//
8th District of Vienna in Austria
Photo: Michael Kranewitter, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Josefstadt is the 8th district of Vienna. It is bounded on the north side by Alser Straße, by the "2er Linie" on the east, Lerchenfelder Straße on the south, and the Gürtel on the west.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The palace was built in the early 18th century, and expanded in the late 18th century under the ownership of Prince Adam von Auersperg. Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach drew up the first plans; later designs are attributed to Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. In 1945 the Austrian resistance group O5 (meaning OE = Oesterreich) met here. Historically it has always been a center for music, hosting many celebrations and balls. Today various events are organised here.
Zum Stroblkopf
The palace changed hands frequently, with each owner making their own adaptations to the building. The central sections date from the early 18th century, while the second floor was a later addition.
This impressive Baroque palace was built in 1706-1711 following the designs of Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. It houses the Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art (Museum für Volkskunde) (see listing below).
The palace was built in 1702, and once had a garden that extended to Pfeilgasse. Renovations in 1996 led to the rediscovery of old paintings dating to the period of the building's construction.
Piaristenkirche
The Baroque church Maria Treu was probably designed by Lukas von Hildebrandt. The church has eight chapels and is decorated with frescoes made by Franz Anton Maulbertsch. It is considered as an important religious building of its time. In 1949 it was elevated to Basilica minor.
Shoe Museum
The only museum of its kind in Austria, with displays focusing on the history of shoemaking.
The Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art
Founded in 1895 and housed in the Schönborn Garden Palace, this museum is dedicated to preserving the traditional folk art of Austria and of central Europe, with rotating exhibits as well as a permanent display. There is a museum library and gift shop onsite, and guided tours are available in German, English, and Slovak.
Kletterzentrum Gebirgsverein
A small climbing gym inside Vienna has walls in an indoor court, in the cellar, and more upstairs. The gym offers courses for various ages and climbing experience, with highly-motivated trainers and climbers. The boulders are known to be very demanding on endurance, and there are some special circuits set up upstairs. Every autumn they organise a friendly boulder competition.
Die Josefstadt
Opened in 1776, this is the oldest continually-operating theater in Vienna. At its reopening following a remodeling in 1822 Beethoven directed his commissioned piece Die Weihe des Hauses (The Consecration of the House). Since 1858, it has focused exclusively on theater, and music is no longer performed here. Famous cast members have included Johann Nestroy, Otto Schenk, and Klaus Maria Brandenauer.
The oldest English-language theatre in continental Europe. Tickets can be purchased online.
Student's place. Nice breakfast, live music every day starting about 21:00.
One of the best tapas bars in Vienna. Both the cold and warm tapas are excellent, and one can choose from amongst 90 wines.
Sri Lankan restaurant with a good range of vegetarian dishes. Free WiFi.
The vegan restaurant cooks local ingredients.
This Italian restaurant serves pizza fired in a stone oven. It has a nice view of the Maria Treu plaza, with outdoor seating in the summer.
The delicious aromas of garlic and grilled fish invite the passerby into this Croatian seafood restaurant.
An Austrian Beisl that serves good food and even some vegetarian options.
Wilhelm Schnattl
For more than 25 years the restaurant has been serving Viennese and international cuisine of a high standard.
A small new fancy underground restaurant, with a rotating roster of young chefs who prepare freely-improvised dishes. A special feature is the surprise menu (Überraschungsmenu), where you can choose the ingredients of your meal, but not the manner of preparation.
Cute little coffee place sells mostly organic products. Serves breakfast, gallettes, and crêpes.
This café has been operating since 1840, when the building was completed. The interior dates from the last redesign in 1933.
A very popular café that has been redecorated. It serves good food with many vegetarian options for fair prices and typical Austrian desserts like "Topfen-knöderl" or "Powiderl-Tascherl". Free Wi-Fi. Most of the places are non-smoking.
On Saturdays and Sundays offers breakfast almost all day. Due to its good prices it is a popular hang-out for students. Has Wi-Fi access.
A tiny coffee gem in Vienna, easily overlooked by passersby, with very skilled baristas.
Hidden away in a former Catholic sacristy, this café offers fair trade and special roasted coffee. Serves espresso and many of the newer filtered coffee styles.
Many bars and music-oriented venues are under the elevated subway tracks.
The bar also serves as a venue for hip hop and modern music concerts.
Serving a wide range of international beers, this popular place is often fully-packed.
Rhiz promotes experimental music for an alternative audience; it's well worth checking out the online program of upcoming concerts. This bar tends to be particularly smoky.
The house was built in the Biedermeier Epoche style in 1824/1825 and is registered as a historic monument; it has been run as a hotel since 1897. 39 singles and doubles with bath with shower/WC, hair dryer, clothesline, SAT-Flatscreen-TV, radio, telephone and free WLAN in the entire hotel.
The hotel is located on a quiet side street. It provides free Wi-Fi and has a small basement garage for cars.
Rents apartments on a quiet street behind the city hall (Rathaus). All apartments have a usable small kitchen; the two-room apartments have separated living rooms and bedrooms. Perfectly suitable for families.
The Jugendstil hotel in the centre of Vienna is a family-run business, and offers special rates for families.
The centrally-located boutique hotel has a beautiful atrium and the Nemtoi Restaurant-Bar. Has free Wi-Fi, as well as fitness and spa rooms.
The seasonal products are to be ordered online until Tuesday morning and can be picked up on Fridays. The shop sells special bread, vegetables, cheese and wines.
Vegan clothing and accessories.
Austria's Finest Whisky Shop
The shop offers a huge selection (1000 different single malts), with good advice on choosing whisky. It also offers interesting or not so common whiskey-chocolate combinations.
The shop sells a variety fine wines from Lower Austria, including from the regions of Wachau, Langenlois, and Retz. They really know their selection – don't hesitate to ask for recommendations.
The underground lines is available on the eastern border and the on the western. The trams 2 and 5 and the bus 13A cross Josefstadt.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Vienna · International · VIE
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Josefstadt and Austria.
Travel tipsUnderstand travel insurance for a Schengen visa in 2026. Learn mandatory €30,000 medical coverage, zero deductible rules, and embassy-approved policies.
7 min read
ItinerariesDiscover Innsbruck in winter and summer. Compare Alpine skiing, Nordkette cable cars, Old Town palaces, summer hiking trails, and transit passes.
7 min read
InspirationDiscover the best Christmas markets in Europe, comparing opening dates, hotel costs, train connections and the mug deposit system across top cities.
8 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.