143 Best Hotels in Austria

One of Europe's legends, originally founded by Franz Sacher, chef to Prince Metternich—for whom the famous chocolate cake was invented—this hotel dates from 1876 but has delightfully retained its old-world atmosphere while also providing luxurious, modern-day comfort. Little wonder the Sacher is often booked solid by its Stammgast regulars, who love the fact that this mythically grand "palace" is still a family-run hotel. Thanks to the benevolent rule of grande-dame owner Mme. Elisabeth Gürtler, the friendly staff makes guests feel as if they are in a perfectly managed private home. The public salons are so opulent you might wish to view them with a monocle, especially the restaurant Anna Sacher, resplendent in emerald-green plush, gilt-leaf Old Master paintings, and priceless Lobmeyr chandeliers. Beforehand, enjoy a glass of champagne in the Blaue bar, a vision in Harry Winstonesque sapphire. But if you want casual instead of dazzle, head to the Café Sacher, where everyone proudly orders a slice of Sachertorte. Upstairs, guest rooms are winning combinations of 19th-century antiques and traditional-style furniture, all cosetted in chic pattern-on-pattern fabrics and chilled by the most silent air-conditioning in Europe.

This Renaissance Revival–style structure, built in 1873 as an exhibition hall, was transformed 140 years later into a luxe hotel, which pays homage to the grand beginnings while also incorporating modern-day amenities. The 8,600-square-foot Ottoman-inspired spa houses three sauna rooms, a gym, a hydropool, and treatments using high-end Babor products. Die Küche restaurant serves Viennese classics in a relaxed atmosphere, while the Edvard, winner of a Michelin star the first year it opened, showcases international fare. The Lobby Lounge Bar features a Ladies and Gent’s tea and is a perfect place for a predinner cocktail. The hotel also has a cigar lounge, an architectural gem.

One of Innsbruck's newer hotels, Adlers eclipses all with its panoramic vistas, and every room in the striking, supermodern building has floor-to-ceiling windows. Its spacious rooms are from the seventh floor up, so every guest has a fine view. With cutting-edge design and high-end chic, it's a perfect alternative to the traditional Tyrolean stube look, but amid the glass and steel there's still plenty of wood trim and flooring. Ask for Room 910 and soak in the bathtub gazing out at the mountains; take Room 1112, where the Nordkette, Innsbruck's ski area, and the lofty village of Hungerburg fill the windows; or take any Panoramic Deluxe room or Panorama Suite for a 180-degree view. Trainspotters can look down and be happy, too, with marshalling yards spread out for their delight.

Around the corner from Ars Electronica Center and just across the river from the Old Town, this avant-garde boutique hotel offers stylish and spacious bedrooms with quirky light fixtures and tailor-made artworks by local creatives. In fact, the whole hotel is unapologetically modern; a refreshing alternative in a city full of heritage accommodations. The superior rooms feature wooden floors, brightly-colored feature walls, open bathrooms with showers, and Segafredo coffee machines. Other hotel amenities include a small fitness center with a sauna and an appealing lobby and bar (although, considering the location, you're more likely to go out for a drink).

Occupying the 18th-century Palais Inzaghi, the Dom's whimsically decorated rooms combine the old history of Graz with the new modern style. The hotel is in an excellent central location, offers spacious rooms, and the rooftop suite has a Jacuzzi on a secluded terrace.

Travelers who prefer a traditionally elegant city hotel will be happy with this historic establishment in a 16th-century building. It is ideally located on a corner of the Hauptplatz in the Old City. Rooms are somewhat dated but furnished charmingly, some in Biedermeier style, some with exotic themes and canopied beds in red or purple velvet. All rooms open onto a sunny and luxuriant winter garden. 

