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5 Wiener Stadtteile, die man gesehen haben muss und wie man sie besucht

Get to know the different sides to Vienna and why there’s more to the city than you think.

Graben Street in Innere Stadt, Vienna
Hi, I'm David!

David is a freelance travel writer based in Melbourne, Australia. He has also lived as a digital nomad in Europe for several years, happily visiting castles and getting lost on hiking trails. His work has appeared in Skylife Magazine, Fodors, and Matador Network.

With its rich history, well-curated museums, and world-class music, Vienna makes an ideal destination for a sophisticated urban adventure. While visiting, focus your attention on the city’s trip-worthy districts one at a time to see how their charms vary—how stately Innere Stadt differs from, say, youthful Wieden or carefree Grinzing. Here’s what you need to know to explore Vienna's top neighborhoods.

1. Innere Stadt (1st District)

A plaza in Innere Stadt, Vienna
Check out grand architecture.Bildquelle: Roman Babakin / Shutterstock

Another Vienna landmark around every corner.

Surrounded by the 19th-century Ringstrasse, the Innere Stadt provides both the historical and geographic center of Vienna. This old-town area boasts some of the grandest architecture in the city, including St. Stephen’s Cathedral with its tile-patterned roof. Wander the lively Graben pedestrian street, visit celebrated museums such as the [Albertina](https://www.viator.com/Vienna-attractions/Albertina/overview/d454-a12482#overview, and be sure to stop for a fuel-up at one of the neighborhood’s many traditional coffee shops like the ever-popular Café Central.

2. Leopoldstadt (2nd District)

Buildings around a body of water in Leopoldstadt, Vienna
Lush parks and kosher delis.Bildquelle: Kagan Kaya / Shutterstock

The green lung of Vienna.

Leopoldstadt sits across the Danube Canal from Vienna’s Innere Stadt and was once home to the city’s Jewish population before the Holocaust. While you can still find kosher restaurants and delis in the area, it has seen its share of gentrification. Visits to Leopoldstadt are typically centered around the district’s two main parks, the Augarten and the Prater. At Augarten, you can explore eerie remains of an anti-aircraft flak tower from World War II, while Prater boasts an iconic ferris wheel, an amusement park, and walking paths

3. Landstraße (3rd District)

An unusual building in Landstraße, Vienna
See quirky buildings.Bildquelle: Longfin Media / Shutterstock

Pockets of excitement in a calm neighborhood.

Landstraße has a reputation as being a rather plain and uneventful part of the city. However, there are enough standout attractions in this large district east of the Innere Stadt to make the neighborhood irresistible to travelers. Belvedere Palace hosts formal gardens and an art gallery inside its elegant upper building, while the University of Vienna Botanical Garden neighboring the palace offers an oasis of calm. Vienna’s quirky side is also on display here with the idiosyncratic designs of Hundertwasser House and the Kunst Haus Wien museum.

4. Wieden (4th District)

Church of St. Charles in Wieden, Vienna
Visit a grand church and wander a sprawling market.Bildquelle: Mikhail Markovskiy / Shutterstock

Low-key dining and drinks.

One of the smallest districts in Vienna, Wieden isn’t an area that immediately jumps out at visitors. The most well-known attractions in this district sit along its edges— the monumental Church of St. Charles, the grounds of Resselpark in front of it, and the diverse stalls and eateries of the Naschmarkt. But, head over to the small squares and back streets that surround the Vienna University of Technology at its center, and you’ll find Viennese cafes with fewer lines, edgy bars, and budget-friendly restaurants serving international dishes.

6. Hietzing (13th District)

Schönbrunn Palace in Hietzing, Vienna
Explore the 18th-century rooms of a palace.Bildquelle: Sriya Pixels / Shutterstock

For imperial opulence and pristine gardens.

Although it’s a little farther from the city center, Hietzing remains one of the most common stops on Vienna itineraries thanks to one attraction, Schönbrunn Palace. The palace offers tours of the imperial apartments, state rooms, and manicured gardens and often hosts performances of pieces by notable composers such as Mozart and Strauss. But beyond this iconic palace, Hietzing also offers the creatures of Schönbrunn Zoo, the artwork of Klimt Villa, and the views from the Lainzer Tiergarten.

7. Grinzing (19th District)

A public transit line running through Grinzing, Vienna
Go wine tasting without leaving the city.Bildquelle: Vacilando / Shutterstock

Wine taverns and city views.

Many travelers to Vienna are surprised to learn that you can visit vineyards and wineries without even leaving the city. Up among the hilltop homes of Döbling—the 19th District—lies the hillside neighborhood of Grinzing. There you can escape the city with a walk through local vineyards or along the trails through the Vienna Woods, rewarding yourself after at one of Grinzing’s many heuriger—taverns that primarily serve wine. Above Grinzing sits Kahlenberg, a hill with one of the best views of Vienna in its entirety.

8. Mariahilf (6th District)

A shoppings street in Mariahilf, Vienna.
Whatever you need, Mariahilf sells it.Bildquelle: vvoe / Shutterstock

Shopping and more shopping.

The Naschmarkt spreads across two districts—Wieden and the far more trendy and upmarket Mariahilf. The latter is home to the city’s most important shopping street, Mariahilferstrasse. Fashion stores and cafes line this bustling pedestrian thoroughfare, while hip bars can be found on the hill toward Naschmarkt. In contrast to all of this style and cool, the towering concrete Haus des Meeres aquarium offers an excellent view of the city.

10. onaustadt (22nd District)

The Danube river and Danube Tower in Donaustadt, Vienna
See Vienna from the top of Danube Tower.Bildquelle: saiko3p / Shutterstock

Rest and relaxation by the Danube.

The largest district of Vienna by quite some margin, Donaustadt covers the eastern side of the city across the Danube River. It’s home to the Lobau flood plains, an area popular with cyclists and walkers that’s a little out of the way. For summer swimming and sunbathing that’s easier to get to, try Danube Island and Alte Donau lake. Or head to the top of needle-like Danube Tower, Vienna’s tallest structure, for a meal at the revolving restaurant and some impressive views.

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