The Gasometers are not a classic Vienna must-see in the same way as Schönbrunn or the Hofburg, and that is part of their appeal. Four enormous circular brick structures rise beside the U3 in the 11th district, their historic outer walls wrapped around a modern complex of homes, businesses, shops and entertainment spaces. If you like cities, architecture or unusual reuse projects, they show a very different Vienna from the imperial centre.
What the Gasometers actually are
The four gas holders were built between 1896 and 1899 for Vienna's town-gas system. Once changes in gas supply made them obsolete, they were decommissioned in 1984. The brick exteriors were protected rather than demolished, and a major redevelopment at the end of the 1990s turned the structures into a mixed-use district while keeping the monumental cylindrical shells.
Four shells, four architectural approaches
The redevelopment used four design teams rather than treating the Gasometers as one identical project. Jean Nouvel worked on Gasometer A, Coop Himmelb(l)au on B, Wilhelm Holzbauer on C and Manfred Wehdorn on D. That makes the complex more interesting if you walk through it rather than simply taking a photo from the U-Bahn exit: the historic brick rings stay visually consistent outside, while the inserted modern buildings vary from tower to tower.
What is inside today?
The Gasometers are working buildings, not an industrial museum. Vienna Tourism describes a large residential component, an event hall and commercial space within the complex. You can enter the public shopping and circulation areas without buying an attraction ticket, but most residential and office areas are naturally private. The result feels more like visiting a lived-in piece of converted infrastructure than touring a preserved monument.
Is the shopping centre the reason to come?
Not really. The shops make the complex useful to residents, but visitors should come for the scale of the brick cylinders and the contrast between old industrial envelopes and newer architecture. If shopping is your main goal, central Vienna has more convenient choices such as Mariahilfer Straße.
Concerts and events
Gasometer B includes a major event venue, so an evening concert can be the best reason to make the trip. Check the current programme before travelling out specifically for a show: event access, opening times and crowd levels are separate from ordinary public access to the commercial areas.
How to get there
Take the U3 to Gasometer station; the complex is beside the station and requires no complicated onward connection. Vienna Tourism describes the ride from the central city as short, so this is an easy architectural detour even though Simmering sits well outside the core sightseeing cluster.
How long should you allow?
Allow around 45 minutes if you simply want to look around the public areas and understand the redevelopment. Architecture enthusiasts can spend 60–90 minutes comparing the towers. Unless you have a concert, meal or another reason to remain in the district, it does not need half a day.
Who should put it on the itinerary?
Prioritise the Gasometers if you enjoy adaptive reuse, industrial heritage, contemporary architecture or seeing how a city repurposes infrastructure. First-time visitors with only one or two days in Vienna should usually spend that time on the historic centre and major museums first.
Best way to treat it
Think of the Gasometers as a purposeful architecture detour, not a conventional ticketed attraction. Go in daylight if the buildings are your main interest, or pair the visit with an event in the complex.
Architecture, location and current-use details checked against Vienna Tourism information in September 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Vienna's Gasometers used for now?
They are mixed-use buildings with housing, commercial space and an event venue inside the preserved historic brick shells.
Can you go inside the Gasometers?
Yes, public commercial and circulation areas are accessible, but the Gasometers are working residential and business buildings rather than a museum.
How do you get to Gasometer Vienna?
Take the U3 to Gasometer station; the complex is immediately beside the station.
Are the Gasometers worth visiting?
They are worthwhile for industrial heritage and architecture fans, but are a lower priority than Vienna's major central sights for a short first visit.