Where to Stay in Vienna City Center?

The 10 Best Neighbourhoods in Vienna City Centre for Tourists (First Time)

Here are some of the neighbourhoods that will give you the accommodation of your life, and an experience like never before.

1. Innere Stadt (Old Town) (1st): Best Area to Stay for First Time

Innere Stadt is among the best tourist sites in Vienna. It is easily accessible by road and has many buses for sightseeing. It is a home to one of Vienna landmarks, the St Stephen Cathedral, a century-old cathedral that hosts various chapels.

Visiting the following numerous historical sites will keep you busy one of them is the Michaelerplatz. As a tourist, this place will exit you with what it has to offer. You will definitely learn about the various historical things and events that took place in the center of the capital of Austria.

The state hall of the Austrian national library also acts as a place to go and get information.

While cycling is an appropriate mode of transport, walking through the inner city gives one the opportunity to appreciate the architecture, the people, and the Vienna cuisine in food and coffee cafes.

Tour buses in Innere City can also be used for sightseeing. The churches, such as St Stephen Cathedral, St Peters, and St Michaels are a century old and are monumental with authentic Viennese architecture that can only be admired by travellers with time on their hand.

After a long day of touring the city, one is assured of easy access to hotels that offer wonderful day and nightlife in Vienna. There are several hotels in the neighbourhood including Hotel Kaiserhof Wien and Palais Coburg Hotel Residenz among others.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN INNERE STADT

• Best Luxury Hotel: Hotel Sacher Wien
• Best Value Hotel: Hollmann Beletage Design & Boutique Hotel
• Best Cheap Hotels: Hotel Kärntnerhof • Motel One Wien-Staatsoper

VIENNA CITY CENTRE HOTEL DEALS

2. Leopoldstadt (2nd): home to Prater Amusement Park

Leopoldstadt is Vienna’s second municipal district. Located in the heart of the city, this district, together with the 20th district Brigittenau makes up an island which is encircles by the Danube Canal.

Named for the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, this area is particularly well known for its high number of Jewish inhabitants.

Some of the attractions in this district include the former imperial hunting ground of the Wiener Prater. This area contains the Volksprater, which is an amusement park. Here, you will see the Wiener Riesenrad Ferris Wheel which is an iconic sight in the city.

There is also a famous beer garden here called the Schweizerhaus which claims to have been the place where potato crisps were invented.

Another attraction here is the Liliputbahn, or miniature steam railway which travels through woodland and past the Ernst-Happel-Stadion. This is a popular tourist area and is regularly visited by those who are staying in the city’s many big name and boutique hotels.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN LEOPOLDSTADT

• Best Luxury Hotel: SO/ Vienna
• Best Value Hotels: Hotel Stefanie • Superbude Wien Prater
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Novotel Suites Wien City • Motel One Wien-Prater

LEOPOLDSTADT HOTEL DEALS

3. Wieden (4th), one of Vienna’s more edgy and lively neighborhoods

Vienna’s fourth district, Wieden, is close to the city center and is also home to some of the bestlandmarks in the city. The Karlsplatz is one of the most famous attractions in this district with its Baroque exterior. During the winter, it hosts Christmas markets while in the summer it hosts the Popfest music event. Here, you will also find the Belvedere Palace with its beautiful gardens. Once the summer residence of the Prince of Savoy, the building now houses important artworks. It is also home to the Botanical Gardens where you’ll find countless species of unusual and exotic plants. The 16th century Naschmarkt has grown into a huge marketplace with vendors that sell foods and drinks from around the globe. On Saturdays, there are more than 400 stalls at the resident flea market which is popular with tourists and locals alike. Meanwhile, if you and your family take a stroll along the Shleifmuhlgasse, you’ll find a thriving local art scene with a host of contemporary galleries showcasing some of the bestmodern works of art. There are many stylish boutique and luxury hotels in this area of the city.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN WIEDEN

• Best Accommodation: Hotel Kaiserhof Wien
• Best Cheap Hotels / Great Value: Austria Trend Hotel beim Theresianum Wien • Drei Kronen Hotel Wien City

WIEDEN HOTEL DEALS

4. Neubau (7th): Vienna’s Museumsquartier

Neubau is a neighbourhood with a long history of entertaining residents. It has a good buzz, edge, trendiness, elegance and beauty. Mostly known as the Seventh District, Neubau is a rapidly growing area known for its affordable housing and vibrant nightlife. The Spittelberg and Schleifmuhglasse compete with one another to be named the city’s hippest area.

The region has an intense and persistent college vibe, as seen by the abundance of street sellers, dive pubs, cafés and affordable restaurants. Neubau is one of the great places to get cheap housing, but be aware that it is a good 20 minutes from the heart of Vienna. Visitors looking for lively nightlife and an exciting social scene need to step outside their hotel and into the street.

