This romantic palace encapsulates Vienna’s imperial elegance and charm. Designed by the Viennese architect August Sicard von Sicardsburg in the 1860s, the original building was badly bombed in 1945 so much of what you see today is reconstructed. Only the main facade, the grand staircase and the Schwind Foyer were originally spared. Inside, there are frescoes by Moritz von Schwind and a famous series of Magic Flute frescoes on the veranda. It’s not just good looking either, it’s also one of the world’s most esteemed opera houses and counts the likes of Mahler and Strauss among its previous directors.