Favoriten (Vienna) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Favoriten in Vienna with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

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Favoriten
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Explore Favoriten in Vienna for lively markets, multicultural dining, railway history, green spaces, Oberlaa thermal baths and the Böhmischer Prater.

A District Shaped by Arrival

Favoriten occupies Vienna’s broad southern tenth district, stretching from the railway landscape around Hauptbahnhof towards the vineyards, thermal springs and open hills of Oberlaa. It is one of the city’s most populous districts, but its character changes noticeably from north to south. Around Favoritenstraße, Reumannplatz and Viktor-Adler-Markt, apartment blocks, market stalls, cafés and small shops create an urban neighbourhood with a strong everyday rhythm. Further south, Laaer Berg and Oberlaa bring wooded paths, allotments, vineyards and Vienna’s thermal-bath culture into the district.
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Markets, Brickwork and Public Life

The district’s history is closely tied to workers, railways, brick production and the expansion of Vienna beyond its historic centre. Reminders of that past survive in the former Ankerbrotfabrik, now a cultural and creative complex, and in the distinctive brick architecture and community institutions found across the area. Viktor-Adler-Markt remains one of the best places to observe local life, with produce, delicatessen counters and food stalls reflecting the district’s long-established international population.

Open Space and Contemporary Vienna

Favoriten is not a postcard version of Vienna, and that is precisely its interest. The district offers the leisure landscape of the Böhmischer Prater, the broad green surroundings of Wienerberg, the restored Amalienbad and the therapeutic waters of Therme Wien, alongside new development around Hauptbahnhof and Sonnwendviertel. Visitors encounter a practical, changing part of the capital: multilingual, residential and closely connected to the rest of Vienna, yet large enough to contain quiet villages, cultural venues and semi-rural edges within its boundaries.

Best attractions in Favoriten

Favoriten’s attractions are distributed across a large district rather than concentrated in one historic centre. Viktor-Adler-Markt provides an immediate introduction to local food culture and everyday street life, while Favoritenstraße links the market quarter with Reumannplatz and the monumental Amalienbad. The former Ankerbrotfabrik, a substantial brick industrial complex, now hosts cultural and creative activities in its converted spaces. Around Laaer Berg, the Böhmischer Prater offers a traditional amusement park atmosphere distinct from the grander Prater across the Danube, and nearby green paths lead towards the district’s southern open spaces. Oberlaa adds village streets, vineyards and Therme Wien, whose thermal bathing facilities are one of Favoriten’s most established leisure attractions. Wienerberg provides woodland, meadows and ponds within the urban area, while the new architecture and public spaces around Hauptbahnhof and Sonnwendviertel reveal the district’s contemporary transformation.

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Best landmarks in Favoriten

Favoriten’s landmarks tell the story of a district built through public services, industry, transport and suburban growth. Amalienbad on Reumannplatz is a major municipal-era building, remembered for its interwar ambition to combine bathing, sport and public welfare in an architecturally prominent setting. The former Ankerbrotfabrik on Absberggasse preserves the scale and brick character of the district’s industrial past, even as its spaces have acquired cultural and creative uses. The Favoriten Water Tower, associated with Vienna’s historic water infrastructure, stands on the Wienerberg as a particularly recognisable local structure. Hauptbahnhof represents a newer chapter: its platforms, concourses and surrounding Sonnwendviertel mark the replacement of the old Südbahnhof railway landscape with a major transport and urban-development project. In the south, Oberlaa’s village fabric and vineyards provide a physical reminder that Favoriten extends beyond dense metropolitan streets.

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Explore Favoriten on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Favoriten, mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Favoriten

Favoriten’s food scene reflects its working-class history, large residential population and long-standing international connections. The area around Viktor-Adler-Markt and Favoritenstraße is particularly useful for exploring produce stalls, bakeries, cafés, delicatessen counters and casual meals, while Quellenstraße is known for a broad mix of Turkish, Balkan, Middle Eastern and Austrian influences. Traditional Viennese dishes appear alongside kebabs, grilled meats, filled pastries and other inexpensive everyday foods, creating a dining culture more local and unceremonious than the restaurant quarters around the Ring. Independent cafés and family-run eateries are interspersed with newer businesses near Hauptbahnhof and Sonnwendviertel. In Oberlaa, food and drink can be combined with a visit to the spa or a walk through the southern landscape, although the area has a quieter village character than northern Favoriten. Menus and opening patterns vary, so the market streets are best approached as a browsing and grazing district rather than a formal dining destination.

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Best bars in Favoriten

Favoriten is not one of Vienna’s principal late-night club districts, but its evening life is substantial and varied. Traditional cafés, neighbourhood pubs and casual bars cluster around Favoritenstraße, Reumannplatz and the surrounding residential streets, with a more contemporary selection developing near Hauptbahnhof and Sonnwendviertel. Some restaurants and cafés remain social gathering places after dinner, while cultural programming at former industrial sites such as the Ankerbrotfabrik can add concerts, performances or evening events when scheduled. The Böhmischer Prater has a seasonal leisure atmosphere rather than a central-city club scene, and Oberlaa generally becomes quiet after its daytime and spa activities. Visitors seeking a relaxed local evening should follow the district’s cafés, pubs and programmed cultural venues; those looking for concentrated nightclub choices will find a broader selection in other parts of Vienna.

