Schloss Schönbrunn
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This is one of the most ornate stately houses I have ever seen. The Imperial quarters are luxurious, especially the bedrooms, the enameled and lacquered rooms, the rice paper lined rooms, and the Millions room with it's elaborate wood inlaid with indopersian miniatures and gold leaf. The Great gallery is stunning at 40 feet in length and copious amounts of gold with intricate frescos. The downside is that it is very crowded and the first part of the audio tour before entering the Imperial quarters doesn't work all that well. This first part of the tour is designed to automatically connect you to the right room descriptions but it doesn't always work. Fortunately the Imperial quarters audio guide is self paced and works very well.
Schloss Schönbrunn is as marvelous and breathtaking as is advertised! The castle itself and the grounds it sits upon are HUGE. I swear they go for miles and miles- I even saw a few people running around the gardens to get their workout in. Even just walking/ strolling, we got a workout. The main square area is massive, and the primary palace is so beautiful with the faded yellow color and brownish roof tiling. It's so stately and royal looking and surely makes sense that it's where Queen Sisi, Austrias originally empress, lived. Behind the main castle is a lookout point that takes a good 10-15 minutes to walk up to but is worth it for the view. You can see half of Vienna from up there, along with the palace and gardens below. There's also a restaurant up at the viewing area, I'm guessing it's expensive but would be fun to try with the view and meal combination. And behind the viewing area there are some ruins from Schönbrunn when it was bombed during WWII. Very sobering but neat to see in person. Along the main paths they do have some refreshment stands as well. The grounds are that big. You could easily spend an entire day here, especially if you were able to tour the inside of the palace, also not to mention the whole zoo that's apart of the grounds as well. Just like it says in the name, it is all truly so beautiful.
Schönbrunn Palace was my first tourist stop in Vienna. As soon as I checked into my hotel and dropped off my things, I went on the subway and booked it to Schönbrunn Palace with the hopes I could make it on time for the private tour and concert deal package. I could no longer purchase a ticket online for the post-closing private tour and concert package, but when I got there, there was a guy at a cart who sold me a Section A ticket for €89 (online it was € 132.00), with a pre-concert private tour for free. Sweet! I was really looking forward to this, because the private tour+concert deal is only available on Fridays and Satudays, I'm SO GLAD I made it on time! It was very beautiful to walk through Schönbrunn Palace, listen to the audio tour (I was surprised that Franz Joseph was described as worshipping his wife Elisabeth, because she was miserable in their marriage and even through their estrangement, he always dearly loved her), and then be led to the orangerie for the concert. I was amazed by the beautiful and grand rooms, a must-see when you're in Vienna! The orangerie was also gorgeous, and the lights were beautiful. Since I was in section A, I got a free drink. I didn't want alcohol, so I had orange juice with ice, which they served me in a wine glass. The concert was very beautiful. Even though I pretty much knew nothing that was played except for I think one song, it was a beautiful performance, and the orchestra and opera singers are all incredibly talented. When in the classical music capital in the world, it's a must to catch at least one classical concert!
There is a reason a lot of people tell you that a certain place is a "must-see", and when they do, you should listen! This palace? DEFINITELY a must-see. Why? It's gorgeous! The buildings, the grounds, the gardens.....So. Stinkin'. Pretty! Each room you enter inside the palace is just so beautiful. Opulent is the word of the day here. Curtains match wallpaper, which matches the bed linens, accessorized with porcelain and gilded woodwork. Carpet is dyed to match the background color of the walls, and even the ceilings have murals on them! The furniture is leather or silk or velvet, the lighting gold leafed with crystal or etched glass. Portraits of family members, past and current, abound, as do paintings depicting military victories and other celebrations. The gardens are bursting with trees and flowering shrubs, and well as bed upon bed of beautiful flowers. One could easily get lost wandering around. The grounds leading up to Gloriette are full of more flowers and expertly manicured lawns. Statuary and fountains remind you that you are on royal land. So yeah, this place is a must-see. And if you miss it? Well, I can't say anything. I missed getting into Belvedere, so I guess we'll both have to come back to Vienna! 73/2025
Schloss Schonbrunn is the number one attraction in Vienna that almost everyone goes to when they visit the city. This palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Purchasing tickets are required if you want to enter the palace, however, you are free to walk around a lot of the palace gardens. There are multiple ticket passes available depending on what you want to see. Expect to spend a few hours here exploring due to the vast space of the entire palace and it's gardens. We decided to purchase the classic pass (40 euro) which includes a tour of inside the palace (with an audio guide included), the orangery, the crown prince garden, the maze, and the roof of the Gloriette. It was suggested that by purchasing the pass you had to give yourself at least 3-4 hours at the palace and it's grounds. The tickets are also timed where you must enter the Schonbrunn Palace during a 15 min time window. Upon entering inside the palace, signage is clearly marked where you pick up an audio guide. With this audio guide, you are asked to enter numbers into the phone guide to listen to the explanation of the specific room. Each room is grand and impressive where you got an idea of how the Habsburgs lived back then. The self-guided audio tour takes about an hour. We also checked out all the other attractions that were included in the classic pass. The orangery and crown prince garden was lovely. One of the mazes were confusing and the Gloriette rooftop gave us a great view of the Schonbrunn Place and it's gardens/grounds. The rest of the palace gardens and grounds are also great to explore as well - you definitely have to take your time going through everything (we spent 4 hours there!). Overall, truly impressive palace and palace grounds. A definite must visit if you are in Vienna. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance !!
