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Budget & hostels
Sleep cheap - clean, central, no frills.
Budget & hostels in Vienna
7 hotels
Hotel Pension Wild
Classic Viennese pension - warm, clean, honest. Beloved by regulars.
from €79 per night
Pension Mozart
Right next to Mariahilfer Straße - affordable, central, friendly.
from €108 per night
Hotel Alpha Vienna
Classic 3-star in Josefstadt near City Hall - affordable and central.
Tourotel Mariahilf
Right by Westbahnhof on the outer Mariahilfer Straße - affordable, clean, U3 and U6.
Kolping Wien Central
Kolping house on Gumpendorfer Straße in Mariahilf - simple rooms, Naschmarkt within walking distance.
from €82 per night
Pension Vera
Family pension in the 9th district - breakfast included, long-time regulars.
from €94 per night
Sommerhotel Wieden
Seasonal student housing - open to travelers July to September.
What to look for
Vienna does not have to be expensive - the city has a long tradition of affordable pensions and simple city hotels. The nice part: budget rarely means shabby here. Classic Viennese pensions like Pension Wild in Josefstadt or Pension Mozart near Mariahilfer Straße are simple but clean, personally run, and often have had loyal regulars for decades. Cheaper still is Kolping Wien Central on Gumpendorfer Straße, a few minutes from the Naschmarkt.
The affordable houses are spread remarkably evenly across the districts inside the Gürtel ring road: Mariahilf (6th) with Pension Mozart, Kolping Wien Central and the Tourotel on the outer stretch of Mariahilfer Straße, quiet Josefstadt (8th) with Pension Wild and Hotel Alpha, Alsergrund (9th) with Pension Vera, and Wieden (4th) with the Sommerhotel Wieden. That is the real strength of Vienna's budget segment: you stay cheaply yet centrally - the city center is a few subway minutes or even a walk away from all of them.
On price, Kolping Wien Central is the cheapest entry and classic pension rooms sit only slightly above it - for that you get your own room in a period building, often with a simple breakfast. For comparison: what one night in an average four-star house costs will usually buy you two nights here. Current rates are shown on the individual hotel pages.
When booking, check the details: see whether breakfast is included - at pensions often yes, otherwise usually for a surcharge. With older houses, clarify whether the bathroom is in the room or down the hall. And arrive by public transport: budget houses practically never have their own parking, and paid short-term parking zones cover the inner districts. You will be faster by subway and tram anyway.
Frequently asked
Where is the cheapest place to stay in Vienna?
The cheapest option is Kolping Wien Central on Gumpendorfer Straße. Classic pensions like Pension Wild or Pension Vera offer private rooms at similarly low rates. Current rates are shown on the individual hotel pages.
Are cheap hotels in Vienna still central?
Yes, that is the strength of Vienna's budget segment: most pensions sit in the districts inside the Gürtel - Mariahilf, Josefstadt, Alsergrund, Wieden. From there the city center is a few subway minutes or a walk away.
What is a Viennese pension?
A small, usually family-run guesthouse in a period building - simpler than a hotel, but with private rooms and often a basic breakfast. Many have been run by the same families for decades and have loyal regulars.
Hostel or pension - which is better for Vienna?
It depends on you: a hostel is the cheapest way to sleep and you meet other travelers, but you usually share a dorm and bathroom. A pension costs a bit more but offers privacy and often breakfast - usually the better choice for couples and quieter travelers.
Is breakfast included at budget hotels in Vienna?
At classic pensions often yes - simple but solid. Hostels usually charge extra for breakfast. Check the rate when booking; alternatively, the residential districts have affordable bakeries and coffee houses on almost every corner.