I visited the Vienna Lounge to see if it’s worth the hype
12 April 2024
Team Traveller was recently surprised to hear that of all the international travel hubs around the world, Vienna is home to the best airport lounge in the world. Vienna Lounge at Terminal 1 in Vienna Airport was voted not just the best in Europe, but the overall global winner in the inaugural Priority Pass Excellence Awards. The awards consider over 1,500 lounges and travel experiences and are judged on hundreds of thousands of member ratings and reviews across a wide range of criteria, including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection, and overall satisfaction.
The Design
The first thing I noticed as I entered the main lounge was the bright and calming feel of the space, flooded with natural light from the windows looking out onto the airfield, and with stylish parquet flooring and greenery throughout. The walls are decorated with artwork by Klimt and Schiele, thanks to Vienna’s Leopold Museum, giving the space some local personality and the feel of a stylish hotel lobby, rather than a sterile airport. The lounge is also extensive, covering 2,500 square metres with enough room to host 450 guests.
The Food
The focal hub of the lounge is the bistro-esque dining area, where an impressively large Viennese buffet takes centre stage. There’s a huge variety of hot and cold options available, including traditional dishes, as well as a cheese and meat selection, and a salad bar. There’s also a sweet Viennese cafe area where guests can help themselves to beautifully baked cakes and strudels. For drinks, the options range from several soft drinks, infused waters, spirits, beers, and wines—including Austrian beers and wines—and even a Bloody Mary station.
The Space
Elsewhere, there are comfortable loungers throughout, each with their own European electrical sockets and USB ports. Families will appreciate the dedicated play area for kids, as well as the family bathroom with changing facilities. Personally, I loved the private booths with beds and reading lights, ideal if you want to catch some shut-eye before your flight—though you would need to bring your own blanket. Upon entering the lounge, there’s also a complimentary locker room to store any bulky items or carry-on baggage, which helped make the lounge feel a lot more spacious and comfortable.
My favourite area of the lounge, however, was the year-round outdoor roof terrace with views over and beyond the runway. A great spot, especially when the sun is out in summer. After catching some rays on the terrace, you can freshen up before your flight in one of the spacious private shower rooms—complete with Dyson hair dryers and fluffy towels.
My Highlights:
- Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the airfield
- A Bloody Mary station
- Outdoor roof terrace
- Private booths with beds
- Dyson hair dryers in the private shower rooms
Is It Worth It?
If you’ve got some time to spare before hitting the skies, this is definitely a lounge experience that’s worth the price.
How to Visit
Access to the lounge is complimentary for Priority Pass members plus a guest. Membership fees are currently available for 30% off. Non-members can access Vienna Lounge for three hours for €49 for adults and €29 for children.
