Hostel Ruthensteiner

This was only the second hostel I’ve ever stayed in (and the first outside of America) so I figured I would wait to review until I saw a few others around Europe. Now that I have, I feel confident in the five stars I’m giving this hostel.
My friend and I both speak a little bit of German, but maybe not enough to hold full informative conversations in the language. The staff was happy to speak English with us once we had surpassed the amount of German we felt comfortable with. We were offered freshly made lemonade upon arrival and it totally hit the spot. Once paying– you can do so in cash or charge a card for a small fee– we were shown to our room. We had a private room– one full sized bed which was perfectly comfortable for two of us of six feet or taller. The room also had a window that opened to the street, plenty of outlets, a sink, and a mirror. Right outside our door were two showers (I was up early enough that I never had to wait for one) and toilets were just around the corner.
The garden area outside was beautiful and had plenty of seating, plus a large wooden chess set if that’s of interest to any of you. I loved sitting out there in the morning and reading or writing.
There’s a pretty cheap breakfast– we ended up never actually taking advantage of this. Also, a bar with a happy hour and cheap drinks outside of the happy hour as well. This was great for the one night we spent in because we just had a few brews and played some instruments that they have for guests to play. The place was packed this night with guests from all over hanging out and learning all amount each other. I do love this about hostels in general.
One last thing I LOVED– they had print out directions to major tourist sites and necessary places such as the main train station. This was extremely helpful when we got to the last day and needed to get to the train station we had yet to see.
This place was all around great and aside from all the amenities I’ve already mentioned, it was in a great location. A quiet part of town but still close to some museums and a castle as well as the zoo. I highly recommend using this hostel if ever in Vienna!

Super awesome and helpful staff, bike rentals available, beautiful property, close to Westbaunhof Train Station and plenty of public transit options into the center. I had an early flight, and the only bus I could take that late/​early was in the opposite side of town, but all of the reviews were so great that I had to check it out, and I was not disappointed! I only wish I could have stayed longer so that I could have enjoyed more that the hostel had to offer! Highly recommended!

We stayed in a double room with shared bath and it had the most comfortable bed I have EVER stayed in on a vacation. Everything was quite clean and nice. The lounge area is awesome with some great beer on tap and socializing. We easily made some really good friends here! Many different age groups were represented (excluding children) which was really nice to see. The staff were also incredibly helpful at all hours of the day and night! They made sure we got the best transportation option to Prague (student agency bus) instead of burning money on a last minute train, and pointed us toward some good food. I would strongly recommend staying here. Iwish we extended our stay in Vienna just for the hostel!

This is a great place for the price. The segregated male and rooms for male and females made it easy for someone this trip to adjust since they have not lived in a dorm or hostel.
The breakfast they have was good.
Plenty of space to relax. It was a bit hard to find as it is not on any main road. though there is a huge sign.
Don’t let the graffiti and sometimes racially offending tags on the walls scare you. There are quite a few of those, but that shows you the current political situation in the country.
My only complaint is that the smoking area was in the garden space. Though the building was non smoking when you opened the windows during the day you would get the smoke in your room.
Will definitely recommend this place to anyone who is passing through.

One of my favorite hostels I have ever stayed at. The employees were THE NICEST people ever. The rooms had new wooden floors and were spacious. The common area was a great place to mingle and meet new friends. They even allow you to use all sorts of instruments. They have a happy hour and a giant chess board outside. I can’t say enough great things about this place and the staff here. The location was only about a 10 minute walk from the main train station and a short train ride to old town. LOVED IT HERE!

I can’t remember how I found this hostel either, but it was the cheapest stay of our entire trip! They responded promptly to my initial emails, and we got set up with a private triple room for just € 55. Their email had lots of information about the surrounding neighborhood and transportation options, which was also reflected when we arrived. There is an array of information in the lobby, including specific and detailed directions printed on handouts (bus numbers, subway lines, travel time) to a number of local attractions.
The hostel is just down the street from the train station, and when we arrived around 8AM after falling off the overnight train, our room was all ready and we were able to check in, pile up our luggage, and have a quick wash. The room had a small desk, three stools, three bunked beds, a sink, and newish hardwood floors. There were a couple of bathrooms and shower rooms just down the hall (Julie L’s review describes the fun of showering with both a timed light and timed waterflow).
We ended up taking the subway/​tram to get to our various tourist stops, but walked back in the evening, which was only a couple miles along Mariahilfer, which had lots of interesting shops.
Being a hostel, it was a bit noisy in the evening, but we were so tired that we slept through most of the noise. The folks at the desk both mornings were super friendly and polite. I’d definitely recommend this place for a cheap and friendly stay. Make sure to bring cash as there is a small charge for using cards.

