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Count Lascy, an Austrian aristocrat, had this palace built between 1781–4 on his hunting grounds. The hotel is situated on top of the Wilhelminen mountain in a large park and offers a fine view of Vienna. Only 30 minutes from the centre.

Named after the wife of Crown Prince Rudolf, Hotel Stefanie is located just beyond the Danube canal and only a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. Toys and special children’s menus are available, as well as reliable babysitting services. Of the 131 rooms, some include extra-large family accommodation.

Designed by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, this unconventional colourful building is characterized by uneven floors, rooftop gardens and unique windows (see pp34–5).

Tasty and reliably good Viennese and international cuisine.

The 400-year-old Palais Schwarzenberg, within a large park, is a stunning setting for a grand stay. The former summer residence of the Schwarzenberg family has 44 guest rooms, individually designed; the marble hall is decorated with frescoes from 1726.

This hotel, rich in tradition, opened in 1873 and soon turned into a meeting place for Austro-Hungarian nobility. Today it still has a grand flair. Delights from the hotel’s confectioners include the Imperialtorte , created for the hotel’s opening to honour Emperor Franz Joseph I.

In the Hofmobiliendepot (imperial court furniture depot), which was established by Empress Maria Theresa in the late 18th century, all the Habsburgs’ furniture was stored, repaired and kept in a good state to be distributed to imperial households whenever required. Today the museum tells how imperial families used to live and has thousands of exhibits spanning more than five centuries. Among them are curiosities such as Baroque armchairs on wheels, an imperial travel throne, velvet-covered praying stools, Rococo spittoons and toilets disguised as stacks of books. There are also fully furnished rooms on display ranging from Empress Elisabeth’s rustic rooms from the Schönbrunn Meierei and a typical girl’s room as it would have looked in the Biedermeier period.

Also in July and August, Vienna turns into the capital of dance when the international dance festival takes place at various theatres.

An extremely popular sport, especially at the Prater where there are hire shops, long flat paths and skating parks.