Vienna/Outer West

Outer West is the north-western part of Vienna containing the districts Penzing (14), Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15), Ottakring (16), Hernals (17), Währing (18), and Döbling (19).

Understand
  • View of the Outer West, looking north from Schönbrunn

The Western part of Vienna reaches up to the hilly forest of the Wienerwald (which used to be the imperial hunting ground and hence wasn't cut) and contains very diversified districts. From the mixed urban area Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (15) to the newly hyped and multicultural Ottakring (16) to the upper class Döbling (19) on the adjacent side of the Danube famous for its vineyards, 19th-century villas, working class history and architecture, as well as its upper-class neighbourhoods.

Get in

Vienna, being the capital of Austria, is easily reachable, see the main article for information on how to reach it.

  • 🌍 Wien Westbahnhof railway station. Used to be the main train station for trains coming from German destinations until 2014 when the new central station was opened. Today, Westbahnhof is the terminus for suburban trains and train services from Salzburg and Linz operated by the private Westbahn rail company. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 🌍 Heiligenstadt railway station. A smaller train station for trains coming from Krems, Tulln or the Waldviertel region. (updated Oct 2021)

Get around

The Western districts are easily accessible by public transport. One can take either the subways  U4  (Hütteldorf and Heiligenstadt) or  U3  (Ottakring). The  U6  subway is going all along the border of the outer west and inner west districts. The suburban train line S45 crosses all western districts coming from south Hütteldorf up to Heiligenstadt. And there are many tram and bus lines operating.

See

Museums
  • 🌍 Technisches Museum Wien (Vienna Technical Museum), Mariahilfer Straße 212, Penzing (near the Schoenbrunn Palace, trams 10, 52, 58 stop Penzinger Strasse), ☏ +43 1 89998 0, . M-F 09:00-18:00, Sa Sa and holidays 10:00-18:00. This museum exhibits machines, transportations, electronic equipment, and the like from their first design up to their current form. The museum is huge at 22,000 m² and requires at least two hours to go through. (updated Jan 2017)

Architecture
  • 🌍 Kirche am Steinhof, Baumgartner Höhe 1, Penzing (from U4 station Unter St.Veit take bus 47A up to Psychiatrisches Zentrum or at Dr. Karl Renner Ring take Bus 48A to Psych. Zentrum, takes 35 minutes, or from U3 Ottakring take bus 48A to Psychiatrisches Zentrum; you have to enter the area of Psychiatrisches Zentrum, walk up the garden, it takes some minutes.), ☏ +43 1 910 60-11204. Guided tours every Saturday 15:00.. Opened in 1907 as part of the largest mental hospital and sanatorium of its time in Europe, this Art Nouveau church was constructed by the Viennese master architect Otto Wagner, and is the most well-known example of Jugendstil sacral architecture. Psychiatrisches Zentrum does not allow visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making the church inaccessible (November 2021). (updated Nov 2021)
  • 🌍 Wagner Villa (Ernst Fuchs Museum), Hüttelbergstraße 26, Penzing (tram 49 last stop or Bus 148 from U4 Station Hütteldorf), ☏ +43 1 91 48 575, . Tu-Sa 10:00-16:00. You can see his private lodging in a very eccentric design. The villa is in the woods. In the rooms some paintings of Fuchs are exhibited, a painter who bought the house from the Wagner family. His paintings were surprisingly influenced by the style of the villa. €11 (adults), €8 (w/Wiencard), €6 (students/seniors). 
  • 🌍 Karl Marx-Hof, Heiligenstädter Strasse 82, Döbling (tram D or U4 to Heiligenstadt), ☏ +43 664 88540888, . Exhibit: Th 13:00-18:00, Su 12:00-16:00, and by appt. Built between 1927 and 1930 by the Otto Wagner's student Karl Ehn, the Karl Marx-Hof is a public housing complex (called "Gemeindebau" in Vienna), from the time of the social-democratic public housing programme during Austria's First Republic. With its 1382 Apartments and roughly 1,1 km in length, Marx-Hof is the world's longest contiguous public housing complex and probably Vienna's most famous "Gemeindebau". The permanent exhibit Red Vienna (in Wash House #2) is devoted to the history of Red Vienna, a period of one-party rule by the Social Democrats from 1919-1934. The non-exhibit parts of the building are still used as housing, so please respect the residents' privacy. Guided tours (German only) are offered on Sundays at 13:00, with no reservations required. €5 (adults), €4 (seniors), €3 (students), free (youth/children under 19); €7 (guided tours). (updated Oct 2017)

