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Vienna is best discovered on foot, from the Ring to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, from historic cafés to imperial palaces. Take your time, because every little street has its share of wonders.
But one question always comes up before you leave: which neighbourhood should you base yourself in? Because in Vienna, the neighbourhood changes everything — sleeping in the imperial core, in the museum district or over on the Prater side are worlds apart.
In this guide, I share my favourite hotels, the best neighbourhoods to stay in (and the ones to avoid), then a selection by budget and by mood: upscale, great value, budget, quirky addresses and apartments for families.
Everything you need to find the ideal place to stay whatever your travel style. And to plan your sightseeing, take a look at my guide to what to see in Vienna.
Well, I’d rather warn you: accommodation in Vienna is generally really expensive. It’s good quality, but it’s pricey. Even the mid-range options and the hostels I wanted to include here sting a bit.
My favourite hotels in Vienna
If I had to pick just a handful of places in Vienna, across all price ranges, these would be the ones: favourites that go from charming boutique hotels to five-star palaces, all flawless on location and welcome.
📍 Innere Stadt · historic district
A recent 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of the 1st district, blending contemporary design with charm just minutes from the cathedral.
- Right in the 1st, minutes from the cathedral
- 5★ boutique with polished contemporary design
- Attentive service, intimate atmosphere
Free cancellation
From 294 € / night
📍 Mariahilf · near the MuseumsQuartier
An elegant boutique hotel in the 6th, steps from the MuseumsQuartier, with refined style and a real favourite for its look and gentle prices.
- Minutes from the MQ and Mariahilfer Straße
- Stylish boutique décor, cosy bar
- Top pick: charm and gentle prices
Free cancellation
From 125 € / night
📍 Mariahilf · Windmühlgasse
A music-themed lifestyle hotel near the MuseumsQuartier, with a lounge, bar and laid-back vibe.
- 700 m from the Leopold Museum and the MQ
- Musical vibe, lively lounge and bar
- Modern 4★ rooms, good value for money
Free cancellation
From 110 € / night
📍 Leopoldstadt · Praterstraße, at Nestroyplatz
An eco-friendly boutique hotel with bright rooms, two metro stops from the cathedral and a ten-minute walk from the Prater.
- Nestroyplatz metro at the door, cathedral 2 stops away
- Eco-friendly approach, spacious and bright rooms
- Generous buffet breakfast, 24/7 reception
Free cancellation
From 126 € / night
Upscale hotels, to treat yourself
Vienna excels in the art of the grand imperial hotel. If you want to treat yourself to an exceptional stay, here are four of the most prestigious palace hotels in the city.
📍 Innere Stadt · opposite the Opera
Vienna's most famous palace hotel, opposite the Opera and birthplace of the Sachertorte: marble, red velvet and exceptional service.
- Opposite the State Opera, on Philharmonikerstraße
- Legendary Café Sacher and its famous Sachertorte
- Spa, timelessly luxurious suites, impeccable service
Free cancellation
From 616 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · on the Ring
A former princely palace on the Ring, the Imperial unfolds all the splendour of the imperial era: marble, chandeliers and impeccable service.
- 5★ palace on the Kärntner Ring, next to the Opera
- Butler service, panoramic gym
- Café Imperial and its famous Imperial Torte
Free cancellation
From 510 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Am Hof, Goldenes Quartier
Set in a former early-20th-century bank, with a spectacular pool built into the old vault room.
- In the heart of the Goldenes Quartier (luxury boutiques)
- Pool and spa in the former vault
- The Bank restaurant, vast elegant rooms
Free cancellation
From 689 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Petersplatz
Vienna's new grand luxury on Petersplatz, whose rooftop bar-terrace offers a splendid view over the domes of the centre.
- On Petersplatz, steps from the Graben and the cathedral
- Rooftop bar with a panoramic view over the rooftops
- Refined design and signature Rosewood service
Free cancellation
From 756 € / night
Which neighbourhood to stay in Vienna?
Vienna reads as circles around the Ring. Choosing your neighbourhood means choosing your pace: the imperial core to do everything on foot, the artists’ quarters for the atmosphere, the banks of the Danube to breathe. Here are the four areas I recommend, then the ones I’d avoid.
Innere Stadt (1st) — the imperial core
The 1st district is Vienna straight off a postcard: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, the Opera and the elegant pedestrian streets of the Graben and Kärntner Straße, all enclosed within the ring of the Ring. You sleep in the middle of the scenery, and everything is within walking distance.
