Historic houses

In few cities can you sleep inside history as naturally as in Vienna: Gründerzeit facades, stucco ceilings, creaking herringbone parquet and ceiling heights new buildings can only dream of. Historic houses are not museums, though - they combine period substance with modern comfort, and exactly that mix is their appeal. If you are looking for something special in Vienna, you are more likely to find it here than in a standardized new-build hotel.

The range shows in the listed houses: Hotel Am Parkring occupies the upper floors of a building on the Ringstraße overlooking Stadtpark - panorama breakfast included. Villa Kumpf is a genuine turn-of-the-century villa on the edge of Grinzing, where vineyards and wine taverns replace the cityscape. And Hotel Apartment Rothensteiner in Mariahilf brings period charm close to Mariahilfer Straße. Historic stays in Vienna work on the Ring just as well as in a wine village.

Prices are more moderate than you might expect: the Rothensteiner is the cheapest entry, Villa Kumpf sits above it and Hotel Am Parkring on the Ringstraße leads the category - all three still far below the big five-star addresses. History in Vienna does not automatically come with a luxury surcharge. Current rates are shown on the individual hotel pages.

When booking, factor in the quirks of period buildings: rooms in the same house can differ considerably in size and layout, and not every historic building has a lift to all floors - with heavy luggage it is worth asking. Air conditioning is not a given in old buildings either, which can matter in midsummer. In return you get thick walls, tall rooms and an atmosphere no new build can replicate.