Where to stay · Vienna · Austria
Where to stay in Vienna
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Innere Stadt. The historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses. Best alternatives — budget: Leopoldstadt; nightlife: Neubau.
Key facts
- First visit
- Innere Stadt
- Families
- Innere Stadt
- Budget
- Leopoldstadt
- Nightlife
- Neubau
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Innere Stadt | The historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses |
| Families | Innere Stadt | The historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses |
| Couples | Wieden | Karlskirche, the Naschmarkt and the galleries and bistros of the Freihausviertel |
| Budget | Leopoldstadt | The Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal |
| Luxury | Innere Stadt | The historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses |
| Nightlife | Neubau | MuseumsQuartier, Spittelberg's Biedermeier lanes and independent designers |
| Food lovers | Leopoldstadt | The Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal |
| Solo travellers | Leopoldstadt | The Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal |
| Shopping | Mariahilf | Vienna's main shopping street and the western side of the Naschmarkt |
| Quiet stays | Landstraße | The Belvedere palaces, the Hundertwasserhaus and the airport train terminus |
Vienna neighbourhoods in detail
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, luxury, culture and families
Innere Stadt
The 1st district holds St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, the State Opera and the elegant shopping streets of Graben, Kohlmarkt and Kärntner Strasse. Historic coffee houses such as Café Central and Café Hawelka are here, and almost every major sight is within a 20-minute walk.
- Good
- Walk to most sights; Historic atmosphere; Excellent U-Bahn links
- Watch out
- Most expensive hotels; Busy shopping streets by day
- Nearby
- St Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg, Vienna State Opera, Albertina
$$ · Best for budget, families, food lovers and solo travellers
Leopoldstadt
The 2nd district lies on the island between the Danube Canal and the Danube. It includes the Prater amusement park and its long chestnut avenue, the Augarten park with its porcelain manufactory, the Karmelitermarkt food market and the city's historic Jewish quarter, now full of independent cafés and restaurants.
- Good
- Lower hotel prices; Green space and the Prater for kids; Short U-Bahn ride to the centre
- Watch out
- Praterstern station area feels rough at night; Fewer historic sights
- Nearby
- Prater, Augarten, Karmelitermarkt, Danube Canal
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and quiet stays
Landstraße
The 3rd district is home to the Belvedere palaces and gardens, the colourful Hundertwasserhaus and the Wien Mitte station, where the City Airport Train arrives. It is mostly residential and calm, with good-value hotels within walking distance of the Ring.
- Good
- Direct airport train; Close to the Belvedere and the Ring; Calm in the evenings
- Watch out
- Less atmosphere than the 1st or 7th districts; Some areas are plain and residential
- Nearby
- Belvedere, Hundertwasserhaus, Stadtpark, Wien Mitte
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples and culture
Wieden
The 4th district includes the baroque Karlskirche, Karlsplatz with its Otto Wagner pavilions, the eastern side of the Naschmarkt and the Freihausviertel, a cluster of small galleries, wine bars and restaurants around Schleifmühlgasse.
- Good
- Walk to the Opera and the Ring; Excellent food scene; Local character
- Watch out
- Busy roads around Karlsplatz; Fewer large hotels
- Nearby
- Karlskirche, Naschmarkt, Secession, Vienna State Opera
$$ · Best for shopping, budget and families
Mariahilf
The 6th district runs along Mariahilfer Strasse, a long, partly pedestrianised shopping street. Behind it, quieter streets slope down to the Naschmarkt, and the Haus des Meeres aquarium occupies a wartime flak tower. It is central, practical and good value.
- Good
- Central and good value; Major shopping on the doorstep; U3 and U4 lines nearby
- Watch out
- Crowded shopping street on Saturdays; Less historic feel
- Nearby
- Mariahilfer Strasse, Naschmarkt, Haus des Meeres, MuseumsQuartier
$$$ · Best for solo travellers, shopping, nightlife and food lovers
Neubau
The 7th district is Vienna's creative hub, with independent fashion and design shops on Neubaugasse and Lindengasse, cafés and bars, and the cobbled Biedermeier lanes of Spittelberg, home to a much-loved Christmas market. The MuseumsQuartier sits on its edge, a short walk from the Hofburg.
- Good
- Lively but local; Great cafés, bars and shops; Walk to the museums and Hofburg
- Watch out
- Fewer large hotels; Some streets busy with traffic
- Nearby
- MuseumsQuartier, Spittelberg, Mariahilfer Strasse, Volkstheater
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
Josefstadt
The 8th district is Vienna's smallest, a calm grid of 18th- and 19th-century buildings with the Theater in der Josefstadt, traditional cafés and neighbourhood restaurants. It is a short walk from the Rathaus, the Parliament and the University on the Ring.
- Good
- Peaceful and residential; Walkable to the Ring; Classic Viennese atmosphere
- Watch out
- Little nightlife; Fewer hotels
- Nearby
- Rathaus, Parliament, Theater in der Josefstadt
$$$ · Best for families and quiet stays
Hietzing
The 13th district surrounds Schönbrunn Palace and its zoo, with leafy streets of villas, the historic Café Dommayer and easy access to the Vienna Woods. It is quiet and green, but about 20 minutes by U4 from the centre.
- Good
- Next to Schönbrunn and the zoo; Quiet, green surroundings; Good for families
- Watch out
- Far from the centre's nightlife; Fewer restaurants
- Nearby
- Schönbrunn Palace, Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Lainzer Tiergarten
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Innere Stadt | $$$$ | St Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg, Vienna State Opera, Albertina |
| Leopoldstadt | $$ | Prater, Augarten, Karmelitermarkt, Danube Canal |
| Landstraße | $$$ | Belvedere, Hundertwasserhaus, Stadtpark, Wien Mitte |
| Wieden | $$$ | Karlskirche, Naschmarkt, Secession, Vienna State Opera |
| Mariahilf | $$ | Mariahilfer Strasse, Naschmarkt, Haus des Meeres, MuseumsQuartier |
| Neubau | $$$ | MuseumsQuartier, Spittelberg, Mariahilfer Strasse, Volkstheater |
| Josefstadt | $$$ | Rathaus, Parliament, Theater in der Josefstadt |
| Hietzing | $$$ | Schönbrunn Palace, Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Lainzer Tiergarten |
Getting to your hotel
Vienna International Airport (VIE) is about 18 km south-east of the centre. The City Airport Train reaches Wien Mitte in about 16 minutes, the cheaper S7 commuter train takes about 25 minutes, and Railjet trains run to the Hauptbahnhof in about 15 minutes. Some low-cost flights use Bratislava Airport (BTS), about 55 km east, linked by coach in about an hour.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Vienna for first-time visitors?
Innere Stadt. The 1st district holds St Stephen's Cathedral, the Hofburg, the State Opera and the elegant shopping streets of Graben, Kohlmarkt and Kärntner Strasse.
+Where should families stay in Vienna?
Innere Stadt: Walk to most sights.
+Which area of Vienna is best for a budget stay?
Leopoldstadt ($$): The Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal.