Vienna’s top eco-hotels

When it comes to ecological and social sustainability, Vienna’s accommodation providers have implemented many innovative ideas. Here is a selection of them.

Green through and through

• Gilbert

The Gilbert, with its green façade, is part of the cityscape in the hip seventh district. The greenery on the outside helps reduce noise, clean the air, and naturally cool the building – keeping the façade up to 20°C cooler. It also provides a home for bees and birds. Inside, plenty of plants also ensure a healthy indoor climate. Leftover food from the in-house restaurant &flora can be “rescued” at a low price via the Too Good To Go app.

Hotel Gilbert was awarded the title of Best Sustainable Accommodation in Central Europe in the European tourism sustainability prize "GrINN Awards 2022".

• Zeitgeist Vienna

There are many reasons to choose the Zeitgeist Vienna close to Vienna Central Station – and sustainability is definitely one of the most important. Among other things, the hotel focuses on durable materials such as wood, water-saving rain showers, and regional, seasonal ingredients in the restaurant. The hotel’s own photovoltaic system also contributes to its supply of 100% green electricity. Bikes for exploring the city with low emissions can be borrowed free of charge. 

• The Wood

The Wood on the Mariahilfer Gürtel is unique: the walls, the ceilings, and the floor are made of solid wood. 1,500 spruce trees from sustainably managed forests provided the building material for the hotel, bringing a forest feel to the city. Straw was used for insulation. Materials for renovations have been secured, of course, because in exchange for the building materials, 1,500 new saplings were donated to the Vienna Woods for reforestation. Add to that the smart modular construction method, which allowed the entire hotel – all 50 units – to be assembled in just six nights.

With the Vienna City Card, you get a 20% discount on your overnight stay in Vienna at many eco-certified partner hotels.

See the Hotels

• Bio-Hotel Schani Wienblick

On Vienna’s western edge is the Bio-Hotel Schani Wienblick. Away from it all, but not cut off – you can reach the city centre in 25 minutes. The hotel holds both the Österreichisches Umweltzeichen and the Europäisches Umweltzeichen. The breakfast buffet is almost exclusively organic. Fairtrade is also a priority for hot and cold drinks, as well as for bed linen and towels. Thanks to its location, the view over Vienna is a dream. The perfect location for hikes, jogging routes or a trip to the Vienna Woods. Bikes for the most scenic cycling tours are available directly at the hotel. A small playground makes it family-friendly.

Sustainability in the city center

• Hotel Sacher

The legendary Hotel Sacher in Vienna has been connected to Wien Energie’s district cooling network since April 2024. Wien Energie uses waste heat from industry, combined heat and power plants, or waste incineration to produce district cooling. Compared to conventional air-conditioning units, central cooling generation requires four to ten times less primary energy, saves space, is quiet, and remains visually unobtrusive, making it a smart cooling solution. Hotel Sacher is now supplied with 1.4 megawatts of cooling capacity (equivalent to the output of around 400 conventional air-conditioning units). This saves 70 tonnes of CO₂ every year.

• Magdas Hotel

The magdas Hotel in the Third District is run as a social business. You can really feel it, and it’s even backed up by figures. Over 60% of the team had limited access to the labour market. More than 100 people with a refugee background have already started their professional careers here, and a total of more than 24 different native languages are spoken.

And ecological sustainability is not neglected either: 18 geothermal probes at a depth of 140 metres cool or heat the building. Peak demand is covered with green electricity or photovoltaics. Guests who arrive by train, or even by bike, receive a discount on their stay. The old furniture from the former priests’ residence has been restored to its former glory or repurposed – for example, the new bar is made from the old reception desk and the old confessional. In cooperation with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, the parking spaces were turned into a small garden oasis where guests can enjoy their breakfast. 

• Henriette Stadthotel

The Stadthotel Henriette is located on Praterstraße, right in the heart of the city. Nearly 170 environmental and social initiatives are implemented across all areas of the hotel. This reduces the carbon footprint to 1.28 kg per night – compared to the industry average of 10.77 kg. One example? Circular economy! Many carpets are made from old fishing nets recovered from the world’s oceans. Some vanity tops in the bathrooms used to be fridges.

In addition, the family-run hotel is the first with a Common Good Balance Sheet and the ECOnGOOD seal for the Economy for the Common Good. This is built on four major value pillars: human dignity, solidarity and justice, ecological sustainability, and transparency and shared decision-making. The goal is a good life for all living beings and the planet, supported by a common-good-oriented economic system. No wonder you sleep especially well in bed linen made from 100% organic cotton and organic linen.

• The Harmonie Vienna

Guests with allergies receive special attention at The Harmonie Vienna. This includes dedicated allergy-friendly rooms, plants grown in hydroponics, no carpets, and fragrance-free, hypoallergenic skincare products. The hotel meets the criteria for the European Allergy Label as well as those for the Austrian and European Ecolabels. Guests who choose to have daily room cleaning kept to a minimum are supporting the next generation of dancers at the Vienna State Ballet.

• Hotel Wilhelmshof

Hot water generation and cooling at the Hotel Wilhelmshof work without fossil fuels, using a groundwater heat pump and solar thermal energy. This has reduced energy consumption by a whopping 75% – and the neighbouring residential building is supplied as well. This effort has been awarded by the Austrian Ministry for the Environment with the Environment Management Prize 2021 for the best measures for protecting the environment and climate. Wild bees, ladybugs, and other insects are also thriving in the two insect hotels that have been set up.

Sustainable hotels in Vienna

Hotel Zeitgeist Vienna Hauptbahnhof