For whom? First visit to Vienna, short stay, wanting to reach everything on foot and enjoy the prestige of sleeping in the historic centre.
Nearby: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg, State Opera, Graben and Kohlmarkt, historic cafés, Stephansplatz and Herrengasse metro stations.
The pluses: unbeatable location, everything on foot, pedestrian area, very safe day and night, several metro lines.
The downside: the most expensive and most touristy area; once the shops close, the atmosphere turns a little “museum-like”, with less local life than elsewhere.
📍 Innere Stadt · 50 m from the cathedral
A Viennese institution opened in 1746 fifty metres from the cathedral, with a bright, charming glass-roofed inner courtyard.
- 50 m from the cathedral, Stephansplatz metro (U1/U3) 3 min away
- Glazed atrium courtyard and cosy bar, next to Mozart's House
- Individually styled rooms, breakfast rated “fabulous”
Free cancellation
From 262 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · steps from the Opera
A small, warm boutique hotel a few steps from the Opera, regularly named among the best-rated in Vienna for its welcome and location.
- A 2-min walk from the Opera and Kärntner Straße
- Intimate, family atmosphere, outstanding 9.6 rating
- Air-conditioned rooms, carefully prepared breakfast
Free cancellation
From 301 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Habsburgergasse, 100 m from the Graben
Set in a listed 17th-century baroque palace a hundred metres from the Graben, a family-run hotel full of character in the heart of old Vienna.
- Listed Palais Cavriani: historic courtyard and panoramic lift
- 100 m from the Graben, a 5-min walk from the cathedral and the Hofburg
- Organic Viennese breakfast, hot drinks free all day
Free cancellation
From 156 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Tiefer Graben, quiet street
A family-run boutique hotel on a quiet lane in the centre, a ten-minute walk from the cathedral and steps from the Hofburg.
- Herrengasse metro (U3) 3 min away, Hofburg and Graben on foot
- Modern, spacious rooms, quiet street at night
- Generous Viennese breakfast, over 4,000 “fabulous” reviews
Free cancellation
From 160 € / night
Mariahilf / Naschmarkt — lively and foodie
Around the Naschmarkt, Vienna’s big open-air market, you leave the imperial backdrop for a livelier city: stalls of local specialities, wine bars, restaurants from around the world, and the long Mariahilfer Straße for shopping. The historic centre is still just one metro stop away. Honestly, when I discovered this neighbourhood, I slightly regretted not having looked for a place to stay here!
For whom? Foodies, market and bar lovers, travellers who want atmosphere and real Viennese life, while keeping good value and shopping within reach.
Nearby: Naschmarkt, Secession, Karlskirche, MuseumsQuartier, Opera (10 min), Mariahilfer Straße, Karlsplatz and Kettenbrückengasse metro (U1/U2/U4).
The pluses: lively, foodie neighbourhood, gentler prices than the 1st, market + bars + restaurants at your doorstep, very well served by the metro.
The downside: on Saturdays, the Naschmarkt and its surroundings are packed and noisy; you’re not right next to the great imperial monuments (10-15 min on foot or one metro stop).
📍 Naschmarkt · Rechte Wienzeile, beside the market
A design 4-star set along the Naschmarkt, with colourful rooms inspired by the neighbourhood, a gym and a terrace in the middle of the buzz.
- On the edge of the Naschmarkt, Kettenbrückengasse metro (U4) right nearby
- IHG contemporary design, some rooms with a city-view balcony
- Gym, terrace and very well-rated breakfast
Free cancellation
From 147 € / night
📍 Wieden · Wiedner Hauptstraße, 10 min from the Opera
A Viennese institution opened in 1913 steps from the Naschmarkt and Karlsplatz, with its traditional restaurant Wiener Wirtschaft.
- A 10-min walk from the Opera and Karlsplatz metro
- Austrian restaurant Wiener Wirtschaft on site
- Air-conditioned rooms with individual décor
Free cancellation
From 114 € / night
📍 Wieden · Schleifmühlgasse, on the corner of the Naschmarkt
A family-run 3-star in an 1894 Art Nouveau building on the corner of the Naschmarkt, known for its generous Viennese buffet breakfast.