Such an amazing place. The grounds are massive, the guided tour amazing. The Christmas market was magical. I'd visit here over city center
If you want to get a glimpse of how royalty lived, Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens then you need to visit it! The Baroque architecture is absolutely magnificent, and the grounds are just as impressive. The massive garden stretches behind the palace with the Gloriette perched on the hill, offering one of the best views in Vienna. My tip - start your visit at the Gloriette first and snap some photos of the entire palace and gardens from the balcony. Then, take a leisurely stroll down the hill, through the fountains and perfectly manicured paths, and make your way to the palace entrance. The inside tour requires a ticket, but it's worth every euro. The lavish interiors and rich history give you a true appreciation of the opulent lifestyle of the royal family. We were in awe of the intricate details and grandeur of each room - it really transports you back in time. For even more context, check out the Netflix series The Empress before or after your visit - it adds another layer of appreciation. A must-do when in Vienna!
Very nice place and only can image the glamor back in the day. Public transportation is easy enough to take here. Our tour guide kept us all together and well informed. The place is very big so depending on your time you could spend all day there.
As far as historical buildings go, the grounds and facility here were just breathtaking. While the self-guided tour itself was great, the highlight was their Easter market that had rides, vendors and an array of food and drinks. The building itself isn't really stroller friendly and you'll find yourself lifting the stroller up and down stairs, but that was a minor inconvenience. And you do have to check your backpacks before entering.
The Schönbrunn Palace is one of those places where you should not pay for admission and just walk through the gardens/grounds, which is expansive, beautiful, and free. The best view is getting to the top of the Gloriette, which is a small hike. We did attempt to go inside the Palace and arrived early. However, by the time we got there, there was already a huge swarm of tour buses and tourists, and the staff told us it would be 2 hours wait to enter. Honestly, the staff was pretty curt, so it didn't motivate us to explore the interior anyway - you can tell they are pretty fed up with tourists in general. After traveling across Europe and getting to visit multiple palaces, we turned the option to visit the palace interior down and just ventured out to the grounds, which turned out to be the best move here. This place is also the most touristy spot in Vienna, so plan accordingly.
Yelp Review 2023 #271: Schloss Schonbrunn is a massive castle that sits on acres of land that's part of the castle. It's far from the city center so plan on dedicating at least 4 hours of your time here. It's definitely one of the Viennese landmarks you simply cannot skip. If you're into the royals then, pay for a ticket to get in the castle. There's a lot to see. I've been to many castles and honestly, at some point they all start to look alike and I get bored quicker than you can spell it. This castle is huuuuuuuge. So, I already know I don't have the attention span to make paying for a ticket worth it. If you're not into staring at fancy plates, chandeliers and small ornate beds - walk around the castle. You'll find interesting things to see like the garden and the fountain. I did, however, spend my time at the Christmas market on castle grounds. More food, more mulled wine, and no attention span. I noticed they sell more crafts and snow globes than other Christmas markets in Vienna. I babysat my mulled wine until it got cold. I glugged it down so I can do something else. Next thing I know, I was on a train going somewhere with my mug with a drop of cold mulled wine.
