Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Bristol

There is little wonder that this pale-yellow palace, just across the river from the Altstadt and with stunning historic detail and fine artwork, has attracted an impressive roster of royal and celebrity guests. Emperor Franz Josef I, Sigmund Freud, and the cast of The Sound of Music have all stayed here, to name a few (check out the photograph gallery in the plush piano bar). Rooms feature chandeliers and marble baths, and some have inner doors with their original etched glass. Some are classic historical, some are in whimsical Napoleonic style with tented ceilings, and others are in sleek, modern style. A few of the deluxe suites have stupendous views of the entire city. Classic international and Austrian dishes are served in the Polo Lounge.