Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn)

Forty of the palace’s 1,441 rooms are open to the public, including the private apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), as well as the exquisite 18th-century rooms of Maria-Theresa—the only female ruler of the Habsburg dynasty. The vast palace gardens are also a must-see, with a spectacular palm house made from iron and glass, a hedge maze, and a labyrinth. Visit on a skip-the-line tour to beat the crowds and benefit from the knowledge of an expert guide, or opt for a private tour for a more personalized experience. For an evening of culture and music, attend a live concert in the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery and listen to famous works by Mozart and Strauss. Or, get an overview of the city and the palace on a Vienna city tour, stopping at other highlights such as the Vienna Opera House, the Danube River, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

• Filming and photography are not permitted inside the palace.

• The palace has nine onsite dining options, including outdoor cafés and formal sit-down restaurants.

• Three accessible parking spaces are available near the main gate, and wheelchairs can be rented free of charge. All display rooms are wheelchair-accessible.

Schönbrunn Palace is located on the outskirts of Vienna, roughly 15 minutes by road from the city’s historic center and 30 minutes by road from Vienna International Airport. Public transportation is the easiest option; the U4 underground line, the 10 and 16 trams, and the 10A bus run directly to the palace—just get off at the Schönbrunn stop.

The busiest time to visit Schönbrunn Palace is during the summer months of July and August, when it’s best to visit early or purchase a skip-the-line ticket to avoid crowds. Spring and fall bring mild weather and fewer crowds.

For lovers of music and culture, an evening visit to Schönbrunn Palace is a must. The Schönbrunn Palace Orchestra performs concerts in the fully renovated Palace Orangery, where Mozart himself often played. The orchestra is accompanied by ballet dancers and opera singers, and they perform various works from Mozart and Strauss.

If you wish to see as much of the palace as possible, the best tour of Schönbrunn Palace is the Grand Tour. It is the longest tour, and it includes the State Apartments, south-facing reception rooms, private apartments, and piano nobile (palazzo main floor).

Yes, it is worth going inside Schönbrunn Palace if you want to see the palace's extravagant decor and learn about the imperial family. If you don't go inside the palace, you can still see the palace gardens.

You should allow between one and four hours at Schönbrunn Palace, depending on how much of the palace interior and how much of the gardens you plan on seeing. One hour will let you tour the State Apartments and take a short walk through the gardens.

April is the best month to visit Schönbrunn Palace as spring brings the palace gardens to life. This time of year also lets you avoid the crowds of visitors that come in summer and in the holiday season before Christmas.

Yes, Schönbrunn Palace is accessible for visitors with wheelchairs or mobility concerns. Display areas use ramps or lifts to ensure barrier-free accessibility inside the palace, and there are barrier-free toilets, dedicated parking spaces by the main gate, and free wheelchairs available for rent.

Yes, there are many restrooms at Schönbrunn Palace and within the palace gardens. They are found by the ticket desk, on the palace's first floor, in several places around the gardens including by the Gloriette, and at the entrances to Schonbrunn Zoo.