We toured the Schönbrunn Palace outside Vienna. This was the former imperial summer residence of the Habsburg Empire in Vienna. Here again, which is a common theme, there is tons of Baroque architecture and Austrian history. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site including the palace and stunning gardens, fountains, and statues. The palace has over 1,400 rooms which is something to see in and of itself. The legendary Empress Maria Theresa made Schönbrunn her summer residence.
Wow what a great day we had here. It was a national holiday so it was pretty crowded later in the day. We were with a group so I have no idea the cost of admission. Whatever it was Id pay it to see this beautiful place again. Omg the gardens! I wish I could return for the christmas market as they were setting up in front of the palace. Looked gorgeous!
2 months ago
The Palace sits on an amazing land with beautiful gardens. We took a Special tour at 5:30 after hours with a group of around 25 people which included dinner and concert You are given a recorder that plays for each room giving you the history behind each room. It did seem a bit rushed as the workers follow the group to each room. However the palace was gorgeous and definitely worth a visit. read more
The Schloss Schönbrunn Castle is as marvelous and breathtaking as the cruise director told us it was going to be. The castle itself and the grounds it sits on are HUGE. It's almost like there was a big castle in Central Park with the surrounding area being part of the castle. Walking the grounds was quite the workout. The main square area is massive, and the primary palace is so beautiful with the faded yellow color and brownish roof tiling. Home of the Hapsburg Monarchy. Walking through the castle (there is a total of 1441 rooms) is amazing. Each room forward is more stately and beautiful than what you come from. It is truly a site to behold. Once you finish that part of the tour, you get to walk outside and up to the amazing lookout. This took me about 20 minutes to walk up. Absolutely worth taking this walk as the view back to the castle amazing. There is also a restaurant up there. You see half of Vienna from up there, along with the palace and gardens below. The views were amazing and I took as many pictures going up and coming down. Along the main route are some refreshment stands with water and ice cream. The grounds are not just big but HUGE-big. You could easily spend an entire day here, especially if you view the palace as well. This place should be a mandatory part of any trip to the area. It's an amazing learning experience of the life and times of the royal families. As well as how they lived and interacted with other royals. There is an amazing group of people here who can answer questions as direct you. Everyone here is just so knowledgeable. KUDOs to the team at Schloss Schönbrunn. read more
13 days ago
This is one of the most ornate stately houses I have ever seen. The Imperial quarters are luxurious, especially the bedrooms, the enameled and lacquered rooms, the rice paper lined rooms, and the Millions room with it's elaborate wood inlaid with indopersian miniatures and gold leaf. The Great gallery is stunning at 40 feet in length and copious amounts of gold with intricate frescos. The downside is that it is very crowded and the first part of the audio tour before entering the Imperial quarters doesn't work all that well. This first part of the tour is designed to automatically connect you to the right room descriptions but it doesn't always work. Fortunately the Imperial quarters audio guide is self paced and works very well. read more
Schloss Schönbrunn is as marvelous and breathtaking as is advertised! The castle itself and the grounds it sits upon are HUGE. I swear they go for miles and miles- I even saw a few people running around the gardens to get their workout in. Even just walking/ strolling, we got a workout. The main square area is massive, and the primary palace is so beautiful with the faded yellow color and brownish roof tiling. It's so stately and royal looking and surely makes sense that it's where Queen Sisi, Austrias originally empress, lived. Behind the main castle is a lookout point that takes a good 10-15 minutes to walk up to but is worth it for the view. You can see half of Vienna from up there, along with the palace and gardens below. There's also a restaurant up at the viewing area, I'm guessing it's expensive but would be fun to try with the view and meal combination. And behind the viewing area there are some ruins from Schönbrunn when it was bombed during WWII. Very sobering but neat to see in person. Along the main paths they do have some refreshment stands as well. The grounds are that big. You could easily spend an entire day here, especially if you were able to tour the inside of the palace, also not to mention the whole zoo that's apart of the grounds as well. Just like it says in the name, it is all truly so beautiful. read more
