Attending a trade fair or convention at Messe Wien? Stay at Old Vienna Apartments near Schottenring and reach the venue in about 10 minutes via the U2 metro. Better location, better dining, better value. From €45/night.
Messe Wien (Reed Messe Wien) is Vienna's premier exhibition and congress venue, located in the 2nd district adjacent to the Prater park. The complex comprises four exhibition halls with a combined area of over 60,000 m², plus the Congress Center with its 24 conference rooms and event spaces capable of hosting up to 4,300 attendees. Since its modern incarnation opened in 2004, the venue has hosted hundreds of international trade fairs, congresses, and corporate events annually.
Major recurring events at Messe Wien include the GEWINN Messe (Austria's largest financial fair), BeSt (education and career fair), Ferien-Messe Wien (tourism fair), Bauen & Energie Wien (construction and energy), ViennaContemporary (international art fair), and dozens of medical, technology, and industry congresses. The venue also hosts the European Radiology Congress (ECR), one of the largest medical meetings in the world, drawing over 20,000 attendees each March.
The exhibition centre sits directly at the Messe-Prater U2 station, making metro access from Schottenring straightforward: board the U2 towards Seestadt and arrive at Messe-Prater in approximately 10 minutes, covering four stops. No transfers, no complications.
Hotels immediately adjacent to Messe Wien are few and tend to be expensive, especially during major events when demand spikes. More importantly, the area directly around the exhibition centre is dominated by the venue itself, the WU Wien campus, and the Prater park - it is not a neighbourhood designed for dining, shopping, or evening entertainment.
By contrast, staying near Schottenring places you in the heart of Vienna. The Schottenring area sits where the 1st district meets the 2nd district, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, supermarkets, and cultural attractions. After a long day at a trade fair, you want somewhere to eat a proper dinner, take a walk, or enjoy a drink - not return to an isolated hotel near an exhibition hall.
The practical advantages are significant:
Transport connections: Schottenring is served by both the U2 and U4 metro lines, plus tram lines 1, 31, and D. This means you can reach not only Messe Wien but also the airport (via U4 to Landstrasse, then the S7 or CAT), the main train station (via U1 connection at Schwedenplatz), and every major attraction in the city. If your conference includes social events at other venues - a gala at the Rathaus, a dinner at a Heuriger in Grinzing, a reception at the Hofburg - you can reach them all without taxi costs.
Dining: The streets around Herminengasse offer a genuine variety of restaurants. Taborstrasse, the main commercial street of Leopoldstadt, has sushi bars, Italian trattorias, Turkish grills, Vietnamese kitchens, and traditional Viennese Gasthauser. The Karmelitermarkt area adds upscale bistros and wine bars. Nothing comparable exists in the immediate Messe Wien vicinity.
Supermarkets and essentials: A BILLA supermarket is within a two-minute walk of the apartments. You can stock up on breakfast supplies, snacks, and drinks - all at normal retail prices rather than trade fair markup.
The journey is simple and reliable:
Total journey time: approximately 10 minutes, door to door. Trains run every 3 to 5 minutes during the day. During major fairs, additional services are sometimes scheduled. A single ticket costs €2.40, or you can purchase a 24-hour pass for €8.00 or a 72-hour pass for €17.10.
| Destination | Distance | Walking | Public Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schottenring Station (U2/U4) | 100 m | 1 min | - |
| Messe Wien (Exhibition Center) | 2.5 km | 30 min | ~10 min (U2, 4 stops) |
| Praterstern | 1.8 km | 22 min | ~7 min (U2, 3 stops) |
| WU Wien Campus | 2.6 km | 32 min | ~10 min (U2, 4 stops) |
| Stephansplatz (City Centre) | 1.5 km | 18 min | ~8 min (U2 to U1 transfer) |
| Schwedenplatz | 0.9 km | 11 min | ~3 min (U4, 1 stop) |
| Vienna International Airport | 20 km | - | ~35 min (U4 + S7/CAT) |
| Wien Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) | 3.5 km | 42 min | ~18 min (U4 + U1) |
Messe Wien hosts events throughout the year. The busiest periods - when accommodation near the venue books out quickly and prices surge - include:
European Congress of Radiology (ECR): Held each March, this is one of the largest medical congresses in the world, with over 20,000 radiologists attending from more than 100 countries. Hotels near Messe Wien command premium rates during this week.
GEWINN Messe: Austria's biggest financial and investment fair takes place each October, attracting thousands of private investors, financial advisors, and exhibitors.
Ferien-Messe Wien: Vienna's popular tourism and travel fair runs in January, showcasing holiday destinations from around the world. It draws large crowds from across Austria.
BeSt - Die Messe für Beruf, Studium und Weiterbildung: This education, career, and training fair in March attracts students, graduates, and career changers.
Bauen & Energie Wien: A major construction, renovation, and energy fair held in February with exhibitors from across Europe.
ViennaContemporary: An international art fair held in September, bringing together galleries from across Europe and beyond.
During these peak events, hotels immediately around the venue can double or triple their normal rates. Booking a serviced apartment at a fixed rate near Schottenring protects you from event-driven price surges while keeping you just 10 minutes away by metro.
After a full day of trade fair networking, exhibition walking, and conference sessions, you deserve a proper meal and a relaxing evening. The area around Herminengasse and Schottenring offers far more options than the Messe Wien surroundings:
Taborstrasse restaurants: This commercial street running through the 2nd district offers cuisines from around the world - Japanese ramen, Lebanese mezze, Austrian Schnitzel, Italian pizza, and Vietnamese pho, all within a short walk.
Karmelitermarkt: A 10-minute walk brings you to one of Vienna's most charming neighbourhood markets. In the evenings, the restaurants around the market - such as Skopik & Lohn, Cafe Ansari, and O boufes - offer excellent dining in a local atmosphere far removed from tourist traps.
Danube Canal bars: In warmer months, the pop-up bars along the Donaukanal offer drinks and light food in an open-air setting. It is the perfect way to unwind after a conference day.
Cook at home: Every Old Vienna apartment includes a fully equipped kitchen. For exhibitors on tight schedules, preparing a quick dinner at home saves both time and money. The BILLA supermarket on Gonzagagasse is a two-minute walk from the building.
Old Vienna Apartments offer four apartment types to suit different needs:
The Duett (2 guests, 16-25 m², €45/night) is ideal for solo business travellers or couples. Compact, comfortable, and significantly cheaper than a hotel room near the venue.
The Comfort (3 guests, 30 m², €60/night) offers more space and a full living area - useful for spreading out work materials and preparing presentations.
The Quartett (4 guests, 40 m², €70/night) works well for small teams attending the same event. At €17.50 per person per night, it undercuts even budget hotels.
The Superior (6 guests, 60 m², €90/night) is the best choice for exhibition teams or groups. With 60 m² of space, there is room for team briefings, sample storage, and comfortable living. At €15 per person per night, it is an unbeatable value proposition for corporate travel budgets.
All apartments include free WiFi (essential for post-fair emails and follow-ups), a fully equipped kitchen, and self check-in that accommodates any arrival time.
Book a serviced apartment near Schottenring. 10 minutes to the venue, better dining, lower prices. From €45/night with kitchen, WiFi, and self check-in.
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