Historic sites
  • 🌍 Beethoven Wohnung Heiligenstadt (Haus des Heiligenstädter Testaments / Beethoven House), Probusgasse 6 (Heiligenstadt), ☏ +43 1 370 54 08, fax: +43 1 1 505 87 47 7201, . Tu-Su holidays 10:00-13:00, 14:00-18:00. One of Beethoven's many residences within the city. While living here he composed his Symphony No. 2 in D major (Op. 36), as well as several other works. €5 (adults), €4 (seniors/students/Vienna Card), free (children and youth under 19), free the first Su of every month. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Türkenschanzpark, Währing (tram 41 or bus 10A, get off at Türkenschanzpark), ☏ +43 1 4000-8042, . A lovely park, inaugurated in 1888 by Austrian emperor Franz Joseph. The park is at the site of and named after a Turkish entrenchment ("Türken-Schanze") of the first Turkish siege on Vienna in 1529. It is close to the University of Agriculture, and features a variety of botanic rarities from all continents. 

Religious buildings
  • 🌍 St. Leopoldskirche (Kirche am Leopoldsberg / Leopoldikapelln), Nasenweg, Döbling. Dedicated to the patron saint of Vienna, this small church was established in 1679, and its current appearance dates to the first part of the 18th century. The building is on top of 425-m-high Leopoldsberg, with lovely views of Vienna and the surrounding area. Following restoration work of the nearby medieval fortress, the church re-opened to the public in 2018. 
  • 🌍 Grinzing Parish Church (Grinzinger Pfarrkirche), Himmelstraße 25, Döbling, ☏ +43 1 3282566. Built in the 15th century, the church was burned in 1529 and 1683, during the first and second Turkish sieges of Vienna, and severely damaged during World War II. However one treasure did survive: the organ, on which both Beethoven and Schubert used to perform. The organ was modified several times since then and had fallen into severe disrepair, but in 1997 it was completely restored by a master organ builder and is now again played regularly. 

Neighbourhoods
  • 🌍 Grinzing, Döbling (38 Tram from Schottentor (University)or Bus 38A from U4 Heiligenstadt (Direction Kahlenberg)). Dating back to the times of Roman settlement in Vienna, this is the oldest neighbourhood of the Döbling district and is famous for its vineyards and "Heurige" (Austrian wine taverns). 

Do
  • 🌍 Wiener Stadthalle, Roland Rainer Platz (U3 Schweglerstraße, U6 Burggasse-Stadthalle/Urban Loritz-Platz, tram lines 6, 9, 18, 49, bus line 48A), ☏ +43 1 98 100 489. The Stadthalle is a multi-functional event venue which hosts everything from a variety of music concerts to horse dressage shows. It has a busy schedule all year round, and it hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2015. 

