Like a lot of European cities, Vienna, Austria, has recently made moves to restrict private home rentals within the city by charging taxes and leveraging fines against residents who are cashing in on their extra space. While hosts may have to think twice about listing their places online, it’s fair game for travelers, who can score a room in a local home for as low as $10/night. Entire place rentals average around $80—but if money isn’t a concern, you can rent an entire palace for about $3,000/night. Here are 10 of our favorite rentals for under $100.
1. Simple studio 2. Design-forward studio apartment 3. Manfred’s apartment 4. Vienna-Heights studio 5. Friseierzimmer Grey art loft 6. Newly built apartment 7. Margarita Bird’s Nest loft 8. Freihausviertel apartment 9. Colorful flat 10. Fifth-floor apartment
Erica Jackson Curran is a former alt-weekly editor turned moonlight freelancer based in Richmond, Virginia.
1 of 10
Starting our list on the low end of the budget, this simple studio averages just $38/night. The bed is in a corner of the room separated by curtains, and the rest of the space is comprised of a spankin' new kitchen, a small table, a sitting area, and a bathroom with a heated floor. Host Clara lives next door, and she'll direct you to the best shops and restaurants in the apartment's village-like Ober St. Viet neighborhood, which has its own U-Bahn (metro) station that'll take you the 15 minutes to the center of town.
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Located above the hosts' artsy boutique, this design-forward studio apartment has a large four-poster bed, an efficiency kitchen, and a balcony. It's in the center of town one minute from the Karlsplatz station, and also close to Kärntner Straße, the city's most famous shopping street, plus Old Town, St. Stephan's Cathedral, and Belvedere Palace.
3 of 10
Manfred's apartment in the hip Seventh District has a kitchenette with an oven and cooktop as wells as a bathroom with a towel warmer. The host owns two typical Viennese restaurants nearby, making it easy to meet with guests and share his local expertise. It's close to the Naschmarkt, a huge food- and antiques-filled market that's been around since the 1600s, and it's a five-minute walk from the U-Bahn.
4 of 10
The Vienna-Heights studio is on the top floor of a turn-of-the-century villa on the edge of town. With a bed and fold-out couch, there's room for four guests, and there's also a fully equipped kitchenette, a dining table, and a terrace with views of the city. Coffee, milk, and cereal are provided. The city is a 20-minute bus ride away.
5 of 10
The Friseierzimmer Grey art loft is part of a complex of rentals in a 19th-century building in the central Sixth District. The uniquely designed apartment has a bonsai garden in the center, as well as a restored painting on the wall from when the space was used as a hairdresser's shop. The large couch folds out to a bed for extra guests, and there's a little coffee prep area, but no kitchen.
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This newly built apartment in Ober St. Viet has a bright, modern feel thanks to a large bank of windows on one side. The bedroom is in a separate room, and there's a good-sized kitchen and bathroom, plus an open living and dining area. Guests also have access to a terrace and a shared courtyard. It's five minutes from the U-Bahn.
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The Margarita Bird's Nest loft is a renovated studio on the fourth floor (no elevator) of a historic building in Vienna's central Fifth District. A wooden structure separates the different areas of the space, including the living area, bathroom, and kitchen. The bed is located on top of the structure, giving the feel of sleeping in a modern treehouse. It's in the vibrant, cobblestoned Margaretenplatz area near the Naschmarkt.
8 of 10
Averaging less than $50/night, this apartment is in the trendy Freihausviertel neighborhood in the city center. There's a bedroom with a king-sized bed, plus a pull-out couch, air mattress, toddler bed, and crib available. There's a separate living room with a dining table, plus a separate kitchen. It's near several U-Bahn lines, making it easy to get anywhere in the city via underground.
9 of 10
This colorful flat has a cool midcentury vibe, with vintage furniture and accents throughout. The roomy open-plan kitchen is the perfect place to prep meals with local ingredients from the nearby Kamelitermarkt. The Donaukanal (Danube Canal) and the Augarten (a large public park) are also a quick walk away. Past guests call the apartment "peaceful" and "superbly located."
10 of 10
A wood-burning stove keeps this fifth-floor apartment feeling cozy. The kitchen is well-stocked with everything needed to prepare a meal, and the bedroom has a wardrobe with plenty of storage space. It's close to the Danube Canal, plus markets and cafes. There's also a washer and dryer in the apartment.