Prices are higher in this district for just about everything, and parking is difficult to find at best. But what an exciting locale within walking distance to the best shopping in Vienna.
The 7th District is known as the Museum Quarter, which is one of the largest cultural districts in the world. If you want to know where to stay in Vienna to be close to the cultural activities and attractions, you will find a variety of museums, memorials, art galleries, and historical buildings here.
If you have kids, visit the Vienna Zoo to see the giant pandas as well as 750 other species. If you are an art fan, don't miss The Albertina where you can see art by Degas, Picasso, and Chagall to name a few. There is so much to do in this incredible city! But first, drop your bags at a Vienna luggage storage site for safekeeping to travel light as you explore.
Where to Stay in Central Vienna
Being the city center, the Inner Stadt is where to stay in Vienna for those who enjoy luxurious surroundings in a convenient location. The Old Town section is also a spectacular place for historic landmarks and attractions. It is within walking distance to just about everything like the Vienna State Opera, the Albertina, Hofburg Palace, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
Vienna was built from Roman and Celtic settlements as it evolved into the Baroque and Medieval city which is now the capital of Austria. The historic center of Vienna is rich in sensational architecture including Baroque castles and the Ring Road, a circular road where medieval city forts once stood. Today it is home to parks, monuments, and historic buildings.
Hotel Sacher Wien
Located in a gorgeous historic building that dates back to 1876, the Hotel Sacher Wien has had many famous guests like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, King Edward VIII, Grace Kelly, President John F. Kennedy, Plácido Domingo, and Leonard Bernstein. You will get modern and spacious rooms, a tea and coffee maker, and room service as some of the benefits of this fine establishment.
Kaiserin Elisabeth Hotel
Kaiserin Elisabeth Hotel offers the best service and all the comforts expected in a traditional hotel in the city center, only a couple of steps from St. Stephen's Cathedral. The stylish hotel features private rooms with wifi, satellite TV, air conditioning, and a bath with a hairdryer and toiletries. You will also enjoy a daily breakfast buffet with delicious Viennese cuisine.
City Pension Hotel
For those on a budget, this family-run hotel is just a short walk from the Kartner Strabe Shopping Street as well as many attractions. Each room boasts a sitting area, mini-bar, phone, electric kettle, and air conditioning as well as satellite TV, wifi, and a bathroom with a shower. You will even have a room safe, housekeeping, and a sofa bed in case you need more room.
Where to Stay in the Museum District
Vienna's 7th District is also known as Neubau, Vienna's Museum Quarter, or the Museum District. It is just outside the Inner Stadt and the Ring Road. It has a super central location and is where to stay in Vienna for those who want to enjoy culture, arts, and entertainment.
With the Art History Museum, MQ Point, the Leopold Museum, the Zoom Children's Museum, and the Mumok Museum of Modern Art, you can learn all about the history of Vienna as well as Austria. Your stay in Vienna would not be complete without visiting at least one of these. There are also quite a few hotels to choose from.
Hotel Sans Souci Wien
For a true posh experience, the Hotel Sans Souci Wien is the place to go. Located across from the Mumok Museum of Modern Art on a quiet side street, this five-star luxury hotel is decked out with cathedral ceilings, chandeliers, a fitness center with a spa and pool, and a hotel restaurant with award-winning food.
Hotel am Brillantengrund
Just a short walk from the zoo, the Hotel am Brillantengrund has sleek and modern rooms featuring hardwood floors, balconies, and kitchens as well as all the other usual amenities. The large stately building also has a gym and sauna, a restaurant, and a rooftop terrace where they serve breakfast.
Urban Boutique Hotel
Conveniently located next to the Zieglergasse Metro Station, this is a great place to stay when you visit Vienna on a budget. At just a fraction of the cost of most hotels, the Urban Boutique Hotel boasts most of the amenities like free wifi, satellite TV, a bathroom with shower, hardwood floors, and a gorgeous city view.
Where to Stay in the Josefstadt Neighborhood
As the smallest district in Vienna, Josefstadt is also one of the most peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of the city and crowds. Some of the most baroque architecture like the Damian Palace from the 1700s, Schönbrunn Palace built in 1706, and the 1702 Strozzi Palace.
This is a great place to stay for families with children with attractions like the Shoe Museum, the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art, Vienna's English Theatre, and Josef Strauss Park, which boasts playgrounds table tennis, basketball, a football pitch, a volleyball court, and a basketball court as well as fitness equipment.
