Contemporary Vienna has a reputation for stately charm, bolstered by baroque architectural splendour, imperial pomp and old churches in which Mozart arias still tickle the ears. Marie Antoinette, Hedy Lamarr and Maria von Trapp were born here. But beneath its oxidized copper surface, the Austrian capital is hiding a little secret. Queerness is part of its tradition. Behind the sophistication, there’s mischief and inclusivity.
Geographically speaking, Vienna, which has a metro population of 2.9 million, is the heart of Europe, bridging the gap between Western Europe and more conservative Eastern strongholds like Budapest and Bratislava.
Though Austria as a whole occasionally lags behind its northern and western neighbours in terms of protecting queer rights, its LGBTQ+ history is a colourful one. Emperor Charles VI (1685–1740) was rumoured to have had an intimate friendship with Count Michael Johann Althan III, who was one of the closest members of the Emperor’s inner circle. Charles lavished several Vienna palaces on Althan, allegedly so that the two men could remain near each other.
In the late 1800s, Archduke Ludwig Viktor, brother of the emperor, was a frequent visitor to the Centralbad swimming pool and caused a public scandal when he was slapped for making sexual advances on a military officer. (Today Centralbad is the gay sauna Kaiserbründl, a development Ludwig Viktor would have certainly appreciated.)
Around the fin de siècle (1890s–1910s), Vienna was a city of experimentation in art, psychology and sexuality. Whether you love or hate the ideas of Sigmund Freud—the Oedipus Complex, the Pleasure Principle and the interpretation of dreams—they were mostly developed in Vienna. In 1930, trailblazing German physician, sexologist and early LGBTQ+ activist Magnus Hirschfeld hosted one of his Congress for Sexual Reform on the Basis of Sexual Science here, calling for greater openness around ideas of sexuality.
Despite tolerance of an emerging queer culture, the law was not always on our side. In 1852, Paragraph 129 of the Austrian Penal Code criminalized same-sex sexual acts, a policy that was made even harsher in 1938, when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany and queers were actively persecuted. Homosexuality remained a crime until 1971. Decriminalization led to the rise of Austria’s LGBTQ+ rights movement in the 1970s, with the country adopting full marriage equality, adoption rights and anti-discrimination protections in 2019. Though the policy making was slow by Western European standards, Austrian culture certainly became queerer. Bearded genderqueer performer Conchita Wurst won the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song “Rise Like a Phoenix,” one of the more memorable wins in the history of the competition.
The local queer scene is as multifaceted as the extravagant ornamentation on Vienna’s public buildings. Among historic restaurants where revolutionary intellectuals once debated the merits of communism, there are now scrappy queer coffeehouses and divalicious clubs where Viennese tradition meets Drag Race viewing parties. Why Not, one of the oldest gay clubs in Central Europe, is packed every weekend, while newer venues experiment with techno and arthouse performances.
Vienna is known for its ball season, where society’s elite attend a series of OTT parties from New Year’s to the beginning of the Christian holiday of Lent. There are as many as 450 balls, some more relaxed and open to visitors than others. This tradition of dressing up and being fabulous has, of course, been embraced by the queer community. The annual Vienna Pride festival in the spring is a fixture of the queer calendar, as are Wiener Regenbogenball, aka Winter Rainbow Ball, usually held in January; Wien in Schwarz, aka Vienna in Black fetish festival in November; and Diversity Ball, typically held in the fall. The newly opened Qwien centre hosts queer exhibitions and operates LGBTQ-themed tours throughout the city.
While all of central Vienna is queer-friendly, some districts reign supreme. The Naschmarkt area has lively bars with bustling market stalls and homoerotic art exhibitions. Neubau is the hipster heart of Vienna, with galleries and independent shops. Leopoldstadt, separated from downtown by the Danube Canal, also has a growing queer presence.
Vienna has a lot of non-queer reasons to visit. There is the aforementioned baroque splendour, seen in the Hofburg Imperial Palace, Karlskirche, Schonbrunn Palace and Belvedere. The city also has some iconic cuisine, including Wiener schnitzel (pan-fried veal), Sachertorte (chocolate cake lined with apricot jam), Kaiserschmarrn (sugar-dusted pancakes) and apple strudel. The coffee house culture is also addictive, cultivating a picture-perfect setting for flirting, hangover recovery and even more flirting.
