Villa Aurora, built in 1785, is a quirky house perched on a hill on the edge of the Viennese woods. Spend a few relaxed hours in this nostalgic spot with a park-like garden and a dining terrace with panoramic views. One could imagine fin-de-siècle bourgeois families making this day trip.

In the winter, there is a natural ice-skating rink and wood-burning ovens heat the villa’s cozy dining rooms. The menu boasts a large selection of unusual Schnitzel variations and their desserts are well-deserved after a hike in the Vienna woods. In the summer time, have a hassle-free picnic in the hills: just call the restaurant 2 days ahead, pick up the basket and enjoy.

There are many idiosyncratic things to discover, like a huge empty painting frame propped up in the garden so you can take a “framed” photo of Vienna. Kids love climbing the “Arche Aurora,” a transplanted old fishing trawler. Other houses in the premises are the garden house “Flora” and the old mountain farm house “Wolkenkuckucksheim” with a bowling alley.