Gay Vienna Vienna City Guide

On Alpine horizons, where century-old Kaffeehäuses and nudist bathing sites nestle within grand imperial surroundings, you’ll find the magical and unpredictable, Austrian capital Vienna. A city break like no other, with heaps of art, music, fashion and hearty cuisine to dig into, sexually liberal Vienna is also home to some of history’s homosexual trailblazers, from composers to emperors, who worked to overthrow Viennese orthodoxy from within. As well as annual events such as the Viennese Rainbow Ball, Pride Parade and the ‘Wien ist Andersrum’ (Vienna is Different) Festival, the city bursts with LGBT pride all year long, playing host to pop-up gay parties, gay saunas and even gay balls. At no loss for cultural sites, Vienna’s skyline is filled with grand palaces, museum complexes and a contagion of hipster art and café districts to explore. Read Mr Hudson’s definitive Vienna gay travel guide for the best of what to do in Vienna.

The best hotels in Vienna

Let’s kick-start our Vienna travel guide with a roundup of the best places to stay in Vienna. At the edge of Neubau, one of Vienna’s most vibrant districts, you’ll find Sans Souci, one of Vienna’s newest and finest boutique hotels. Somewhat of a museum itself, guests here can admire the owner’s art collection throughout the whole building, from Roy Lichtenstein to Steve Kaufman. Whether in the morning before breakfast or after a long day discovering the city, you might want to swim some lengths in the hotel’s indoor sports pool or enjoy the big spa area featuring all the facilities and treatments you can think of. Handpicked antiques, modern exclusive furniture and the attention to detail create a luxurious opulence while retaining a casual and easy atmosphere.

Right in the heart of the city centre, next to the best of Vienna points of interest, including the State Opera and Albertina Museum, lies The Guesthouse Vienna. British designer Sir Terence Conran is responsible for the interior here, creating an ambience of cosiness that allows people to unfold in the most relaxing way imaginable. Meticulously designed with straight lines and a touch of extravagance, the concept runs like a golden thread through the whole hotel. As well as having its own bakery, smelling of freshly baked buns and croissants throughout the day, The Guesthouse’s philosophy strikes just the right balance between homely and intriguing, bringing Viennese and Austrian culture alive.

Sans Souci | Photo: Stefan Gergly

Located on the famous Ring Boulevard that encircles the inner district, alongside a number of centuries-old hotels established during the reign of the Habsburg family, lies the Grand Ferdinand. A distinguishing feature of this hotel is the way it combines tradition with modernism, bringing beauty from the past together with modern amenities to form the base of the hotel’s design and atmosphere. Treading a fine line between the opulence of past decades and elegant modern design, one of the hotel’s highlights is the rooftop pool, where you can take a dip high above Vienna’s roofs and enjoy the skyline. If you’re new to the concept of a ‘vinophile philosophy’, then a stay at the Hotel Rathaus – Wein & Design will be a unique, one-time experience. Run by the Fleischhaker family, this hotel is every wine lover’s dream, combining personalised service and organised wine excursions with a warm welcome.