Great atmosphere, especially for the musically inclined. The breakfast is nothing special, but at least they offer one. The bar is open from 7– midnight, and it’s always a great place to socialize with some really interesting people. It’s not the cleanest hostel I’ve ever seen. The floors are pretty filthy, and there was hair everywhere in my room. Room #1 should be avoided if you want to sleep. It’s right next to the communal kitchen and that place is active at 7am sharp. You can hear every word of every conversation, as well as the slamming microwave door and clanging dishes. Not harping on the negative, but I just want people to be aware to have the best experience they can. It still gets a ⁴⁄₅ in my book. This will definitely be a repeat for me.

Good hostel located approx 20min walk from the Museum Quarter area of Vienna. Its proximity makes walking to most locations in Vienna feasible (as long as you like to walk).
If you are checking in early, free lockers are available for storing your pack until your room is available (they use a coin which you get back).
The dorm rooms are comfortable with individual reading lights for each bed, and windows which open to the street. There is no air conditioning in the dorm rooms, so they may get warm during the summer months, but the temperature was fine whilst we were here. The rooms also feature a large locker for your pack and posessions.
The kitchen is open 8am-11:30pm, and breakfast is available from 7:30am. Breakfast is simple but costs extra (approx 3euro for toast or cereal, fruit and tea/​coffee) and is not self-​service so may not suit all appetites, but there are other options for breakfast in the neighbourhood for a little extra coin.
The bar has a happy hour from 7pm-​8pm with beers for just over a euro. There are also instruments to play, and depending on the crew staying at the hostel you may have a wild night or something more subdued. The nights I stayed first night there was crazy music playing and a good party atmosphere, and the second night it was a little quieter.
Overall a decent hostel option.

Ich war da letztes Jahr im Oktober und ich muss sagen von der Lage her echt praktisch und das Personal wirklich super freundlich haben mit trotzdem ein Zimmer gegeben obwohl ich keine Kreditkarte hatte um zu zahlen, konnte somit bar zahlen was mich echt gerettet hat. Das einzige Manko für mich waren die scheinbar auseinander sehenden berechnende Betten. Ansonsten Top

Das Hostel Ruthensteiner ist meine erste Anlaufstelle, wenn ich in Wien bin. Es ist so süß dekoriert und man fühlt sich auf Anhieb wohl. Zudem gibt es auch die Möglichkeit Zweibett Zimmer zu buchen und mit ein bisschen Glück sogar ein Zweibett Zimmer mit eigenem Bad. Die Preise sind vollkommen ok. Über Silvester für ein Dreibett Zimmer 22 Euro pro Person und Nacht finde ich mehr als in Ordnung

One of the best hostels in the world. The best part about this hostel was the guests, they all seemed to be extremely outgoing and very respectful.
There is a skinny, balding guy that works the front desk some days, he was pretty rude to some people checking in and uncessarily argues with guests on minor details (i.e. UK vs US charging adapters). Pretty petty in general. If he had an attitude change, this place would be 5-​stars.

