Vienna's nightlife is centred on the Gurtel, a semi-circular boulevard where the U-Bahn arches have been converted into clubs. B72 and Chelsea operate under the same stretch of tracks, both open until 6 am on weekends. The organised pub crawl scene is thinner than Budapest or Prague: the Vienna Nights Pub Crawl runs Thursday to Saturday from Karlsplatz and covers three bars and one club at 15 EUR, while the Local Pub Crawl Vienna runs nightly at 20 EUR for a smaller group and off-the-beaten-path bars. Neither will keep you busy until dawn on their own, so treat the crawl as an introduction and continue on foot afterwards.
The Gurtel is the practical centre of Vienna's club scene: the arches under the U6 railway line between Nussdorfer Strasse and Burggasse-Stadthalle have been converted into bars and clubs running on a strip you can walk in twenty minutes. B72, Chelsea, and Rhiz are the three that matter. The Prater and Naschmarkt areas handle a later, louder crowd after the Gurtel bars close. The first district is for pre-drinks and Heurigen wine, not nightclubs.
Gurtel club entry runs €5 to €12; some venues are free before 11pm on weekdays. Beer inside clubs costs €4 to €6. Cocktails at the Gurtel bars run €9 to €13. A Vienna evening from 9pm, two Gurtel bars and club entry, with four drinks, totals €40 to €65. Vienna sits in the middle range for European capital cities: cheaper than Stockholm or Zurich, more expensive than Tallinn or Warsaw. Prices verified April 2026.
Thursday through Saturday for the Gurtel. Friday draws the biggest mixed crowd: students, young professionals, and travellers overlap well. Saturday runs later and louder. Thursday is the value pick: drink deals persist at most Gurtel venues, the pub crawl runs and is smaller, and the clubs are reachable without queueing. Sunday is almost entirely closed.
Vienna’s biggest pub crawl visits three bars and one club, with free shots, beer pong, and a twerk challenge included. The crawl starts at 8:30 PM near Karlsplatz and attracts a mix of backpackers and young travellers. Expect a lively crowd and plenty of opportunities to make new friends.
Check availabilityThis crawl focuses on off-the-beaten-path bars, visiting three venues over 4–5 hours. Drink discounts are included, and the group is smaller, making it easier to chat with locals. The crawl starts at 8 PM, with the meeting point confirmed after booking.
Check availabilityReal pub crawls with a local guide. Live prices, ratings, and availability updated weekly.
The Vienna Nights Pub Crawl costs 15 EUR with free shots and beer pong included. The Local Pub Crawl Vienna is 20 EUR nightly with drink discounts. B72 entry on the Gurtel runs 10 to 12 EUR with a drink; Fluc at Praterstern 5 is 8 to 10 EUR. Loos American Bar on Karnter Durchgang charges 12 EUR for a Vienna Mule. Hostel beds start at 10 EUR at JO&JOE Vienna, and Wombat's City Hostel at Rechte Wienzeile 35 has beds from 16.74 EUR with its own bar selling 3 EUR beers downstairs. A Spritz in Neubau costs 4.50 EUR.
Thursday to Saturday for the Vienna Nights crawl, which is the larger, louder of the two options. The Gurtel clubs run through the week, but Friday and Saturday see the biggest crowds at B72 and Chelsea. Sunday is genuinely quiet, this is not a city that drinks seven nights a week.
Upcoming events worth timing your trip around.
The U-Bahn arches on the Gurtel at 1 am: two clubs sharing the same stretch of railway, bass audible from the street, and a 10 EUR entry that includes a drink. Vienna's underground scene delivered.
Hostel Ruthensteiner Vienna leads on ratings at 9.5 from 19.32 EUR. Wombat's City Hostel is rated 9.3 from 16.74 EUR with its own bar. Both are within 15 minutes of the Gurtel on foot, which is the relevant measure. See our pick of the best party hostels in Vienna.