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Best nightclubs in Favoriten

Favoriten is not one of Vienna’s principal late-night club districts, but its evening life is substantial and varied. Traditional cafés, neighbourhood pubs and casual bars cluster around Favoritenstraße, Reumannplatz and the surrounding residential streets, with a more contemporary selection developing near Hauptbahnhof and Sonnwendviertel. Some restaurants and cafés remain social gathering places after dinner, while cultural programming at former industrial sites such as the Ankerbrotfabrik can add concerts, performances or evening events when scheduled. The Böhmischer Prater has a seasonal leisure atmosphere rather than a central-city club scene, and Oberlaa generally becomes quiet after its daytime and spa activities. Visitors seeking a relaxed local evening should follow the district’s cafés, pubs and programmed cultural venues; those looking for concentrated nightclub choices will find a broader selection in other parts of Vienna.

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Best shops in Favoriten

Shopping in Favoriten is centred on practical local retail, food markets and multicultural high streets rather than luxury boutiques. Viktor-Adler-Markt is the district’s most characteristic commercial destination, combining fresh produce, meat and delicatessen counters with snacks and everyday shopping. Along Favoritenstraße and Quellenstraße, independent grocers, bakeries, cafés, clothing shops, mobile-phone stores and specialist food businesses reflect the district’s diverse customer base. The retail atmosphere is street-based and functional, with new shops appearing alongside long-established family businesses. Hauptbahnhof adds a modern transport-centre retail environment, while the commercial surroundings of Sonnwendviertel continue to develop with new residents. Visitors interested in Austrian market culture should browse rather than expect a curated souvenir market; the strongest impression comes from the mixture of ordinary shopping, regional produce and international ingredients that serves the neighbourhood’s residents.

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Favoriten essentials

Getting There
The clearest arrival point is Wien Hauptbahnhof, served by national and international trains as well as the U1 at Südtiroler Platz–Hauptbahnhof. From central Vienna, the U1 continues south through Keplerplatz and Reumannplatz towards Altes Landgut, Alaudagasse, Neulaa and Oberlaa. Trams and buses also connect the district with neighbouring Wieden, Margareten and Simmering, while the railway station is useful for visitors arriving from Vienna Airport or other Austrian cities. Check the Wiener Linien and Austrian Federal Railways networks for current routes and service changes, particularly when travelling beyond the central part of Favoriten.
Getting Around
Northern Favoriten is straightforward to explore on foot, especially along Favoritenstraße between Hauptbahnhof and Reumannplatz, although the district becomes more spread out towards Laaer Berg and Oberlaa. The U1 is the most useful spine for moving between the main urban areas and the southern terminus. Streets around the market and residential quarters are generally practical rather than sightseeing promenades, with tram and bus links filling gaps between stations. Walkers should allow time for longer distances, railway crossings and broad arterial roads, while the paths around Wienerberg, Laaer Berg and Oberlaa offer a softer, greener route.
Safety
Normal urban precautions are appropriate in Favoriten. Keep valuables secure around Hauptbahnhof, on crowded U-Bahn platforms and through busy market areas, and take care when crossing wide roads and tram tracks. Evening conditions vary: the central streets remain active, while quieter residential and park areas can feel isolated after dark simply because fewer people are present. Around bars, transport interchanges and the Böhmischer Prater, remain aware of belongings and surroundings without treating the district as a no-go area. Follow Wiener Linien guidance and use well-lit routes when returning late.
Emergency Situations
In Austria, call 112 for the European emergency number, 133 for police, 122 for the fire service and 144 for an ambulance. Give the operator the exact street address or a visible landmark, and state whether you need police, fire or medical assistance. Hauptbahnhof has staffed transport facilities and information points, but it is not a substitute for emergency services. For non-urgent medical advice, visitors should ask accommodation staff, a pharmacy or the local health service for current guidance; take an identity document and European Health Insurance Card details where applicable.
Do's and Don'ts
Treat Favoriten as a lived-in district rather than an open-air attraction: keep noise down near apartment buildings, do not block doorways and ask before photographing people at market stalls. Queue patiently at food counters and public transport stops, and follow signs in the U-Bahn and at Hauptbahnhof. Dress and behave respectfully at religious or community institutions, and leave public art, historic brickwork and residential courtyards undisturbed. At restaurants and cafés, modest rounding or a conventional tip is customary when service warrants it, but tipping practices are not a substitute for checking the bill.
Local Tips
Begin with the market streets around Viktor-Adler-Markt, then follow Favoritenstraße southwards to see how the district changes from dense urban blocks to quieter neighbourhoods. The Ankerbrotfabrik is best understood as a former industrial site with cultural uses rather than as a conventional museum, so check current programme information before visiting. For open space, consider Laaer Berg, Wienerberg or Oberlaa, and remember that distances between these areas are greater than a city-centre map may suggest. The southern end rewards combining public transport with short walks rather than attempting every area in one circuit.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloServus[Zer-vus]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[Owf Vee-der-zay-en]
YesJa[Yah]
NoNein[Nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[Bit-te]
Thank youDanke[Dank-eh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[Ent-shool-dee-gung]
How are you?Wie geht's?[Vee geyts]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und dir?[Goot. Oond deer]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[Shprek-en Zee Eng-lish]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[Ick fer-shtay-eh nikt]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch möchte bitte die Speisekarte sehen[Ick merk-te bit-te dee Shpy-ze-kar-te zay-en]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[Ick ess-eh kine Fly-sh]
Cheers!Prost![Prost]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bitte zahlen[Ick merk-te bit-te tsah-len]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![Hil-fuh]
Go away!Geh weg![Gay vekh]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![Roo-fen Zee dee Po-lee-tsi]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![Roo-fen Zee I-nen Arts]
I'm lostIch habe mich verirrt[Ick hah-bee meh fer-eert]
I'm illMir ist schlecht[Meer ist shlekht]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[Ick merk-te cow-fen]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[Ick shou-eh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet das?[Vee feel kost-et das]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[Das ist tso toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Können Sie den Preis senken?[Kern-en Zee den Price senk-en]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[Vee shpayt ist es]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[Es ist iyn oor]
Half past (10)Halb elf[Halb elf]
MorningMorgen[Morgen]
AfternoonNachmittag[Nah-mit-tahk]
EveningAbend[Ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[Ges-tern]
TodayHeute[Hoy-teh]
TomorrowMorgen[Morgen]
1Eins[Iyns]
2Zwei[Tzvey]
3Drei[Dry]
4Vier[Feer]
5Fünf[Foonf]
6Sechs[Zex]
7Sieben[Zee-ben]
8Acht[Akh-t]
9Neun[Noy-n]
10Zehn[Tzayn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der...?[Vo ist iyn/der]
What's the address?Was ist die Adresse?[Vas ist dee Ah-dres-seh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Können Sie mir zeigen (auf der Karte)?[Kern-en Zee meer tsay-gen (ouf der kar-te)]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[Vann kommt der nekh-steh (Boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Eine Fahrkarte (nach ....)[I-nuh Far-kart-eh (nak)]

