Remote-work months in an unfamiliar city are a format of their own. Not like a holiday. Not like a business trip. When you're actually working from an apartment, you need different things from a tourist and you usually only realise what they are once something's missing.
We've been hosting people who spend a month or two in Vienna whilst working full-time for years. Film editors, architecture competition sprints, tech sprints, final-stage PhDs, consulting projects. Here is a list of things we've learnt and what you should look for when searching for your next working apartment in Vienna.
What you actually need and what you don't
A desk that deserves the name. Not "a dining table that can double as a desk if necessary". A proper desk is at least 60 cm deep, 72–75 cm high, and positioned so that daylight falls from the side, not from the front (glare) or behind (screen reflection). If an apartment's photos only show a dining table, ask explicitly about the workspace.
A chair you can sit in for six hours. That's not every dining chair. Ideally height-adjustable, with a back. Without it. Expect a sore back by day three.
Wi-Fi that actually works. At least 50 Mbit/s downstream, 10 Mbit/s upstream, with no drops during calls. Ask explicitly about the speed when enquiring. At LAROGY we always include the tested speed in the booking information.
A decent desk lamp. Ideally with a warm and cool light mode (3000K for living, 4000K for working). Pure overhead lighting is tiring in the evenings.
Quiet. A courtyard-facing apartment is preferable wherever possible. A flat on a main road in summer with the windows open is hostile to concentration.
A kitchen you can actually cook in. Anyone staying a month will cook (see also our post "Living rather than staying"). That means. A sharp knife, a heavy pan, salt, olive oil, a stovetop espresso maker, not just a kettle and a toaster.
What's more cosmetic (even if the photo galleries push it)
A whirlpool bath. Sounds lovely, irrelevant by day five.
Smart TV with every streaming service. You'll stream on your laptop anyway.
Espresso machine with a built-in grinder. Nice if it's there, but a pod machine won't do. If you like a good espresso every day, bring a small Bialetti. It makes all the difference.
The "hidden gem" courtyard. Great for Instagram, but you'll visit it twice.
Location. What matters after three weeks
For a one-week stay, proximity to the city centre is decisive. For a month, that reverses. What you want.
A supermarket within five minutes on foot. Ideally one that also carries organic produce, fresh bread, and a few specialities. Not every Spar does. (Spar Gourmet, Billa Plus, and Adamah Bio branches are reliable.)
A bakery you'd be happy to pass every morning. Vienna has an enormous advantage over most European cities here.
A café where you could also work without getting a "please move on" vibe after three hours. Vienna is split. Traditional coffeehouses are perfect for working solos; newer speciality cafés are often less so.
A quiet jogging route or a park. This will matter more than you think.
Vienna's particular advantages
Vienna is especially well-suited to remote-work months, for several reasons.
Public transport works. Really. With a monthly pass (€51) you can get anywhere in 30 minutes. Not every European capital can say that.
Internet infrastructure is good. All apartments have Wi-Fi. In most cafés the Wi-Fi is also reliable.
Coworking spaces exist. When you want a change of scenery, Talent Garden, Schraubenfabrik, Loffice, sektor5. Day passes are usually €20–30.
Cost of living is relatively moderate. Affordable by Berlin or Vienna standards, expensive by Lisbon or Sofia standards. Solidly mid-table among European capitals.
The cultural programme won't overwhelm you. Vienna has enough to keep you from boredom and at the same time little enough that you don't feel you're missing out. You can sleep in on a Sunday without the city making a fuss.
What we do at LAROGY for working stays
When you tell us you want to work in Vienna, you get.
- An apartment with a proper desk and work chair
- Wi-Fi in every apartment
- A small coffee kit (Bialetti, good beans for the first few days)
- On request. Recommendations for cafés and coworking spaces near the neighbourhood
- Minimum stay of 30 days at fair monthly rates, from €1,800 for a studio
If you want to set up your Vienna apartment as a permanent satellite office, perhaps Maison LAROGY is also of interest. We design spaces that are genuinely built for concentration.