Schönbrunn Palace was my first tourist stop in Vienna. As soon as I checked into my hotel and dropped off my things, I went on the subway and booked it to Schönbrunn Palace with the hopes I could make it on time for the private tour and concert deal package. I could no longer purchase a ticket online for the post-closing private tour and concert package, but when I got there, there was a guy at a cart who sold me a Section A ticket for €89 (online it was € 132.00), with a pre-concert private tour for free. Sweet! I was really looking forward to this, because the private tour+concert deal is only available on Fridays and Satudays, I'm SO GLAD I made it on time! It was very beautiful to walk through Schönbrunn Palace, listen to the audio tour (I was surprised that Franz Joseph was described as worshipping his wife Elisabeth, because she was miserable in their marriage and even through their estrangement, he always dearly loved her), and then be led to the orangerie for the concert. I was amazed by the beautiful and grand rooms, a must-see when you're in Vienna! The orangerie was also gorgeous, and the lights were beautiful. Since I was in section A, I got a free drink. I didn't want alcohol, so I had orange juice with ice, which they served me in a wine glass. The concert was very beautiful. Even though I pretty much knew nothing that was played except for I think one song, it was a beautiful performance, and the orchestra and opera singers are all incredibly talented. When in the classical music capital in the world, it's a must to catch at least one classical concert! read more
There is a reason a lot of people tell you that a certain place is a "must-see", and when they do, you should listen! This palace? DEFINITELY a must-see. Why? It's gorgeous! The buildings, the grounds, the gardens.....So. Stinkin'. Pretty! Each room you enter inside the palace is just so beautiful. Opulent is the word of the day here. Curtains match wallpaper, which matches the bed linens, accessorized with porcelain and gilded woodwork. Carpet is dyed to match the background color of the walls, and even the ceilings have murals on them! The furniture is leather or silk or velvet, the lighting gold leafed with crystal or etched glass. Portraits of family members, past and current, abound, as do paintings depicting military victories and other celebrations. The gardens are bursting with trees and flowering shrubs, and well as bed upon bed of beautiful flowers. One could easily get lost wandering around. The grounds leading up to Gloriette are full of more flowers and expertly manicured lawns. Statuary and fountains remind you that you are on royal land. So yeah, this place is a must-see. And if you miss it? Well, I can't say anything. I missed getting into Belvedere, so I guess we'll both have to come back to Vienna! 73/2025 read more
Schloss Schonbrunn is the number one attraction in Vienna that almost everyone goes to when they visit the city. This palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Purchasing tickets are required if you want to enter the palace, however, you are free to walk around a lot of the palace gardens. There are multiple ticket passes available depending on what you want to see. Expect to spend a few hours here exploring due to the vast space of the entire palace and it's gardens. We decided to purchase the classic pass (40 euro) which includes a tour of inside the palace (with an audio guide included), the orangery, the crown prince garden, the maze, and the roof of the Gloriette. It was suggested that by purchasing the pass you had to give yourself at least 3-4 hours at the palace and it's grounds. The tickets are also timed where you must enter the Schonbrunn Palace during a 15 min time window. Upon entering inside the palace, signage is clearly marked where you pick up an audio guide. With this audio guide, you are asked to enter numbers into the phone guide to listen to the explanation of the specific room. Each room is grand and impressive where you got an idea of how the Habsburgs lived back then. The self-guided audio tour takes about an hour. We also checked out all the other attractions that were included in the classic pass. The orangery and crown prince garden was lovely. One of the mazes were confusing and the Gloriette rooftop gave us a great view of the Schonbrunn Place and it's gardens/grounds. The rest of the palace gardens and grounds are also great to explore as well - you definitely have to take your time going through everything (we spent 4 hours there!). Overall, truly impressive palace and palace grounds. A definite must visit if you are in Vienna. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets in advance !! read more
If you want to get a glimpse of how royalty lived, Schönbrunn Palace and its gardens then you need to visit it! The Baroque architecture is absolutely magnificent, and the grounds are just as impressive. The massive garden stretches behind the palace with the Gloriette perched on the hill, offering one of the best views in Vienna. My tip - start your visit at the Gloriette first and snap some photos of the entire palace and gardens from the balcony. Then, take a leisurely stroll down the hill, through the fountains and perfectly manicured paths, and make your way to the palace entrance. The inside tour requires a ticket, but it's worth every euro. The lavish interiors and rich history give you a true appreciation of the opulent lifestyle of the royal family. We were in awe of the intricate details and grandeur of each room - it really transports you back in time. For even more context, check out the Netflix series The Empress before or after your visit - it adds another layer of appreciation. A must-do when in Vienna! read more
10 months ago
