If I had to choose one area in Vienna without a second thought, I’d look for a hotel in the 3rd or 4th districts, namely in the Landstraße or Wieden neighbourhoods, ideally within a 5- to 10-minute walk of the underground.

It’s just a few minutes’ walk to the historic centre, you can explore some of the sights on foot, and prices tend to be more reasonable than inside the Ring.

For a first short visit and with a higher budget, the city centre makes sense. If travelling by car, on the other hand, you’ll often save more by staying in a good hotel with free parking near the underground than by booking a cheap room in the centre with an expensive car park.

Compare hotel prices in Vienna

Where to stay in Vienna

How you’ll be visiting Vienna	Where I’d stay	Why
First time and just for the weekend	Innere Stadt or the outskirts of the Ring	You’ll see most places on foot
Best value for money	Wieden or Landstraße	The centre is nearby, but you’re not just paying for the address
As cheaply as possible	Hauptbahnhof, Favoriten near the U1 or Westbahnhof	A wide selection of newer and cheaper hotels
With children	Leopoldstadt	Prater
For cafés and nightlife	Neubau or Mariahilf	Spittelberg, MuseumsQuartier, Mariahilfer Straße
By car	Hütteldorf, Donaustadt or a hotel with free parking	Easy access and a quick metro ride to the city centre
To the Christmas markets	Josefstadt, Neubau or Innere Stadt	Convenient location between several markets
For an early flight	Right by the airport or Hauptbahnhof	An easier early morning departure

What to look for when choosing a hotel in Vienna

Vienna has excellent public transport, so there’s no need to overpay for a room right in the historic centre. We consider a hotel to be in a good location if you can walk to the underground or S-Bahn in 5 to 10 minutes.

Before booking, we mainly check the following:

• The actual walking distance to the underground, not just the description ‘near public transport’
• Air conditioning, as this isn’t always standard in older Viennese hotels
• A room facing the courtyard, if the hotel is on the Gürtel or another busy street
• The total price, including breakfast, cancellation cover and parking
• For parking, we also check whether booking is required, whether there is limited capacity, and whether you can take your car out during your stay

Vienna is generally a safe city, and we wouldn’t rule out any neighbourhood solely on safety grounds. However, the areas around the major railway stations or certain parts of Favoriten are more practical than attractive. For a short stay, therefore, don’t just look for the lowest price – also check the nearest underground station and the immediate surroundings of the hotel.

Tips for the best hotels in Vienna

If you don’t want to spend time searching for the best deals, we’ve selected the best hotels for you across several categories.

Cheapest accommodation

You can expect the lowest prices for smaller, budget hotels to range from 54 eurto 66 eur per night for a double room. Recommendations for 3 affordable and well-reviewed places to stay in Vienna:

• Aparthotel KostBar – a modern, spacious apartment hotel with new facilities, in a quiet part of the Favoriten district near the motorway – ideal for travellers with a car; the Altes Landgut metro station is 200 metres away
• a&o Wien Hauptbahnhof – a classic chain of budget, no-frills hotels where you know exactly what to expect: clean, simple rooms, quick check-in and a great location right by the main railway station
• Hotel Attaché – a simple, budget hotel with newly refurbished rooms and highly rated staff; the Johan Strauss Gasse stop for trams 1 and 71 is right outside the hotel

The happy medium

Classic 3* and 4* local hotels in Vienna are available at prices ranging from 70 eur to 103 eur per night for a double room. The following three hotels, for example, offer a good balance of price, location and comfort:

• Hotel-Pension Bleckmann – a pleasant, reasonably priced hotel in a great location, just about 300 metres from the main Ringstrasse
• Hotel Nestroy Wien – a lovely hotel straddling the 3* and 4* categories, boasting excellent value for money. The Taborstarsse underground and tram stations are about 200 metres from the hotel
• Boutique Hotel Piano Nobile – a small, beautifully furnished hotel literally just a few steps from the centre of Vienna

International chains

Many travellers prefer the tried-and-tested options offered by international chains, where you always know what to expect. There are dozens of such hotels in Vienna, and once again we’ve selected the 5 best for you:

• Mercure Wien Zentrum – A 4* hotel in a superb location right in the centre, just a few steps from Stephansplatz, and with very good prices
• Novotel Wien City – A 4* hotel about 800 metres from the city centre, situated in a quieter part of the wider city centre in the Leopoldstadt district
• Ibis Wien Mariahilf – the cheapest of the well-known large 3* hotels, situated near Westbahnhof station, about 15 minutes by underground from the city centre
• NH Wien City – a cosy 4* hotel in the Mariahilf shopping district, just a 7-minute walk from one of the main squares, Karlsplatz
• Hilton Vienna Park – A classic 5* hotel, which ranks among the cheapest in Vienna in its category, benefits from a superb location at Wien-Mitte station, approximately 900 metres from the very heart of Vienna

