Where to stay

Vienna has palaces full of history, art galleries showcasing masterpieces and cafés frequented by academics and creatives. Stay among the hip and cool in Leopoldstadt, the gentrified Jewish quarter, known for its cozy coffee shops and new restaurants that seem to pop up weekly. Just south of the Innere Stadt, Schleifmuhlgasse accommodations put you close to art galleries, whiskey bars, boutique shops and great restaurants with the famous Mariahilferstrasse shopping street close by. Art lovers and thrift shoppers stay in Mariahilf, away from tourist traffic. In this neighborhood, head to the top of the Nazi flak tower-turned-aquarium for the best views of the city. The burgeoning neighborhood of Ottakring is a great place to stay for its inexpensive, multicultural eateries, markets and shops, particularly of the Turkish variety. Accommodations in stylish Margareten give you a chance to admire decadently detailed Viennese architecture. Währing hotels are close to the stalls of the Kutschkermarkt, a small garden palace and coffeehouses playing Viennese folk music.

To get the most out of your stay in Vienna, look for a hotel in the central Innere Stadt district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by the Ringstrasse and home to many of the city's top sights. Venture out from your accommodations to explore along pedestrian-only Kärntnerstrasse, to the Vienna State Opera House, Stephansplatz and its famous cathedral and the Hofburg palace. Book a hotel in Landstrasse for its monuments, the impressive Schwarzenberg Palace and the area's top attraction, Belvedere Palace. First-time visitors may also enjoy hotels in Leopoldstadt, for its renowned Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel, sandy beach along the Danube Canal and numerous ethnic restaurants, churches and historic monuments. Another an excellent place to book accommodations for sightseeing is Neubau, home to the renowned Museumsquartier, which has several museums containing art from the 19th to 21st centuries.

Dining is excellent in most of Vienna's neighborhoods; however, some areas stand out. Stay in Neubau for its great weekend brunch spots, Dobling for its historic wine taverns, or Servitengasse for its bistros and bakeries in quiet cobblestone lanes. Make a hotel reservation in Rudolfsheim-Funfhaus for its growing collection of restaurants and cafés set adjacent to the beautiful Schonbrunn Park. Accommodations in Prater give access to range of vacation experiences, from a visit to the world's oldest amusement park to a day of leisurely shopping and dining surrounded by lovely open spaces. Wieden, with its Naschmarkt, the city's largest street market, is a good choice to stay for foodie travelers. Here, a number of taverns and cafés share the streets with palaces, churches and craft shops.

The bustling neighborhood of Mariahilf is a favorite place to stay for shoppers because of its lively shopping street, the Mariahilferstrasse. At the Naschmarkt, mingle with local residents as you browse the fresh produce, breads and cheeses, and visit the weekend Flohmarkt flea market to hunt for antique treasures. For international luxury brands, book a hotel in the Innere Stadt or Old City where the Goldenes Quartier area has just about every high-end designer shop you can imagine. The Old City is also home to the Golden U of Vienna, a historic shopping area with glamorous jewelers and haute couture houses. Stay on or near the Kärntnerstrasse, a lengthy pedestrian zone with department stores.