Known as the city of music, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, Mahler and Strauss lived and worked here. The Vienna Boys’ Choir, dating back to 1498, still performs regularly. Great stuff if it’s to your musical tastes. But in the bars and clubs, visitors will hear the pop and dance music they expect from trendy gay venues.
Vienna is easy to navigate, thanks to scarily efficient public transport, which operates on the honour system. Though there are kiosks for scanning metro tickets, locals walk right past them, knowing full well that they have bought their tickets and are thus guiltless in the eyes of the law. Officials check tickets once every blue moon. In fact, the idea of someone not following the rules is foreign to the Viennese. If they see someone standing still on the wrong side of the escalator, it’s possible that person will get yelled at. Same if they see someone jaywalking while the little electronic walking man is still red. If they see someone eating French fries on a bench that’s specifically reserved for people who are eating hot dogs (a real situation in Vienna), locals might assume that person has lost their mind and report them to Interpol.
Though mainstream Vienna can be a little uptight, even when dealing with visitors, that’s much less true of the city’s queer denizens. While they’re watching you wait for the little electronic walking man to turn green, they may very well be checking you out.
Pride
Vienna Pride (usually late May/early June; 2026 dates TBD). As many as 300,000 partiers turn up for the city’s Pride festival, which includes a parade and a Pride village with booths from LGBTQ+ organizations, artists, info stalls, workshops, performances and food vendors, as well as many other events over a roughly two-week period.
What to see and do
Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum (Michaelerkuppel, Vienna). The Empress Elizabeth, or Sisi for short, is one of the most tragic and beautiful women in Austrian history, and thus an unofficial gay icon. Her life was so dramatic, it’s been chronicled on the Netflix show The Empress, which in June 2025 announced a third and final season. The mesmerizing Hofburg is her former winter residence, as well as the current home of her jewellery collection and the Spanish Riding School. The latter hosts regular dressage performances.
Belvedere Palace (Prinz-Eugen-Straße 56, Vienna). The beauty of this baroque palace’s impressive gardens are only matched by its art collection, which includes Gustav Klimt’s famous The Kiss. Take note that there are three venues. Classic works like The Kiss are in the Upper Belvedere. Special exhibitions, some of which are feminist- and queer-themed, are typically in the Lower Belvedere. The contemporary collection is, not surprisingly, a sleek modern building called 21 Belvedere (Arsenalstraße 1/21er Haus, Vienna).
Schönbrunn Palace (Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, Vienna). Sisi’s summer abode cuts a striking figure, and the opulent rooms inside deserve a third, fourth, and fifth look. Visitors can walk around 40 lavish rooms (out of 1,441), from the gilded Great Gallery to the private apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Sisi.
Signmund Freud Museum (Berggasse 19, Vienna). For a whimsical break from the usual tourist sites, visit Freud’s old digs and learn about the man who brought bicuriousness to our attention. In fact, he argued that homosexuality was a variation of human sexuality, not an illness, and resisted efforts to “cure” it. Freud lived and worked here for nearly 50 years before fleeing the Nazis in 1938.
Musikverein (Musikvereinspl. 1, Vienna). If there’s one classical music experience that shouldn’t be missed, it’s a Mozart concert in the glittering Golden Hall of the Musikverein. There’s no finer way to celebrate the child prodigy who once charmed Viennese royalty. The season runs September to June; February, July and August are usually pretty quiet.
Karlskirche (Karlsplatz 10, Vienna). Famed for its dome and towering columns, Karlskirche (aka St. Charles’s Church) is an unforgettable place to catch a recital of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Orchestra 1756 usually puts on concerts here several times a week.
Prater (Gaudeegasse 1, Vienna). This sprawling vintage amusement park is packed with droll attractions, food stands and an iconic Ferris wheel where Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delpy) kissed in Richard Linklater’s low-key masterpiece Before Sunrise (1995). On select Sundays, a drag troupe does brunch at Mirage (Prater 75, Vienna) in the park.