Celebrities from Picasso to Pavarotti have favored the Golden Stag for its legendary gemütlichkeit (friendliness) and away-from-it-all feel. The interiors were dramatically redesigned in 2019, so even the classic rooms are a good size, with large TVs, wooden desks (often hiding a vanity table), comfy rugs, and spacious bathrooms with smart toilets, while the suites add seating areas and space to stretch out. Each room is unique, but all blend modern touches and colorful trims with wooden beams, stucco ceiling decorations, and antique feature pieces. Downstairs, there are two restaurants: the regal dining room with its vaulted ceilings and menu of international dishes alongside Salzburg specialties (try the towering Salzburger Nockerl); and a smaller bistro serving Austrian classics, loved by locals for its cozy, timbered look and house specialty Nürnberger Bratwürstl (half a dozen roasted sausages with sauerkraut). After dinner, take a seat at the stylish bar to try the signature cocktail "Susanne." It's named for a little girl who used to visit with her parents every year; as she got older, more and more ingredients were added, so by the time she was an adult she had a delicious cocktail of orange juice, Campari, crème de cassis, vodka, and Prosecco.

Located on the Mur River, this hotel retains its palatial proportions and historic character but its 2018 makeover brought modern comfort and quirky design details. Five guesthouses were converted into Hotel Wiesler in 1870 and the property has seen several lives; today, this historic property offers stylish, modern rooms in seven different categories and sizes. Guest rooms come in a variety of sizes, from compact to spacious, and feature a fresh white backdrop for a variety of contemporary art, hand-painted Talavera sinks from Mexico, free-standing bath tubs, guitars, typewriters, easels, and working fireplaces. The Oasis spa offers wellness inspired by the Orient with a sauna, steam bath, and Arabian tea room.

Smack behind the Albertina and the Staatsoper, this authentically Austrian boutique hotel is an absolutely delightful addition to the Vienna lodging scene, with fabulous views of the heart of the Innere Stadt. The interior design, by Sir Terence Conran, is at once sleek and warm, intimate and airy, and all touches, including the simple but stunning wide-planked unfinished hardwood floors, were created by Austrian craftsmen and -women; photographs adorning the walls of the rooms and corridors are real works by Austrian photographers. Broad windows provide fine views, and bay-window seating is a nice touch. Large soaking tubs are a plus, as is the complimentary minibar. The duplex suite comes with a private rooftop terrace. The café bakes its own pastries and roasts its own coffee and the brasserie serves international fare in a casual setting.

Architect-designed with an eclectic artisan vibe, this stylish Alpine lodge, the sister hotel to Miramonte in the town, sits on a hillside about a half mile from the center. As well as spectacular views and mountain pursuits on the doorstep, there are excellent amenities for families—everything from prenatal spa treatments to nanny service and a kids’ club. While your clan is being cared for, you can enjoy the quiet corners, such as the library or the spa, which covers an entire floor, or join one of the daily free activities, including sightseeing and morning yoga. All rooms are done out in strong colors and are comfortably furnished, and most have views over the valley. The mood is sociable, and guests tend to mingle across the cocktail lounge, alfresco terrace, and cozy restaurant, which is all leather pouffs, low lighting, and magical views; it fosters wellbeing with local organic fare in Ayurvedic dishes.

A lush, green oasis is tucked between the two buildings that comprise the Auersperg: the hotel, built in 1892 by the noted Italian architect Ceconi, and its neighboring villa. The lobby welcomes you with Biedermeier antiques, and upstairs, the rooms have a fresh, modern feel, accented with classic ornaments. On request, kids' toys, food, and babysitters can be arranged. An extensive local, organic breakfast buffet, bicycles (including one fitted with a toddler trailer), and access to the rooftop sauna, steam bath, and lounge are included, while useful extras like iPads and e-bikes are available for hire. A five-minute walk brings you to the popular shopping street Linzergasse, while the historic Mirabell Palace is 10-minute walk away.

