Anyone staying in Vienna for more than a few nights will sooner or later face the question. Hotel or apartment? We run one of them and still think that for some stays the other is the right answer.
The rule of thumb
There is one very simple rule that covers most cases.
1–3 nights. Hotel. Service, breakfast, no one has to do the washing-up. Worth it.
4–13 nights. Hotel or Airbnb. Hotel if service matters, Airbnb if you want the apartment feel. An apartment rarely makes sense here, the effort for such a short stay is high.
14–29 nights. Apartment, if a good one is available. Hotels become noticeably expensive and cumbersome here.
30+ nights. Apartment, without question. See our detailed post "Living rather than staying".
What does the price say?
A good hotel in the city centre currently costs between €150 and €280 per night in Vienna. Extrapolated over a month, that's €4,500 to €8,400.
A comparable furnished apartment costs between €1,800 and €2,500 per month (that's the range for our apartments). You save 50 to 70 per cent and gain a kitchen, living room, washing machine, desk, and privacy on top.
For a week, on the other hand, the hotel costs between €1,050 and €1,960, while the apartment has a minimum stay of 30 days (with us), meaning you'd pay for four weeks even if you only need one. Here the apartment loses.
What hotels are genuinely better at
Immediate availability. You book at 2 pm and check in at 4 pm. Apartments usually require lead time, with us, ideally two to four weeks.
Service without asking. You leave the towels on the floor, they get changed. You hang out the "Do not disturb" sign, everything stays put. This silent quality of service isn't possible in an apartment.
City-centre location. If you really want to stay on the Stephansplatz, a hotel is usually the only option. Apartments in that location are rare and very expensive.
Breakfast included. Some hotels have genuinely good breakfast options. In an apartment you cook for yourself, which many people want, but not everyone.
What apartments are better at
Privacy. No one comes in. No one knocks. No one asks if everything's all right. For introverted people, that's a significant difference.
Your own habits. You cook what you always cook. You work at your desk in your own rhythm. You go to bed at 10 pm without anyone offering something more from the bar. You live, rather than being a guest.
Real floor space. A Viennese hotel room is 20–30 m². A good studio with us is 30–50 m². A two-room apartment is 80–90 m². If you're travelling with a partner or colleague, that's a night-and-day difference.
Character. Hotels in the same price bracket tend to look alike. Apartments, especially ours, each have their own. Top 12 is vintage, Top 23 is jungle-print wallpaper with a monkey lamp, Top 19 is modern. You can choose by mood, not by stars.
Value for money. Unbeatable for longer stays, see above.
The rare special case. Having your own apartment
If you're in Vienna regularly, as a business client, a second-home owner, or a frequently visiting family member, there's a third option that many people don't consider. Having a small apartment in Vienna fitted out for you. That's exactly what we do with Maison LAROGY for private clients.
We help with the flat search (via our contacts), design the interior, and wherever possible take care of ongoing maintenance. You then have not a hotel or a rental apartment, you have your own Viennese home, waiting for you when you arrive.
For many people who visit Vienna several times a year, it pays for itself sooner than you'd think.