History of Favoriten

From Favouriten Settlement to District

The name Favoriten derives from the former Favorita imperial summer residence, associated with the area now known as the Theresianum, and was later applied to a settlement outside Vienna’s older fortifications. As Vienna expanded during the nineteenth century, the southern suburb developed beyond the historic core and became increasingly urban. Favoriten was established as Vienna’s tenth district in 1874, bringing together built-up streets and developing peripheral land. Its growth reflected the capital’s industrial expansion and the demand for affordable housing close to employment, transport routes and the railway approaches.

Brickworks, Railways and Workers

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Favoriten acquired a strongly working-class identity. The clay-rich slopes around Wienerberg supported brick production, while railway construction and related industries transformed the district’s southern edge. Factories, workshops and transport infrastructure attracted workers and encouraged dense housing development along routes such as Favoritenstraße and Quellenstraße. The district’s social history was also shaped by migration from across the Habsburg lands and by the growth of municipal services, schools, markets and public baths. The remaining industrial buildings and worker-oriented urban fabric recall this period of rapid expansion.

Municipal Vienna and Everyday Institutions

In the interwar period, Favoriten benefited from the city’s programme of social and municipal housing, public health provision and neighbourhood facilities. Amalienbad, opened in 1926, expressed the ambition to make modern bathing, exercise and communal amenities available to ordinary Viennese residents. Markets, schools and housing estates helped consolidate local life beyond the historic centre. The district was affected by the political conflicts and economic hardships that marked Vienna between the wars, while the Second World War and its aftermath brought further disruption. Post-war rebuilding generally strengthened Favoriten’s role as a large residential and working district.

Regeneration and New Connections

Since the late twentieth century, parts of Favoriten have undergone substantial change. Former industrial premises, including the Ankerbrotfabrik, have found new cultural and creative uses, while the redevelopment around the former Südbahnhof created Wien Hauptbahnhof and the Sonnwendviertel residential quarter. The new central station opened in stages during the 2010s and gave the district a major national and international transport role. At the same time, Oberlaa retained its village-like identity, vineyards and thermal traditions, demonstrating how redevelopment in northern Favoriten coexists with older suburban landscapes and long-established communities.

Favoriten in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

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Neighbourhoods near Favoriten

The closest neighbourhoods to Favoriten, if you have time for more than one stop.

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