5 Best Laufhauses in Vienna

A Laufhaus is a particular type of brothel common in Vienna and other parts of Europe. The term Laufhaus originates from German, where lauf means to walk and haus means house. It describes a facility where clients can freely walk through the building, visit different rooms, and choose a sex worker to engage with based on personal preference.
In a typical Laufhaus, each sex worker rents a room from the establishment and operates independently. This setup allows sex workers to have more control over their services, including pricing and the type of services offered. The Laufhaus itself usually provides basic amenities such as a bed and bathroom in each room, but the sex workers are responsible for their own clientele.
Clients visiting a Laufhaus do not pay an entrance fee to the establishment; instead, they directly negotiate terms and prices with the sex workers in their rooms. This model is more casual and direct compared to traditional brothels, where clients might pay an upfront fee to the house before proceeding with services.

The difference between a Laufhaus and a brothel mainly lies in how the services are offered and how the premises are organized. However, both a Laufhaus and a nightclub or sex club can be considered a brothel, as they are all places where one can pay for sexual services.
Laufhaus: In a Laufhaus, sex workers rent their own rooms and offer their services individually. Customers can freely walk through the building, visit different rooms, and negotiate directly with the providers. The customer rooms are usually in a building or house that one can walk through, hence the term Laufhaus.
Brothel: In a classic brothel, there is a central organization that manages and operates the business. The sex workers typically work for the brothel or are employed by it, and the establishment handles the organization of clients and appointments. Often, there is a reception area where clients are received and referred to the sex workers.
Many people associate a brothel with a nightclub or sex club.

The difference between a Laufhaus and a brothel mainly lies in how the services are offered and how the premises are organized. However, both a Laufhaus and a nightclub or sex club can be considered a brothel, as they are all places where one can pay for sexual services.
Laufhaus: In a Laufhaus, sex workers rent their own rooms and offer their services individually. Customers can freely walk through the building, visit different rooms, and negotiate directly with the providers. The customer rooms are usually in a building or house that one can walk through, hence the term Laufhaus.
Brothel: In a classic brothel, there is a central organization that manages and operates the business. The sex workers typically work for the brothel or are employed by it, and the establishment handles the organization of clients and appointments. Often, there is a reception area where clients are received and referred to the sex workers.
Many people associate a brothel with a nightclub or sex club, which also offers sexual services. In summary, the difference lies mainly in the fact that in a Laufhaus, sex workers are largely independent, while in a brothel, a central organization oversees operations.

In a Laufhaus, also known as a model apartment or brothel, sex workers work in individual rooms that can be visited by clients. Clients have the opportunity to walk through the building (hence the name Laufhaus) and choose a person for sexual services. The interaction between clients and sex workers usually takes place directly in the room, where the service is negotiated and carried out. It is a type of establishment commonly found in the sex industry, particularly in countries where prostitution is legal or tolerated.

The term Laufhaus is derived from the way clients select services. In a Laufhaus, clients can walk from room to room, or walk around, to see the sex workers and make a decision. There is usually no central reception or intermediary; clients enter the house, walk through the hallways, look at the offerings, and can then speak directly to the sex workers. This opportunity to look around in peace and choose sets the Laufhaus apart from other forms of sex work, such as an appointment brothel, where bookings are often made in advance.