Sports and outdoor activities
  • 🌍 SK Rapid Wien, Allianz-Stadion, Gerhard Hanappi Platz (S- & U-bahn Hütteldorf). This is one of the city's two main clubs, playing in Austrian Bundesliga, the country's top tier. Allianz-Stadion (also known as Weststadion), capacity 28,000, was opened in 2016 over the site of the former Gerhard Hanapi Stadium. Best buy tickets online, but they may be available at the stadium or at tobacco shops (Trafik) around town. (updated Feb 2021)
  • Hiking. The city trails 1-8 are going into the Wienerwald. The paths are sign posted and accessible by public transport. They are not cleared in winter, use at your own risks. Fair play demands to refrain from smoking (fire danger) and not to leave litter behind. 
  • Mountainbike Tours. May-Aug: 07:00-19:00, Apr Sep: 08:00-18:00, Mar Oct: 09:00-17:00. The hills in the west of Vienna have many tracks and offer a variety of technical challenges suitable for beginners up to experienced off-track mountain bikers. Coming out of the woods you get usually great views of Vienna. Have respect for other riders and walkers, keep the nature in good state, and don't leave waste behind. 
  • 🌍 Kletterhalle Marswiese, Neuwaldegger Straße 57A, Hernals (43 (walk or bus 2 stations)), ☏ +43 1 489717222. 08:00-22:00. The climbing hall is part of the sport center Marswiese. It offers various climbing courses. 
  • 🌍 Jörgerbad (Kaiser Franz Joseph-Bad), Jörgerstraße 42-44, Hernals, ☏ +43 1 406 43 05. listed on website. The swimming pool is 25 m long and has a retractable glass roof. It was built between 1912 and 1914. The bath offers a sauna and massage too. 
  • 🌍 Döblinger Bad, Geweygasse 6, ☏ +43 1 318 01 40. times listed on website. The indoor pool is 25 m long, and in summer the outdoor area offers a nice view over Vienna. The temperature of the pool varies according the week. 

Viewpoints
  • 🌍 Kahlenberg, Am Kahlenberg 1, Döbling (38A). The hill has a beautiful view over the Viennese vineyards and down the Danube. On clear days one clearly sees the Viennese historic center including the cathedral. Many bike or hike trails into the Wienerwald start from here. 
  • 🌍 Hermannskogel, Döbling (38A Cobenzel + 1h walk), ☏ +43 1 5123844. Apr-Oct: Sa 13:00-18:00, Su 10:00-17:00. With 542 m above sea level, it is the highest point of Vienna. The Habsburgerwarte, a 27-m-tall tower from 1888, on top of the Hermanskogel is open on weekends in the summer. It used to be km 0 for cartographic measurements in the Austria-Hungarian empire. €1 entry. 
  • 🌍 Jubiläumswarte, Pelzer Rennweg, Ottakring (46B, 146B). all day. A tower was erected on the 50th regency anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The new one is 31 m high, reopened in 1956 and was renovated in 2012. free entry. 

Learn
  • 🌍 University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Universität für Bodenkultur Wien / BOKU), Gregor-Mendel-Straße 33, Währing. The university was founded in 1872. It has more than 10,000 students studying in departments including agriculture, forest, biotechnology, applied materials and civil engineering. Many institutes are in 19th or 18th district, but some moved to nearby town of Tulln. 
  • 🌍 Institute of Astronomy (Universitäts Sternwarte), Türkenschanzstraße 17, Währing. It is part of the University of Vienna, inside a fabulous historic building. The park contains many rare trees. It has a mini-observatory on the roof. Guided tours are available. 

