Venice Simplon-Orient-Express

Hotels in Vienna

Vienna's hotels reflect the city itself: imperial in scale, rich in history, and polished in their service. A selection of exceptional properties to combine with a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, from grand palaces on the Ringstrasse to a quietly distinguished retreat close to the Belvedere.

Star Ratings and Room Categories

Star ratings are the official Austrian classifications. All prices shown in individual holiday itineraries include a room in the standard category indicated. Upgrades to higher categories and suites are available on request. Please call us on 0333 405 0192 to discuss options and current availability.

Hotel Imperial, Vienna, on the Ringstrasse

★★★★★

Hotel Imperial

Luxury Collection

The Hotel Imperial is one of the great palace hotels of Europe, a building whose history and setting are as important as its accommodation. It was built in 1863 as the Vienna residence of the Prince of Wurttemberg and was transformed into a hotel for the Universal Exhibition in 1873, when Emperor Franz Joseph inaugurated it personally. It stands on the Ringstrasse, the magnificent boulevard of grand public buildings that encircles Vienna's historic centre, with the Musikverein concert hall immediately behind it and the Vienna State Opera a five-minute walk away. A member of Marriott's Luxury Collection, it has been a symbol of Viennese imperial hospitality for over 150 years.

The 160 rooms include over 59 suites, all furnished with precious antiques, silk-covered walls and marble bathrooms in the style of nineteenth-century Vienna. Suite guests receive a personal butler service. Restaurant OPUS holds 4 Toques from the Gault&Millau Austria guide for 2026 and 2 Michelin Keys from the 2025 Michelin Guide, placing it among the most recognised hotel restaurants in Austria. Cafe Imperial maintains the tradition of a classic Viennese coffee house, with the hotel's famous Imperialtorte among its specialities. The Imperial Bar serves cocktails to live piano music in the evenings. A rooftop fitness centre and sauna are open 24 hours. Vienna Westbahnhof, where the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express calls, is approximately 10 minutes by taxi.

Hotel Sacher Wien, Vienna

★★★★★

Hotel Sacher Wien

Five Star

The Sacher is one of the most famous hotels in the world and, unlike many hotels that carry a great reputation, it continues to deserve it. Opened in 1876 by Eduard Sacher and privately owned by the Sacher family ever since, it stands directly opposite the Vienna State Opera, next to the Kärntner Strasse, the principal shopping street of Vienna's first district. It was ranked in The World's 50 Best Hotels 2025 and holds 3 Michelin Keys from the 2025 Michelin Guide, the hotel equivalent of Michelin Stars. The interiors, redesigned by Pierre-Yves Rochon, blend warm tones, velvet, parquet floors, marble bathrooms and crystal chandeliers with an original collection of paintings and antiques that makes every corridor worth exploring.

The 152 rooms are individually furnished, each with a character entirely its own. Notable guests over the years have included Emperor Franz Joseph, JFK, Queen Elizabeth II and John Lennon, who staged a peace performance in one of the suites. Café Sacher is the home of the original Sachertorte, the chocolate cake that has been made here to a recipe kept secret since 1832 and is among the most protected culinary preparations in Austria. The Rote Bar and the Grüne Bar serve international and traditional Viennese cuisine. The Blaue Bar is one of the most atmospheric bars in Vienna. The Sacher Spa offers massages, beauty and wellness treatments. Karlsplatz Metro station is 300 metres away, giving direct connections across the city and to the main railway station.

Hotel Altstadt Vienna, Spittelberg quarter

★★★★

Hotel Altstadt Vienna

Small Luxury Hotels

The Altstadt is a privately owned boutique hotel in the Spittelberg quarter of Vienna's 7th district, one of the most characterful and genuinely Viennese neighbourhoods in the city. The MuseumsQuartier, one of the largest museum and cultural complexes in the world, is a five-minute walk. The Volkstheater U-Bahn station is moments away, giving easy access to the Ringstrasse, the State Opera and the rest of the city. What the Altstadt offers is something the grand Ringstrasse hotels cannot: a neighbourhood that feels lived in, with independent restaurants, galleries and coffee houses on the doorstep.

The hotel occupies a renovated historic building and its 61 rooms are each individually decorated, the interiors drawing on the owner's substantial collection of contemporary art. No two rooms are the same: some are classic in style, others more modern, but all share parquet floors, high ceilings and the kind of thoughtful detail that only a privately run hotel tends to deliver. Breakfast is served each morning in the Red Salon. Every afternoon, tea and homemade cake are laid out beside the open fireplace at no charge, a small gesture that guests tend to remember. There is a well-stocked honesty bar, and from May to September the rooftop terrace opens with views across the Vienna rooftops. The atmosphere throughout is quiet, personal and entirely without the formality of the larger five-star properties. It is an excellent choice for those who want to explore the real Vienna rather than simply the tourist circuit.

Vienna Journeys on the VSOE

Overnight Train

Paris to Vienna

The VSOE stops at Vienna Westbahnhof on both the Paris to Budapest and Budapest to Paris routes. From £4,275 per person.

 Overnight Train

Paris to Prague via Vienna

The Paris to Prague route also calls at Vienna, giving a midday stop in the Austrian capital. From £4,275 per person.

 Destination Guide

About Vienna

Our guide to Vienna: the Ringstrasse, the opera houses, the coffee houses, the Belvedere and what makes the imperial capital worth more than one visit.

 Departure Dates

VSOE Vienna Timetable

View all 2026 and 2027 departure dates for VSOE journeys calling at Vienna Westbahnhof.
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