Charming Tyrolean architecture and family-run hospitality meet contemporary comfort and state-of-the-art spa facilities at this luxury Relais & Chateaux hotel. Owned by the Pfurtscheller family since 1977 and regularly expanded and modernized since, Hotel Jagdhof offers individually designed rooms and suites that combine pine panelling, antique furnishings and traditional stoves with stylishly modern seating areas, smart TVs, and coffee pod machines—as well as large balconies with Stubai Glacier views. Opt for a higher-end suite and you can also enjoy a private sauna in the room. Delicious breakfasts and six-course dinners (half board is highly recommended) are served in the atmospheric restaurant—the cakes and patisseries are particularly good—while private food and drink options include a ski gondola-turned-fondue restaurant and a vaulted wine cellar. But the real star of Hotel Jagdhof is its spa, which features a swim-through indoor-outdoor pool, garden whirlpool tub, and a huge array of grotto-like saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools, spa treatment rooms, and relaxation areas. For the ultimate luxury, book the Private Spa Suite, complete with couples' sauna. While staying here, keep an eye out for regular hotel events, such as the fun "risk-free" casino nights.

The clean, modern lines within the vaulted interior of a historic building are immediately striking in this hotel, a couple of minutes from the center of the Old Town. Parts date back to the 16th century, but a bold face-lift means the whole building has air-conditioning, and soundproofed windows mean that even rooms facing the busy street are peaceful. Amenities abound, from large TV screens and luxurious mattresses to anti-allergen bedding and lavender spray for pillows. The room styles vary, and there are adjoining rooms that are perfect for families.

Wonderfully located right on the Salzach River, this mammoth heritage hotel has attracted guests from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones to Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, but the owners, the Gürtler family, will ensure that even if you don't have a Vuitton steamer trunk you'll feel welcome. The main atrium is a symphony in marble, while the grand staircase still looks like the Empress Sisi could make a dazzling entrance amidst its ferns. Upstairs, guest rooms are so lovely there is a danger you won't want to leave (especially if you get one with picture-perfect views of the Old City). Each is different, but all are exquisitely decorated. Restaurants include haute-style dining at the Zirbelzimmer, grilled specialties at the Sacher Grill, and of course the Salzburg outpost of Vienna's fabled Café Sacher.

With gorgeous gardens and hiking trails all around, it's little wonder the 19th-century naturalist Alexander von Humboldt called this gable-roofed, tower-studded mansion a "small piece of paradise." Catherine the Great of Russia and the Duchess of Liechtenstein are among the notables who have stayed in this historic property (dating back to 1350), where corridors are cut straight out of the mountain rock. Lovingly-refurbished rooms combine clever design and modern luxuries with heritage features and classical elegance. Take a summertime dip in the tempting infinity pool, warm up in the year-round outdoor Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, 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. Welcome drinks are served in the chic Apollo Bar. Getting to town means either a 10-minute woodland walk to the Mönchsberg elevator (there are free tickets at reception) or a short taxi ride. For drivers, there's free on-site parking available.

Considered by many to be the best B&B in Vienna, this small, family-run inn offers comfortable, spacious, and exquisitely furnished rooms. The elegant and quiet neighborhood is not quite downtown, but it's near public transportation and, even if you walk, it's just 10 minutes to Ring Strasse. The owners are friendly and accommodating, breakfast is a treat, and there's a sauna.

Recently merged into one hotel, the Topazz and Lamee hotels offer spectacular architecture, central locations, a focus on sustainability and innovation, and supreme style and comfort. The Lamée, named after Hedy Lamarr, offers a playful wink to actors' dressing rooms of her era: pink crushed-velvet sofas and chairs, and muted gold-toned bedding and drapes. Another design reference is the iconic Orient Express train—a small seating area at the entrance to each room recalls train compartments, with high-gloss Makassar wood paneling and portal windows. The Topazz across the street is like a nine-story cylindrical silver vase gemmed with big oval amber stones. The interiors are slick and subdued, with monochromatic hues and geometric prints, and a chic basement-level lounge. The Lamee's rooftop terrace bar provides stunning views of the Innere Stadt and the location, just around the corner from St. Stephen's Cathedral, can't be beat.  

It's hard to tell where this hotel ends and the countryside begins—floors are natural stone, rooms smell of applewood paneling, and some exterior walls are built around trees. The lumber is all Austrian—felled during a full moon (yes, really!), which makes it easier to steam and bend because at that time sap is drawn up the tree to give higher moisture content. Rooms are rounded, curved, or angled and all are different—take No. 221 and you have a terrace that resembles a small park—and each has water piped from a mountainside spring.

