1. Vienna is home to the world's oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, which was founded in 1752 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features a wide variety of species and is known for its commitment to conservation and education. 2. The city has a unique coffee house culture that has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. Viennese coffee houses are not just places to grab a quick coffee; they serve as social hubs where people gather to read, write, and engage in conversation. 3. Vienna has an extensive and efficient underground wine cellar network, known as "Heurigen," where locals and visitors can taste wine directly from the producers. Many of these cellars are located in the outskirts of the city, offering a different perspective of Vienna's rich wine culture.
Vienna's housing market is characterized by a high proportion of rental properties and significant public involvement. As of 2023, the city had approximately 969,229 main residences. About 75.5% of these are rental apartments, with the remaining 24.5% being owner-occupied. The rental market is dominated by public and social housing, which accounts for 56% of all rental properties. This includes municipal housing owned by the City of Vienna and cooperative housing. In total, about 50% of all Viennese live in subsidized dwellings. As of 2024, the average cost per square meter to buy an apartment in Vienna was around €5,500, with prices in central districts exceeding €10,000 per square meter. Rental prices vary by district, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costing approximately €800-€1,200 per month. Vienna's commitment to social housing plays a crucial role in maintaining affordability. The city owns about 220,000 municipal housing units, while another 200,000 cooperative flats are built with municipal subsidies. Despite some economic challenges, Vienna's real estate market remains stable. Property prices are expected to rise slightly in 2025, with projections ranging from 3% to 6% increase. The rental yield in Vienna averaged around 3.5% in 2025, showing a slight decrease due to rising property prices.
Vienna's current city administration continues its long-standing commitment to affordable housing through several initiatives. The city aims to maintain and expand its social housing stock, with a target of building 5,500 new social apartments by 2025. Additionally, Vienna has set a goal to reach climate neutrality by 2040, which includes making housing more sustainable. To create more affordable and sustainable housing, Vienna employs several programs: 1. Subsidised Housing Zoning: New developments over 5,000 square meters must allocate two-thirds of floor space to affordable apartments. 2. Vienna Housing Fund (Wohnfonds Wien): Oversees new construction and restoration of affordable housing, coordinating between various stakeholders. 3. Four Pillar Model: Enforces strict social, economic, architectural, and ecological criteria for subsidized housing projects. 4. Gentle Re-densification: Adds new apartments on top of existing social housing buildings to increase living space efficiently. 5. Energetic Retrofits: Invests in rehabilitating existing housing stock to improve energy efficiency and comfort. 6. SMART Apartments: Compact, efficiently designed units with lower rents within subsidized housing projects. 7. Revolving Fund: Collects 1% of residents' annual income to fund subsidized housing construction. These programs demonstrate Vienna's comprehensive approach to creating affordable, sustainable housing while maintaining social mixing and high quality of life for residents.