Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens Tour
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Visit the Baroque gem in Austria’s crown on this small-group half-day Schönbrunn Palace tour in Vienna. Follow a historian guide through the palace’s ornate gardens, and admire fine views over the pretty hilltop archway. As you explore, listen as a guide brings the House of Habsburg era to life. Then, step through the palace’s beautiful bedrooms and suites, and marvel at the ornate decorations in the Great Gallery, the Hall of Ceremonies, and the Yellow Salon. Enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour, limited to six people.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Your guide will help you to purchase your Schönbrunn Palace & Park entrance tickets
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Schonbrunner Gardens
We begin our encounter with the astonishing High Baroque Schönbrunn Palace (built to rival Versailles) with a stroll through the magnificent formal gardens, exploring the Baroque landscaping principle of interlaced nature and architecture that is illustrated everywhere in the layout of the grounds. Approaching the Gloriette, a huge triumphal arch situated on a hilltop with panoramic views of Vienna’s woods, we recall the military victories that made Empress Maria Theresa’s reign (1740-1780) a highpoint of the Habsburg dynasty’s political and cultural dominance in Europe. The park was opened not only to the court but to the general public from 1779, a populist gesture that reveals Maria Theresa’s canny charm offensive towards her subjects. Indeed, it was under Maria Theresa’s direction that Schönbrunn Palace became the focal point of Austria’s imperial policy and the centre of court life, in addition to functioning as the summer residence of a reigning family counting not less than 16 children! Several of this teaming brood of young royals did not survive to adulthood but the palace preserves the memory of their infancy, childhood summer activities, illnesses and early loss.
Schonbrunn Palace
Generations of Habsburg rulers put their stamp on Schönbrunn. The Franz-Joseph & Elisabeth Apartments tell the story of a couple torn apart by the burdens of state. In 1854, Emperor Franz Joseph married the Bavarian princess Elizabeth (known better under the affectionate nickname Sisi) who despised the rituals of court life and the ornate environment of the summer palace. Visiting one lavish room after another gives us an ample sense of the opulence which country-reared Sisi fled: The dining room with precious tableware and “imperial napkins” in the form of a “fleur de lys” witnessed countless state dinners; the Hall of Ceremonies records the pompous Baroque celebrations it hosted, such as the wedding of Crown Prince Joseph, depicted in a series of scenes by court painter Martin van Meytens; the so-called “Porcelain Room” (office of Maria Theresa), completely done in imitation of precious china with orientalist drawings drafted by the imperial children. The unique “Millions Room” owes its name to a fabulous price in gold ducats paid for it: antiquated Indo-Persian miniatures with rococo-frames, wall hangings manufactured of carved rosewood from the Antilles make the “Millions chamber” one of the most accomplished combinations of Oriental and European decorative art from the Rococo era.
What‘s Included
Guide
Schönbrunn Palace & Park admission ticket
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Options
Start Times
Reviews
120 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Impressive
sd530b58542854e3c699,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Loved the tour. Kristina was great. We were lucky in that it was just the two of us so it was kind of like a private tour. Kristina was very informative and gave us tons of helpful information and history
All in all an excellent experience!
Maria T,,Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We took a small group tour with Kristina. As it happened, we were the only two this time so it was more like a private tour. Score! She was wonderful. Friendly and informative. She explained about each of the rooms usage and the history of the Hapsburg family. Not just dates, but who they were personally and their stories which I find more interesting. Not only was it an interesting tour, but she gave us some great recommendations on restaurants, dishes, we should try and some places we should consider visiting. All in all an excellent experience.
Good in the castle, bad in the gardens.
Barbara P,,Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Excellent guide inside the castle, a lot of history knowledge, but she live us in the garden without the tour or advise what to see.
Great tour!
jason h,,Sep 20, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour. Highly recommend Elisabeth. She was very pleasant, knowledgeable, and provided a lot of great information. Can highly recommend without reservations.
So Much to Experience!
flutist1,,Sep 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our tour guide, Alexander, really knew his history when it came to this tour. If you are into details and stories of what life was like back in the time that the palace was most active, he is your guide. The rooms are stunning and the information that you come out of it with will stay with you for a long time. You can tell that Alex has a true passion for history and this particular gem.
Wolfgang at the Palace
jennieleeb2015,,Aug 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wolfgang was a very knowlegeable guide after being a career attorney. He met us ontime and got us into an Uber following the tour.
Wonderful
maireanneh2024,,Aug 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is a stunning palace, steeped in history. Catarina was an excellent guide. We knew a little of the history and learned much more. Thank you!
Great tour
Escape760346,,Jul 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This turned out to be a private tour. Stefan was fabulous! He shared so much information and the palace and gardens were amazing. A must see!
Fabulous tour
LivKlein,,Jun 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This is one of the must see places in Vienna and you need to do it with a knowledgeable guide. Katarina was great, she blended the history with the stories and "gossips" of the imperial court, making the tour very informative and fun. Highly recommend her.
Excellent guide and tour of Schönbrunn Palace.
LaurenceD S,,May 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We thought our guide Biljana was just excellent. Schönbrunn is also very much worth seeing, more so than the Hofburg as it has more styles of room design than the latter. Biljana was very knowledgeable and sensitive to the pace that we were able to go, being seniors. We recommend this tour highly.
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