Buy
  • Äußere Mariahilferstraße, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (U3 Westbahnhof). Continuation of the main shopping street coming from Neubau and Mariahilf. It is home to several hostels and plenty of immigrant shops but is also known as one of the main prostitution drags and houses some of Vienna's oddest flagship stores like the Cros store. There are a few leftist spaces on some of the cross-streets. 
  • 🌍 Lugner City, Gablenzgasse, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (a short walk from the Gürtel; U6 Burggasse-Stadthalle). M-F 09:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. Moderately sized mall housing chain stores and a cinema. 
  • 🌍 Josef Manner & Comp AG (Manner Factory Store), Wilhelminenstrasse 6, Hernals, ☏ +43 1 488223770. Factory store famous for Viennese sweets, especially wafers (Schnitten). 
  • 🌍 Brunnenmarkt und Yppenmarkt (Yppenplatz), Brunnengasse, Ottakring (Josephstädter Strasse U6). M-Sa. A street market with some colorful plus lively Turkish or very Austrian sellers as the Stauds fruits and vegetables, but there also cheese, fish or meat stands. Nearby the Kent Restaurant one finds many coffee places. It is the second biggest street market in Vienna. 
  • 🌍 Nagy Hüte Zentrale, Thaliastraße 36, Ottakring (Thaliastraße U6), ☏ +43 1 4056629. M-F 09:30-18:00, Sa 09:30-12.30. One of the very typical traditional Viennese hat shops features many different types of hats or caps for men and women. 
  • 🌍 Ottakringer Brauerei (Ottakringer Brewery), Ottakringer Straße 95, Ottakring (Ottakring U3), ☏ +43 1 49100-900. M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa 09:00-18:00. The Ottakringer Brewery directly sells their different beers. 
  • 🌍 Mechanikermeister Wolfgang Brunner (Fahrrad Brunner), Degengasse 37, Ottakring (Römergasse 44, U3 Ottakring (+10-min walk)), ☏ +43 4855732. M W F 09:00-13:00, 15:00-18:00; Sa 09:00-12:00; closed in Aug. The bike shop has bikes for beginners and advanced at good prices, and is an excellent repair center. The owner is a master craftsman in fine mechanics. You doesn't get snobby treatment for old shabby bikes – you get treated very well. The owner will give you excellent advice on how to care for your bike. 
  • 🌍 Vinothek St. Pierre, Cobenzlgasse 4, Döbling (Grinzing), ☏ +43 1 3679581, . The wine store sells Austrian wines including famous producers like Bründlmayer from Langenlois. 
  • 🌍 Buchhandlung & Café Librería Utopía, Preysinggasse 26-28, 1150 Wien, ☏ +43-660-3913865. Radical (political, forward thinking, make changes) bookstore with books in German, English, and Spanish. Can also buy a drink and sit there for a while chatting with the friendly people. (updated Jul 2023)

Eat

The western district of Vienna with the exception of the upscale area around Schönnbrunn has many less touristic places that serve typical Austrian food. Vegetarians may need to double check as most dishes are with meat and the vegetables are not really appreciated, sweets dishes allow an easy way out. Nevertheless, nowadays there are always some vegetarian options and on request many dishes can be cooked for vegan or vegetarian diet. In the Budget section you'll find typical student places with good food for tighter budgets.

Budget
  • 🌍 Kent Restaurant, Brunnengasse 67, Ottakring, ☏ +43 1 4059173, . Daily 06:00-02:00. At first approach, this looks like a greasy kebab joint strictly for Turks, but struggle past the first room and you will find a large garden and huge restaurant serving moderately priced food with an infinite supply of free Turkish bread. Good for veggies and meat eaters alike. Also try the Turkish breakfast. Take out available. Expect to pay under €10. (updated Oct 2017)
  • 🌍 Kiang Winebar, Yppenplatz 11, Ottakring, ☏ +43 664 515 36 33. Tu–Sa 17:00–24:00. The smallest Chinese in town has street food combined with excellent Austrian wines inside of an artistic bar project. <€10. 
  • 🌍 Pizzeria Mafiosi, Reindorfgasse 15, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, ☏ +43 1 8927228. Pizzas start at €3.20 and you can get a Viennese Spritzer (white wine mixed with soda water) for €1.20. 