In Neubau’s Spittelberg neighbourhood is the Museumsquartier. The Zoom Children’s Museum is a good option for families visiting one of the few avenues in Vienna lined with museums. On a nice day, you should not miss out on walking in this place. The Seventh District is undeniably more colourful and multiethnic than the significant neighbourhoods but at the price of a rougher aspect.

The Thailastrasse is lined with many modern restaurants and edgy cafés that attract nighttime crowds of students and young professionals.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN NEUBAU

• Best Luxury Hotel: Hotel Sans Souci Wien
• Best Value Hotels: Hotel Gilbert • Ruby Marie Hotel Vienna
• Best Cheap Hotels: Hotel Pension Museum • Hotel Kaffeemühle

NEUBAU HOTEL DEALS

5. Landstrasse (3th), good area to stay for budget travelers

District 3 is known as Landstrasse. It’s located on the side of the Danube River that flows into the canal. Together with the Vienna Mitte railway station, the massive Belvedere Palace and Gardens are located in this neighbourhood. The district, which borders the Wieden region, is a perfect spot for walking or window shopping.

Vienna’s Third District appears to be nothing but a handy neighbourhood close to the city’s main roadways at first look. If you look closely, you will see that the surrounding streets are decorated with beautiful buildings like steeples, domes and apartment complexes.

Northern Landstrasse is where you will find very few noteworthy tourist attractions during your stay. You can see the border between the Third District, the First District and the Old Town of Vienna right here. There is no competition for the title of Third District’s most popular tourist destination; Belvedere Palace and Gardens continue to delight visitors. While the rest of the neighbourhood is reasonably cheap, this is the most expensive part of it.

Most of the district’s population—nearly 80,000—lives in its southernmost sections. The St. Marxer Friedhof cemetery, a romantically decorated Germanic Regency cemetery, is the only tourist attraction in an otherwise residential section of the neighbourhood. Four massive gas tanks were located in the 19th century, providing power to the downtown area.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN LANDSTRASSE

• Best Luxury Hotel: Hilton Vienna Park
• Best Value: Hotel Spiess & Spiess
• Best Cheap Hotels: Rioca Vienna Posto 2 • Ibis budget Wien Sankt Marx

LANDSTRASSE HOTEL DEALS

6. Mariahilf (6th), where to stay in Vienna for shopping

The Sixth District is also known as the Mariahilf. This makes it one of the oldest contemporary Vienna districts dating back to the 1800s. The suburb is located along the Mariahilfstrasse, a busy tourist attraction. A variety of popular retailers border it.

So far, Mariahilf is a relief in direct contrast to the more touristic neighbourhoods. The area has secondhand shops, art exhibitions and lovely cafés. Here, tourists will discover the infamous landmark of the massive Nazi flak tower. Nowadays, it serves as a private aquarium and zoo. You may go to the summit for breathtaking views of Vienna’s whole city.

Due to the school’s existence, the eastern part of Mariahilf has an artistic vibe. This is why many art shops and small galleries compete for a room with retailers specialising in luxury furniture and interior design—distinctive one’s deal in lamp shades and lights.

Along the Wienzeile, you will find “Theater an der Wien.” Similarly, the two most recognisable buildings in the neighbourhood are located here. These are the Art Noveau-style Majolikahaus and Wienzeilenhaus by Otto Wagner. Nevertheless, the whole region is covered by the Flak tower that the Nazis constructed to protect the city from Second World War air strikes.

The Mariahilfer Church is a stunning baroque pilgrimage church worth the attention of any tourists to this area. Although this area is far from the tourist hotspots of the Ringstrausse and the Old Town of Vienna, hotel rates here are more affordable.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN MARIAHILF

• Best Accommodation: Hotel MOTTO
• Best Cheap Hotel: Hotel Kolping Wien Zentral • Ibis Wien Mariahilf

MARIAHILF HOTEL DEALS

7. Where to Stay in Josefstadt (8th)?

Josefstadt, Vienna’s Eighth District, is the smallest of the city’s districts and its 23,000 residents make it the second-least populous after Vienna’s First District. Beginning just behind City Hall, the Josefstadt is home to many scholars and government workers due to its proximity to the city’s primary university.

As a result, Josefstadt has nothing in the way of travellers who want to stay. The area is mostly residential and was only settled after 1700. The district’s endearing qualities come to light in its many cosy eateries, trendy bars, art spaces and one-of-a-kind stores. Eastern Josefstadt is more modern, with many student apartments, whereas western Josefstadt, along the Gürtel road, is less trendy and home to many foreigners.

Josefstadt area is one of the lowest “green” districts of Vienna, with just two per cent of city parks and gardens and the one adjacent to the Palais Schönborn comprises the old lawns of the Monarchy and is the greatest piece of green in the Eight District. The neighbourhood also has a museum that focuses mainly on the works of Gustav Klimt. He painted several of the most well-known pieces in his Josefstadt workshop.

