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Vienna - safety at night for solo female traveler

Posted by (Janesville WI, USA) on

Hello all ...

I will be traveling solo to Vienna the end of November/beginning of December as part of a Gate 1 tour group. Though the tour isn't specifically dedicated to Christmas markets, I hope to visit several during our unscheduled time, including one or more on the free evening that we have.

Questions 1: Will it be safe to visit alone at night as a 70-ish year-old woman? I suppose I could try to connect with someone else in the tour group, but that isn't my first choice.

Question 2: If it will be safe at night, which are the prettiest to see?

We'll be staying at the Hilton Vienna Park, which has fairly easy access to tram, bus and metro stops nearby.

Thanks ... Karen

Posted by
23650 posts

My response is the same as your question regarding Budapest. We were OK three summers back.

Posted by
539 posts

Vienna is very safe; especially the tourist areas. You’ll be safe and you’ll absolutely feel safe

Posted by
5513 posts

I am a female living in Vienna and I am often going around the city at night. As someone originally from the US, I can promise you that Vienna is vastly safer than any place in the US and you have no need for concern.

Please read my write up of the Christmas markets in Vienna - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/austria/a-local-s-take-on-15-christmas-markets-in-vienna-2019

After dark is when the markets come alive anyway. The most beautiful, in my opinion, are Spittelberg, Karlsplatz, Belvedere and Schonbrunn.

From your hotel, all of these markets are easy to access and Karlsplatz and Belvedere are very walkable.

Posted by
40 posts

Thanks for your responses, everyone. And Emily, your recap of the Christmas markets was especially helpful. I'd already planned on visiting Karlsplatz, so was glad to see it was your favorite.

Posted by
4874 posts

Note there are two Hiltons in Vienna, if you're not locked into that one I would recommend you seek out the Vienna Plaza. It's in the northern part of the city on the Ring in the Schottenring area, quiet and classy and the trams run right past the front door. Easy walk to Stephansplatz and the opera and all that stuff that tourists want.

It doesn't feel like a Hilton, apparently it was built as a hotel back 100 years ago and then Hilton took it over about 30 years ago. One of the best rooms I've ever had. When I saw the other Hilton from the tram, I knew I had made the right decision.

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