Stay just 1.2 km from Vienna's iconic Gothic masterpiece. Walk there in 15 minutes or take the U4 to Schwedenplatz and stroll the rest. From €45/night.
Stephansdom is the spiritual and geographic heart of Vienna. This Romanesque and Gothic cathedral has stood at Stephansplatz since the 12th century, with its famous South Tower (Steffl) rising 136.4 meters above the city. The tower's 343 steps reward climbers with a panoramic view stretching from the Vienna Woods to the Danube. The cathedral's multicolored tile roof, bearing the Habsburg double-headed eagle, is one of the most photographed sights in Austria.
Inside, visitors discover the Pilgram Pulpit - a masterpiece of late Gothic stonework carved by Anton Pilgram around 1515 - the catacombs containing the remains of thousands of Viennese, and the tomb of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The cathedral's Pummerin bell, cast from Ottoman cannons captured during the 1683 Siege of Vienna, is the largest bell in Austria at over 20 tonnes. Free organ concerts take place regularly, filling the vast nave with sound that dates back centuries of musical tradition.
Stephansplatz itself is Vienna's liveliest square, where street performers, horse-drawn Fiaker carriages, and the entrance to the U1 and U3 metro lines converge. The square is the starting point for the Graben and Kohlmarkt shopping streets, leading to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, and the narrow lanes of the old town radiate outward in every direction.
Hotels directly at Stephansplatz charge premium rates - often €200 to €500 per night for even modest rooms. Old Vienna Apartments at Herminengasse 12 puts you just 1.2 km away, in the charming Leopoldstadt district (Vienna's 2nd district), at a fraction of that cost. You get a fully equipped kitchen, free WiFi, and a self check-in system, plus pet-friendly policies - amenities that most Stephansplatz hotels simply do not offer at comparable prices.
The Leopoldstadt neighborhood around our apartments is a genuine Viennese residential area, far from the tourist-trap restaurants that line the streets around Stephansdom. You'll find authentic bakeries, Beisl (traditional Viennese pubs), and a thriving local food scene along Taborstrasse and Grosse Schiffgasse. This means you experience Vienna the way locals do, while the cathedral remains an easy walk or one-stop metro ride away.
Staying slightly outside the 1st district also means quieter nights. The streets around Stephansplatz can be noisy well past midnight, especially on weekends. At Herminengasse, you sleep peacefully in a historic 1872 building on a calm residential street, yet reach the action in minutes.
Exit the building and walk south on Herminengasse to Gonzagagasse. Turn right and continue straight, crossing the Danube Canal via the Marienbrucke or Schwedenbrucke. Once across, you enter the 1st district. Continue along Rotenturmstrasse, one of Vienna's main pedestrian shopping streets, and you'll arrive directly at Stephansplatz and the cathedral's main entrance. The walk is flat, scenic, and takes you through some of the city's most atmospheric streets.
Walk 1 minute to Schottenring station (U2/U4). Take the U4 towards Heiligenstadt or Hutteldorf one stop to Schwedenplatz. From Schwedenplatz, it's a 7-minute walk south along Rotenturmstrasse to Stephansdom. Alternatively, from Schwedenplatz you can transfer to the U1 towards Reumannplatz and ride one stop to Stephansplatz, which exits right at the cathedral. Either way, the total journey is about 10 minutes.
Figlmuller (Wollzeile 5): Vienna's most famous Schnitzel restaurant since 1905. The Schnitzel famously overhangs the plate. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner. Located just 2 minutes from the cathedral.
Cafe Diglas (Wollzeile 10): A traditional Viennese coffeehouse that has been serving Melange, Apfelstrudel, and Sachertorte since 1923. The interior retains its original Belle Epoque character with velvet seating and marble tables.
Lugeck (Lugeck 4): A modern Austrian restaurant in a historic building steps from Stephansplatz. Known for its Tafelspitz (boiled beef) and Austrian wines. The building itself dates back to the 15th century.
Zanoni & Zanoni (Lugeck 7): A Viennese institution for Italian gelato, open late into the night. Perfect for a post-dinner walk around the illuminated cathedral.
Zum Schwarzen Kameel (Bognergasse 5): An upscale delicatessen and restaurant operating since 1618. Their open-faced sandwiches (Brötchen) at the bar are legendary, and the adjacent restaurant serves refined Austrian cuisine.
| Destination | Distance | Walking | Public Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Stephen's Cathedral | 1.2 km | 15 min | 10 min (U4 + walk) |
| Schottenring Metro (U2/U4) | 100 m | 1 min | - |
| Schwedenplatz | 700 m | 9 min | 2 min (U4, 1 stop) |
| Danube Canal | 300 m | 4 min | - |
| Vienna International Airport | 20 km | - | 25 min (CAT from Wien Mitte) |
Fully equipped apartments from €45/night. Free WiFi, kitchen, pet-friendly. 1 minute to Schottenring Metro.
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