The Palace
Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien
Täglich 9–17 Uhr (Winter), 9–17:30 Uhr (Sommer). Garten: ab 6:30 Uhr bis Einbruch der Dunkelheit
Imperial Tour: 22€. Grand Tour: 29€. Garten: kostenlos
Schönbrunn Palace is Vienna's most visited attraction and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. The history begins in the 14th century with a hunting lodge, but it was under Maria Theresa (reign 1740–1780) that it was expanded into the imperial summer residence — with 1,441 rooms, 45 of which can be visited.
The Tour
- Imperial Tour (22 rooms, 30–40 min.): The private apartments of Franz Joseph and Sisi — the walnut salon, the bedroom, Sisi's dressing room (where she spent 3 hours daily on hair care). Admission: €22.
- Grand Tour (40 rooms, 50–60 min.): Additionally, the magnificent state rooms: the Great Gallery (the mirror hall of Schönbrunn — where the Congress of Vienna danced in 1815), the Million Room (rosewood paneling with Indo-Persian miniatures), and the Chinese Round Cabinet. Admission: €29.
Historical Highlights
- 1762: The six-year-old Mozart played here for Maria Theresa — and allegedly proposed to the young Marie Antoinette.
- 1805 & 1809: Napoleon stayed twice at Schönbrunn — in the same bed later used by Franz Joseph.
- 1918: Emperor Karl I signed the renunciation here — the end of the Habsburg monarchy after 640 years.
💡 Tipp
Come early in the morning (9 AM) or in the afternoon after 3 PM — tour groups arrive between 10 AM and 2 PM. Book online tickets with a time slot — the queue can be 60+ minutes in summer. Strategy: First the palace, then the garden up to the Gloriette.