After being lost for 6 hours, my travel companions and I were worried that checking into Hostel Ruthensteiner at 11pm at night. But it was so lively when we walked in! =D
Tons of fellow travelers just chilling, chatting and even playing guitar in the lounge area. The ambiance was so warm and inviting. There were even bookshelves full of books that you can borrow for free.
We checked in, nice and friendly staff and were given the key to our room. We had a basic 3 bed room. $ 28 per person/​night. The room was narrow, but the beds were sizable and the pillows and bedding were sooooo comfy. The room was clean and it came with a sink. The room was a little too narrow for me, it was hard to move around but it did the job. It gave us a comfortable place to sleep at night. The hostel is also considerate of noise and post signs that after 10pm, it is quiet hours.
The showers and toilet were right outside of our room. A separate room for each. The toilet came with a little sink. The shower room was ok. When I went to use it, the room was already a bit wet. The light is also motion sensitive (turns off after 5 minutes), so when I was in the shower, it turned off! And it was pitch black in the shower because there was no window. All you have to do though, is open the shower door and that should trigger the light to turn back on. Not a super huge nuisance, but it definitely expedites the showering!
Breakfast is served in the mornings. About 5 euros I think, for cereal, milk and toast. A little bit more if you want eggs and meat. I didn’t get to try it though. Served on a first come, first served basis.
If you are lucky, you can find free street parking for your car in the neighborhood. Hostel is a little hard to find. Tucked away in a small one way street.

What a great little hostel! They have immaculate facilities and an organized and well staffed system. I stayed just a couple of weeks ago and it was so pleasant! I stayed in a shared all female room with 6 beds. Everyone who worked there and who was staying there was friendly — no sketchiness like you see in some other hostels. It was set up more like a dorm situation with shared showers and bathrooms outside the rooms — and they were almost always available while I was staying. They have a bar downstairs with happy hour everyday — cheap beer! And great little breakfast options. They have shared computers for travelers who didn’t bring their laptop which was awesome for me. It is a bit outside of all the hustle and bustle of Vienna — but I liked this. It made me discover more and walk around a bit more than if I was staying closer to the city center. Very cheap for the quality of hostel — stay here!

Arriving without reservations is always a risk, but we lucked out again in Vienna. The front desk was helpful, the room was alright, nothing spectacular. The bartender was nice and the ambiance was pleasant. The breakfast was good and got us prepared for our travels through the city. Being close to the train station was also a big plus! Met some awesome friends and enjoyed my stay! Thanks!

I’m usually not a huge fan of hostels, but this one was great. I booked a private room for a few days in Vienna, and when I checked in, they upgraded me to a full apartment for my stay. Pretty nice to have the private kitchen and a great view.
In the lobby, there were guitars for playing and travel books you could check out. They also had a box of leftover items travelers didn’t need, and a basket for metrocards that were still good. Just a lot of good ideas in this hostel.
Oh, and the lobby had a bar, too.
Good location for me walking distance from the night buses, trams, and metro. Nice front desk staff. No complaints at all!

Beautiful, calm, relaxing.
I loved this hostel because it was sooo different and relaxing from the last two hostels that we stayed at in London and Berlin. We needed a relaxing stay.
Not too far from the Westbanhoff and some traveller’s pubs in the area.
They upgraded us to a 4 bedroom share with a private bathroom (originally had a 8 bedroom share). They have a kitchen to use, free wi-​fi, free lockers, etc.
I loved our stay there! The bar was very chill at night too and a great way to meet other travelers from around the world.
Only problem was the breakfast — we never bought any. Didn’t look too appetizing for the price you pay.

Dem Hostel Ruthesteiner verdanke ich einige angenehme Nächte. Auch andere Wien Besucher, denen ich das Ruthensteiner empfiehl, waren zufrieden. Schön fand ich, dass es einen Schlafraum für Frauen gab. Ich teilte ihn mir mit acht Japanerinnen, die alle unglaublich leise und rücksichtsvoll waren. Ich glaube, ich habe mich schon lange in keinem Massenschlafraum mehr so wohl gefühlt, wie in diesem. An das Frühstück kann ich mich nicht mehr so richtig erinnern außer, dass man sich sein Essen selbst mitbringen und zubreiten konnte. Was dann natürlich recht interessant war, weil da ganz viele verschiedne Sachen auf den Tisch kamen. Auffallend war auch, dass man an der Rezeption all meine Fragen freundlich und geduldig beantworten konnte. Alles in allem hat mir das Ruthensteiner ein wenig Geborgenheit vermittelt und dafür war, ich allein in der Fremde, ziemlich dankbar.

