Westbahnhof / Mariahilfer Strasse

Motel One Wien-Westbahnhof

★★★★★

Motel One Wien-Westbahnhof is the best-value reliable base for travellers who want to spend their money on concerts, cake and museums rather than on the room. Part of the German design-budget chain, it sits on Europaplatz at the Westbahnhof, the historic western railway station, at the top of Mariahilfer Strasse, Vienna's longest and liveliest shopping street, in the 15th district on the border with the 6th and 7th. The formula is simple and well executed: compact rooms of around 16 square metres, called The One, with a comfortable double bed, a good rain shower and a flat-screen TV, plus slightly larger Family One rooms of around 20 square metres and accessible rooms. The design is better than the price suggests: this Motel One takes its inspiration from the MuseumsQuartier and the mumok modern art museum, with bright colours, unusual furniture and works by the Viennese artist Thomas Draschan throughout the reception, the breakfast area, the bar and the rooms. The One Lounge serves drinks and snacks into the evening and doubles as a place to work, with a large workbench table. Breakfast is a buffet with organic products and Fairtrade coffee, served from early morning on weekdays and later at weekends. The location is excellent for getting around: the Westbahnhof is a hub for the U3 and U6 underground lines, trams and regional trains, so the Old Town, the MuseumsQuartier and Schonbrunn are all a short ride away, and Mariahilfer Strasse leads on foot down to the MuseumsQuartier in about 20 minutes. Rates are among the lowest for a quality hotel in Vienna. The trade-offs are small rooms, a busy station setting rather than a romantic one, and a self-service style rather than personal attention.

The rooms and the formula: Motel One's rooms are designed so that nothing is missing and nothing is wasted. The beds are good, the showers strong, the soundproofing solid, and the rooms are clean and quiet. Family One rooms work for a couple with a child. There are no minibars or room service, but the lounge bar is open late and the station area has plenty of supermarkets and food options. Book early for the lowest rates, which rise in December and during big events.

Breakfast and the lounge: the breakfast buffet is generous for the price, with organic options and good coffee, and it is optional, so you can skip it for a coffee-house breakfast in the city instead. The One Lounge, with its art and colourful furniture, is a pleasant place for a drink or to plan the next day, and some rooms and public areas look out over the garden side.

Location: the Westbahnhof sits at the top of Mariahilfer Strasse, which is largely pedestrianised and lined with shops, cafés, with the Haus des Meeres aquarium, set in a wartime flak tower, a short detour off the street. The U3 runs directly to Volkstheater, Stephansplatz and the Old Town, and the U6 runs north and south along the Guertel; Schonbrunn is a short tram or underground ride away. Choose this Motel One for an efficient, stylish budget base with excellent transport, and spend the savings on a night at the opera.