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Built starting from the end of the 17th century. as the seat of the imperial house of the Habsburgs, the Palace of Schonbrunn is one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in Europe.
Due to its extraordinary historical value, the furnishings and the sumptuous park, the Castle, with its adjoining gardens, were included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Today, you can visit some of the 1441 rooms of the Royal Palace, and the places so dear to the Empress Maria Theresa, the Emperor Franz Joseph and the much loved Princess Sissi.
Splendid richly decorated rooms, and sumptuous gardens with statues, monuments and fountains.
Through virtual reality and the support of modern technological tools, you can relive the history of the place and the best moments of the daily life of the monarchs. All this, thanks also to the skill of the actors and extras.
PRACTICAL INFO
HOW TO GET THERE
The Schonbrunn Palace is located in the district of Hietzing, on the western outskirts of Vienna, about 10 kilometers from Innere Stadt.
The place is perfectly accessible by public transport, getting off at the Schönbrunn stop of the line U4 . From Karlplatz it takes about 11 minutes by direct route, and a total of 9 stops.
Schloß Schönbrunn is the stop of the Tram 10, 49, 52 and 60.
The efficiency and high frequencies of public transport make this solution preferable to the car (which also pollutes).
WHAT TO DO AND SEE AT THE SCHONBRUNN PALACE
For a complete list of what to do and see in Schönbrunn, refer to the official website.
Among the places of the Castle not to be missed there is, first of all, the Chamber of the Millions, which with its precious items is considered one of the most beautiful Rococo rooms in the world. Or admire the beautiful Hall of Mirrors where a certain Mozart once played! In the Chinese round room, Maria Theresa used to hold her secret conferences with Prince Chancellor Kaunitz.
The private apartments of Francesco Giuseppe and Elisabetta are also beautiful.
A lot of art and historical importance in some rooms such as the Vieux-Laque Room, where Napoleon conferred, the Chinese Blue Room, or the Great Gallery ( 40m long) where the Vienna Congress of 1814/15 was held.
The visit of Schönbrunn is completed with the wonderful gardens which host beautiful monuments, splendid fountains and a lot of vegetation.
Among the unmissable places, the Museum of Carriages, the Gloriette (today also a café), the Hedge Maze and the Serra delle Palme , and much more.
The Palace is also an unmissable place for children thanks to the presence of a special museum, the labyrinthikon area and even the oldest zoo in the world! More info from this link.
OPENING HOURS
The Castle is open every day, including Sundays and holidays, from 09:00 to 17:00.
The Castle Park is open from 06:30 to 17:30.
TICKETS
For a complete experience, you can purchase the combined ticket for the Castle and Gardens with priority access, and a certified guide . It costs €42 for adults and €37 from 6 to 18 years. The ticket can be purchased directly at this link.
Alternatively, if you want to visit only one or more areas of Schönbrunn, you can purchase special tickets. Here are some of them:
- Imperial Tour with access to 22 rooms: €22 for adults and €15 for children.
- Grand Tour with visit to 40 rooms: €26 for adults and €19 for children.
- Winter Pass (Grand Tour + Zoo + Palm House + Desert House: €52 and €34.50.
- Classic Pass and Classic Pass Plus for a truly complete experience.
Access to the Public Park, except for the paid areas, is always FREE.
From 09:15 (first available time) to 16:15 (last time) it is possible to watch the virtual reality experience lasting approximately 25 minutes. Tickets cost €9.50 for adults and €7.50 for children aged 6 to 18. The price is to be intended in addition to the entrance ticket.
Schonbrunn Palace is one of the most touristic and visited places in Vienna. To avoid the long queues at the ticket office it is highly preferable to buy tickets online.