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Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer: The Most Charming & Wheelchair Accessible Hotel in Vienna

I recently went on an adventure to Vienna, one of my favourite bucket list destinations, for an accessible city break. Being a city that I’ve wanted to visit for many years, I was a little worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but thankfully it didn’t disappoint for many reasons. One reason is our two night stay at the wheelchair accessible Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer in the heart of Vienna. With ‘4 star service and 5-star charm’ this hotel is now one of my favourite hotels I’ve stayed in.

Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer Wien

Location

Hotel Donauwalzer is located in Vienna’s 17th district on Hernalser Gürtel with the U-Bahn only a 3-minute walk away. If you take tram 44 you’ll reach the centre within 7 minutes, but if you choose to walk or roll into the centre it should only take you about 20 minutes.

This makes Hotel Donauwalzer an ideal base for a stay in Vienna. We opted to walk so we could see more as we went along and we’re so happy we did. So many beautiful buildings, greenery and shops along the way.

History

During our stay, we had the pleasure of meeting the lovely owner of the hotel, Katharina Kluss. It was fascinating to speak with her and to learn about the history of the hotel, which dates back to 1901 when it was owned by a winemaker family.

It was during World War II that the hotel sustained devastating damage, but then Mrs Kluss family bought the hotel over 30 years ago and transformed it into the Art Deco gem that it is today. We also found out that our hotel room used to be where the family lived. That was pretty cool!

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer Katharina Kluss

Lobby/Reception

From the outside, the hotel’s striking blue exterior stands out from the surrounding buildings. Its eye-catching and elegant appearance makes Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer a real focal point in its location on Hernalser Gürtel.

Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer exterior

The main entrance to the hotel is via steps, but there is a wheelchair accessible door that the hotel staff happily open upon seeing you arrive and leave.

As soon as you step roll through the door, you are greeted by the stylish front desk and bar area, not to mention the extremely welcoming staff. In particular, Herr (pictured below) made us feel at home upon arrival and kindly provided extra pillows to make me more comfortable in bed – more on the heavenly bed later.

Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer reception_front_desk
Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer lobby

There is a relaxing seating area in the lobby and various accessories, books, stationery and postcards for sale. Perfect if you’re looking for a souvenir from your stay at this stunning hotel.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_reception

The lovely Herr ensured check-in went smoothly and I was even able to fill in the necessary paperwork myself thanks to the lowered wheelchair accessible reception desk. A thoughtful touch. Before we knew it the room key was in our hand and we set off in search of our room.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_art nouveau_lift

Wheelchair Accessible Room

Our wheelchair accessible room, #312 was on the third floor. However, before reaching our room, we couldn’t help but admire the original parquet flooring throughout the hallway. Thankfully, this beautiful feature continued into the bedrooms, which gave an authentic Viennese feel.

Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer_hallway_orginal_flooring_roomkey
Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_room

Each of the 73 rooms at the Hotel Donauwalzer is unique and individually decorated, which is one of the reasons I loved our accessible room so much. As soon as we entered the room, I knew we were going to love our two-night stay. Everything from the interior décor to the comfort, accessibility, and overall feel of the room was perfect.

The large chandelier is a main feature of the room and it’s difficult to capture its true size in a photo, but it is really impressive and authentic. Next up is the double bed and I can’t describe how comfortable this bed was.

If you’ve read about my other accessible hotels then you’ll know how much I hate hotel beds, but Hotel Donauwalzer has the most heavenly bed. It was so heavenly that I slept like an angel with absolutely zero aches and pains. I seriously wanted to bring that mattress home with me. Damn you, EasyJet for your 20kg baggage allowance.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_doubleroom

The room was extremely spacious, which allowed me to move around in my power wheelchair with ease. There was even plenty of space on both sides of the bed for wheelchair transfers and clearance underneath for the use of a portable hoist, as well as power sockets and light switches at the bedside tables. Not only that but look how cool the actual bed frame is. It’s original, and I love it.

After a busy day sightseeing, the sofa was the perfect spot to relax with a few drinks from the mini-bar while watching the TV and planning the following day’s itinerary. Next to the sofa was the room’s original oven, which added to the room’s true original features and authenticity.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_room_deskarea

The traditional Viennese style continued throughout the whole room including the large wooden wardrobe, bureau and artwork. While the bureau was a little too low for me to fully roll underneath without skimming my knees, it didn’t cause me any major inconvenience as I was able to use the bathroom countertop to get ready in the morning.

Bathroom

The accessible bathroom has a simpler, minimalist design and provides a nice contrast from the traditional style of the bedroom. Like the bedroom, the bathroom has a lovely high ceiling and a beautiful reclaimed chandelier, which I believe was found at the Naschmarkt.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_bathroom_sink_window_scene

One of the first things to catch my eye was the Vienna city skyline scene on the window. This was a quirky feature to add to an otherwise standard window. I loved it. Below the window was the roll-under sink, which was the perfect height for me and I was able to do everything I needed to do. There was even space on the countertop to the left of the sink for doing my makeup etc. Perfect!

