Best Areas to Stay in Vienna
The heart of Vienna is the first district, Innere Stadt (Inner City). This is where many of the landmarks are located (including the Imperial Palace Hofburg and Stephansdom), as well as the best hotels, restaurants, shops, and museums. It is the best area to stay in Vienna, although not cheap.
Ringstrasse
The border of the first district is Ringstrasse (Ring Street). Big part of the important buildings are situated on Ringstrasse, either on the Inner City side or on the other side (or in between, because it is actually a pair of streets, one in each direction). These include the Parliament, City Hall, Stock Exchange, Burgtheater, Vienna State Opera, and many more.
Popular Locations
The most popular places to stay in or near Vienna Inner City:
- Stephansplatz (the square with Stephansdom)
- Kärntner Strasse (the main shopping street)
- The area around Rathaus (City Hall), Parliament, and Burgtheater
- Karlsplatz (big square south of Vienna State Opera, interchange of 3 metro lines)
- Schwedenplatz (north of Stephansdom, a bit quieter part of the Inner City, near the Danube Channel)
Vienna’s Greater City Centre
Other good areas to stay in Vienna city centre (outside the Ringstrasse, but still very central locations):
- MuseumsQuartier (Museums Quarter)
- Mariahilfer Strasse (another famous shopping street)
- Westbahnhof (West Train Station; many hotels, including budget hotels)
Outside the City Centre
Places to stay in Vienna a bit further from the Inner City (all have direct link by metro):
- Schönbrunn (the landmark palace with huge park, 10-15 minutes by metro from the centre)
- Prater (the amusement park, 5-10 minutes by metro from the centre)
- Vienna International Center (“UNO-City” – United Nations offices and business district, 10-15 minutes from the centre)
The River Is Not in the City Centre
When looking for the best area to stay, do not lot the river mislead you. If you look at a map of Vienna, you will see that the Danube River flows outside the city centre, unlike most other cities. The centre is south-west of the Danube. It is best visible on a metro map, where the first district is situated inside a small circle made by metro lines U2 and U4 (this circle rougly corresponds to the Ringstrasse).