Queer Museum Vienna (Building C, Stairway 2 in Otto Wagner Areal, Baumgartnerhöhe 1, Penzing/14th District, Vienna). This small museum makes a major impact showcasing queer arts, culture and ideas. Its Naked Guided Tour, where patrons undress down to their socks and shoes, invites patrons to explore art and their bodies.
Where to stay
Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer (Hernalser Gürtel 27, Vienna). This well-located family-run hotel welcomes LGBTQ+ guests, who end up loving its spa and private waltz classes. Each of its 76 rooms is unique.
Boutique Hotel Stadthalle (Hackengasse 20, Vienna). Michelle Visage would hate this very green hotel, which prides itself on its rooftop lavender blooms and enchanting pollinator garden. The elegant rooms and zero-waste organic breakfast buffet are a definite plus. Staff take part in Pride celebrations.
Hotel Am Konzerthaus—MGallery Collection (Am Heumarkt 35/37, Vienna). Chic and luxurious without being pretentious, the MGallery, part of the LGBTQ+-friendly Accor brand, is also home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Apron.
Hotel Zeitgeist (Sonnwendgasse 15, Vienna). This committed queer-friendly and sustainable hotel boasts a relaxing sauna, gym, outdoor workout area and free bike rentals. Located next to Vienna’s main train station.
JO&JOE Wien (Europaplatz 1/6, Vienna). Across the way at Vienna’s other train station, this stylish hostel offers a budget experience and rooftop terrace with great views of the city. It’s inside a decidedly campy location: an IKEA. Lucky guests might catch a local drag queen performance during their stay.
Altstadt Vienna, an SLH Hotel (Kirchengasse 41, Vienna). “Take me as I am,” declares this chic boutique hotel. They’ve got works from Warhol, Brigitte Kowanz, Prachensky, Leibowitz, Attersee and Helnwein on display, and a lovely rooftop terrace.
Where to eat
Salonplafond im MAK (Stubenring 5, Vienna). It’s a little bit Viennese, a little bit international, a little bit Alexis. It’s also quite classy, thanks to its location within the cavernous Museum of the Applied Arts.
Figlmüller (Bäckerstraße 6, Vienna). Vienna’s most famous schnitzel joint, whose recipe goes back almost 120 years, is none other than Figlmüller, whose wood-panelled and wrought-iron rooms are always packed. Book in advance.
Mirage (Prater 75, Vienna). This event hall is tucked away in the Prater amusement park, but it’s worth the trip for its terrific “Drag Portraits” brunch event, which happens on selected Sundays. They also do burlesque and magic-show dinners.
Bruder (Windmühlgasse 20, Vienna). For foodies with a budget built for splurging, Bruder offers a delicious and elevated tasting menu that combines multiple global inspirations. The vaulted ceilings, dim lighting and shelves lined with fermenting jars and bottles set the stage for a creative and quirky dining experience.
Fuchs-Steinklammer Heuriger & Weinbau (Jesuitensteig 28, Vienna). Vienna is one of the only major cities in the world that still has vineyards within city limits. For wine lovers, no Vienna vacation would be complete without a trip to one of Vienna’s Heurigers, or wine taverns, which pair tasty traditional foods with home-grown wine. This is one of the best. Peak wine season is September and October.
Café Europa (Zollergasse 8, Vienna). Patronized by artists, actors, filmmakers and assorted bohemians, this place, founded in 1984, stays open late. It’s a place to go to order a burger at midnight, a vegan breakfast at 9 a.m.
Liebling (Zollergasse 6, Vienna). This popular vintage-inspired café-bar serves brunch until 4 p.m. every day, snacks like hummus, pico de gallo and fresh veggies in the evening.
Where to party
Café Savoy (Linke Wienzeile 36, Vienna). Straight by day and sexy by night, this establishment pairs palatial décor with a laid-back clientele to concoct a memorable start to the evening.
Titti Titti Bang Bang (The Loft, Lerchenfelder Gürtel 37, Vienna). There is no better-named party in all of Austria. This queer-welcoming lesbian dance fantasia spans three floors of fun, each with different themes and shows. Free shots are not unheard of.
Kisss Bar (Luftbadgasse 19, 1060). This cozy and exceptionally welcoming bar hosts gays of all ages and stripes. They serve pizza, spargel-rösti and other snacks, too. And drag, of course.
