Schönbrunn Palace Tickets & Guide 2026 | Vienna

By Emma · Updated 24 September 2026 · 2 min read

TL;DR

The Grand Tour covers more rooms than the Imperial Tour and is worth the small extra cost
The main gardens and the Gloriette viewpoint are free
Book a timed palace ticket online in high season
U4 to Schönbrunn takes about 15 minutes from the centre

Type: Landmark
Where: Vienna
Time needed: half a day
Admission: from about €29 for the Imperial Tour (2026); gardens free

For centuries Schönbrunn was the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, and its Baroque splendour still says a lot about the power of the Austrian empire. Empress Maria Theresa shaped much of what you see today in the 18th century, and Emperor Franz Joseph was born and died here. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most visited attraction in Vienna.

What you'll see

The palace has 1,441 rooms, of which around 40 are open on tours. Two main routes are on offer:

Imperial Tour: 22 rooms, including the apartments of Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth ("Sisi").
Grand Tour: 40 rooms, adding Maria Theresa's apartments, the Millions Room and the Hall of Mirrors, where a six-year-old Mozart performed for the empress.

Outside, the formal gardens are free to wander. Walk up the hill to the Gloriette, a colonnaded pavilion with a café and views back over the palace to the city. Other paid sights in the grounds include the maze, the Palm House, the Privy Garden and the Imperial Carriage Museum. Tiergarten Schönbrunn, founded in 1752, is the world's oldest operating zoo.

Practical information

Tickets: from about €29 for the Imperial Tour and more for the Grand Tour in 2026, with audio guide included. Tickets are timed, so book online on the official site and check current prices. Combination tickets cover several sights in the grounds.
Getting there: U4 to Schönbrunn station (about a 10-minute walk to the entrance) or tram 10 or 60.
Best time to go: first thing in the morning, before the tour groups. The gardens are at their best from May to September, and a Christmas market fills the forecourt from late November.

Book an early palace slot, then spend the rest of the morning walking up to the Gloriette. In summer, evening concerts are held in the Orangery.

Plan the rest of your trip with our Austria guide, or head west for the mountains of Tyrol.

Where is Schönbrunn Palace?

Open in OpenStreetMap · 48.18452, 16.31187

Frequently asked questions

Is the Grand Tour worth it over the Imperial Tour?

For most visitors, yes. It costs only a little more and includes many of the finest state rooms.

Can you visit Schönbrunn gardens for free?

Yes. The main park and the climb to the Gloriette are free. Some attractions, such as the maze and Privy Garden, charge an entry fee.

How long do you need at Schönbrunn?

Allow about an hour for the palace interior and another two to three hours for the gardens. With the zoo, it easily fills a day.

Written by

Emma City breaks & deals editor

Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.