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. Inside, lovely rooms are hung with tapestries and adorned with painted chests and old-master daubs. Take a summertime dip in the new infinity pool or warm up in the year-round outdoor jacuzzi. You can dine in the Gothic Saloon or the Orangerie Apollo, but for a 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.