A cheerful atmosphere enfolds in this family-owned Relais & Chateaux chalet hotel, with murals, flower boxes, and a wood-paneled interior of extravagant luxury. Some of the suites are huge, with canopied beds and bathrooms that are a work of art. The panoramic restaurant Postblick is one of the best in town. Try the venison ragout with cranberry crème fraîche or the roasted fillet of trout with dill potatoes, and save space for one of the outstanding desserts. Another of the hotel's restaurants, Kutscherstuben, serves excellent regional Austrian dishes; if the weather's nice, try to get a table on the garden terrace.

Behind the hotel's Art Nouveau facade, London interior designer Maria Vafiadis has paid tribute to Viennese Art Deco, and the result is überstylish yet comfortable. Smack in the middle of the lobby is an eye-catching glass-enclosed vault; the property used to be a bank and the big bucks were stashed here, but today it serves as a wine cellar. You can enjoy a glass of wine in the elegant marble-and-wood wine bar beside an enormous open fireplace. Rooms are full of streamlined, sedate furnishings. The location is unbeatable: step out of the hotel and you're in front of the famed Café Central, and just down the cobblestone street is the Hofburg Palace.

This well located five-star hotel, styled like an oversized chalet with modern annexes on either side, stands out with its lovely courtyard garden, a natural swimming pool, and the best spa in the area. At this family-managed lodging, comfort and personal service rule. Each of the attractive rooms and suites has a flower-bedecked balcony with a lovely view. Sophisticated travelers appreciate the excellent restaurant and service. The hotel has an indoor golf simulator and golfers get a discount at the local club.

One of the most famous hotels in Austria, this 17th-century early-Baroque castle on a rocky terrace with exquisite views over the Danube was once the preserve of the princes of Starhemberg. Since then, many a regal visitor and a bevy of celebrities have enjoyed its classic elegance and comfort. The best rooms face the river and all are elegantly decorated, in grand style. Biedermeier armoires and country antiques grace the public rooms. The restaurant is nestled under coved ceilings; tables on the outside terrace overlook the lovely Danube.

A large lake and expansive grounds surround this historic palace immortalized in The Sound of Music, located less than a kilometer (⅔ mile) southwest of Fortress Hohensalzburg, which was originally built in the 18th century for Archbishop Leopold von Firmian. In 1918 it became the summer residence of Max Reinhardt, founder of the Salzburg Festival, and today you can yourself marvel at the mirrors of the Venetian Room and enjoy the property's two libraries. Coffee and a slice of homemade cake, or a glass of locally produced wine, are best enjoyed on the enchanting terrace overlooking the peaceful lake and jagged Untersberg mountains. The historic Meierhof building offers 55 elegant, modern rooms embellished with artifacts discovered in hotel storage; if you're a fan of The Sound of Music, request one of the handful of rooms adorned with movie and stage memorabilia. There are also 12 luxurious suites in the palace itself.

The beautifully frescoed facade of this ancient inn, which has been offering hospitality for nearly 450 years, hints at what you'll find inside: open fireplaces, Tyrolean antiques, and colorful Oriental carpets. The Alpine-style rooms are tastefully furnished, spacious, and full of modern conveniences, and contemporary decoration sits well with the traditional atmosphere. Pop on the supplied robe and slippers to discover the hotel's Adler Spa, with its compact indoor pool, choice of saunas and steam baths, and gorgeous outdoor skypool and terrace with stunning views of the mountains around. Downstairs, the heavily timbered bar is one of the most pleasant and charming in town, with sophisticated live music permeating its romantic little corners and snug hideaways, while the restaurant next door serves a first-class, five-course gourmet menu. Schwarzer Adler is perfectly located in the center of town, at one end of the pedestrianized precinct and very close to the main ski lifts.

