There’s magic in Vienna on New Year’s Eve. It’s not just the twinkling lights, the bustling holiday markets, or the excitement of a new 365 days to look forward to—it’s the music that spills out in the streets on the last day of the year. Vienna is known as the capital of classical music, and during New Year’s Eve, the streets are filled with the sounds of Silvesterpfad, one of the largest New Year’s Eve celebrations in Europe. People dance in the streets holding glasses of champagne alongside their friends and partners. Just before midnight, soft snowflakes fell and kissed our faces—I didn’t want the magic I was feeling to come to an end.
Planning a New Year’s Eve trip is no easy feat. I’m a true beach bum, but this year I decided to spend the holidays a little differently. A friend and I would be based in London for part of the season, but we knew we wanted to escape the UK for New Year’s Eve and experience a new place neither of us had been to before. I‘ve always loved Austria—having visited Salzburg and Innsbruck—and for this trip, we chose Vienna, recently named one of our best places to visit in 2025. Ideally, we wanted to stay close to the action but also needed to keep costs reasonable, knowing accommodations could be pricey during this time of year. We both love clean, modern, stylish, and open spaces, so we landed on this urban apartment in the 16th district—just 30 minutes from the city center and only a minute’s walk from several tram stations that connected us to the heart of Vienna (no transfers needed!).
Once we arrived in Vienna it was easy to navigate our way to the apartment. The host was responsive, check-in was seamless, and the space was cozy. As we stepped inside the Airbnb, we were immediately bathed in the natural light that poured in from the tall windows that led out to the terrace, accessible from both the bedroom and living room. Despite the cold outside, I couldn’t help but imagine how wonderful it would be to sit on the terrace in the summer, basking in the warmth of the sun. Inside, the bedroom featured a cozy king-size bed, black-out curtains, and an open closet. I was instantly in love with the bathroom which had a sleek marble design and a rainfall shower.
What stood out most, though, was how peaceful the building felt. Despite being on the ground floor, it was surprisingly quiet. Even though we didn’t have a car, it was reassuring to know that we had access to a parking garage space, sparing us the hassle of finding street parking if we decided to rent one. One unexpected, yet delightful, surprise was the heated floors. On New Year’s Eve, the weather was a balmy (kidding) 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and after spending hours braving the cold, peeling off our wet socks and stepping onto the warm wooden floors was pure heaven.
The neighborhood around the apartment was tranquil—perfect for enjoying some time away from the crowds—and the tram ride into the city center was faster than expected. It hit all the major transfer stops, and since the tram station was right across the street, we could quickly dash out and catch it even when we were running behind. Riding the tram gave us a wonderful view of the city; I was constantly picking my jaw off the floor from the beautiful art nouveau, baroque buildings, and palaces that were whipping past us on the 30-minute journey. Even the city’s alleyways were worthy of an Instagram post.
While the magic of Vienna was particularly present on New Year’s Eve, our favorite discovery was The Sign Cocktail Lounge. Not only did they make innovative drinks, but sitting at the bar made us feel like locals hanging out with old friends. The bartenders were so warm and engaging that we ended up chatting with them for hours. It was the perfect spot to cap off our trip.
At a time when we needed rest, relaxation, and a fresh start to the new year, this Airbnb offered exactly what we were looking for.