I’ve picked out hotels at the very centre of Vienna: each is on or next to Stephansplatz square and has a user rating of at least 8.3 out of 10 at booking.com at the time of writing (late March, 2025).
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.
- Book an evening concert* for your trip
- See also:
- Accommodation in Vienna (useful articles)
In no particular order…
Do&Co Hotel Vienna
(The Haas house and home to the hotel. Notable for the reflections across its front)
Located on the actual square with views across to Stephansdom cathedral, which is mirrored in the building’s façade.
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 robust debate at the time.
- Stephansplatz 12
- Hotel & booking details*
Hotel Kaiserin Elisabeth
(A hotel with an impressively musical guest history)
Just one road down from Stephansplatz square, so still a central location. The hotel has a centuries-old history that predates its namesake Empress Elisabeth (one of the more iconic figures in Austrian history).
The list of famous past guests 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 friendly staff and a quite remarkable interior décor that feels like a Klimt painting come to life. Great cakes, too.
- Weihburggasse 3
- Hotel & booking details*
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 prevailing emperor also held the title König von Ungarn (King of Hungary).
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.
- Schulerstraße 10
- Hotel & booking details*
Hotel Domizil
(The name translates into abode or residence in English. Rather apt.)
The König von Ungarn’s neighbour as you move 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.
One street up is Wollzeile, home to a couple of well-known cafés and restaurants like Figlmüller (known for their Wiener schnitzel), Café Diglas (with its unusual lights) or L. Heiner (established 1840).
- Schulerstraße 14
- Hotel & booking details*
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 directly 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.
- Stephansplatz 9
- Not available through booking.com at the time of writing but highly rated when it was, so keeping the entry live
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.
An immediate neighbour is Aida, one of a well-known local chain of cafés and confectioners (should you wish to swap Italian tiramisù for Viennese cake).
The hotel recently featured in an episode of the Netflix CIA drama, The Recruit, playing host to the main character, Owen Hendricks, on his trip to Vienna.
- Singerstraße 3
- Hotel & booking details*
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.
- Singerstraße 7
- Hotel & booking details*
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) faces the hotel. Try the legendary Buchteln: sweet rolls made to the Hawelka family recipe.
Next door is another popular gastronomic location: Trzesniewski, known for their distinctive name and miniature open sandwiches.
- Dorotheergasse 3
- Hotel & booking details*
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 otherwise to the wider sightseeing articles and my suggested self-guided walking tour that passes through this area.
On Stephansplatz square you have the gothic cathedral of course with its iconic not-so-gothic mosaic roof. I’d recommend going up one of the two towers for views across the centre.
They also do concerts there (e.g. organ recitals), where you can enjoy the special evening ambience and atmosphere.
(Stephansplatz cathedral)
And, should you tire of coffee, Stephansplatz also has the Haas&Haas tea rooms and salon.
Nice strolls from the square are either down the Graben or up Kärntner Straße. Both feature historical architecture and top shopping.
Notable sights and attractions on the streets include:
- The Graben offers, for example, the glorious baroque Peterskirche church (which hosts lovely evening concerts by the Classic Ensemble Vienna) and the 17th century Plague Column
- Kärntner Straße has, for example, the Mythos Mozart immersive experience and the world-famous State Opera House (with its own set of nearby hotels)
(The Mozarthaus almost backs onto the cathedral)
Do nip down the various side streets for quieter historical Vienna, including Mozart’s former apartment: also home to regular classical concerts. As you might have guessed by now, the city has quite a few performances on at any one time.
The Graben also takes you down toward the Hofburg palace complex with its multiple attractions like the Sisi Museum, Spanish Riding School and the Austrian crown jewels.
Restaurants etc. are numerous, should you grow weary of hotel fare. But for a traditional treat, consider a coffee house or café-confectionery with a bit of history to it.
I mentioned Café Hawelka, Sluka, Aida, Haas&Haas, Café Diglas and L.Heiner earlier, and all are but a short walk away. But also look for Café Korb and Café Frauenhuber. 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 exits that emerge right in front of the cathedral, up the Graben or up Kärntner Straße.
The U1 and U3 lines both stop here and connect you to Vienna’s two main railway stations (Westbahnhof and Hauptbahnhof) as well as Wien Mitte station: the departure point for the CAT express train to the airport and arrival point for the CAT from the airport).