By far the best hostel I’ve ever stayed at, and I’ve been to quite a few!
My first impression was very positive. The staff were friendly on check-​in, and the entrance and common rooms had a very friendly atmosphere. I was there too early to check-​in, so I sat down in the common rooms for a while and passed time on the internet (free wi-​fi!). There is also a piano and several guitars, so if you’re a talented musician, you’re welcome to use all of those.
My room, a 6-​bed female dorm, was very nice. There was a table and a chair (or maybe two, can’t remember), as well as a wardrobe and several stools. Every bed had a locker, and since I had the top bed, I was able to use the top of my locker to store stuff as well.
The absolute highlight of the room was the private bathroom attached to it! It even had a shower! Absolutely perfect to have a private bathroom and not having to walk down the hall every time. Only downside to the bathroom was that it was missing free soap and towels.
Breakfast is not included in the price, you have to purchase it for 2,50EUR. You get a round bun, and long bun and several spreads, as well as a drink of your choice. The quality is pretty good, as it’s freshly made.
The Wi-​Fi worked and had a normal speed, but the only downside to it was that it only really worked in the common rooms, not in my dorm room. But I didn’t have a problem with that, because usually there are people trying to sleep in the dorm, and sitting in the common room is interesting and you get to meet people (well, if you want to).
The hostel is located two blocks from the Wien Westbahnhof in a side street, so it’s quiet and it’s only a few minutes to the subway, which will take you anywhere in Vienna. It’s also just 5 minutes from Vienna’s most posh shopping street.

Ich habe mich hier mal vor Jahren ins Blaue beworben und sie meinten sie würden sich melden, falls mal irgendwer aufhören würde bei ihnen.
Haben sie nie gemacht, aber ich bin ihnen nicht böse.
Hier handelt es sich um ein sehr, warmes, familäres Hostel, ich hatte das GEfühl die Betreiberin ist so eine weltenbummelnde, entspannte Hippietante.
Es ist halt so mit Liebe gemacht und daher auch nicht eins der billigsten.
Ich bin beim Reisen ja eher so auf dem Trip, dass ich immer das allerallergünstigste Zimmer nehme, lege eigentlich nur Wert auf ein Dach über dem Kopf und eine Waschmöglichkeit.
Wer aber gerne eine nette Hostelatmosphäre hat, der ist hier richtig.

Wer kennt das Wombats-​Hostel? Viele bis nahezu alle.
Wer kennt das Ruthensteiner? Wahrscheinlich nur wenige, obwohl das sehr verwunderlich ist. Unweit des Wombats’ befindet sich dieses nette, schnuckelige, familiäre Hostel in einer ruhigen Einbahnstraße. Die Preise sind okay. Ab 19 € im Dreibettzimmer geht’s los. Leider ohne Frühstück, das kostet nochmal 2,50 — 3,50 € extra, aber immerhin inklusive Bettzeug.
Im Internet surfen kann man dank W-​Lan im ganzen Hostel, und das gratis! Für die Zimmer kann allerdings nicht garantiert werden, dass die Signalstärke überall gleich gut ist und je höher man liegt, desto schlechter wird die Verbindung. Falls man keinen Laptop bei sich hat, darf man auch den Computer in der Lobby (ebenfalls gratis) benutzen — ist aber eher ein Glücksfall, dass der grad mal frei ist.
Hervorheben möchte ich noch die 24-​Stunden-​Rezeption mit echt sympathischen MitarbeiterInnen, den Garten, das Angebot an gratis Musikinstrumenten, die Waschmöglichkeit und nochmal die echt zentrale, aber ruhige Lage!

Ich hab es einmal ins Ruthensteiner geschafft und ich war nur Gast ohne Zimmer — damals auf Jobsuche und Hostels haben mich immer schon angesprochen… Die sind so etwas wie ein Knotenpunkt für Reisende, für Menschen von überall her…
Das Ruthensteiner könnte von mir aus nicht bloß ein Knotenpunkt für Reisende sein, sonder für alles was sich bewegt. Als ich dort eintrat, kam ich ins Schwärmen. Von Beginn an, der erste Blick auf die Rezeption, weiter gehts zur Bar, Küche, Garten…
Die Küche steht zur Verwendung frei, es gibt W-​Lan, Spiele, Musikinstrumente, Waschmaschine und vieles mehr.
Es verspricht Wohlgefühl, verweilen und hat zweifelsohne etwas heimisches, etwas das mich dazu anhalten würde, meine Reise zu unterbrechen, nur um dort für ein paar Tage zu bleiben. Ohne Zweifel ist es eines der schönsten Hostels die ich je gesehen habe. Ob es nun an der stil– und kunstvollen Einrichtung liegt, an der bedachten Gestaltung der Räumlichkeiten, den warmen und einladenden Farben oder den herzlichen Mitarbeitern.
…das Ganze hat etwas von Familie…

