Travel + Leisure The readers of the magazine appreciated a certain style. Vienna hotels they voted for in this year’s “World’s Best Awards”: Sophisticated interiors and grand, historic buildings are notable themes. The votes were also influenced by the excellent service, and the central location of the Austrian capital.
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How voting works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 readers of T+L completed the survey for 2025. Over 657,000 votes were cast for over 8,700 different properties (hotels cities cruise lines etc.).).
Based on their location, hotels were classified into resort hotels, city hotels, inns, or safari lodges. They were also rated according to the following criteria:
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
The respondents were asked to rate each characteristic. They could select excellent, superior, average, inferior, or poor. The final scores are the averages of all these responses.
Hotel Bristol, Vienna
What Readers Really Loved
The T+L reader’s favorite Vienna hotels have several similarities. All five—three of which were also on last year’s list—are in Vienna’s city center, close to attractions such as the Gothic Stephansdom cathedral. They have classic, elegant styles, some behind historic 19th-century façades. One T+L reader said, “Our room looked out over buildings that were like a fantasy,” about the Park Hyatt Vienna. 5). The personal service factor was also taken into consideration:[The] Hotel Sacher Vienna is No. 2 in the T+L Reader’s poll, up from fourth place last year. This year, Hotel Sacher Vienna ranked No. 2, an increase from its fourth-place ranking last year.
The Winner
Hotel Bristol, A Luxury Collection Hotel in Vienna
Hotel Bristol, Vienna
From its “amazing staff” to its “perfect location”—bang opposite the Wiener Staatsoper, the Vienna State Opera—Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna is T+L readers’ favorite hotel for the second year in a row. The property, which was opened in 1892 retains its historic grandeur and elegance. But that doesn’t mean it has to be left in the past—the hotel is currently closed for major renovations and is due to reopen at the end of 2027.
The Complete List
1. Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Vienna
Reader Score: 95.93
2. Hotel Sacher Vienna
Reader Score: 93.67
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna
Reader Score: 91.3
4. Hilton Vienna Plaza
Reader Score 88.00
5. Park Hyatt Vienna
Reader Score: 86.40%