Theaterhotel and Suites Wien
Right next to the Josefstadt Theatre, the Theaterhotel and Suites Wien is a small but posh establishment featuring cable TV, wifi, gift shop, fitness center, sauna, solarium, and a popular restaurant. It is in a fantastic location for theater buffs but you can also walk to a variety of eateries, shops, and parks as well as museums.
Hotel Alpha Wien
The Hotel Alpha Wien is right down the road from City Hall near central Vienna. Each room boasts modern furnishings with a minibar, safe, laundry services, and all the other popular amenities like wifi and satellite television. The free breakfast buffet here is delicious and features both hot and cold options.
Hotel Korotan
In the peaceful section of Josefstadt on a quiet street, the Hotel Korotan is the perfect getaway for those on a budget. You can choose from a small but modern single, a double with parquet floors, or a triple with wood floors and room for five guests. You will have all the amenities as the others as well as a daily breakfast buffet, and room service.
Where to Stay in the Leopoldstadt District
The Leopoldstadt and Innere Stadt are separated by the Danube Canal. As the home of Prater Amusement Park and the iconic Ferris wheel, Leopoldstadt is another enjoyable neighborhood for families with children. Even if you did not bring the kids, you have not visited Vienna without seeing the city from 212 feet in the air on the famous wheel built back in 1897.
If you want to explore a smaller park, try the Augarten, it is the oldest Baroque park in the city. The Augarten Palace as well as its splendid flower gardens are popular attractions here as well as several playgrounds, a pool, and four sports fields. Don't miss the Leopoldstadt Museum, Vienna Museum, and the four open-air museums during the summer.
SO Vienna
SO Vienna is an upscale hotel along the Danube Canal with a posh rooftop eatery and spectacular views of tourist attractions. This is the crème de la crème in Vienna with seven types of suites, a restaurant and two bars, a spa, and a fitness center. For the best, get the VIP suite with a dining room for 12, a kitchen, four TVs, a jacuzzi, and a Turkish bath. Inquire with their knowledgeable staff about tours through historic Vienna.
Hotel City Central
Just up the road, the Hotel City Central is a midrange price for high-priced service. Whether you want large comfortable rooms for the family or a single space all the rooms are splendid. Plush carpets, satellite TV, wifi, and a lavish bath is available in every suite and their breakfast is so good, even the locals stop by to eat.
Courtyard by Marriott Vienna Prater
Located in the Prater Amusement Park, this hotel boasts rooms with a view. Your room could be just feet from the Megablitz roller coaster to keep your kids busy while you relax in the bath after a long day playing on the 250+ attractions. Each room is a loft that has a bedroom as well as a kitchen and seating space to watch TV. The kids will never forget this Vienna trip.
Where to Stay in the Landstrasse District
Lookinmg for more of historic Vienna? Landstrasse is home to the giant Belvedere Palace and Gardens as well as Karlskirche Church, which is a stunning historic cathedral with ornate frescoes. The Karlsplatz Metro Station and Vienna's main train station are located here so you have easy access to anywhere you want to visit during your stay in Vienna.
In addition, the Schwarzenberg Palace and Garden, Theatre in the Park, and the Belvedere Schlossgarten are within walking distance to any hotel in the district. History lovers will enjoy the Arenbergpark with its Nazi flak towers from WWII as well as the Kunst Haus Wien Furniture Factory.
Lindner Hotel Belvedere
Live like royalty for a few days at the Lindner Hotel just a few steps from the Belvedere itself. You will have a spectacular view of the castle and gardens as well as a gourmet restaurant, hotel bar, a gym with saunas and a steam bath, and luxurious suites with family rooms for those with kids.
Hotel Am Konzerthaus
If you want to stay in a hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant, check out the Hotel Konzerthaus. Located in a central location near the Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna State Opera, and the Arnold Schönberg Center, each room has a mini-bar, safe, wifi, satellite TV, and much more. The elegant building also has a cozy bar, concierge, and dry cleaning service.
Hotel Gabriel
Between the busy main roads and the quiet parkside streets, Hotel Gabriel is a quaint establishment with rooms from singles to large four-bedroom apartments for a ridiculously low price. Each one has the basics like TV, wifi, and showers, but this one also has an interior courtyard to get away from the crowds.
An Inner City Hotel or a Quiet Location?
All the districts in Vienna are well-connected to public transport, the Central Train Station, and the Vienna Airport. While you are visiting Vienna, make a point to take a ride on the giant Ferris wheel at Prater to see the entire city from up above. Another way to see the city is from the Danube Tower where you can eat at one of their restaurants. The historical inner city is not to be missed either with a variety of historic buildings and sites. Is a delicious breakfast on your agenda. Check out our guide to can't miss Vienna brunches!