St. Pölten for newcomers: Lower Austria's capital on the Traisen 25 minutes by train from Vienna

The city area of St. Pölten comprises numerous cadastral municipalities; until 2021 they were grouped into eleven districts, and since the 2021 urban development plan a structure more closely aligned with spatial planning has applied. The city centre around Domplatz and Rathausplatz offers short distances to offices, shops and the station. Close by is the government quarter with the Landhaus, Festspielhaus, Museum of Lower Austria, Klangturm and the state archive and library.

The city also includes localities such as Pottenbrunn, Ratzersdorf an der Traisen, Spratzern, Viehofen, Unterwagram and St. Georgen am Steinfelde. For swimming, there are the Viehofen lakes, covering 53 hectares, and Lake Ratzersdorf. Which location suits you depends on your commute, school and bus connections – the city's housing platform wohnen.st-poelten.at also brings together municipal flats.

We deliberately do not give reliable current rent figures here; compare offers and use the city's housing platform, housing cooperatives and the tenants' advice service. Large employers are the University Hospital St. Pölten with around 3,100 employees, the Lower Austrian state administration in the government quarter and industrial companies such as the engineering firm Voith, whose history in the city began after 1903.

Besides the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, there is the New Design University, the Bertha von Suttner Private University and a college of philosophy and theology. Culturally, the Festspielhaus, Klangturm and Museum of Lower Austria shape the programme, and in sport the NV Arena. According to Wikipedia, Vienna can be reached by train in 25 minutes – for many commuters a reason to live here.

Arrange a free survey for your personal quote.

The calculation is based first and foremost on volume and distance (from €4.20/km). Then come the floor, lift and, if necessary, a parking restriction zone. If you also need furniture assembly or a shared load, you should say so early on.

Tailored moving solutions

Every move is different – which is why we offer flexible services.

1. Furniture transport – for single pieces of furniture or whole flats.
2. Move with assembly – including set-up and take-down.
3. Home move – personal and reliable.
4. Company move – without business interruption.
5. Clearance – fast and discreet.
6. Part load – the cost-effective choice.

We come from Berlin-Moabit and handle moves within Germany and abroad. In the locations overview you can see destinations with their own page. For longer routes we recommend our long-distance moves service.

According to the City of St. Pölten, after moving into a new flat you must register within three days. The responsible office is the registration office on the ground floor of the town hall, Rathausplatz 1. You need to book an appointment (tel. +43 2742 333-3001, [email protected]). Opening hours according to the city: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7.30 to 15.00, Tuesday 7.30 to 18.00, Friday 7.30 to 12.00.

Bring official documents showing your first name and surname, date of birth, place of birth and nationality (for example a passport or birth certificate), a travel document for non-Austrians, and the birth certificate for newborns. Registration is also possible without appearing in person: you send originals or certified copies plus the completed registration form, give both to a messenger, or an adult family member attends on your behalf.

The city's digital waste calendar shows the collection dates for your address; the waste management office can be reached Monday to Friday from 6.00 to 14.00.

The city points out that a change of residence can lead to further notification obligations, for example for your vehicle registration certificate. You can get a confirmation of registration at the town hall or online with ID Austria and online banking. The contact for water is the waterworks (+43 2742 333-4250), and for rubbish the waste management office (+43 2742 333-4444). Costs and districts are explained in our guide to moving to St. Pölten.

The residents' parking card is only valid in the city centre. Requirements according to the city: main residence in a designated street of the fee-paying short-stay zone, no private parking space and a vehicle registered to you, leased or used privately as a company car. The annual fee for 2026 is €171.10, the card is valid for one year, there is one card per person and a maximum of two vehicles per household. There is no entitlement to a parking space near your home. Apply at the citizens' service, Rathausplatz 1; you need your vehicle registration certificate, registration form and proof of where your life is centred.

Without a card, you pay €0.50 per half hour or part thereof in the short-stay zone (Mon–Fri 8–12 and 13–18, Sat 8–12), and the maximum duration is three hours.

According to the city, the LUP city bus offers a senior discount from your 65th birthday; you can reach the VOR hotline on 0800 22 23 24. For students and young people, the city refers to the student ticket and the TOP youth ticket.

The LUP city bus is operated by two companies on a total of 13 lines; the fares of the Eastern Region transport association (VOR) apply. There are also regional buses and the shared call taxi. The city's housing offer, municipal flats and city-centre living, is brought together on the platform wohnen.st-poelten.at. If you want to move to Lower Austria's capital but also have Vienna in mind, compare the alternatives in our Vienna guide.