Handmade Hostel - Our love for DIY
DIY everything!
We love learning by doing!
DIY is in Hostel Ruthensteiner’s DNA. Form the start in 1968 when Walter Ruthensteiner, an avid woodworker himself designed the Hostels iconic wooden benches we loved doing all ourselves. This Do-it-yourselve ethos has extended beyond just the benches, permeating every aspect of the hostel’s existence. From the maintenance and renovations to the unique and quirky decorations, every task is approached with a hands-on, do-it-yourself attitude. This commitment to DIY not only adds a personal touch to the hostel’s ambiance but also creates a sense of pride and authenticity that resonates with the guests who visit and appreciate the hostel’s unique charm.


Our very own wood workshop
Having our very own wood workshop in the back garden house is truly a stroke of luck. It is the place where all the magic happens! The workshop is outfitted with machines that date back up to 100 years and this needs a good insight into how to handle them. This dedicated space allows us to unleash our creativity. Whether it’s crafting intricate furniture, designing unique home decor items, or simply indulging in the joy of woodworking, our wood workshop serves as a sanctuary for our passion.
Logo and graphic design
Wether it is our logo that has been crafter by Courtney Day (working for over 10 years at the Hostel) and myself or the tiling design we did in the “Hundertwasser Dorm”, the wall Art, some of the patterns here on the webiste and on our keycard pouches by Bethany Lee (A receptionist for many years), The images on walls by Sonja Stangl (former receptionist, now acclaimed illustrator) or all of the handy work by Czeslaw, our famous polish House Masta – most of it was done in house by our very own staff.


Interior Design
From Hostel to Poshtel?
Paola Moreira, a brazilian interior designer (currently working at Wohnfee) was a receptionist and bar tender herself before she professionalized in her original field of interior design. As my partner she is still very connected to the Hostel and all of the recent interior design changes are at least heavily influenced by her. While we loved to double up on the quality and get in beautiful and quirky design ideas we never embraced a fully perfected and slick interior design that other Hostels nowadays implement. We kept it homemade and artsy and unique. Every room has been designed by itself with it’s very own design language. You wont find the same style twice.
And the Hoscar goes to....
56-year-old Viennese hostel wins HOSCAR Europe
In 1968, the Vienna Hostel Ruthensteiner opened its doors as one of the first independent youth hostels. Located in a turn-of-the-century building in a side street in Vienna's 15th district, with just over 100 beds, it is one of the medium-sized hostels that is primarily visited by young and young-at-heart adventurers and travelers. Its history goes back to the time of the Iron Curtain, when many students from Prague and other places in the East were the first to find accommodation there after fleeing.
In 2014, the hostel was taken over by the founding Ruthensteiner family under a new team of employees and has since then continuously distinguished itself as one of the best hostels in Vienna. After already winning the HOSCARs for best hostel in Austria in 2019 and 2020 and having taken first place in the hostel category in Tripadvisor for several years, three of the popular awards have been added this time: best hostel in Europe for solo travelers, best medium hostel and Finally placed 2nd in “Best Hostel in Europe”.
This is particularly surprising since, due to the relocation of the international train lines, the hostel is neither near the main train station nor directly in the center. In a city that backpackers tend to see as boring and historic, hostels in Milan and Lisbon have an automatic bonus. When asked about the recipe for success, Juan, Front Desk Manager, reveals: "We work together like a colorful family." "The guests come from everywhere and we love nothing more than that they feel comfortable with us, can relax and we get to know each other. I came here from Colombia many years ago and didn't have a home here, now I have one here My friends and we all work together. You can tell that as soon as you walk in."
While many newer hostels rely on modernizations such as the "digital self check-in" or have concepts created by agencies, the Ruthensteiner Hostel was an organically grown project from the start, the values of which have remained consistent over the decades. When asked about the biggest challenges, operator Stefan Künz answers: "The culture in Vienna is very much geared towards peace and quiet. On a hot summer day it is difficult to keep our young guests inside from 10 a.m., especially because some of them are always smokers. We do our best but... There are some neighbors who would like us gone. They forget what our presence has done for the neighborhood. "A thriving local scene, more security, the elimination of street prostitution... over the decades we have and our guests contributed a lot, but that is not seen here."
Nevertheless, he sees the future positively. "Things are changing." On the other hand, as digitalization increases, human contact will become more important than ever before, the managing director is convinced. "A hostel is much more than a cheap bed in a sterile room."
This extra is probably the reason why an old hostel in Vienna is winning prizes that have never gone to Austria before.