Luxury hotels

Are you heading to Vienna for some extraordinary experiences and want to treat yourself to nothing but the best, even when it comes to your hotel? Well, that won’t be a problem in Vienna at all, as the city boasts some of Europe’s most famous hotels:

• Hotel Sacher – an iconic 5* hotel, famous for its signature Sacher Torte, prides itself on the highest standards of service; as an added bonus, it’s situated right in the centre of Vienna. Prices start at 579 eur per night for two
• Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof – another of Vienna’s 5* classics, operating since 1913 just a few steps from the Hofburg; you can book a room here from around 372 eur
• Park Hyatt Vienna – this 5* hotel is housed in a former bank building dating from the early 20th century and ranks among the best in Vienna. You can book the cheapest room from 579 eur

Accommodation in Vienna with free parking

Yes, there are hotels with free parking in Vienna.

However, there are far fewer of them than the ‘parking’ filter on booking websites might suggest – this filter also includes hotels with paid garages.

At a typical hotel in the city centre, you should often expect to pay an extra 20 to 40 eur per night for parking.

Street parking isn’t a good alternative: almost the whole of Vienna falls within a short-stay parking zone on weekdays, and in many places there are also spaces reserved for residents.

These hotels explicitly state that parking is free:

Hotel	Why choose it	What to watch out for
Hotel An der Wien	Hütteldorf U4 station; it takes about 15 minutes to get to the city centre	Hotel is a long way from the city centre
Pension Pharmador	Exceptionally good location on Mariahilfer Straße	You must book a space in advance; car keys must be left at reception and you cannot leave or arrive between 6.00 pm and 7.00 am
Strandhotel Alte Donau	Free hotel car park; the U1 underground is about 250 metres from the hotel	You’ll always have to commute to the city centre; it’s not usually the cheapest option during peak season
Austria Trend Hotel Schloss Wilhelminenberg	Free parking in front of the hotel, views of Vienna	The least practical option for sightseeing; you’ll need to take a bus to the U3 underground line

Always ask the hotel to confirm your parking space directly. ‘Free’ does not automatically mean a guaranteed space for every room.

View hotels with parking in Vienna

If another hotel is significantly cheaper or you prefer it, don’t pay for the hotel car park at any cost. You can leave your car at a P+R car park near the underground for around 5 eur per day. We describe specific car parks and rules in the article on how to get to Vienna.

The best neighbourhoods for accommodation in Vienna

Innere Stadt and the Ring – best for a first visit

The First District is the most convenient if you’re only spending two or three nights in Vienna. St Stephen’s Cathedral, the Hofburg, the Opera House, the Albertina and a large number of the places featured in our guide to what to see in Vienna are all within walking distance.

However, you’re mainly paying for the location. Rooms tend to be smaller, restaurants more touristy and parking expensive. If travelling by car, we’d only stay in the city centre if the hotel has a pre-booked garage and you don’t mind the cost.

• ✅ When to choose this: you want to explore on foot, it’s your first time in Vienna, and budget isn’t your main priority
• ❌ When not to: if you’re looking for cheap accommodation or are arriving by car
• 👉 Take a look at hotels in the centre of Vienna

Wieden and Landstraße – our top choice overall

Wieden in the 4th district and Landstraße in the 3rd district are located just beyond the Ring. You can reach the city centre on foot or in a few minutes by underground, and prices are often lower than in the 1st district.

Wieden is convenient for getting to Hauptbahnhof and the Karlsplatz area.

Landstraße is ideal because of the Belvedere, Wien Mitte station and convenient connections to the airport. These aren’t the districts you’d travel to Vienna specifically for, but they work perfectly as a base.

• ✅ When to choose: you want the best balance between price, location and transport
• ❌ When not to choose: if you want the historic centre right on your doorstep as soon as you step out of the hotel
• 👉 Compare accommodation in Wieden and hotels in Landstraße

Leopoldstadt – for families, the Prater and quieter evenings

The second district is large, and your choice will depend on the specific area. The Taborstraße and Karmelitermarkt areas are a short distance from the historic centre. Hotels near the Prater and the Messe exhibition centre are further away, but often offer larger rooms and more affordable prices.