Adored by the rich and famous, from the Duke of Windsor to Kirk Douglas, this family-owned Alpine Shangri-la is at once rustic and glamorous, where gleaming gold chandeliers and silk-covered sofas happily coexist alongside wood-paneled walls and hand-painted cabinets. The main building, a 400-year-old former farmhouse, has the feel of a cozy country hunting lodge, with antique furnishings, elaborately-framed artworks, thick drapes, stag antlers, and open fires throughout. The 39 beautifully-appointed bedrooms in the main house are full of character and all different (James Bond fans should opt for the suitably-themed Room 9, once occupied by author Ian Fleming), but for those who prioritize space and comfort over heritage and tradition, the six luxury chalet suites across the road are a better option. There are also nine Landsitz Römerhof Apartments available. Guests everywhere enjoy access to the large outdoor and indoor pools, the small spa area, and the well-maintained garden. Excellent breakfasts and gourmet multicourse dinners are served either on the terrace or in one of the hotel's charming restaurant interiors.

Tucked away below the walls of Fortress Hohensalzburg, this historic hotel offers beautifully-appointed bedrooms packed with charming antique furnishings, as well as a relaxing garden and small spa. There are only six rooms in all, but each is individually decorated, combining historic features like thick wooden doors, ancient beamed ceilings, and time-worn cabinets with extra-long beds, flat-screen TVs and iPads, and stylish stone bathrooms with rain showers. Opt for a third-floor Deluxe Room to enjoy stunning views over the Altstadt. The building's history, with stretches back to at least the 1300s, is also on show in the spacious second-floor lounge area, with exposed wooden ceilings and lime-plastered walls with natural pigments. This is where breakfast (an optional extra) is served, while there's also an honesty bar and access to the hidden-gem garden. You can reserve rooms individually or book out the whole property for a large group; you'll need to book very early if you want the whole property during the Salzburg Festival.

This is Ischgl's flagship hotel, elegant and romantic, and the only five-star property in town. It's not an ancient hotel, as so many in Tyrol are, despite looking as if a fair-sized forest must have been used to complete its interior. Many celebrities visit Ischgl to ski or play their top-of-the-mountain concerts—Elton John, Tina Turner, and Lionel Richie included—and this is their favorite place to stay. In the center of town, it is also close to the main lift up the Silvrettabahn. The food here, overseen by celebrity-chef Martin Sieberer, is exquisite. You can also eat in the Baroque Hall, the Renaissance Hall, Maximilian or Kaiser Stube, or the Conservatory. The wine lists are outstanding, and the spa is vast and imaginative, with features including a Cleopatra Bath.

Minimalist luxury can be a contradiction, but the SO/Vienna, a Sofitel hotel, has pulled it off with supreme elegance, and here, on the border of the 2nd District, it's paired with outstanding city skyline views. It's especially breathtaking on the 18th-floor restaurant, Das Loft, where floor-to-ceiling windows circle the dining room (and the excellent food matches the setting). At night, an art installation by Piplotti Rist provides one vivid dose of color and transforms the building into a beacon. Guest rooms in a monochromatic palate of white, black, or gray echo St. Stephen's Cathedral. The effect is clean and futuristic. Amenities include Bose sound systems, Hermès toiletries, and a full spa, all adding to the indulgence.

A circus theme predominates at this bohemian addition to the city's lodging scene, each room containing exceptionally illustrated wallpaper of old-time big-top themes by German artist Olaf Hajek and quirky vintage furnishings. Larger rooms come with well-equipped kitchenettes, and the power showers are much appreciated after a day of hiking around the city. The Dachboden Loft, a mixture of beach bar, live music venue, and café, is on the roof, and has a to-die-for view and its ground-floor restaurant, Ribelli, serves Italian fare in trendy digs. Close to the city center, this place is perfect for the young (or young at heart). In case it wasn't cool enough, guests can reserve bikes and even mini cars to cart their hipster selves around Vienna.

Perched high above the town, the Alpenblick has a sweeping view of the valley, and is an ideal base for skiers, hikers, and anyone who wants a quiet stay away from the town center. A lovely garden has a heated outdoor pool and breathtaking views. The rooms are furnished in rustic style, some more contemporary and some less. Everything is well maintained and the service is congenial. The owners take good care of their guests.