Very nice place and only can image the glamor back in the day. Public transportation is easy enough to take here. Our tour guide kept us all together and well informed. The place is very big so depending on your time you could spend all day there. read more
As far as historical buildings go, the grounds and facility here were just breathtaking. While the self-guided tour itself was great, the highlight was their Easter market that had rides, vendors and an array of food and drinks. The building itself isn't really stroller friendly and you'll find yourself lifting the stroller up and down stairs, but that was a minor inconvenience. And you do have to check your backpacks before entering. read more
The Schönbrunn Palace is one of those places where you should not pay for admission and just walk through the gardens/grounds, which is expansive, beautiful, and free. The best view is getting to the top of the Gloriette, which is a small hike. We did attempt to go inside the Palace and arrived early. However, by the time we got there, there was already a huge swarm of tour buses and tourists, and the staff told us it would be 2 hours wait to enter. Honestly, the staff was pretty curt, so it didn't motivate us to explore the interior anyway - you can tell they are pretty fed up with tourists in general. After traveling across Europe and getting to visit multiple palaces, we turned the option to visit the palace interior down and just ventured out to the grounds, which turned out to be the best move here. This place is also the most touristy spot in Vienna, so plan accordingly. read more
Yelp Review 2023 #271: Schloss Schonbrunn is a massive castle that sits on acres of land that's part of the castle. It's far from the city center so plan on dedicating at least 4 hours of your time here. It's definitely one of the Viennese landmarks you simply cannot skip. If you're into the royals then, pay for a ticket to get in the castle. There's a lot to see. I've been to many castles and honestly, at some point they all start to look alike and I get bored quicker than you can spell it. This castle is huuuuuuuge. So, I already know I don't have the attention span to make paying for a ticket worth it. If you're not into staring at fancy plates, chandeliers and small ornate beds - walk around the castle. You'll find interesting things to see like the garden and the fountain. I did, however, spend my time at the Christmas market on castle grounds. More food, more mulled wine, and no attention span. I noticed they sell more crafts and snow globes than other Christmas markets in Vienna. I babysat my mulled wine until it got cold. I glugged it down so I can do something else. Next thing I know, I was on a train going somewhere with my mug with a drop of cold mulled wine. read more
We toured the Schönbrunn Palace outside Vienna. This was the former imperial summer residence of the Habsburg Empire in Vienna. Here again, which is a common theme, there is tons of Baroque architecture and Austrian history. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site including the palace and stunning gardens, fountains, and statues. The palace has over 1,400 rooms which is something to see in and of itself. The legendary Empress Maria Theresa made Schönbrunn her summer residence. read more
Wow what a great day we had here. It was a national holiday so it was pretty crowded later in the day. We were with a group so I have no idea the cost of admission. Whatever it was Id pay it to see this beautiful place again. Omg the gardens! I wish I could return for the christmas market as they were setting up in front of the palace. Looked gorgeous! read more
Breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful. The castle is incredible and the garden is surreal. I could have stayed there forever. If you plan a visit get there early it will take at least 4 hours to tour the palace. There are a few restaurants on the grounds which have a good menu. There is a children's museum for the young ones and the cutest electric train. read more
Can't miss attraction in Vienna. We visited Schloss Schönbrunn on a Monday afternoon in June, and it was packed to the gills. We purchased our ticket online ahead of time to avoid the line. The audio guide is essential for this museum as there our few explanatory plaques. The rooms of the palace are opulent and unique. It is impossible to capture the grandeur of each room in photo form. We explored the grounds afterwards and earned lovely photos of the castle and of Vienna as well. We spent about 3 hours here in total. Overall, I would highly recommend Schloss Schönbrunn, and, if you only have time for one activity in Vienna, then choose Schloss Schönbrunn. read more
Before all....i'd like to mention. This attraction will take your entire day if you plan to fully explore this site and enjoy the experience at ease. Inside the palace- enter at your ticket time, so purchase ahead is a good idea. It says no pictures or videos allowed, however people still do The garden- gorgeous, the walk is endless but enjoyable. We went during fall season. I couldn't stop taking pictures of the scenery. Carriage ride- FYI, the ride can only go around tye garden from outside circle, they cannot go through roads inside. We took the full ride, saw some parts of the garden and the premises, it was good enough for the money, but we still have to walk into the garden on foot at a later time. Souvenirs shop- it's on your way out like most of the museums. There are good quality souvenirs and very unique, do recommend to snatch some on your way out. There is no parking nearby, but do have a vehicle drop off area by the main entrance. Our overall experience is a five star and will return for another visit during a diffident season to check out things we missed this time due to the size of this palace. Highly recommend by @winedinenvacay read more
