Sight guide · Vienna · Austria
Visiting Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg summer residence has 1,441 rooms, of which around 40 are shown on the Grand Tour, including the Hall of Mirrors where the six-year-old Mozart performed for Maria Theresa.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Schönbrunn Palace is a palace in Hietzing, Vienna. Allow half a day; it is mid-priced. Palace tours use timed tickets that sell out in summer and at weekends; book online in advance.
Key facts
- Type
- Palace
- Area
- Hietzing
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- history, architecture, views and kids
- Best months
- May–July
About Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg summer residence has 1,441 rooms, of which around 40 are shown on the Grand Tour, including the Hall of Mirrors where the six-year-old Mozart performed for Maria Theresa. The vast baroque gardens, free to enter, climb to the Gloriette colonnade, with a view back over the palace and the city.
Tip: Book the first time slot, then walk up to the Gloriette and visit the maze and zoo in the afternoon.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: Half a day.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: Palace tours use timed tickets that sell out in summer and at weekends; book online in advance.
- Where: Hietzing, villas and green streets around Schönbrunn Palace.
Best time to visit Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- June: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- July: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-May the sun sets at about 20:26 local time (calculated for Vienna).
When to visit Vienna has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vienna itinerary visits Schönbrunn Palace on day 1, together with Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum and Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel.
- No. 1 of the 20 sights in our Vienna things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 7-day plan.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Vienna.
- A family favourite in Vienna with kids.
Near Schönbrunn Palace
Also in Hietzing, so you can walk between them:
- Tiergarten Schönbrunn — 3–4 hours, mid-priced
If you like Schönbrunn Palace
- Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum — Innere Stadt, 2–3 hours
- Spanish Riding School — Innere Stadt, 1–1.5 hours
- St Stephen's Cathedral — Innere Stadt, 1–1.5 hours
- Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel — Leopoldstadt, 2–3 hours
Staying near Schönbrunn Palace
Stay in Hietzing ($$$) to walk here: villas and green streets around Schönbrunn Palace. All areas to stay in Vienna.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Schönbrunn Palace?
Plan half a day. With Tiergarten Schönbrunn nearby, it fits a half-day in Hietzing.
+Is Schönbrunn Palace free?
No, it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is advised.
+When is the best time to visit Schönbrunn Palace?
May–July, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Book the first time slot, then walk up to the Gloriette and visit the maze and zoo in the afternoon.
+Do I need to book Schönbrunn Palace in advance?
Palace tours use timed tickets that sell out in summer and at weekends; book online in advance.
+Is Schönbrunn Palace good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Vienna. Vienna is one of Europe's easiest capitals with children: clean, calm public transport, the world's oldest zoo, the Prater amusement park, a dinosaur hall and a hands-on music museum.