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Hollerei, Hollergasse 9, ☏ +43 1 8923356. Vegetarian restaurant with a small but cozy outdoor dining space. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 🌍 Liebstöckl & Co (Das kleine Beisel), Sandgasse 12, Döbling (Grinzing), ☏ +43 1 3288310, . 11:00-23:00. The tavern type restaurant has in summer time a relaxed garden. It offers typical Viennese food choices and is very popular. 
  • 🌍 Ottakringer Landhaus, Albrechtskreithgasse 38, Ottakring (Hernals (S-Bahn)), ☏ +43 1 4852344, . M-Sa 11:00-24:00, Su 11:00-22:00. The place at the border between Ottakring and Hernals has a very Viennese charm for the food choice and for the service. In summer time you can sit outside in a court. The tavern-type restaurant has excellent local Viennese white wine choice and local food choice. It is recommended to reserv your table as it fills rapidly. 
  • 🌍 Salettl Pavillon, Hartäckerstrasse 80, Döbling, ☏ +43 1 4792222. 06:30-01:30. The restaurant next to the Bodenkultur university sees many students visitors. It has a great view plus romantic garden. It is a smokers place. 
  • 🌍 Schutzhaus am Heuberg, Röntgengasse 39, Hernals, ☏ +43 1 48 98 210. Tu–Sa 09:30–22:00, Su 09:30–20:00. The restaurant serves Austrian and Indian food. This unusual combination is an integration project. 
  • 🌍 Schutzhaus Waidäcker, Steinlegasse 35, Ottakring (46B Bus from U3 Ottakring), ☏ +43 1 4169856, . W-Su 10:00-22:00. The place has a very rustic charm and serves rural specialities from around Austria. Vegetarian choices are limited. 
  • 🌍 Villa Aurora, Wilhelminenstraße 237, Ottakring, ☏ +43 1 4893333. The location has a great view over Vienna and offers specific Austrian food. The villa was built in 1785. 
  • 🌍 Wetter, Yppenplatz Payergasse 13, Ottakring, ☏ +43 1 406 07 75. Tu–F 17:00–24:00, Sa 10:00–24:00, July/August: Sa 10:00–16:00. The cook Raetus Wetter serves wonderful Italian food with daily adapted choices. €8.50-17.50. 

Splurge
  • 🌍 Hill Restaurant, Sieveringer Straße 137, Döbling, ☏ +43 1 320 11 11, . Tu-Sa 17:00-24:00. The restaurant has several vegetarian entrées and good Austrian desserts like "Topfenschmarren". €12.50-29. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Klee am Hanslteich, Amund­sen­straße 10, Alsergrund, ☏ +43 1 480 51 50, . Daily 11:00-24:00. Monika Wlaschek opened this outdoor lounge with view on a small pond. It is on the Stadtwanderweg 3. 
  • 🌍 Pfarrwirt, Pfarrplatz 5, Döbling, ☏ +43 1 370 73 73. Daily 12:00-24:00. This highly-acclaimed establishment is operated by the winery Mayer am Pfarrplatz (see listing below). Part of the restaurant is housed in a 12th-century building known as the 'Beethoven House', as it was the composer's residence during the summer of 1817. Reservations recommended. 
  • 🌍 Schrammelbeisl, Kalvarienberggasse 51, Hernals, ☏ +43 1 4025800, . Tu-Sa 16:00-24:00, Su 11:30-14:30. Christoph Stepan is cooking food at this revived tavern from the nearby Waldviertel region (meat from Litschau). (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Wirtshaus Steirerstöckl, Pötzleinsdorferstraße 127 (Pötzleinsdorf), ☏ +43 1 440 49 43, fax: +43 1 440 64 49, . W-Su and holidays 11:30-24:00; kitchen open until 22:00. Built as a hiking lodge, this rustic Gasthaus is in the Wienerwald on the outskirts of the city. It serves classic Styrian food and wine, and also offers a few modern dishes for vegetarians. During nice weather meals can be enjoyed in the pleasant garden. Reservations recommended. Mains €14-18. (updated Oct 2016)
  • 🌍 Zum Schwammerl, Silbergasse 21, Döbling (Oberdöbling S-bahn (+10 min walk)), ☏ +43 1 3206635, . M-F 10:30-23:00. The restaurant zum Schwammerl is serving seasonal Viennese food plus regional wines. 