- One street from the Naschmarkt, Opera and MuseumsQuartier on foot
- 1894 Art Nouveau building, intimate atmosphere
- Generous Viennese buffet breakfast included in several rates
Free cancellation
From 120 € / night
📍 Wieden · Wiedner Hauptstraße, near the Karlskirche
A design hotel conceived by Terence Conran, with a sauna, garden and trendy bar, between the Naschmarkt and the Karlskirche.
- 500 m from the Karlskirche, Naschmarkt and Opera on foot
- Design by Terence Conran, sauna and gym
- Renowned bar and varied buffet breakfast
Free cancellation
From 140 € / night
Neubau / MuseumsQuartier — trendy and creative
The 7th is creative Vienna: the MuseumsQuartier and its museums, the cobbled lanes of Spittelberg, designer boutiques, third-wave coffee shops and the long Mariahilfer Straße for shopping. A young, arty vibe, a ten-minute walk from the historic centre.
For whom? Art and museum lovers, trendy and bohemian atmosphere, independent cafés and shops, young couples, shopping addicts.
Nearby: MuseumsQuartier (Leopold, mumok), Spittelberg, Mariahilfer Straße, the Ring and the Naschmarkt on foot, Volkstheater and Museumsquartier metro (U2/U3).
The pluses: lively, cultural neighbourhood, cafés and bars galore, a 10-min walk from the imperial core, good value, shopping at your doorstep.
The downside: you’re very close to the centre but not right next to the great monuments (10-15 min on foot); some avenues like Mariahilfer Straße or the Gürtel are busy and noisy.
📍 Neubau · at the entrance to the MuseumsQuartier
A wild circus-themed design hotel on the edge of the MuseumsQuartier, with its famous panoramic bar-terrace over the rooftops of Vienna.
- At the entrance to the MuseumsQuartier, Volkstheater metro right nearby
- “Dachboden” rooftop bar with a view over the city
- Retro-chic rooms, spa and Italian restaurant
Free cancellation
From 109 € / night
📍 Neubau · Schottenfeldgasse, designers' quarter
A hotel with an eclectic vintage style on a quiet street in the 7th, with a bar, garden and a laid-back, very “Neubau” vibe.
- In the heart of the creative 7th, Mariahilfer Straße on foot
- Vintage-sourced décor, bar and cosy little garden
- Excellent value for the neighbourhood
Free cancellation
From 79 € / night
📍 Neubau · on Mariahilfer Straße
Set in the former Stafa department store on the main shopping street, a design “lean luxury” hotel with a bar and rooftop terrace open 24/7.
- Right on Mariahilfer Straße, shopping at your doorstep
- Rooftop bar and reception open 24/7
- Careful design, guitars to borrow, very good value
Free cancellation
From 82 € / night
📍 Neubau · Breite Gasse, beside the Ring
A small, warm boutique hotel with careful décor, steps from the MuseumsQuartier and the Ring, with a particularly well-rated welcome.
- Next to the Ring and the MuseumsQuartier, centre on foot
- Modern rooms full of thoughtful details
- Praised welcome and breakfast (9.0/10 rating)
Free cancellation
From 228 € / night
Leopoldstadt (2nd) — green and great value
On the other side of the Danube Canal, the 2nd is green, up-and-coming Vienna: the big Prater park with its giant Ferris wheel, the Karmelitermarkt, tree-lined streets and cafés along the water — all just one metro stop (or a footbridge) from the historic centre. Quieter, more local, and often cheaper. We stayed there, it was great, a 10-minute walk from the very centre, though it’s true that once you cross the Danube it gets very quiet. But with nice little restaurants and cafés during the day that are really not bad at all!
For whom? Wanting calm and greenery, good value, families (the Prater!), slightly longer stays, a lively, local neighbourhood feel.
Nearby: Prater and Ferris wheel, Karmelitermarkt, Danube Canal, Augarten, Schwedenplatz / Nestroyplatz / Praterstern metro (U1/U2), cathedral 5-10 min away.
The pluses: space and greenery, gentler prices than the centre, one metro stop (or a walk along the canal) from the historic core, local atmosphere.
The downside: around Praterstern (the big station) the atmosphere is less welcoming in the evening; you need to take the metro or walk a bit to reach the great monuments.
📍 Leopoldstadt · Taborstraße, 300 m from Schwedenplatz
Vienna's oldest hotel (over 425 years old), run by the same family for five generations, a bridge away from the historic centre.
