The Schönbrunn Palace at sunset
To the southwest of Vienna is the famous summer residence of the Hasburgs: the Schönbrunn Palace (Schönbrunn Schloss). The residence, commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa to compete with Versailles, opens every day its innumerable rooms (only 45 of the 1441 rooms can be visited) with their splendid Rococo interiors, the vast courtyard and the eighteenth-century park where several musical events are held in summer. The Schönbrunn Palace is one of most visited tourist attractions in Vienna for the endless things you can do there: concerts, visiting the Tiergarten zoo, walking around the park, visiting the Gloriette rooftop with a beautiful view over Vienna. Since 1996 the palace and the garden have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
While it can get very hot on the large grounds in the summer, even if there is a chance of rain, be prepared and adapt your clothes to the weather. Since there are longer distances to cover in the castle and the park, sturdy shoes should also be worn. Admission to Schönbrunn Palace is already included in the Vienna Pass city ticket package, so you can spare money here and combine it with admission to other top attractions in Vienna. The Schönbrunn Palace is a large complex consisting of the castle area and the garden area. Given the large size, especially of the park, it will take at least an hour and a half to visit everything in the best possible way and discover its inestimable beauty.
How to best experience Schönbrunn Palace?
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What is the Schönbrunn Palace?
The palace was the summer residence of the Habsburgs. It was a stunning example of Baroque architecture with Rococo interiors, and visitors can explore the restored Imperial Apartments as well as the astonishing gardens, which contain a maze, fountains, statues, and the Gloriette.
What to see at Schönbrunn Palace?
The Imperial Carriage Museum, the Crown Prince’s Garden, the Orangerie Garden, the maze, the Serra delle Palme and the Casa del Deserto are also part of the Schönbrunn Gardens complex, which can only be visited by purchasing a separate ticket.
Why the Schönbrunn Palace is so called?
The name of Schönbrunn was given by the Emperor Matthias who, during a hunting trip in this area, discovered a source of crystal clear water which he called schön (er) Brunn, meaning “beautiful spring”, hence the name, and it is around this source, according to tradition, that the whole castle was built. In addition to the beauty of the places, the palace complex is known for hosting the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, one of the oldest zoos in the world.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to the Schönbrunn Palace.
Location
It was once in the countryside, but has now been incorporated into the city. It is located in Hietzing, on the western outskirts of Vienna. The address is: 47 Schönbrunner Schloss Strasse.
Opening hours
To visit the Schönbrunn Palace the times are as follows:
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open daily, including public holidays:
1 April to 30 June: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
1 July to 31 August: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm.
1 September to 31 October: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
1 November to 31 March: 8:30 am to 5 pm. -
Schönbrunn Palace park is open to visitors all year round, however, specific park attractions (Maze, Gloriette, Privy Garden, Orangery) are usually open from mid-April to the beginning of November.
How to get to the Schönbrunn Palace
To reach the Schönbrunn Palace:
Metro: Schönbrunn, line U4 (green).
Tram: Schönbrunn, lines 10 and 58.
Bus: Schönbrunn, line 10A.
Attractions nearby
- Imperial Carriage Museum (238 m)
- Imperial Furniture Collection (3 km)
- Naschmarkt (4.2 km)
- Vienna Natural History Museum (4.2 km)
- Vienna Art History Museum (4.2 km)