36 Best Hotels in Vienna, Austria

A circus theme predominates at this bohemian addition to the city's lodging scene, each room containing exceptionally illustrated wallpaper of old-time big-top themes by German artist Olaf Hajek and quirky vintage furnishings. Larger rooms come with well-equipped kitchenettes, and the power showers are much appreciated after a day of hiking around the city. The Dachboden Loft, a mixture of beach bar, live music venue, and café, is on the roof, and has a to-die-for view and its ground-floor restaurant, Ribelli, serves Italian fare in trendy digs. Close to the city center, this place is perfect for the young (or young at heart). In case it wasn't cool enough, guests can reserve bikes and even mini cars to cart their hipster selves around Vienna.

When contemporary-arts patron Otto E. Wiesenthal hired premier Italian architect Matteo Thun to revamp this lodging, the results were exquisitely decorated, sensuous chambers oozing atmosphere from the Vienna era of Freud and Klimt. All the guest rooms are large and differ in their color palette, from light, bright classic rooms to Thun's rich, dark designs, but all have up-to-the-minute comforts. The display of modern art throughout adds character and style.

Franz Lehár, Marlene Dietrich, the Infanta Isabel of Spain, and Mick Jagger are just a few of the celebrities who have stayed at this old dowager (from 1866). The lobby is small but grand, and the high-ceiling guest rooms, differing only in size, are uniformly decorated with pale-yellow-striped wallpaper, deep-blue carpets, and faux Empire furniture. Unless you want the excitement of a direct view onto the lively pedestrian Kärntnerstrasse, ask for one of the quieter rooms on the Neuer Markt side.

Built in 1912 and still retaining the outward charm of that era, the Astoria is one of the grand old Viennese hotels and enjoys a superb location on the Kärnterstrasse between the Opera House and St. Stephen's. The wood-paneled lobby is an essay in Wiener Werkstätte style, and all four floors have a soft contemporary style with pretty fabrics in beige tones, polished dark wood, and Oriental rugs. The hotel prides itself on offering special, often deeply-discounted rates.

This company advertises a dozen bed-and-breakfast establishments in Vienna, some of them with rates well below €100.

You can stay in this guesthouse of a monastery, in the heart of Vienna, without following the dictum ora et labora (pray and work), though you will get to see how the monks live by the credo. This will be one of the most tranquil stays you've ever had. The rooms are simply furnished and without frills, and without TV or strong Wi-Fi (due to the thick walls of the building). Who needs TV when you can go chant with the fratres (brothers) in the chapel? The location set on a picturesque square is just a minute from Café Central if you think you're missing out on some of the fun.

Inside the glass-and-stone Haas House, which reflects St. Stephen's Cathedral in its facade, you'll discover this unique boutique hotel. A fantastic view of Austria's most famous house of prayer is just one of its attributes. Founder Attila Dogudan's Turkish heritage comes to light in the guest rooms, where kilims serve as bedspreads and silver trays as tabletops. The hotel's restaurant is on the top floor offering beautiful views of the cathedral alongside Asian and Viennese cuisine.

With one of the great locations on the Ringstrasse, just across from the Musikverein and a minute on foot from the Staatsoper, the Grand oozes old-world splendor. The interior has a palatial feel, thanks to its exquisite fabrics and rare antiques, and the rooms are elegant, with dark-wood walls and pastel accents. Three restaurants—Le Ciel by Toni Mörwald, Unkai, and the Grand Brasserie—offer Viennese, Japanese, and European culinary delights, and an additional boon here is the adjoining Ringstrassen-Galerien shopping mall connected to the hotel by a glass bridge.

Tucked away in the center of town just a short walk from the cathedral, this intimate boutique hotel has a quiet but convenient location. Rooms are spacious, with a light, breezy flair and sleek, natural-colored wood floors and modern furnishings. A welcoming reception lounge with a library, music center, open fireplace, and comfy furniture gives the place a home-away-from-home feel. Breakfast is memorable, but must be added on when making a reservation. Besides a small movie theater (for rainy days) there are board games to use in a cozy lounge, a complimentary “Original Altwiener Leberkäse Snack Station” laid out every afternoon, and a small but lovely, leafy garden.