- Schwedenplatz metro 300 m away, cathedral minutes away
- Fifth-generation family house, member of the Historic Hotels of Europe
- Air-conditioned rooms, courtyard garden, “superb” breakfast
Free cancellation
From 159 € / night
📍 Leopoldstadt · quiet street near the Prater
A modern family-run hotel packed with contemporary art, on a quiet street five minutes from the Prater Ferris wheel and Praterstern metro.
- A 5-min walk from the Prater and Praterstern metro (U1/U2)
- Design décor and plenty of contemporary artworks
- Rooms with underfloor heating, exceptional breakfast
Free cancellation
From 164 € / night
📍 Leopoldstadt · Prater side / Viertel Zwei
An award-winning aparthotel with clever lofts featuring a kitchen, living area and large table — ideal for families and slightly longer stays.
- Lofts of around 24 m² with a fitted kitchen and lounge corner
- Terrace, bar and large, welcoming communal spaces
- Perfect for families and extended stays
Free cancellation
From 118 € / night
📍 Leopoldstadt · Praterstraße, at Nestroyplatz
An eco-friendly boutique hotel with bright rooms, two metro stops from the cathedral and a ten-minute walk from the Prater.
- Nestroyplatz metro at the door, cathedral 2 stops away
- Eco-friendly approach, spacious and bright rooms
- Generous buffet breakfast, 24/7 reception
Free cancellation
From 126 € / night
Where not to stay in Vienna?
Vienna is regularly ranked among the safest cities in the world: there’s no truly “dangerous” neighbourhood, rather areas with little interest or that are less pleasant in the evening.
- Around Praterstern (2nd) at night — a big station and junction that can feel seedy after dark (handy by day, less so at night).
- Along the western Gürtel (15th/16th) — the ring-road boulevard, noisy and lined with bars in places: you lose Vienna’s charm.
- The outer districts (10th Favoriten, 11th Simmering, 21st/22nd across the Danube) — residential, far from the sights, of no interest for a short stay.
Nothing dramatic though: just keep an eye on your belongings in the crowded metro and on Kärntner Straße, and beware of the costumed touts for “Mozart concerts” around the Opera.
The best value for money
Well located, well rated and without blowing the budget: these four addresses offer the best balance between price and quality in Vienna.
📍 Mariahilf · near the MuseumsQuartier
An elegant boutique hotel in the 6th, steps from the MuseumsQuartier, with refined style and unbeatable value for money.
- Minutes from the MQ and Mariahilfer Straße
- Stylish boutique décor, cosy bar
- Exceptional value for money (9.3/10)
Free cancellation
From 125 € / night
📍 Mariahilf · Windmühlgasse
A music-themed lifestyle hotel near the MuseumsQuartier, with a lounge, bar and laid-back vibe.
- 700 m from the Leopold Museum and the MQ
- Musical vibe, lively lounge and bar
- Modern 4★ rooms, good value for money
Free cancellation
From 110 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · 100 m from the Opera
Clever design a hundred metres from the Opera, in a listed 19th-century building, to sleep right in the centre without breaking the bank.
- 50 m from the Ring and 100 m from the Opera
- Listed building, contemporary design
- Excellent location at a moderate price
Free cancellation
From 104 € / night
📍 Landstraße · near the Konzerthaus
An elegant 4-star opposite the Konzerthaus and the Stadtpark, with rooms inspired by Vienna's musical world.
- Next to the Konzerthaus and the Stadtpark
- Design inspired by music and opera
- Renovated rooms, good value for money
Free cancellation
From 122 € / night
Hostels and budget hotels
To visit Vienna without breaking the bank: modern hostels and budget hotels, from a dorm bed to a low-priced private room.
📍 Leopoldstadt · near the Prater
An ultra-popular design hostel-hotel near the Prater, with a rooftop terrace and stylish rooms at gentle prices.
- 100 m from Messe Wien, Prater 700 m away
- Trendy design, rooftop terrace
- Dorms and private rooms, 9.0 rating
Free cancellation
From 81 € / night
📍 Wieden · beside the Naschmarkt
A modern youth hostel beside the Naschmarkt, ideal for exploring the centre on a shoestring.
- At the Naschmarkt, U4 metro a 5-min walk away
- Bar and shared kitchen, young atmosphere
- Private rooms also available
Free cancellation
From 31 € (lit en dortoir)
📍 Rudolfsheim (15th) · near Westbahnhof
An eco-friendly family hotel with a lovely garden and uniquely designed rooms, eight minutes from the Western station and Mariahilfer Straße.
