Best Luxury Hotels in Austria

The facade of the Ritz Carlton is one of the most elegant in Vienna, showing its origin as four linked palaces built between 1865 and 1871. The hotel is situated on the prestigious Schubertring. It has a farm-to-table steakhouse along with a lobby lounge for light meals. The D-bar features professional “mixologists” and more than 40 different rums, while the rooftop bar is ideal for taking in Vienna’s skyline. For relaxation, the hotel has a spa, fitness centre and swimming pool. The spa suites can be booked by couples, and feature a private whirlpool bath and luxury amenities.

The Bristol opened in 1892 and is now a Luxury Collection hotel. US Presidents, crowned heads and eminent musicians have all stayed here. Located next to the Opera, the hotel is famous for its personalised concierge service. Some of the suites have art deco styling, and one is situated in a tower, with its own terrace. The Prince of Wales suite offers a library, sauna, living room and study. There’s a contemporary fine dining restaurant, as well as the Bristol Lounge and a winter garden restaurant.

Irresistibly Viennese and very grand, this hotel has hosted everyone from the Queen to Mahatma Gandhi. The rooms have been designed by a French interior designer, preserving the historic features but giving a light and elegant finish. There’s a lovely, sunny terrace on the top floor, overlooking the city, an impeccable concierge service and elegant private rooms for dining and entertaining. There are two restaurants, the famous Blue Bar and a typically Viennese coffee room where you can enjoy the original sacher torte, a hotel speciality.

If a boutique hotel is more your kind of thing, the Guesthouse is a member of the Design Hotels group, with Conran-designed interiors. The design ethos is manifest in a relaxed, calm but luxurious hotel that is modern and uncluttered, yet superbly comfortable. The location is right in the middle of the city, behind the Opera. Dogs are welcome, with a free bed and dog cookies provided, and every room has its own espresso machine.

A listed heritage site, this stunning hotel provides luxury in the grand tradition. Its facilities range from modern conference rooms to palatial apartments, reminiscent of old Vienna. There’s a ballroom, a flower shop, a spa and even a cigar lounge – if you travel with your own cigars, you can take advantage of the hotel’s humidor to store them. The hotel is located near the Danube, in the historic heart of Vienna. There are a number of suites – the Presidential is the largest suite in Vienna. Enjoy a great selection of bars and restaurants too.

The latest of Rosewood’s properties to open in Europe, this hotel has found a home in one of the Old Town’s refined 19th-century Petersplatz buildings, featuring Belle Epoque architecture. It maintains the Rosewood’s stellar spa reputation, with Sense, incorporating five treatment rooms, a social space and a hydrotherapy relaxation room. With 99 rooms and 27 suites, the property showcases Rosewood’s trademark luxurious elegance. Guests can drink in the rooftop bar overlooking the city, dine on a leafy garden terrace, or in a swanky indoor restaurant, feasting on a mix of native and wider European dishes.

This luxurious hotel can be found in the heart of Old Town and has been offering a warm welcome to distinguished guests for more than 600 years. The Hotel Goldener Hirsh has been created in the style of an Austrian countryside manor and boasts white walls with exposed brick with the signature gold stag prominent both on the exterior and throughout the interior of the building. Each of the seventy guestrooms boasts a different style and character and many feature antique furnishings that help to set a truly elegant tone. The establishment also plays host to two of Salzburg’s most prominent eateries, which are popular among both local people and visitors to the city. The s’Herzl is more than 250 years old and features a cosy atmosphere. Alternatively, lovers of fine dining can indulge in a meal at the Goldener Hirsch, where dishes tend to be light and made of fresh local produce such as venison served with asparagus, wild mushrooms and garlic gnocchi.

Set opposite Mozart’s former home in the very heart of Salzburg’s right bank, Hotel Bristol Salzburg boasts timeless grandeur. Guests are sure to be impressed by the chandelier-lit interiors, polished service and rooms filled with antiques. Breakfast is designed to be a grand affair and is served in the simply stunning Crystal Ballroom. An elegant wrought-iron staircase leads the way up to the guestrooms, which are set with plush drapes and fabrics, with warm tones and antique furnishings. The Street-facing rooms provide stunning views of the Makartplatz with the fortress in the distance, while the courtyard rooms are also very pretty. People who demand nothing but the best should make sure that they reserve the Makart Room, which boasts a powder-puff pink bathroom and a huge living room to lounge in while enjoying first rate service.

Guests who want the chance to feel like royalty are sure to love staying in this magnificent castle, which is set high on a hilltop overlooking the Old Town. Panoramic city views can be enjoyed by taking a stroll through the surrounding forest, while the infinity edged outdoor swimming pool also allows guests to soak up the view while unwinding in style. There is also an outdoor hot tub to make use of, while guests are made to feel truly special with a welcome drink, complimentary fruit basket and Guglhupf cake. Seekers of pure relaxation can choose from a wide range of treatments in the Mönchstein SPA, while the Glass Garden restaurant has won several awards for excellence and is set with a terrace where guests can take in idyllic views of Salzburg while they dine in style. There are several different styles of rooms and suites to choose from and each suite is especially lavish with rich furnishings and huge windows providing a choice of city or garden views from their balconies.

This elegant hotel is set right on the bank of the Salzach River and originally opened its doors in 1866. The public areas are filled with impressive antiques, while the guestrooms located on the upper floors feature stunning views of the Old Town. There is a large sauna and steam room for guests to unwind in, while the gym is fully loaded and features modern exercise equipment. Indulging in a cocktail or two on the river terrace is an experience that guests will not want to miss, while the onsite Zirbelzimmer is the perfect place to sample traditional Austrian cuisine such as baked pike perch and roast guinea fowl.

Often described as the best thermal spa in the Alps, this is the place for water lovers. Enjoy magical winter swims as the steam rises from the unusual bowl-shaped outdoor pools (there are a total of twelve indoor and outdoor pools to choose from). Sweat away your cares in one of the seven saunas and enjoy tasty cuisine in the four restaurants and bars and take in the epic mountain vistas of the Ötztal valley. Visitors can stay for the day by buying a spa pass or book a room in the adjoining hotel. The site is instantly recognisable with it’s futuristic, quirky architectural design, while the interior design is chic. Facilities are state of the art and it’s easy to see why this hotel won the World Spa Award for the World’s Best Mineral & Hot Springs Spa in 2018.

Family-run for five generations, this Alpine lodge welcomes families, couples and solo travellers alike. The 34 cosy rooms vary from singles through to large premium suites. There’s plenty to keep you busy with a programme of optional year-round activities and a games room for the kids to burn off some energy. The Zillergrung national park is close by, providing plentiful hiking, biking and skiing opportunities. Indulge in some ‘me’ time at the Natural Alpine Spa including an Ahornach spring pool with waterfall, a glacier water adventure trail, herb steam bath, Finnish sauna, pool bottom bubbles, and whirlpool. The culinary offer is equally appealing with local dishes created using ingredients sourced on the hotel’s own farm, or from those nearby.