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Budget & hostels
Sleep cheap - clean, central, no frills.
Budget & hostels in Vienna
Vienna does not have to be expensive - the city has a long tradition of affordable pensions plus a growing hostel scene. 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. If you want to spend even less, A&O Wien Stadthalle offers hostel beds at rock-bottom prices.
The affordable houses are spread remarkably evenly across the districts inside the Gürtel ring road: Mariahilf (6th) with Pension Mozart, Tourotel and A&O, quiet Josefstadt (8th) with Pension Wild, Alsergrund (9th) with Hotel Alpha and Pension Vera, and Wieden (4th) with Kolping Wien Central and Sommerhotel Wieden. That is the real strength of Vienna's budget segment: you stay cheaply yet centrally - the city centre is a few subway minutes or even a walk away from all of them.
Prices in our listings start at around 39 euros per night at A&O Wien Stadthalle. Classic pension rooms range between roughly 65 and 90 euros - for that you get your own room in a period building, often with a simple breakfast. For comparison: that is less than half of what an average four-star house costs.
When booking, check the details: see whether breakfast is included - at pensions often yes, at hostels 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.
8 hotels
Hotel Pension Wild
Classic Viennese pension - warm, clean, honest. Beloved by regulars.
from €69 per night
Pension Mozart
Right next to Mariahilfer Straße - affordable, central, friendly.
from €75 per night
Hotel Alpha Vienna
Classic 3-star at the Votivkirche - affordable and central.
from €89 per night
Tourotel Mariahilf
Between centre and Schönbrunn - affordable, clean, subway connection.
from €85 per night
Kolping Wien Central
Kolping house at Karlsplatz - simple rooms, unbeatable location.
from €65 per night
Pension Vera
Family pension in the 9th district - breakfast included, long-time regulars.
from €72 per night
A&O Wien Stadthalle
Hostel-hotel mix near Stadthalle - affordable for groups and backpackers.
from €39 per night
Sommerhotel Wieden
Seasonal student housing - open to travellers July to September.
from €79 per night
Frequently asked
Where is the cheapest place to stay in Vienna?
Hostels are the cheapest option: A&O Wien Stadthalle starts at around 39 euros per night in our listings. Classic pensions like Kolping Wien Central or Pension Wild offer private rooms from roughly 65 to 70 euros.
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 centre 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 travellers, 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 travellers.
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.