You aren't likely to find a better location than this serene hotel, which sits directly across from the front entrance of St. Stephen's Cathedral. This is the best spot in Vienna from which to admire the church's steeples, and the array of people hurrying through the square. Parquet flooring, light-oak furniture paired with dark-brown leather, light-color walls, and triple-glazed windows make this a hotel with flair.

One of the landmarks of the Ringstrasse, this hotel has exemplified the grandeur of imperial Vienna ever since it was built. Adjacent to the Musikverein concert hall, the emphasis here is on Old Vienna elegance and privacy, which accounts for a guest book littered with names like José Carreras and Bruce Springsteen. The two main lobbies look as opulent as ballrooms. Guest rooms are furnished with sparkling chandeliers, gorgeous swagged fabrics, and original 19th-century paintings. Suites come with a personal butler. If you're keen to be treated like royalty, this is the place to stay. There's a piano lounge in hotel, perfect for a relaxed cocktail in elegant surrounds.

Rooms at this wine-themed boutique hotel are named after Austria's top winemakers, with a bottle of their latest vintage on display (sorry, it's not included in the room price). The spacious, ultramodern guest rooms have high ceilings, polished wood floors, and walls in warm shades of orange, yellow, ocher, and cream. The penthouse or attic suite has its own private terrace, but you'll need to book far in advance to score it. Jorge’s wine bar is open daily and the team can arrange visits to local wineries and Heurigen wine taverns. 

One of Europe's legends, originally founded by Franz Sacher, chef to Prince Metternich—for whom the famous chocolate cake was invented—this hotel dates from 1876 but has delightfully retained its old-world atmosphere while also providing luxurious, modern-day comfort. Little wonder the Sacher is often booked solid by its Stammgast regulars, who love the fact that this mythically grand "palace" is still a family-run hotel. Thanks to the benevolent rule of grande-dame owner Mme. Elisabeth Gürtler, the friendly staff makes guests feel as if they are in a perfectly managed private home. The public salons are so opulent you might wish to view them with a monocle, especially the restaurant Anna Sacher, resplendent in emerald-green plush, gilt-leaf Old Master paintings, and priceless Lobmeyr chandeliers. Beforehand, enjoy a glass of champagne in the Blaue bar, a vision in Harry Winstonesque sapphire. But if you want casual instead of dazzle, head to the Café Sacher, where everyone proudly orders a slice of Sachertorte. Upstairs, guest rooms are winning combinations of 19th-century antiques and traditional-style furniture, all cosetted in chic pattern-on-pattern fabrics and chilled by the most silent air-conditioning in Europe.

Considered by many to be the best B&B in Vienna, this small, family-run inn offers comfortable, spacious, and exquisitely furnished rooms. The elegant and quiet neighborhood is not quite downtown, but it's near public transportation and, even if you walk, it's just 10 minutes to Ring Strasse. The owners are friendly and accommodating, breakfast is a treat, and there's a sauna.

Recently merged into one hotel, the Topazz and Lamee hotels offer spectacular architecture, central locations, a focus on sustainability and innovation, and supreme style and comfort. The Lamée, named after Hedy Lamarr, offers a playful wink to actors' dressing rooms of her era: pink crushed-velvet sofas and chairs, and muted gold-toned bedding and drapes. Another design reference is the iconic Orient Express train—a small seating area at the entrance to each room recalls train compartments, with high-gloss Makassar wood paneling and portal windows. The Topazz across the street is like a nine-story cylindrical silver vase gemmed with big oval amber stones. The interiors are slick and subdued, with monochromatic hues and geometric prints, and a chic basement-level lounge. The Lamee's rooftop terrace bar provides stunning views of the Innere Stadt and the location, just around the corner from St. Stephen's Cathedral, can't be beat.  