We recommend Leopoldstadt to families, visitors to the Prater and anyone looking for a quieter evening. If your main destination is the Old Town, make sure to choose a hotel near an underground station – simply specifying ‘2nd district’ isn’t enough.

• ✅ When to choose: you’re travelling with children, heading to the Prater or the exhibition centre
• ❌ When not to choose it: if you want to get around entirely on foot
• 👉 View hotels in the Leopoldstadt district

Neubau, Mariahilf and Josefstadt – cafés, bars and Christmas markets

In my opinion, the 6th, 7th and 8th districts are more pleasant for evening life than the historic centre itself.

Nearby you’ll find the MuseumsQuartier, Spittelberg, Naschmarkt, Mariahilfer Straße and plenty of cafés and smaller bars.

You can usually walk to the centre or take the tram for a few stops. Only for hotels on the Gürtel and major streets do we recommend a room facing the courtyard.

• ✅ When to choose this: you want a good location and a neighbourhood that’s still buzzing after the sights have closed
• ❌ When not to choose: you’re arriving by car and the hotel doesn’t have its own car park
• 👉 Check out accommodation in Neubau or hotels in Mariahilf

Schönbrunn, Westbahnhof and the west of Vienna – good value and easy access by car

The western part of the city makes sense if your main destination is Schönbrunn, the zoo, a concert at the Wiener Stadthalle, or if you’re travelling by car. However, you should only choose accommodation near the U3, U4 or U6 underground lines.

For a classic weekend in Vienna, we wouldn’t stay as far out as Vösendorf. A room might be cheaper and parking easier, but you’ll pay for those savings with time and a less convenient journey into the city centre.

• ✅ When to choose this: if you want to save money, need parking, or will be spending a lot of time at Schönbrunn
• ❌ When not to: you’re visiting for the first time and want to walk around the city centre in the evenings
• 👉 Compare hotels near Schönbrunn

Hotels in Vienna near the main railway station

Staying near Wien Hauptbahnhof is a good idea. The neighbourhood isn’t the prettiest part of Vienna, but the U1 underground will take you to the city centre in a few minutes, you can walk to the Belvedere, and you won’t have to lug your suitcases across town on arrival or departure.

• Motel One Wien-Hauptbahnhof – the simplest option right by the station, reliable standards and smaller rooms
• Leonardo Hotel Vienna Hauptbahnhof – a modern hotel opposite the station with both standard and family rooms
• Prize by Radisson, Vienna City – often one of the cheaper options in the area, a few minutes’ walk from the station concourse
• Adina Apartment Hotel Vienna Belvedere – the best of these four for families and longer stays

Accommodation in Vienna during the Christmas markets

Vienna doesn’t just have one Christmas market. Popular markets are held at City Hall, Spittelberg, Karlsplatz, Freyung, Belvedere and Schönbrunn. It therefore doesn’t make sense to pay any price just for a room near Rathausplatz.

We consider Josefstadt, Neubau and the outskirts of the historic centre to be the most practical options.

You can reach several markets on foot, and the others are easy to get to by public transport. If you want to stay really close to the main market by the Town Hall, take a look at:

• Hotel Rathauspark Wien - Handwritten Collection – a comfortable 4* hotel just a few minutes from the Town Hall
• ARTIST Boutique Hotel – a quieter location in Josefstadt, still within walking distance of Rathausplatz
• The Cloud One Wien-Staatsoper – a better option for the markets at Karlsplatz and the historic centre

During Advent, book well in advance, ideally with free cancellation.

Once the well-located hotels fill up, prices rise faster than during a normal weekend. You’ll find dates, a map and comparisons of the different locations in the guide to Vienna’s Christmas markets.

Find a hotel near the Christmas markets

Accommodation prices in Vienna

Prices in Vienna vary more significantly depending on the time of year than on the number of stars. A modern 4* hotel near the main railway station may be cheaper than an older 3* hotel in the city centre.

For one night, you can expect to pay approximately the following amounts:

Type of accommodation	Typical price
Bed in a hostel	25 to 50 eur per person
Basic double room outside the city centre	70 to 110 eur per room
Well-reviewed 3* or 4* hotel	180 eur –110 per room
Hotel in the historic centre	150 to 250 eur per room
Luxury hotel	from 300 eur per room

These prices are per room per night and do not include breakfast. During Advent weekends, on New Year’s Eve and during major conferences, even standard hotels can charge significantly more.

For standard dates, start looking a few weeks before your trip. For Christmas markets or major events, feel free to start looking several months in advance. If you find a good price with free cancellation, we’d book it and then simply check later to see if a better offer has come up.

Check hotel prices in Vienna