Wikipedia: "Schönbrunn Palace was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, located in Hietzing, Vienna. The name Schönbrunn (meaning "beautiful spring") has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court." This is a must-visit place if you're ever in the beautiful city of Vienna! I do recommend coming early to avoid the crowds. Another reason to come early is so you have some time to enjoy the zoo afterwards (a part of the whole complex). read more
Schloss Schonbrunn is listed as the #1 attraction to do in Vienna. This palatial estate is massive and there's something like 8 different ticket choices available to see all that the grounds have to offer. Admission to the gardens is free. The most basic of packages is the Imperial Tour, which costs 22 euros and allows access to 22 state rooms. Pictures aren't allowed inside the palace. The rooms aren't that impressive when comparing to the Versaille's palace in Paris. In fact many of them were small. What made matters worse is that there was a huge tour group in front of me and they would fill up the room and their tour guide would talk for a while, which prevented anyone from passing them and going on to the next room. I had to squeeze my way through this bottle neck. Overall I wasn't impressed with the palace. It has a nice bit of history and the grounds are massive. Save yourself some money and just walk the grounds, gardens, and take some pics of the outside of the palace. read more
To say Schloss Schonbrunn is breath taking is an understatement. We came here on a Sunday, since many things in Vienna are closed on Sundays. It was the perfect time to do some sight-seeing and enjoy what this beautiful city has to offer. This is definitely a busy spot, but it's so big, you never feel overwhelmed or cramped. We were dropped off at the entrance to the castle, and our ride went to park in the parking lot not too far from the entrance. The first thing I noticed was how vast the grounds were. There is a large gravel lot (I think that's the best word to describe it) bordered by the beautiful buildings. The architecture was so classic and beautifully made. On each side there are fountains and greenery, which add to the majestic feeling. We entered and were told to purchase your tickets on the opposite side of the grounds (pro tip: buy tickets to the left right when you walk in). We got the tickets through the kiosk for the 45 minute tour. Our tour started pretty soon after we got our tickets which was appreciated, there wasn't a bunch of waiting around. We grabbed our tour audio packs and listened as we walked through the rooms of the castle. This place is so wonderfully taken care of and absolutely gorgeous. The audio goes into depth about each room you enter, and I learned a lot (JFK was in the same room as us, which was pretty cool). After the tour, they have a gift shop, which was really nice and big. I got some goodies for myself and for people back home, which is always nice to check off the list. We later walked through the back gardens which reminded me a bit of Versailles. Aesthetically pleasing to look at, well taken care of, and beautiful colors. We continued on up to the top, which is a good story for another review :) it was a special afternoon in Vienna! read more
The Schönbrunn is often referred the Versailles of Austria. The Versailles seems grander and more lavishly decorated. This might have to do with Emperor Franz Joseph's preference for austerity. But the audio guide tells the visitor very interesting stories about the emperor and empress and allows the visitor to learn more about the history of the empire. We got the Sisi combination tickets that allowed us to visit the Hofsburg Place, the Schönbrunn Place and the Imperial Furniture Museum, since the prices of tickets to the two places already exceeded the price of the combination ticket. read more
Beautiful palace with a beautiful garden. It's a must-see when in Vienna. If you're not into looking at architecture or historical artifacts, you could probably skip the inside of the palace. I saw people jogging around the garden, so that's something that could be nice to do. The gift shop has nice souviners. I grabbed a few totes and wallets. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Beautiful inside out. So many things to see and could spend a day there. Definitely one of the top attractions in Vienna. read more
Schonbrunn is a bit outside of city center but fast and easy to get to by metro - although there is a short walk from the metro station to the palace. The garden and extensive grounds are free, you only need to get tickets for the inside and the Gloriette - the latter gives you a slightly higher overhead view of the grounds and city beyond. read more