Drink

The hills up to the Wienerwald hold many vineyards. Hence they contain many popular places called Heurigen that sell the white wine mixed with water and serve some cold food with it. Of course the western district of Vienna contain many different coffee places too.

Heurigen

Cafe

Other bars
  • 🌍 Fischer Bräu, Billrothstrasse 17, Döbling (Tram 37 + 38), ☏ +43 1 3695949, . Daily 16:00-01:00. The brewery brews according the "Reinheitsgebot from 1516" and offers their beers. The place is very well visited. 
  • 🌍 Schlumberger Kellerwelten, Heiligenstädter Straße 39, Döbling (U4 Spittelau), ☏ +43 1 368 22 59-0, . M 10:00, Th 14:00-17:00. The tour in the cellar of one of the biggest Austrian "Sekt" producers takes approximately an hour, and there are up to 5 different glasses for tasting included. €9-18. 
  • 🌍 Shiraz, U-Bahn Bogen (Stadtbahnbogen) 185, Döbling, ☏ +43 664 33 55 555, . This is a small and pretty comfortable, rustic-style bar in the city railway bows. You can smoke water pipes and listen to chill-out music. The owner, a Persian, socialises with all his customers. The bar has a special atmosphere and fair prices. It is a good place to relax. 
  • 🌍 Travel Shack Vienna, Mariahilfer Gürtel 21, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus. Daily 09:00–14:00, 18:00–04:00. A largely young student and international backpacker bar where it's hard not to meet people. 

Sleep

Being less central, the stay in the outer western districts is usually cheaper, nevertheless you can reach the Vienna center in around 30 minutes. Also the western districts allow for diverse outdoor activities and have good food options. A number of hostels are in this area, which is a short train, metro or tram ride from the inner city.

Budget
  • 🌍 Hostel Ruthensteiner, Robert Hamerlinggasse 24, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, ☏ +43 1 893 42 02, . Check-out: 10:00. Free wifi, bar 19:00-23:00. Family-run hostel with nice rooms, a few private rooms and a separate dorm building across the street. Hostel has a pleasant outdoor courtyard attached to a kitchen, and an inside lounge that has musical instruments available for playing. A couple blocks away from the train station. Dorms from €17, doubles €26pp. 
  • 🌍 Hostel Hütteldorf (Jugendgästehaus Hütteldorf-Hacking), Schlossberggasse 8, Penzing (U4 Hütteldorf, exit the station on the south side, follow signs about 10 minutes), ☏ +43 1 877 0263, fax: +43 1 877 0263-2, . Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:30. HI Hostel in a peaceful neighborhood. Has free Wi-Fi, free parking, and a garden. Laundry facilities and bicycle rental available. Prices include breakfast. (updated Jun 2016)
  • 🌍 Wombats City Hostel Vienna: The Base, Grangasse 6, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (near Westbahnhof), ☏ +43 1 8972336, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. It is clean and simple. €16-39. 
  • 🌍 Wombats City Hostel Vienna: The Lounge, Mariahilferstrasse 137, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus (directly at Westbahnhof), ☏ +43 1 8972336, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. It is clean and chic with a party atmosphere. Opened 2006, it touts an imperial facade from 1880. €17-39. 

Mid-range

Splurge
  • 🌍 Landhaus Fuhrgassl-Huber (Hotel Landhaus Fuhrgassl-Huber), Rathstraße 24, Döbling (Neustif im Walde), ☏ +43 1 440 30 33, . The hotel is surrounded by wine taverns, hills and wineries. A breakfast buffet is served each morning and can be enjoyed in the courtyard during summer. Free Wi-Fi. €150-195. 

Go next

To the West of Vienna one finds idyllic little villages like Perchtoldsdorf or Klosterneuburg. Austrian towns to visit next are Mödling and Krems.

This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.