Vienna’s administrative division into 23 districts is part of the city’s historical heritage and structural planning. It was established in the nineteenth century. One of the main reasons for this division is the need for rational management and organization of the city’s infrastructure. In this article, we will tell you about the 16th district of Vienna, its features, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this area.
16th district: Ottakring
The 16th district of Vienna, also known as Ottakring, was formed in 1892 from the villages of Ottakring and Neulerchenfeld and is located in the western part of Vienna. It is bordered by the 17th district of Vienna (Hernals) to the north, the 8th (Josefstadt) and 7th (Neubau) to the east, the 15th (Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus) to the south, and the 14th (Penzing) to the southeast.
Area and population
Ottakring is medium in size and population compared to other Vienna neighborhoods. It covers an area of about 8.5 square kilometers and has a population of 102,452 (as of January 2023).
Housing
Ottakring is one of the oldest districts in Vienna, and here you can find a variety of architectural styles, including both classic Bavarian buildings and modern residential complexes. This district can be called quite contrasting, as in the east there are crowded neighborhoods with a fast pace of life, while in the west there are quiet residential areas at the foot of the Wilhelminenberg mountain.
According to the statistical website immopreise.at, the average price of an apartment in the 16th district of Vienna as of December 2023 is 5542 euros/m2. When it comes to renting real estate in Ottakring, the average cost of housing as of the same month is 15.98 euros/m2.
Prestigious real estate
In Vienna’s 16th district, you can find housing in both new residential complexes and historic but well-maintained buildings. Among the modern residential complexes and revitalized Altbau we can highlight:
- MITTENDRIN 1160 (Bachgasse 24, 1160 Wien) – 11 charming apartments for rent in the center of Vienna’s 16th district. The 2- or 3-room apartments range in size from 50 to approximately 60 m2 and feature outdoor space in the form of a garden, balcony or roof terrace. High-quality equipment of the apartments includes triple insulating double-glazed windows, underfloor heating, parquet floors, LAUFEN sanitary ware and fully equipped kitchens.
- Higher Ground (Baldiagasse 2, 1160 Wien) is one of the newest residential complexes in the 16th district of Vienna. Higher Ground offers 11 newly built apartments on the attic floor with stylish renovation and modern equipment. Sales began in the fall of 2023, and completion is scheduled for 2024.
- Speckbachergasse 25 is a newly modernized Viennese Altbau with three completed floors. Each apartment owner has a balcony or terrace at his or her disposal. The modern layouts offer a wide range of apartments of different sizes – from one-bedroom apartments to exclusive apartments on the top floor.
- Das Lindauer (Lindauergasse 2-6) is a new building project fully adapted to the needs of its residents. It is a perfectly utilized living space for singles, young families, couples and all those who want to live in the city center at an affordable price. The exceptionally high quality and equipment of the apartments provide a unique level of living comfort. Almost every apartment has a loggia, balcony or terrace.
Educational facilities:
As we have already mentioned, the 16th district is very multicultural, so there are both Austrian educational institutions and schools/ kindergartens for children of other nationalities, such as the Arabic School in Vienna:
Arabische Schule Wien, Julius Meinl-Gasse 2A, 1160 Wien – the school follows the Austrian curriculum and is therefore integrated into the Austrian school system. The language of teaching is German. Since June 2007, the Arabic School in Vienna has been the only Islamic primary school with state status. The share of children with non-German mother tongue is about 90%.
It is also worth mentioning the following schools in the 16th district:
- Volksschule Wien (Julius-Meinl-Gasse 1, 1160 Wien);
- Höhere technische Bundeslehranstalt Wien (Thaliastraße 125, 1160 Wien);
- Höhere Bundeslehranstalt für Mode sowie Kunst und Gestaltung (Herbststraße 104, 1160 Wien);
- Volksschule «Vienna Bilingual School» Wien (Herbststraße 86, 1160 Wien);
- Forschungsinstitut für Wildtierkunde und Ökologie (Savoyenstraße 1, 1160 Wien).
As you can see, Vienna’s 16th district has a well-developed system of educational institutions, so when you buy or rent a home here, you can be sure that your children will be well educated.
Medical institutions:
The largest and most famous medical institution in the 16th district of Vienna is Klinik Ottakring (until 2020 Wilhelminenspital), located at Montleartstrasse 37, 1160 Wien and is one of the municipal hospitals in Vienna, which is managed by the Vienna Health Association.
In addition to Klinik Ottakring, the practice of private medical offices is quite popular in the area, which can even be located in residential buildings.
Transportation:
Ottakring district of Vienna has a well-developed public transportation system that provides convenient access to various parts of the city and suburban areas. Here are some key elements of the transportation infrastructure in Ottakring:
Subway (U-Bahn) – Ottakring is home to the U-Bahn line U3 terminus. It provides fast and convenient connections to the central part of Vienna and other important points of the city.
The historic railway line S45 Handelskai – Hütteldorf is the former Vorortslinie (country line) of the Vienna Stadtbahn. Its length is 15.5 km, the interval of movement on weekdays is 10 minutes, and on weekends – 15 minutes.
Buses – the network of bus routes in Ottakring provides additional transportation options, especially to places that may be far from the metro and tram lines. You can use buses on routes 10A, 12A, 48A, N46.
Bicycle paths – in Ottakring, as in the rest of Vienna, you can move freely by bike, as the entire city is equipped with bike paths.
Advantages and disadvantages:
The Vienna district of Ottakring, like any other district, has its advantages and disadvantages, which can be perceived differently depending on the needs and preferences of each person.
Advantages:
Multiculturalism – Ottakring is one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in Vienna. Here you can find educational institutions, restaurants, and shops for different nationalities.
Well-developed transportation infrastructure – most of Vienna (and the 16th district is no exception) has a well-developed public transportation system, which makes it easy to move between different neighborhoods.
Moderate cost of housing – if we take into account other districts of Vienna, it is possible to buy or rent an apartment in Ottakring at relatively low prices.
Disadvantages:
«Working-class neighborhood» – Ottakring is still perceived by many as a working-class and expatriate neighborhood. But according to locals, the neighborhood has changed a lot for the better in recent years and is almost indistinguishable from other parts of Vienna.
Permanent rise in housing costs – the cost of renting and buying a home in Vienna’s 16th district is rising due to several factors, such as the improvement of the district and rising housing prices throughout Austria.
Therefore, if you want to rent or buy a housing in a neighborhood that combines both comfort and dynamic life, Ottakring is ideal for you. And if you would like to find a different neighborhood in Vienna, the VigoImmobilien team will be happy to help you!
