Visiting Schönbrunn Palace can be an unforgettable experience, but proper planning is key to making the most of your visit.
The large complex, including the palace and its gardens, covers 176 hectares (435 acres), and it is very easy to get lost between the many must-see highlights.
In this article, we share 17 important tips to help you navigate the palace grounds, avoid the crowds, uncover hidden gems, and make the most of your visit.
Essential Tips for a Perfect Schönbrunn Palace Visit
Whether you’re a history buff, a family with kids, or simply looking to enjoy Vienna’s beauty, these tips for visiting Schönbrunn will ensure your visit is smooth, enjoyable, and packed with memorable moments.
1. Buy Your Tickets Online
Buy your Schönbrunn Palace tickets online to save time and money.
Online tickets are often cheaper than those purchased at the venue, and you’ll avoid long queues at the ticket counters.
Plus, booking early lets you secure your preferred time slot for a more convenient visit.
2. No Need to Take Ticket Printouts
As soon as you purchase your Schönbrunn Palace tickets online, you receive them via email.
The palace is fully equipped for modern tourism, so there’s no need to print your tickets.
Simply show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you arrive for hassle-free entry.
It is a massive palace
Schönbrunn Palace is one of Europe’s largest palaces, boasting over 1,400 rooms. However, only 40 of these are open to the public for tours.
3. Donot Buy Tickets For Kids Below Seven Years
Schönbrunn Palace tickets cost €55 for adults aged 18 and above.
Children aged 7 to 17 enjoy a discounted rate of €48, while kids aged six and under can enter for just €6.
Related Reading: Explore What’s inside the Schönbrunn Palace
4. The Palace Opens Early at 8 AM
Schönbrunn Palace opens at 8 am year-round. During the peak tourist months of July and August, it remains open until 6.30 pm.
In the shoulder months of April, May, June, September, and October, it closes at 5.30 pm.
The palace closes at 5 pm for the rest of the year.
5. Best Time to Visit Schönbrunn Palace
For the best experience, visit Schönbrunn Palace when it opens at 8 am.
Starting early allows you to avoid large crowds and the heat, especially during summer.
If a morning visit isn’t possible, the next best time to go is after 3 pm, when most tourists have started to leave.
6. Collect the Audio Guide at the Entrance
Schönbrunn Palace offers free audio guides in 16 languages and tour descriptions in 21 languages to enhance your visit.
These are provided to visitors upon entry, though availability may be limited.
For added convenience, you can download the audio guides as a zip file from the official website or through platforms like iTunes before your visit.
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7. Keep a Palace Map Handy
Schönbrunn Palace is vast, with plenty to explore, and it’s easy to lose track of time or miss key exhibits while navigating the grounds.
To make the most of your visit, consider joining a guided tour led by a local expert who will ensure you see all the highlights.
Alternatively, keep a map of Schönbrunn Palace handy for quick reference throughout your visit.
8. Donot Take Photos Inside the Palace
The officials of Schönbrunn do not permit photography of museum exhibits inside the palace buildings.
However, you’re free to take as many photos as you like in the beautiful palace gardens.
Neptune Fountain, at the foot of the hill behind the palace, is one of the best places to snap photographs.
9. Donot miss Emperor Franz Joseph’s ‘Sad’ Bedroom
Emperor Franz Joseph I‘s bedroom is perhaps the saddest King’s bedroom ever.
He was deeply in love with his wife, Sisi (Empress Elisabeth of Austria), but she didn’t love him back. She was known for her beauty and often stayed away while Franz Joseph immersed himself in his work.
His bedroom offers a glimpse into his personal life—it’s a large yet stark room, with a small single iron bed and a prayer stool beside it.
It almost seems as if he didn’t want to be the king.
10. Climb up the Gloriette if You Can
The Gloriette is an iconic structure in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, designed by architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in 1775.
The viewing platform, perched atop a 60-meter-high wall, offers breathtaking views of the palace grounds, surrounding woods and meadows, and the stunning skyline of Vienna, making it a must-see for visitors.
11. Spend Time at Cafe Gloriette
Café Gloriette, located within the stunning Gloriette building, offers a charming relaxing spot while overlooking the Schönbrunn gardens.
With seating by large windows that provide views of the palace and grounds below and an outdoor terrace for fresh air, it’s a perfect stop during your visit.
The café serves mainly Austrian food and drinks and is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.
Related Reading: Explore the Restaurants at Schonbrunn Palace
12. You Must Visit the Imperial Carriage Museum
Enhance your Schönbrunn Palace visit by exploring the Imperial Carriage Museum, home to an impressive collection of around 60 imperial coaches, sleds, and sedan chairs.
The regular palace tour ticket does not include entry to this museum and requires a separate Carriage Museum ticket.
Most visitors find it a fascinating addition to their Schönbrunn experience.
13. Vienna Zoo is Within the Palace Grounds
Don’t miss Schönbrunn Palace’s hidden gem—the Vienna Zoo, located within the palace grounds.
You can access it through the Park Entrance gate “Hietzinger Tor.” The zoo, which boasts an incredible collection of wildlife, opens daily at 9 am, though closing times vary by season.
If you’re visiting with kids, purchasing a combo ticket for a more convenient and cost-effective experience is a great idea.
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14. Get the Panorama Train Ticket
The Panoramabahn Schönbrunn Express is a game-changer if you want to avoid walking all over the massive palace grounds.
It’s perfect for families with kids or anyone traveling with seniors.
The best part? The palace’s express train ticket is good for the entire day so that you can hop on and off at any of the nine stops scattered throughout the 160-hectare park.
Plus, there’s an audio guide available in English, German, Italian, and a few other languages. So, sit back, relax, and let the train do the work!
Here is the map of all the stops of the Schönbrunn Express:
15. Love Music? Attend a Concert at Schönbrunn
Every evening at 8:30 PM, Schönbrunn Palace hosts an exquisite concert at the Palace Orangery, a venue once graced by performances from Mozart himself.
The concert features a stunning selection of Mozart and Strauss’s finest music and captivating dance and vocal performances, offering visitors a truly memorable cultural experience.
For those who prefer the ultimate in luxury, there is also a concert plus dinner combo.
Related Reading: Schonbrunn Palace concert
16. There is Enough Parking for All
Schönbrunn Palace offers ample parking with 160 car spaces and 20 bus slots, costing between €4.5 per hour and €45 per day.
However, to avoid parking fees, it’s recommended that public transport is used.
Take the Underground U4 (green line) to Schönbrunn station, or hop on Tram No. 10 or 60, which drops you right at the palace entrance.
17. Wheelchair Users Need Assistance
Navigating Schönbrunn Palace can be challenging for wheelchair users due to cobblestone roads and uneven surfaces.
The guided tour lasts nearly two hours, and the long distances between areas make it even more difficult.
It’s highly recommended that wheelchair users have an assisting person during the visit.
