A visit to the palace of Schönbrunn in Vienna

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Last Updated on February 1, 2024

The Imperial Schönbrunn Palace is one of the best attractions you can see in Vienna and is located on the outskirts of the city. The palace complex encompasses an enormous garden and the Schönbrunn Palace, which was once the residence of the Habsburg Empire.

Schönbrunn Palace at a Glance

If you love palaces and want to experience a bit of the splendor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this attraction is a must-visit. See where Empress Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph, and Empress Sisi resided!
  • The Schönbrunn Palace is truly one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings and is part of UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage.
  • The palace has a total of 1,441 rooms. Yes, you read that right, but only 45 are open to the public.
  • The interior decoration is in rococo style. However, photography is not allowed!
  • In the Hall of Mirrors, Mozart played at the age of 6.
  • It receives 6.7 million visitors annually, and of course, there’s quite a queue. Don’t wait in line. Buying tickets online is recommended.

Schönbrunn Tickets, Free Entries, and Opening Hours

***It’s recommended to buy Schönbrunn tickets online several days in advance from here ***
The opening hours of Schönbrunn Imperial Palace vary depending on the seasons but are open to the public at 9:00. As for the tickets, prices vary depending on what you want to visit and the type of guided tour. There is also a discount if you have the Vienna City Pass. All the ticket types described below can be purchased online:
  • €24.00: Imperial Tour, access to 22 rooms
    • €17.00: reduced for children and teenagers, students, people with special needs
  • €29.00: Grand Tour, access to 40 rooms
    • €21.00: reduced for children and teenagers, students, people with special needs
  • €48.00: guided tour including the gardens –  which you can book from this website –  The tour lasts 2 hours, they offer free cancellation and the most important – you will not wait in the queue! 
  • Free: children up to 6 years old enter for free
 
  The palace gardens are open to the public and there is no entrance fee. So, if you don’t want to visit the palace or have limited time, you can take photos from the outside. But, as I mentioned for the Eiffel Tower and the Colosseum, since you’ve come this far, it’s not something you see every day, nor will you see it again. Why not go inside?
palace vienna top sight
View from the Schönbrunn Palace gardens, which have free entry

What to See at Schönbrunn Palace

The Schönbrunn Imperial Palace is a large complex consisting of the castle area and the garden. Given its vast size, especially the park, it will take at least 1.5 hours to visit everything in the best possible way and discover its priceless beauty. Here are the 5 things to see at Schönbrunn Imperial Palace!

#1 – Weissgoldzimmer, the Golden Rooms

Starting from the interior of the castle, on the ground floor, you’ll find the golden rooms. These rooms have white walls with golden stuccoes in rococo style, and Princess Sisi used to exercise here. The rooms are beyond description.

#2 – Hall of Mirrors

This room is named after the presence of many mirrors, in large gilded frames. Velvet curtains, precious rococo-style furniture complete the decoration.

#3 – Napoleon’s Room

The Napoleon Room dates from the period when the famous emperor occupied Vienna. He used the castle as his headquarters and settled in this room with his wife, with whom he had a son who died at a young age.

#4 – The Blue Staircase

In the western wing, there is a long staircase that leads to the upper floor. The staircase is covered with an equally long blue carpet, and you’ll feel like you’re in a Disney movie!

#5 – The Zoo

The zoo has more than 700 animal species and has been voted the best zoo in Europe 4 times.

How to Get to Schönbrunn Palace

💎 My Pretty Travels Tip – Get the Vienna Pass for unlimited public transportation

There are three options to reach the palace.
  • On foot: A lot of walking since it’s not in the city center. It takes over an hour from the center of Vienna. If you’re outside the center, it might be more accessible.
  • By bus: Line 10A to the Schönbrunn stop
  • By subway: Line U4 to the Schönbrunn stop – I took the subway and came out right at the entrance!
  • By tram: Lines 10 and 60 to the Schönbrunn stop
Naturally, there’s always the option of taking a taxi or renting a car.
 
If you visit during the holiday season, don’t forget to read my article about Vienna’s Christmas attractions.
 
Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and purchase something I will receive a small commission, without any extra cost for you.  By booking through one of these links, you help to keep this blog up and running! 

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