All the toiletries have the hotel’s own ‘Hotel Donauwalzer’ branding and there was even a Beethoven rubber duck (when in Vienna) waiting for us in the shower, which can be bought from reception to take home with you.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_bathroom_toilet

I was happy with the accessibility of the toilet such as the height, supporting grab bar and space on the left side for wheelchair transfers. There was also space for a portable hoist to move around in the bathroom.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_wheelchair_accessible_shower

The large accessible roll-in shower was essentially open plan apart from one fixed glass panel. Although there was space to manoeuvre my wheelchair, removing the glass panel would increase manoeuvrability and make the bathroom much larger.

A stool was provided in the shower, but if you require a chair with a backrest then I’d suggest speaking with the hotel to see if there’s anything they can do to help. There is also the option of taking your own shower chair or hiring one when you are there.

Courtyard/Private Spa

After a long day of exploring this beautiful city, all you want to do is retreat to your room (I know we did), but first, you may enjoy relaxing in the private spa. With a sauna, whirlpool, IR booths, steam shower and loungers, the private spa may be your new best friend during your stay at Hotel Donauwalzer.

Unfortunately, due to space restrictions, the private spa area isn’t fully accessible to wheelchair users, but for people with limited mobility who are able to walk, you may find it’s suitable for your needs.

Donauwalzer Hotel garden

Another way to relax before or after a busy day exploring Vienna is to sit in the hotel’s tranquil green inner courtyard with food or a drink or even just to admire the beautiful plants.

I’ve heard that you may even be lucky enough to be accompanied by the family’s friendly dog who enjoys relaxing in the garden.

Sadly, during our stay, the wheelchair ramp for the patio was out of action, but the owners are working on sorting that. I’m looking forward to sitting out in the garden the next time I visit.

Food/Drink

Hotel Donauwalzer provides a lovely breakfast buffet serving a wide selection of fruit, cereals, yoghurt, meat, bread, house-made pastries, cakes, and more. Everything was fresh and nicely laid out. This is a great way to set you up for a busy day of sightseeing in Vienna.

If you happen to be there for breakfast on Sundays then you’ll be treated to sparkling wine, live classical music and occasionally even waltz classes. A real Viennese experience.

Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_buffet_breakfast_cafe_bar
Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_buffet_breakfast
Boutique_Hotel_Donauwalzer_buffet_breakfast_daily

If the amazing breakfast isn’t enough for you, then there is also the café-bar which is open 24/7. We didn’t have a chance to get anything from the café-bar, but the staff were always so friendly and welcoming whenever we passed by.

The Owners & Team

As I mentioned earlier it was lovely to meet Katharina. She was extremely engaging, and helpful and spent considerable time giving us tips and suggestions on places to visit as well as showing us around the hotel. It was nice to see that she made time for each guest by speaking with them every morning at breakfast and offering advice.

It was also a pleasure to meet Andreas who made us feel very welcome and offered great suggestions, directions and bus instructions. All the staff were the friendliest I’ve ever come across and they always looked so happy.

Final Thoughts

Would I stay at Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer again? The answer is “absolutely”. We had a fantastic stay and I can’t recommend this hotel enough. Our room was spacious, comfortable and accessible. I loved the art nouveau style and the friendly staff. The hotel is within walking distance of the centre and has great public transport links. Hotel Donauwalzer was the perfect hotel for our accessible trip to Vienna. I will definitely be back!

Would you like to visit Vienna or have you already been?
Would you like to stay at Hotel Donauwalzer?

More on this topic…

3 Days in Vienna: Ultimate City Guide to Vienna for Wheelchair Users

Hotel Schani: The Most Trendy & Eco-Friendly Hotel in Vienna

Vienna Photo Diary

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My trip to Vienna was organised by the Vienna Tourist Board. I was kindly welcomed as a guest by Boutique Hotel Donauwalzer. As always, all views and opinions expressed here are my own and have not been influenced or approved.

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Meet Emma

Hi, I’m Emma! I'm an award-winning accessible travel and disability blogger, writer and content creator. My mission is to show you the possibilities of accessible travel through my travel guides, tips and reviews. I also share personal stories, live event reviews and more.

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2 Responses

  1. Many thanks, a really helpful first dip into planning a trip to Vienna. The first person narrative makes the guide very readable and the wealth of information as well as the personal views are ideal. Yes, after reading this I am going to Vienna with my wife and two daughters. Many Thanks!

    1. Hi Gerald

      Thank you for your kind comment. I’m glad you found this post helpful and I hope it aids in your planning for a trip to Vienna. Please let me know if you do decide to go to Vienna. I also have another Vienna hotel review and city guide on my blog too, which you may find helpful. Let me know if I can help at all 🙂

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