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Situated on the former imperial hunting grounds of the Lainzer Tiergarten, Emperor Franz Joseph had this little palace built for his wife Elisabeth. Between 1882 and 1886 architect Karl von Hasenauer constructed the splendid villa with its opulent interior, and the imperial couple used to spend May and June here every year. Elisabeth’s bedroom, with a large 18th-century bed once owned by Maria Theresa, is painted with frescoes following Hans Makart’s designs of Shakespeare’s comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream . The villa’s name derives from the Hermes statue in the park.

The smart district of Hietzing is dominated by elegant villas where Vienna’s bourgeoisie built their houses at the end of the 19th century.

This teahouse, bar and restaurant rolled into one has a stylish atmosphere. Besides teas from around the world, High Tea serves breakfast and light set lunches. There are also two Internet workstations, and in the adjoining shop you can choose from about 200 varieties of tea.

This Hilton hotel is on the banks of the Danube. The hotel has its own “Active Club” where tennis, cycling and golfing is on offer. A free shuttle service takes guests to the centre.

The Hilton Vienna has some 1,000 works of contemporary art on display, and from the spacious rooms you can look out over virtually all the famous landmarks in Vienna’s city centre.

Although the building’s postwar exterior doesn’t look very inviting, this museum is well worth a visit. Over three storeys Vienna’s history is documented with items spanning 7,000 years. The multifaceted exhibition also presents the lives of various famous Viennese as well as paintings by artists such as Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

The enormous fountain, floodlit on summer nights, was built in 1873.

The former imperial palace, with its many wings and courtyards, has always been of historic importance. The interior reflects Austria’s glorious past and is the setting for grand balls (see pp12–17).

The former imperial palace may have relinquished its regal position after Austria became a republic in 1918, but the elegance of days gone by is still tangible in its sumptuous state apartments, landscaped gardens and various architectural styles (see pp12–17).

Besides coffee (see p77), you will find hot chocolate and tea on offer in cafés.