Uncover Vienna’s darker past on an off-the-beaten-track walking tour where crime, street gangs, prostitution, and the city’s long-vanished slums reveal a hidden side behind imperial Vienna.

GANGS OF VIENNA
walking tour

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Picturesque lane in Vienna's Spittelberg — small houses, cobblestones and blue sky

Discover Vienna’s hidden criminal history on this unique walking tour through the districts of Mariahilf and Neubau. Behind the elegant façades of today’s trendy neighbourhoods once existed a world of gangs, prostitution, poverty, and the crowded slums.

We will explore streets where social outsiders, criminals, and everyday residents shaped a very different side of the imperial city. Along the way you will hear stories about forgotten neighbourhoods, notorious characters, and the realities of urban life that rarely appear in traditional guidebooks.

The tour covers:
• Crime and gang in historic old Vienna
• The vanished slum of the Ratzenstadl
• Prostitution and social life in the 19th century

The walk leads through the hip quarters of Mariahilf and Neubau and ends in the picturesque Spittelberg district. Along the way we also visit a small hidden museum that even many locals have never discovered.

Step away from the typical tourist routes and explore a fascinating side of the city on one of the most unusual walking tours in Vienna — ideal for travellers interested in hidden history, local stories, and authentic Vienna experiences.

What to expect on this guided walking tour?

  • Yes. The tour is designed for curious travellers who want to see a different side of the city. Even if it is your first time in Vienna, the walk through Mariahilf, Neubau, and Spittelberg offers fascinating stories and neighbourhoods that most tourists never explore.

  • The tour discusses historical topics such as crime and prostitution in a historical and educational way. It is generally suitable for older teenagers and adults interested in social history.

  • No. This tour intentionally stays away from the classical sights of the historic city centre. Instead, it focuses on neighbourhoods where everyday life and Vienna’s social history unfolded, offering a perspective most visitors never experience. The walk concludes in the beautiful Spittelberg district — a historic quarter with charming streets and courtyards that should definitely be on your list of places to see in Vienna.

Vienna tour guide on a square in Vienna's 7th district, Neubau, explaining the neighbourhood's history to a small walking tour group
Details of a historic drinking fountain in Vienna's Spittelberg — small houses in the background
Female Vienna tour guide explaining the history of Vienna's crime scenes on a walking tour through Mariahilf, the 6th district of Vienna
Detail of the notorious crime-ridden Ratzenstadt model in the hidden district museum of Mariahilf — small historic building with a public well
Spittelberg street view with drinking fountain on a small square that once was the centre of Vienna's historic red light district
Simone Schedl and Jascha Novak, the two Hidden Vienna guides, standing in front of a historic portal with green painted doors in Spittelberg, Vienna
Narrow lane in Vienna's former red light district — in the centre of the picture is an old house sign: the two-bodied lion of a former brothel linked to Emperor Joseph II
Detail of a building with a large red dome held up by a giant griffin in Vienna's hip 7th district, Neubau
Detail of the Magdalenengrund model, also known as Ratzenstadt, showing Magdalenenstraße as the high street. The model dates back to the 19th century and is housed in the district museum of Mariahilf, Vienna
 

Meeting Point
In front of the Pilgramgasse Underground Station (McDonalds)

Public Transport
• Metro U4
• Buses 13A, 14A

Please arrive 10 minutes early for check-in.

What to Wear
Please dress according to the weather and bring an umbrella in case of rain.
Pro tip: Vienna can be quite windy, so it often feels colder than expected — especially in winter. Wearing thermal or insulated underlayers is highly recommended.

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