Marea Alta (Gumpendorfer Str. 28, Vienna). This quirky cabaret spot is great for a dose of entertainment and some cocktails. There can be good music as well as cheekiness.
Felixx (Gumpendorfer Str. 5, Vienna). The main floor is an upscale place to share a bottle of wine while taking in some drag. The beer garden is a great place to soak in the summer, while the basement club hosts special events and private parties.
Mango Bar (Laimgrubengasse 3, 1060). The music at this cozy bar spans from ABBA to “Abracadabra,” making just about anyone feel at home—except maybe when it’s techno night. New friendships sprout here every night.
Rhinoplasty (Club-U, Karlsplatz Künstlerhauspassage Objekt U26, Vienna). Every second Saturday, Club-U in the Karlsplatz U-Bahn Station lights up with Rhinoplasty, an inclusive queer party that is as fun as it is free. Wear what you love—a little 1990s Eurotrash is never a bad idea.
Why Not (Tiefer Graben 22, Vienna). The city’s oldest gay club is still quite the draw, serving an enticing mix of drag, daring outfits, fabulousness and potent drinks to brew up a hypnotic twerkfest.
Camera Club (Neubaugasse 2, Vienna). Opened in 1971, this two-floor venue is one of Vienna’s most popular clubs. It hosts two monthly-ish queer parties: Astronaughty and Ken. Both feature shows, dancing and lots of flamboyance.
Drag Lab (Spektakel Wien, Hamburgerstr. 14, Vienna). This premiere drag event hosts every big name in the city. No performance is considered too weird.
Where to find fun
Kaiserbründl (Weihburggasse 18-20, Vienna). It’s been called one of the “gay wonders of the world,” a place for gay cruising since it was a public bath in the 1800s. Since the 1980s, the gorgeous Kaiserbründl has been an officially gay sauna, boasting a wide-ranging clientele, historic wall paintings and three floors of fun. Unless you’re a Saudi prince or tech billionaire, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get laid in a more ornate environment.
UNIQUEx Club (Kandlgasse 26, Vienna). This cross-gender club hosts many flavours of naked parties and sexually adventurous themed nights, some of which skew from the hetero.
Erotikkino Kinolabyrinth 10 (Favoritenstraße 164, Vienna). This labyrinth space—a brew of dark corridors, private rooms, BDSM equipment and nonstop adult movies—hosts different genders and orientations on different nights, as well as special niche parties.
Sling (Kettenbrückengasse 4, Vienna). This gay bar-cruising club-sex shop does, indeed, have a sling, as well as other equipment that might be fun to have sex on. The naked masked parties are popular.
Apollo City Sauna (Wimbergergasse 34, Vienna). Apollo is a favourite sauna for more mature men and their fans. They’ve got 1980s décor, friendly staff and a swimming pool.
Where to shop
Buchhandlung Löwenherz (Berggasse 8, Vienna). This queer indie bookstore, which opened in 1993, has a good English language selection and a wide array of vintage products. They’ve got flags and other rainbow bric-a-brac as well as LGBTQ+ literature.
Man for Man (Hamburgerstraße 8, Vienna). This sex shop for gay guys sells toys, gear and a surprisingly large selection of lube. They even have a cruising area and host naked parties.
S-World XXL Store (Mariahilfer Str. 49, Vienna). This women-friendly sex shop has every piece of equipment you can imagine, including vegan harnesses and dildos.
Gayt Store (Schönbrunner Str. 68, 1050). Gayt, billed as Vienna’s biggest “gay lifestyle store,” sells everything from sexytime contraptions to normcore clothes. Their gallery features the work of local artists.
Sissy Sound (Margaretenstrasse 47, Vienna). This new and used record shop isn’t specifically queer, but it has a cool underground vibe.
The Viennese Guy—Markus Oliver Radakovits (Rainergasse 26-28/3/15, Vienna). This hipster boutique sells shirts, bags and other items emblazoned with saucy slogans like “Horny,” “Kinky” and “Daddy,” as well as rainbows.
Too much choice here in our insider’s guide to the best of LGBTQ+ Vienna? Check out Vienna drag superstar Ryta Tale’s picks for what to do in Austria’s capital.
