Institut St. Sebastian

Pretend it's 1965. You've just arrived at a Catholic boarding school. Now open your eyes and have a look around the Institut St. Sebastian. Seem familiar?

This austere 50-room spot serves as both a guesthouse and a student dormitory. Thus it's not surprising that St. Sebastian is popular with school groups and university students. But younger travelers and families on a budget will feel welcome here too. And with a cobblestone courtyard right off Linzergasse, a roof terrace with incredible views, and a beautiful graveyard next door, the Institut has plenty to like.

The spartan rooms are reminiscent of the time when the building was a hospital: plain white sheets and mattresses on pine frames, dorm-style desks and chairs and little else. All rooms are equipped with phone lines and Internet access. Windows overlook the nearby mountain and church spires.

The cheapest boarding option is the dorms—large, airy rooms filled with bunk beds and lockers that share WC and shower. Private rooms are pricier. These come with either shared or en suite facilities. Despite the dated aura of the place, all the bathroom fixtures are completely up to date.

Every floor has a guest kitchen and a bizarre smoking area with simple wooden "thrones" for chairs. On the ground floor, vaulted ceilings, leafy plants and Catholic iconography are complemented by retro curtains and furnishings.

The graveyard next door—final home of Mozart's wife—is an attraction unto itself, although the breakfast (which costs an additional fee) is not: It may be wiser to pick up something more substantial at one of the many nearby bakeries.