The top 10 most promising districts in Vienna to purchase real estate

6th District – Mariahilf

Mariahilf borders the central district on the western side. It is located to the north of Mariahilferstrasse, the city's main shopping street that runs from Innere Stadt to Penzing. This street is very popular with young people and shoppers, and features flagship stores by famous international brands, as well as lots of trendy cafés.

The eastern part of the 6th district, near Lastenstrasse, is a bohemian quarter with elegant apartments and studios. This area is the heart of Vienna's nightlife, offering a wide range of hip bars and restaurants.

The Haus des Meeres, an oceanarium with 10,000 species of sea and plant life, Vienna's first musical theatre, Raimund Theater, and several museums can all be found in the 6th district. 

The neighbourhood is a great choice for families with children as there are small parks, schools, hospitals and playgrounds nearby. The city centre can be reached by car or public transport in just 15 minutes.

Housing in the Mariahilf district starts at an average price of EUR 7,901 per square metre. 

7th District – Neubau

Neubau borders Innere Stadt and has quite a lot in common with the 6th district. It is located along the Mariahilferstrasse shopping street and has a good reputation as a trendy district, with excellent nightlife and cultural events. It features upscale restaurants, bars and clubs.

Art lovers will find plenty of things to do in the 7th district. The Museum Quarter is home to a wide range of cultural sites, such as the famous Leopold Museum, where you can see works by Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

The social infrastructure here consists of several well-regarded kindergartens.

The average price per square metre in Neubau is EUR 8,868.

9th District – Alsergrund

The 9th district of Alsergrund is often referred to as the student and doctor district. It is home to the famous University of Vienna (Universität Wien) campus, the Medical University of Vienna (Medizinische Universität Wien), many hospitals, including the Allgemeines Krankenhaus (AKH) der Stadt Wien, and many schools and kindergartens.

This neighbourhood is lined with picturesque cobblestone streets and offers many historical and cultural sights to visit.  The most notable ones are the Sigmund Freud Museum, located in the famous psychotherapist’s former flat, and the Votivkirche, a Catholic church dating back to the late 19th century. 

Alsergrund also borders the 1st district and is located just north of the centre – it can be reached in 15 minutes by car or 25 minutes by public transport. If you prefer to walk to Innere Stadt, it will take just over half an hour.

You can buy a property in Alsergrund for an average price of EUR 8,420 per square metre. 

13th District – Hietzing

The 13th district, located in the west of Vienna, is the ideal place for those who want to live a quiet and measured life surrounded by picturesque old buildings, nature and parks – green spaces cover more than 70 percent of the area. The Lainzer Tiergarten is Vienna's second largest park after Prater, and offers hiking trails, an observation tower, museums and a restaurant. Another popular attraction is the former summer residence of the emperors – the lavish 18th-century Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) with its gardens and labyrinth.

There are many office buildings, schools and kindergartens in the area. It takes half an hour by car or 45 minutes by public transport to get from Hietzing to the centre of the capital.

Families with children will find plenty of spacious property options here, with both apartments and detached houses available for purchase. This elite neighbourhood is particularly famous for its old luxury villas. The average price per square metre in the 13th district is EUR 8,349, while residences that are 130 sq. m or bigger will see prices around EUR 11,102 per square metre. 

18th District – Währing

Währing is a prestigious neighbourhood with luxury real estate located in the north-west of the city next to the Vienna Woods. It is one of the greenest districts in the city as it is home to the Pötzleinsdorfer Park with English-style landscaping, Türkenschanzpark, Schubertpark and Währingerpark.

The area has an excellent infrastructure with a wide range of theatres, restaurants and traditional wine taverns. One of the most popular local attractions is the gorgeous Geymüllerschlössel Castle. The centre of the capital can be reached in 20 minutes by car or half an hour by public transport.

The 18th district is an ideal location for families – the neighbourhood is home to many educational institutions, including the prestigious Amadeus International School Vienna.

Währing is part of the Cottageviertel village and features some of the most expensive housing in Vienna. In addition to charming period villas there are ultra-luxury residences and apartment complexes in both new and historic buildings.

Währing is the second most expensive district after Innere Stadt in terms of price per square metre, reaching an average of EUR 9,683.

19th District – Döbling

Döbling is another upscale family neighbourhood that offers premium country living. To the west, it borders the picturesque hills of the Vienna Woods, which is famous for its vineyards and wineries and is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll. 

The Grinzing and Nussdorf neighbourhoods are known for their ancient taverns serving local young wine. Popular attractions in Döbling include the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg mountains, which have lookouts offering stunning views of the city. The Wien Museum Beethoven Museum, which operates in the composer's former flat, is also located here. 

The 19th district is located northwest of the centre of Vienna – you can reach the 1st district in 20 minutes by car or in 35-40 minutes by public transport.

Döbling is particularly popular with families due to its many international schools, such as The American International School Vienna. You can buy any one of the spacious villas here surrounded by greenery and tranquillity – the perfect environment to live in with your children.

The 19th district is third highest in terms of property prices. The average cost is EUR 8,946 per square metre. 

23rd District – Liesing

Liesing is a large district with affordable real estate located to the south of the capital in the outskirts of the city. It has residential, industrial and commercial real estate for purchase. There are also old houses, vineyards, orchards and woodlands. This area has high investment potential thanks to the large amount of land available for development.

Liesing is home to many Heurigens, or traditional Austrian taverns. The most famous sights in the 23rd district are the Trinity Church (Kirche Zur Heiligsten Dreifaltigkeit), with its original architecture, and the stunning Schloss Lieser castle.

You can quickly reach other picturesque towns close to Vienna from the 23rd district. The spa towns of Baden and Bad Vöslau, and the quaint villages of Perchtoldsdorf and Medling are just a few examples. 

Westfield Shopping City Süd (SCS), one of Vienna's largest shopping centres, is just 10 minutes away by car, and offers a wealth of shops and entertainment.

Thanks to the green areas and several available schools, the 23rd district can be a good option for families with children. Innere Stadt can be reached in 25 minutes by car or 30-50 minutes by public transport.

The price of one square metre in Liesing is EUR 5,835.

Conclusions

Vienna's best districts can be found in close proximity to the city centre. The most prestigious district with the most expensive real estate is the central Innere Stadt, where many of the iconic landmarks and business centres are located. The second and third most expensive districts are Währing and Döbling, respectively. These are Vienna's prime neighbourhoods for families with children due to the many green areas and prestigious international schools in the vicinity. The most budget-friendly option is the 23rd district of Liesing. This can also be an excellent choice for families and for professionals who work in the industrial areas located here.

Every district in Vienna has an excellent public transport network, so even the most remote areas are still less than an hour from the city centre. If you choose to go by car, the drive to the centre of Vienna will take no more than half an hour.