The Piaristenkirche Church, with its distinctive twin towers, is a must-see. Notable among Lukas von Hildebrandt’s works, this late-Baroque cathedral is imposing. Josefstadt is well-known as a centre for the performing arts in Austria. Several outdoor performance spaces and tiny theatres, such as the 19-seat “La Petite.”

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN JOSEFSTADT

• Best Rated/Value Hotels: The Levante Parliament A Design Hotel • Flemings Selection Hotel Wien-City
• Best Cheap Hotels: Hotel Graf Stadion • Hotel-Pension Wild

JOSEFSTADT HOTEL DEALS

8. Alsergrund (9th): stay in luxury hotels for budget prices

Alsergrund or District 9, is most well-known as the location of the General Hospital. Medical professionals or students mostly stay in this area due to the abundance of academic institutions. Except for the General Hospital of Vienna and the main university facilities, the region comprises suburban neighbourhoods. Shady Gurtel Road and the Ringstrasse encircle it on opposite ends.

Travellers have a choice between two must-see attractions. The Votivkirche Church and the nearby Palais Liechtenstein are owned by the local royal family and are found close to the Ringstrasse. The governing royal family of Liechtenstein’s small, adjacent, very affluent principality still owns this castle, one of two in Vienna.

The Baroque-styled Palace is notable because it houses a public museum that dates back to the 1700s. Two buildings make up the complex, with the top one leased to businesses. There’s a lovely park between the two levels of buildings. This park is popular with locals and visitors because of its free accessibility. Some of the Prince of Liechtenstein’s legendary personal art gallery is displayed at a museum in the palace’s main basement.

Its magnificent assortment is almost unparalleled in the metropolitan area, focusing as it does on works from the Baroque period. Because of its freshly restored palace and its real palace structure, the museum is a great place to visit.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN ALSERGRUND

• Best Value/Top Rated Hotels: H+ Hotel Wien • The Harmonie Vienna, BW Premier Collection
• Best Cheap Hotels: Hotel Calmo • Hotel Mozart

ALSERGRUND HOTEL DEALS

9. Favoriten (10th), stay near Vienna Main Station (Wien Hauptbahnhof)

District 10 Favoriten is the most populous of the districts. Austria’s new international hub railway station is being constructed here. The Favoriten has one of the best budget hotels and neighbourhoods in Vienna. Although many internationals call this city home (because of its affordable rentals), it has a surprisingly high crime rate for such a well-known tourist destination as Vienna. Favoriten is still reasonable in terms of safety compared to other international cities and the south of the district is the better section.

The nearby army base of Starhemberg Kaserne is a fascinating attraction. The legacy of the Austrian Monarchy is still strongly felt. The parish churches of the Salvatorkirche, Oberlaa and Laarberg are among the numerous churches in the city that can be worth whatever additional time you have to spend. Also present is a classic water tower from the 1800s. But, in general, the south districts prefer business, domestic and outdoor facilities such as administrative buildings, apartment complexes and parks.

Favoritenstraße is a lively, bustling street by Vienna standards. In this area, most big-name chain businesses are packed in between a fantastic array of tiny, multinational, low-priced and dubious-quality retailers catering to the neighborhood’s diverse population.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN FAVORITEN

• Best Luxury/Superior Hotels: Austria Trend Hotel Bosei Wien • Novotel Wien Hauptbahnhof
• Best Value Hotel: Motel One Wien-Hauptbahnhof
• Best Cheap Hotels: B&B Hotel Wien-Hbf • Campanile Vienna South

FAVORITEN HOTEL DEALS

10. Margareten (5th): great place to stay away from hustle and bustle

The 5th Administrative District is called Margareten. It is central to the city and its lively Bohemian atmosphere contrasts the historic buildings and traditional fare of the Old Town. Traditional Viennese buildings may be seen everywhere, but the individual neighbourhoods also have lavish furnishings and creative touches.

Adjacent to the neighbourhood is the Naschmarkt outdoor fresh food market, which attracts food lovers of all types in search of best, locally sourced products at affordable rates. Margareten, a neighbourhood in the centre of Vienna, has benefited from recent renovation efforts and is now known as a relatively inexpensive and conveniently located region to stay. It’s booming and rising with its current population of 50,000.

However, there is not much to see here for visitors. Formerly a tourist magnet, the grave of composer Franz Schubert is located in the St. Joseph Baroque-style church, which is located in the neighbourhood. Gürtel Street and the surrounding red-light district are notable examples of the area’s preserved Socialist architecture. There are several communist artefacts still standing, such as the workers’ theatre and the cultural centre.

Margareten’s attractive streets are a draw for students and young professionals because of the various unique cafés, clubs and stores that can be found there. A stay in the neighbourhood may be a wise decision.

BEST PLACES TO STAY IN MARGARETEN

• Best Deluxe Hotel: Hotel Indigo Vienna – Naschmarkt, an IHG Hotel
• Best Value Hotel: Safestay Vienna Margaretenviertel
• Best Affordable Hotel: ibis Wien City

MARGARETEN HOTEL DEALS