I had to save review #700 for something special: Schönbrunn Palace, that masterpiece of the Hapsburg reign! It's astounding to me that the Schönbrunn didn't become a UNESCO World Heritage Site until the 1990s. Perhaps that's when the WHS program started? The palace is... well, this is the type of place that the would impress any monarch, let alone us common folk. I have an affinity for the place not only because of its history and its beauty, but because of its association with Empress Sisi. She's a fascinating woman and she also was the favorite cousin (and almost-wife) of my favorite monarch, King Ludwig II of Bavaria. A Baroque marvel with interiors in rococo style, the summer palace of the Hapsburg monarchs has almost 1,500 rooms. That's rooms, not bedrooms, but still... can you imagine leaving your gloves (or, more likely in the 21st century, your mobile phone) in one room and then remembering 10 minutes on your walk to the other end of the palace that you'd left it? Only about 3% of those rooms are open for visiting, however. And yes, I said summer palace. This was not the main residence of the royal family. The grounds upon which Schloss Schönbrunn currently stands were initially used as a hunting lodge after coming into Hapsburg possession. From those humble beginnings, one of the most spectacular palaces in Europe (even today) was born, with extensive, exquisitely manicured gardens in addition to the palace itself. Versailles gets a lot of attention, but I don't think you could be disappointed in spending your day on a visit to this rival palace. Plan to spend a good chunk of time here. I'd highly recommend a tour, audio tour, detailed guidebook, or something; I didn't have one on my visit and I'm still disappointed over 10 years later that I know I didn't learn as much as I would have wanted! There are several different ticket options so hopefully there's one at your price point; the gardens are not necessarily included, so select your ticket wisely. It's also the most visited attraction in Austria, so you'll want to plan accordingly and be patient. I would like to visit Vienna again sometime (keeping my fingers crossed I'll win a ticket to one of the New Years' concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic, or maybe visit to attend the opera ball!) and I will be visiting Schönbrunn again, with the ticket that includes EVERYTHING, blocking off my day, detailed audioguide at the ready and wearing my most comfortable tennis shoes so I can soak it all in. read more
Buy your tickets online for early in the day. Even in December the grounds get very crowded. I had entry ticket for 8:15 am and there was only 6 couples ahead of me. But a half hour into my walk a large tour group came through. Ticket came with an easy audio guide. You just enter the room number as you go. It allows you to stop and look around at tour own pace. I recommend the Grand tour of 40 rooms. It still only took just over an hour. The Imperial tour stops at 20 rooms. The Rococo palace has 1,441 rooms in all. You are lead through the once private apartments- sitting rooms, bedrooms and dining area. The inlaid floors. The silk wallpapers. The lavish furniture. The golden Great Gallery. All so beautiful, but no pictures are allowed. That's kinda a nice- you can enjoy the tour without distraction of getting the perfect picture. Check this "summer home and former hunting lodge." There is a metro a block in front of the palace. Easy walking all around the grounds. read more
6 years ago
This was such a amazing place to visit on my Austria trip. I loved all the decor and the different rooms through the tour. I loved how there were so many different areas to take great photos. The tour was excellent. I liked how I could listen to it in English. The tour was about 40 mins through 22 rooms. The rooms are finely detailed with great furniture and the exterior is well maintained. read more
It's a pretty palace, classic and simple, but big. No photos allowed once inside. Photos are allowed to be taken outside. The interior is audacious, showy and exudes excess. It was used for a summer residence for the imperial family. There are beautiful gardens and grounds to spend an hour or two. Great views of the palace from the top of the hill too. read more
This place may need a minimum half day to visit. The place originally is a hunting lodge in 17th century. Over the years of 18th century, it continue rebuilding to current palace. The palace has two types. The imperial tour or the grand tour. The imperial tour is only 22 rooms. The Grand tour is 40 rooms. I would suggest the Grand tour if you have time. The first part is the apartment of the royal. It part of the imperial tour. These include the guard room, bedroom, study room, breakfast room, dressing room and more. Yellow Salon is the first room facing the beautiful garden. It is well decorated. The great gallery is in the middle of the palace with beautiful hallway. It lit over thousand light bulb. This where the imperial tour end. I like the Grand Tour because of the special room in this tour. It begin with easy Asian cabinet room show Chinese porcelain. It well decorated. The other is blue Chinese salon which Chinese paper wall-hangings with floral motifs. Vieux Laque Room is black lacquer panels from the imperial manufactory in Peking. This is my most favorite room. The family chapel connected both floor. The only thing is they don't allow photo at all in the palace. The palace ground is huge to cover. Including a zoo. I would suggest go to back and check it out. Our time here is limited and was not able to finish the garden. read more
3 years ago
This is a must visit when in Vienna. It is not too far from the city center. The tickets are timed. read more
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