In a 16th-century house in the shadow of St. Stephen's Cathedral, this dormered hotel began catering to court nobility in 1746 and today lets you choose between "classicism" and "designer" rooms. If you'd like a classic atmosphere, you'll enjoy wood-paneled rooms furnished with country antiques, walk-in closets, and double sinks in the sparkling bathroom. If a designer vibe appeals to you, choose the a bright and spacious contemporary rooms. The suites have two floors, and two have balconies with rooftop views of Old Vienna.

The supercool "art and tech" lobby here, adorned with Mies van der Rohe–style sofas and ottomans and nouvelle fluorescent-light panels, is a fine introduction to a stylish and pampering stay in the heart of the city. Guest rooms have glass headboards, contemporary vases, and other cutting-edge items, and cloudlike mattresses, and roomy showers (with three massaging jets) pour on the luxe. Some rooms also have clawfoot tubs. Outside, visual excitements continue, as the tranquil, soundproofed rooms offer views of the Hofburg, Burggarten, and Ring.

A former clerical residence is now a socially-minded hotel featuring a sustainable energy system and furnishings upcycled from the original furniture. Their motto is “stay open-minded” and they employ young people, many of whom have fled their home countries, training them in the hotel industry. The rooms are compact and contemporary with many vintage items, like the headboards made from the original furniture. Request a room facing the back with a balcony.

A member of the Meininger budget hotel chain, Franz offers a hip style and out-for-fun clientele. The hotel caters to all types of travelers, but guest rooms are geared towards groups and families, with both "family" and "dorm" accommodations featuring built-ins (banquettes, ladders) and nifty top-floor "garret" windows and balconies. There’s a guest kitchen and game zone for connecting with fellow travelers.

This Renaissance Revival–style structure, built in 1873 as an exhibition hall, was transformed 140 years later into a luxe hotel, which pays homage to the grand beginnings while also incorporating modern-day amenities. The 8,600-square-foot Ottoman-inspired spa houses three sauna rooms, a gym, a hydropool, and treatments using high-end Babor products. Die Küche restaurant serves Viennese classics in a relaxed atmosphere, while the Edvard, winner of a Michelin star the first year it opened, showcases international fare. The Lobby Lounge Bar features a Ladies and Gent’s tea and is a perfect place for a predinner cocktail. The hotel also has a cigar lounge, an architectural gem.

Much care was taken to preserve the integrity and historical significance of the elegant building that houses one of Vienna’s newer luxury hotels. The former headquarters of a leading bank, the building's authenticity and beauty are evident throughout: in the public areas, original cassette ceilings are offset by Werkstätte stained-glass windows, and the bank's vault is the centerpiece of the sumptuous spa. Interiors are draped in marble, mirrors, and mother-of-pearl, and brilliant Secession-inspired chandeliers ornament the dining areas. All the artwork adorning the walls was provided for the hotel by Vienna's esteemed Museum of Applied Arts. Rooms range from spacious to palatial, and look out either onto the city's oldest square, the quaint Am Hof, or the haut monde Bognergasse, center of the city's upscale shopping district, the Golden Quarter.

Within walking distance of Vienna's most beautiful park, this newer property brings a touch of modernity to the area around the Schönbrunn Palace. A recent addition to the Austria Trend chain, it's furnished in soft, subtle beige and brown tones set off by Zebrano wood furnishings and the accomodations offer all the latest high-tech gadgetry. Chef Michael Allraun serves up classic Austrian dishes with a twist: Curried Sausage with french fries, or caramel endives with prosciutto, for instance.

A family-run establishment on the upper floors of a 19th-century apartment building, the Nossek lies at the heart of Vienna's pedestrian and shopping area. Rooms have high ceilings and are eclectically but comfortably furnished; those on the street side have a view of the Graben. Mozart worked on The Abduction from the Seraglio while he lived at this location in the early 1780s, but the current building is from much later.