- Lush garden and pioneering eco approach
- 8 min from Westbahnhof and Mariahilfer Straße (U3/U6)
- Uniquely designed rooms, organic breakfast
Free cancellation
From 57 € / night
📍 Hernals (17th) · west of Vienna
A large budget hotel in the west of the city, about twelve minutes from the centre by tram, for tight budgets.
- Direct tram to the centre (~12 min)
- Air-conditioned rooms, bar open 24/7
- Among the lowest prices in this selection
Free cancellation
From 55 € / night
Staying somewhere unusual
Fancy a place that’s out of the ordinary? Here are four hotels with real character all their own, from the art house to the social-enterprise hotel by way of the rooftop pool.
📍 Neubau · Spittelberg quarter
A boutique hotel where every room is unique, packed with contemporary art, tucked away in the picturesque Spittelberg quarter.
- Every room different, art collection
- Cobbled lanes of Spittelberg, MQ 5 min away
- Small Luxury Hotels, 9.5 rating
Free cancellation
From 202 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Schubertring, on the Ring
On the Ring, famous for its rooftop pool with red parasols and its stunning view over Vienna.
- Heated rooftop pool facing the Ring
- 3 restaurants including a Viennese brasserie
- Elegant rooms, from studio to suite
Free cancellation
From 146 € / night
📍 Landstraße · Ungargasse
Austria's first “social business” hotel, with upcycled décor and a multicultural team: sleep usefully and differently.
- Social enterprise, second-hand and upcycled furniture
- Cosmopolitan garden restaurant
- 10 min from the centre, unique atmosphere
Free cancellation
From 81 € / night
📍 Neubau · Bandgasse
A family-run vintage address in a Biedermeier building in the 7th, with a courtyard café and a very Instagrammable retro spirit.
- Listed Biedermeier building, retro décor
- Renowned courtyard café (Filipino cuisine)
- 5 min from Mariahilfer Straße
Free cancellation
From 78 € / night
The best apartments for families
With a kitchen, living room and space for everyone: these apartments are perfect for families (and the last one, a studio, ideal for a couple).
📍 Innere Stadt · 3 min from the cathedral
Apartments with a kitchen in an Art Nouveau building in the 1st, three minutes from the cathedral: perfect for families.
- Fully equipped apartments (kitchen, lounge corner)
- A 3-min walk from the cathedral
- Art Nouveau building, ideal for families
Free cancellation
From 118 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · 350 m from the cathedral
Large air-conditioned apartments on a quiet street 300 m from the cathedral, with room for the whole family.
- Spacious apartments with a kitchen
- Quiet street, Stephansplatz metro 300 m away
- Perfect for families and small groups
Free cancellation
From 163 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Vorlaufstraße
Premium apartments with a rooftop terrace and gym, five minutes from the cathedral, for an upscale family stay.
- Elegant apartments with a kitchen
- Rooftop terrace and gym
- A 5-min walk from the cathedral
Free cancellation
From 212 € / night
📍 Innere Stadt · Fleischmarkt
Clever design studios — the ideal one-bedroom for a couple — in a handsome central building with a gym and terrace.
- Studios with a kitchenette, perfect for 2
- Gym, terrace and bar on site
- Historic building 700 m from the cathedral
Free cancellation
From 202 € / night
The map of places to stay in Vienna
To try to make your life even a little easier, I’ve put all these places to stay on a single map, with the key information and the useful points of interest around the city so you can find your bearings easily.
Conclusion
As you’ve seen, Vienna is not short of lovely places to stay, from the small charming hotel to the imperial palace hotel, in every neighbourhood and for (almost) every budget. It’s impossible to list them all: the idea was above all to show that you can easily find somewhere to stay to suit your taste.
One last tip: prices climb quickly in spring and in December (Christmas markets), so book early, especially for the most sought-after addresses. But know that even at the last minute you can find something very good — it’ll just be a little more expensive.
Going further
Before you pack your bags, these guides will help you plan the rest of your trip:
- What to see in Vienna — all the must-sees to build your itinerary.
- The best guided tours in Vienna — to explore the city with a guide.
- Getting to the centre from Vienna airport — all the options, from the CAT to the bus.
- Attending a classical concert in Vienna — Mozart, waltz and grand halls.
- The most beautiful churches in Vienna — beyond St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
