Where to stay in Vienna

Best for: Young creatives and trendsetters

Looking for somewhere young and lively neighbourhood? Neubau is the spot. In the 7th district you’ll find a whole host of great bars (many of which are Viennese cafés in the daytime); our faves are Espresso, Café Europa and Wirr, which also has a small club in the basement. There’s also plenty of great restaurants; check out Der Fuchs und die Trauben for tapas, La Spiga for proper Italian taverna vibes and one of the best pizzas in town, and Vevi for authentic vegan Asian cuisine. You’ll also find shops selling pieces by local designers and a number of very nice hotels, like Hotel am Brillantengrund, a kind of old-school hotel that’s kept its cool (it also serves up Filipino cuisine). Another one to shout about is 25hours Hotel, with great views and a prime location in the middle of District 7’s Museumsquartier. 

Best for: Kids, families and chilled-out travellers 

Karmeliterviertel is a quieter area in the 2nd district, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. Some of Vienna’s best restaurants, bars and cafés can be found here – in fact you’ll find many of them at Karmelitermarkt; try Weinschenke for burgers, and Pizza Mari for proper Neapolitan pizzas dotted with chunky green olives. But for an authentic Viennese experience, go for dinner at locally-adored Skopik and Lohn, and stay at fully-serviced apartments Grätzlhotel, found in a former shop right at the heart of the neighbourhood. 

Best for: Ticking off the sights (and being a little bougie)

The Viennese themselves tend to spend less time in the 1st district, not because it’s not nice (which it certainly is), but because it’s a bit like Vienna’s open air museum; very touristy, and pretty pricey. Stephansplatz and the St. Stephen's Cathedral is a tourism hotspot, as is Michaelerplatz with its horse-drawn carriages in front of it. If you’ve never been to Vienna before, this might just be your dream place to stay, home to some of its best museums, historical buildings and long-established coffeehouses, as well as a number of high-end restaurants and shops selling luxury brands. For a high-end stay, check out Hotel Sacher and Grand Hotel, or go for the more modern Ruby Lissi and Rosewood Vienna. 

Best for: art lovers and second-hand shoppers 

Just a few minutes from the city centre, Freihausviertel is known for its many restaurants, bars and cafés, but also for its second-hand shops and numerous galleries. It’s a lively neighbourhood,  where you can spend whole afternoons chilling out followed by nights bar hopping in town. Vienna feels a little more international here, but still in a Viennese way. Schikaneder, a bar with its own arthouse cinema, is one of those places, and there’s always something going on around the corner in Schleifmühlgasse. During the day, grandmas and grandpas serve homemade cakes and sweets at Vollpension, a very sweet intergenerational café, and opposite you can grab a seriously good ice-cream at Schelato, followed by a coffee further down at Kaffee Alt Wien. Spend the night at Pentahotel or Hotel Indigo, both in the neighbouring 5th district.  

Best for: A slice of modern Vienna 

Anyone who comes to Vienna will quickly realise that much of this city remains firmly in the past – in the best way possible.  The good old days are celebrated and romanticised in the Austrian capital, but anyone looking for the modern Vienna  should look at staying in the area around the city’s main station. Unlike other cities, this central spot feels isn’t somewhere to avoid, and feels like a real metropolis; high-rise buildings by star architects, fast trains, as well as fresh new sustainable housing and living communities. There are still plenty of historic attractions, like Belvedere (including Klimt’s famous paintings), and the palace gardens (technically still in the 3rd district, but reachable on foot from the quarter). Schweizergarten is a very lovely park and Belvedere21 opposite is a must for modern art fans of modern art. Check out Hotel Andaz am Belvedere for a room or just a drink with an insane view on its rooftop, Bar Aurora. Hotel Daniel does an excellent breakfast and the brand new Hoxton Vienna, both in the neighbouring 3rd district, are also very nearby.