Housed in the former Palais Cavriani, this B&B just off the Graben is about as central as you can get. It's one of those typical Viennese mansion-turned-apartment houses, adorned with touches of bygone grandeur: case in point, the palatial grand staircase. Most rooms are spacious and comfortable. Some have canopy beds and chandeliers, others are decorated with repro–antique furniture that verges on the kitsch. The street outside gets a lot of horse-drawn carriages (and street sweepers at night), so opt for a courtyard room if you need peace and quiet.

Behind the hotel's Art Nouveau facade, London interior designer Maria Vafiadis has paid tribute to Viennese Art Deco, and the result is überstylish yet comfortable. Smack in the middle of the lobby is an eye-catching glass-enclosed vault; the property used to be a bank and the big bucks were stashed here, but today it serves as a wine cellar. You can enjoy a glass of wine in the elegant marble-and-wood wine bar beside an enormous open fireplace. Rooms are full of streamlined, sedate furnishings. The location is unbeatable: step out of the hotel and you're in front of the famed Café Central, and just down the cobblestone street is the Hofburg Palace.

"Sans souci" means "without worry," and you truly do shed all worries and traveler weariness as you step through the doors of this elegant boutique hotel in the MuseumsQuartier. The rooms are large with parquet flooring and bathrooms are sleek; and there’s complimentary coffee room service. Guests can choose from an array of massage treatments at the well-equipped spa. Veranda restaurant serves modern Austrian cuisine inspired by organic, local, and seasonal produce. Le Bar offers vintage elegance and a variety of champagne varieties and cocktails.

Minimalist luxury can be a contradiction, but the SO/Vienna, a Sofitel hotel, has pulled it off with supreme elegance, and here, on the border of the 2nd District, it's paired with outstanding city skyline views. It's especially breathtaking on the 18th-floor restaurant, Das Loft, where floor-to-ceiling windows circle the dining room (and the excellent food matches the setting). At night, an art installation by Piplotti Rist provides one vivid dose of color and transforms the building into a beacon. Guest rooms in a monochromatic palate of white, black, or gray echo St. Stephen's Cathedral. The effect is clean and futuristic. Amenities include Bose sound systems, Hermès toiletries, and a full spa, all adding to the indulgence.

Popular with families, this choose-your-own-adventure hotel's fun and casual vibe leans heavily on the Viennese spirt with a DIY edge. The lobby furniture is all secondhand, while the wallpaper motifs in the guests’ rooms was designed by local art students. Room categories include doubles, family rooms with bunkbeds (most with a balcony), a disco studio with 5 beds and a sounds system, as well as a cinema studio with 5 beds, a projector screen and selection of Austrian movies. Double rooms don’t offer an enclosed shower space. There’s a delicious Israeli restaurant on the 7^th floor with gorgeous views and the ground floor Café Brenner serves breakfast all day.

Following the trend toward smaller boutique properties, this luxury lodging takes its place alongside some of Vienna's opulent grand hotels. It is now part of the Relais & Châteaux association. The 1860 historic facade remains, as does the old-fashioned wrought-iron elevator, but otherwise it oozes sumptuous modernity. The walls of the bar and commons spaces have paintings by famous Austrian artists from the 1900s. The elegant entrance is discreet but welcoming, and the rooms have modern amenities. The spa and gym area on the top floor, with views overlooking the church of St. Charles is state-of-the-art, have a Finnish sauna and pool.

Smack behind the Albertina and the Staatsoper, this authentically Austrian boutique hotel is an absolutely delightful addition to the Vienna lodging scene, with fabulous views of the heart of the Innere Stadt. The interior design, by Sir Terence Conran, is at once sleek and warm, intimate and airy, and all touches, including the simple but stunning wide-planked unfinished hardwood floors, were created by Austrian craftsmen and -women; photographs adorning the walls of the rooms and corridors are real works by Austrian photographers. Broad windows provide fine views, and bay-window seating is a nice touch. Large soaking tubs are a plus, as is the complimentary minibar. The duplex suite comes with a private rooftop terrace. The café bakes its own pastries and roasts its own coffee and the brasserie serves international fare in a casual setting.