Das Hostel Ruthensteiner hat uns überzeugt!
Trotz später Stunde lief der Check-​In reibungslos und wir konnten unser Zimmer (Doppelzimmer mit Bad) beziehen. Das Zimmer hatte Hotel-​Qualität! Alles neu, sauber, hell, sogar Handtücher waren da — klasse! Das ganze bei wirklich günstigen Preisen!
Zum Hostel gehört auch eine nette Bar, das ganze hat internationale Wohnzimmer-​Atmosphäre :) Toll ist auch, dass kostenloses WLAN verfügbar ist!
Das Frühstück konnte uns leider nicht so recht überzeugen, es war eher spartanisch, aber auch günstig. Wer keinen großen Wert auf ein üppiges Frühstück legt, wird hier fündig.
An sich ist das Hostel ruhig gelegen. Durch die Gartenstücke wirkt es fast idyllisch :) Zum Westbahnhof sind es zu Fuß ca. 5 Minuten, ab dort kann man die Straßenbahnen oder die U-​Bahn benutzen. Bis zur Innenstadt ist es zu Fuß ungefähr nochmal eine halbe Stunde, per U-​Bahn nur 5 Minuten. Also eine gute Ausgangslage, um die Stadt zu erkunden.
In der Parallelstraße zum Hostel (Mariahilferstr.) sind viele Geschäfte, von der Imbissbude über Supermarkt bis zu Kleidungsgeschäften.
Fazit: Wir würden bei einem Wien-​Besuch auf jeden Fall wieder dort übernachten.

Stayed here for the EGU conference, with daughter and friends, sharing a 4 bed dormitory with its own bathroom. Considering that, it was very good value per person, and was more comfortable and clean than many more expensive places.
The hostel has a large, attractive reception area, attached to a bar with piano and guitars for use by guests. There is an outdoor courtyard with giant chess (good for kids, also for adults!), and a large kitchen with fridge storage for your food. You can also pay 1e for breakfast which is basic but convenient if you’re heading out for the day. It’s very close to tram lines and underground train lines into the city and to attractions like the palace and zoo. Staff are friendly, kind to children and very helpful. Would definitely recommend to anyone staying in Vienna on a budget.

This hostel isOK that’s the best way to describe it. Not the worst place I’ve stayed, but nowhere near the best.
The rooms and small, but cleanwe had a double room and it was a bit cramped.
The showers aren’t great, but they are clean.
Is located down a back street from the Westbahnhof, it is quite hard to locate the first time you look for it.

This hostel is located well — 5 minutes from Westbahnhof — a central train station in Vienna. You can go in and out of the hostel at any time of the day or night, no curfew, with the help of Vienna’s night buses that reach this area.
I paid 15 EURO for a dormitory room style with 8 beds, got to meet some interesting new people!
Some basic info you may want to know: You need a sleeping bag or rent sheets will be 2 Euros (I recommend you get a sheet from home). Towels cost 50 cents. Breakfast which includes rolls and coffee is 2.50 Euros. A great hostel, great environment, as there is a lobby and bar. The shower is terrible, — it is one of those 20 second button showers.

The hostel Ruthersteiner is very clean the rooms are small but new furnished and the bed were comfortable. It is a very international place i walk in with my massive backpack and they started speaking english.
Everyone was really nice and helpful.
The hostel offers a great, clean kitchen, washing machines, and a cheap bar. The lounge is also very nice and the garden looked nice but it was to cold to sit outside.
The breakfast is very cheap and the coffee is great.
The hostel is close to the Westbahnhof. So it is easy to get to the airport and to the inner city.