VIENNA — Vienna closed 2025 with its strongest tourism performance on record, welcoming more than 20 million overnight stays and posting record accommodation revenue, according to newly released figures from the Vienna Tourist Board.

The Austrian capital recorded 20,065,000 overnight stays in 2025, marking a 6% increase over 2024 and surpassing the previous annual record. Accommodation revenue is also on track to reach an all-time high. Revenue figures compiled for January through November totalled €1.25 billion, representing a 4% year-on-year increase, with November alone contributing €131 million, up 10% compared to the same month in 2024.

“2025 was the most successful year for city tourism in Vienna since records began: with 20 million overnight stays, Vienna set a new marker and underlined its significance as a European tourism destination,” said Vienna Tourist Board CEO Norbert Kettner.

Based on the first 11 months of the year, full-year accommodation revenue is expected to exceed the €1.4 billion record set in 2024. “My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the entrepreneurs working in our visitor economy and their employees – they made this success possible despite a multitude of challenges,” Kettner added.

International travellers continued to drive demand, accounting for approximately 83% of overnight stays in 2025, up from 82% in 2024. Germany remained Vienna’s largest source market with 3.54 million overnight stays, followed by Austria with 3.38 million.

The United States ranked third with 1.26 million overnight stays, an increase of 3% year over year, and led accommodation revenue in the five-star hotel segment. Canada posted strong growth with 235,000 overnight stays, up 17% compared to 2024. 

Vienna’s accommodation supply continues to skew toward the upper end of the market. The city currently offers approximately 450 hotels with a total of 84,600 beds, with around 60% of capacity in the four- and five-star categories. As of the end of 2025, Vienna was home to 26 luxury hotels, including the newly opened Mandarin Oriental, located in the former Vienna Commercial Court building.

This broad range of accommodation is expected to support a busy calendar of major events in 2026, highlighted by the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May. The city is also preparing to host close to 50 congresses and corporate meetings with more than 1,000 participants each, including five international meetings expected to attract more than 10,000 attendees apiece.

Vienna’s long-term tourism planning is guided by its “Optimum Tourism” visitor economy strategy, which focuses on qualitative and sustainable growth. Targets include increasing the share of overnight stays generated by the meetings sector to 10% and ensuring two-thirds of visitors fall into the “desired guests” category, defined as travellers who value culture, seek quality and contribute positively to the city. The strategy also aims to maintain high levels of tourism acceptance and visitor satisfaction, with a target score of 9 out of 10.

For more information about Vienna, go to https://www.wien.info/en.

As part of this approach, the Vienna Tourist Board launched a Placemaking Playbook in autumn 2025, offering guidance on collaboration between tourism stakeholders, urban planners and local communities to improve public spaces and quality of life. The initiative reinforces Vienna’s commitment to sustainable destination development.

Looking ahead, 2026 will place a strong spotlight on culture and cuisine. Alongside Eurovision-related programming, Vienna will promote its culinary scene under the theme “Vienna Bites: Cuisine, Culture, Character”.

“In 2026, the spotlight will be on every aspect of Vienna’s incredible culinary opulence – from fine dining to the Viennese sausage stand,” said Kettner.

More than 500 food and beverage establishments are already featured in the ivie destination app, complemented by a new Tavern & Beisl Guide highlighting neighbourhood dining across the city. Additional culinary content, including a YouTube series hosted by chef Lukas Mraz and German celebrity chef Tim Mälzer, is set to launch in February.