Fodor's Expert Review Schloss Mönchstein

With gorgeous gardens and hiking trails, it's little wonder the 19th-century naturalist Alexander von Humboldt called this retreat outside the city center a "small piece of paradise." Catherine of Russia and the Duchess of Liechtenstein are among the notables who have stayed in the gable-roofed, tower-studded mansion, with its lovely rooms that combine clever design and modern luxuries with heritage features and timeless elegance. Take a summertime dip in the infinity pool or warm up in the year-round outdoor Jacuzzi, and enjoy a host of spa treatments in the wellness area. You can dine in the Glass Garden restaurant, set within an impressive glass dome and with breathtaking views over the city, or in the atmospheric, antique-stuffed Gothic Saloon. Or, if you want a truly unique, ultra-intimate dining experience, reserve the table for two in the castle tower. Getting to town means a taxi, unless you're willing to negotiate stairs or take the Mönchsberg elevator, about an eight-minute walk away.