Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens Guided Tour with Priority Entry Vienna

Schönbrunn Palace, the Habsburg summer residence

Schönbrunn was built as a hunting lodge and transformed in the eighteenth century under Empress Maria Theresa into a Baroque palace of 1,441 rooms. For almost two centuries it was the summer residence of the Habsburgs, and Emperor Franz Joseph was born and died here. Since 1996 the palace and its gardens have been a UNESCO World Heritage site.

It is the most visited sight in Austria, and timed tickets can sell out on busy days. A Schönbrunn Palace guided tour with fast-track entry lets you go straight in, while your guide brings the rooms to life with stories of the imperial family. Allow about 1.5 hours for the palace interior.

The imperial apartments and state rooms

Inside, you walk through the private apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph, including his simple study and the camp bed where he slept, and those of Empress Elisabeth, the famous Sisi, with her elegant salons. The tour continues into the state rooms, where the Habsburgs received ambassadors and held family celebrations.

The Great Gallery, 40 metres long and glittering with crystal chandeliers and ceiling frescoes, hosted balls and banquets, and later the 1961 meeting of Kennedy and Khrushchev. In the Hall of Mirrors, the six-year-old Mozart performed for Maria Theresa in 1762. Many visitors ask if Schönbrunn is worth visiting: these rooms are the answer.

The Baroque gardens and the Gloriette

Behind the palace stretches one of the finest Baroque gardens in Europe, with long avenues of clipped trees, flower parterres and statues from Greek mythology. At its centre stands the Neptune Fountain, and on the hill above rises the Gloriette, a colonnaded pavilion with a panoramic view over the palace and Vienna.

The gardens also hide the Roman Ruin, the Obelisk Fountain, the maze and the Palm House. Access to most of the park is open to all, and the best time to visit the Schönbrunn gardens is from May to September, when the flower beds are in full bloom. Your guide shows you the highlights and the best photo spots.

Visiting Schönbrunn: practical tips

Schönbrunn lies in the Hietzing district, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. If you are wondering how to get to Schönbrunn Palace, take the U4 metro line to Schönbrunn station, a five-minute walk from the main gate. Arrive a little early, as the palace grounds are large.

Within the park you also find Tiergarten Schönbrunn, founded in 1752 and the oldest zoo in the world still in operation, as well as the Imperial Carriage Museum. Schönbrunn opening hours change by season, with longer hours in summer. After the tour you can stay in the gardens as long as you like.