I’ve picked out the closest hotels to the centre of Vienna (Stephansplatz square with Stephansdom cathedral). Each is on or next to the square and has a user rating of at least 8/10 at booking.com at the time of writing.
The map at the bottom of the article has further accommodation options, including apartments. And I end with a few visitor tips for the location, including transport connections.
- See also:
- Accommodation in Vienna (useful articles)
In no particular order…
Do&Co Hotel Vienna
(The Hass house and home to the hotel)
Located on the actual square with views across to Stephansdom.
Do&Co built their name as gourmet caterers of some distinction, so you should not be short of decent gastronomic opportunities (the top floor is a Do&Co restaurant).
The hotel occupies part of the Haas house, a very distinctive post-modern building designed by the renowned architect, Hans Hollein. Its appearance in the historical centre of Vienna sparked some debate at the time. The façade is notable for the mirrored images of the cathedral opposite.
Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth
(A hotel with an impressively musical guest history)
Just one road down from Stephansplatz square and a central location with a centuries-old history that predates its namesake: Empress Elisabeth.
The list of famous guests of the past makes for some reading. Mozart stayed here, for example. As did Liszt, Bruckner, and Wagner.
One of my favourite cafés sits opposite the hotel: Conditorei Sluka has a quite remarkable interior décor that feels like a Klimt painting come to life.
Hotel König von Ungarn
(A hotel with literally centuries of experience)
One of two hotels on Schulerstraße, a quiet street which leads off behind the cathedral.
The name harks back to the time of the Habsburg monarchy, since the König von Ungarn (King of Hungary) was one of the main titles held by the Emperor.
Hungarian nobles used to stay here (the hotel opened in the mid-1700s) and Mozart lived next door, which presumably made for lively entertainment if you left the windows open on a balmy summer evening in the late 18th century.
Hotel Domizil
(The name translates into abode or residence in English. Rather apt.)
The King’s neighbour, a few steps further away from the centre.
Nip round the corner down Grünangergasse for a couple of Palais buildings and courtyard glimpses away from the usual tourist trails.
Boutique Hotel am Stephansplatz
(Those windows look out onto the square and cathedral)
This is about as close as it gets to the centre, since the hotel sits opposite Stephansdom’s main entrance.
So you can book rooms with views across to the famous mosaic roof (some even have their own outdoor terrace; enjoy a croissant and cathedral with your morning coffee).
The hotel’s formal address is on Jasomirgottstraße, named for the very first Duke of Austria. Henry II Jasomirgott (1107-1177) now lives in rather less pleasant surroundings in the crypt of the Schottenkirche.
Hotel Royal
(Brahms and Mozart once lived on the same street)
The first of two locations on Singerstraße, another road that leads off the square.
Hotel Royal has two Italian restaurants: Ristorante Firenze Enoteca and Ristorante Settimo Cielo. The latter occupies a roof terrace with views of the cathedral and across Vienna.
The hotel’s immediate neighbour is Aida, one of a well-known local chain of cafés and confectioners (should you wish to swap Italian tiramisù for Viennese torte).
Gästehaus Deutscher Orden Wien
(The location is also known for its classical ensemble concerts)
Further up Singerstraße is the home of the Teutonic order in Vienna. The Deutschordenshaus has its origins in the 1200s and also includes a guest house.
The complex takes its own exalted place in music history. Mozart stayed there in 1781 with his then employer (the Archbishop of Salzburg).
The two gentlemen argued, and Mozart found himself summarily fired. So he remained in Vienna and the rest is, well, history.
The inner courtyard is quite beautiful with the Stephansdom south tower overhead.
Graben hotel
(If you stay here, drop into Café Hawelka opposite, too)
The sister hotel to the Hotel Royal mentioned above lies just off the pedestrianised Graben that leads away from Stephansplatz. It also has its own Italian restaurant attached: Trattoria Santo Stefano.
One of Vienna’s most famous coffee houses (Hawelka) sits opposite the hotel. Try the famous Buchteln, which are sweet rolls made to the Hawelka family recipe. Next door is another famous gastronomic location: Trzesniewski open sandwiches.
Other central hotels and apartments
For a wider choice, consider some of the options on the map…
(Map provided by booking.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
Booking.comThe local area
Well, this is the heart of Vienna’s historical centre so we have almost too much to talk about. I’ll keep it short and point you to the wider sightseeing articles and my suggested self-guided walking tour.
On the square you have the cathedral of course. I’d recommend going up one of the two towers for excellent views across the centre.
Nice strolls from the square are either down the Graben or up Kärntner Straße. Both feature historical architecture (like the glorious Peterskirche church or Vienna’s version of Art Nouveau) and top shopping. But nip down the various side streets for quieter historical Vienna, including Mozart’s former apartment.
The Graben also takes you down toward the Hofburg palace complex with its multiple attractions. And Kärntnerstraße brings you to the State Opera House.
Restaurants etc. are numerous, should you tire of hotel fare. But for a traditional treat, consider the cafés with a bit of history to them.
For example, Café Hawelka, Café Korb, Café Frauenhuber, Sluka, Aida, Haas&Haas, Café Diglas and L.Heiner are all but a short walk away. See here (coffee houses) and here (café-confectioneries) for my reviews and details.
Getting to your hotel
Stephansplatz has its own subway station (cunningly named Stephansplatz) with an exit that emerges right in front of the cathedral.
The U3 and U1 lines pass through here and connect you to Vienna’s two main railway stations (Westbahnhof and Hauptbahnhof) as well as Wien Mitte station (the starting point for the CAT express train to the airport).