Sight guide · Vienna · Austria
Visiting Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Founded in 1752 in the grounds of Schönbrunn, this is the oldest zoo still in operation in the world.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Daniel Zupanc, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Tiergarten Schönbrunn is a zoo in Hietzing, Vienna. Allow 3–4 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Zoo
- Area
- Hietzing
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, nature and outdoors
- Best months
- May–June and September
About Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Founded in 1752 in the grounds of Schönbrunn, this is the oldest zoo still in operation in the world. Its enclosures radiate from a baroque imperial breakfast pavilion, and modern houses include a rainforest and a polar area.
Tip: Enter from the palace gardens and combine the zoo with the Schönbrunn maze and children's museum.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3–4 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Hietzing, villas and green streets around Schönbrunn Palace.
Best time to visit Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Tiergarten Schönbrunn is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, busy crowds.
- June: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit Vienna has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vienna itinerary visits Tiergarten Schönbrunn on day 1, together with Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum and Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel.
- No. 9 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.
- A family favourite in Vienna with kids.
Near Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Also in Hietzing, so you can walk between them:
- Schönbrunn Palace — half a day, mid-priced
If you like Tiergarten Schönbrunn
- Natural History Museum — Innere Stadt, 2–3 hours
Staying near Tiergarten Schönbrunn
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 Tiergarten Schönbrunn?
Plan 3–4 hours. With Schönbrunn Palace nearby, it fits a half-day in Hietzing.
+Is Tiergarten Schönbrunn free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Tiergarten Schönbrunn?
May–June and September for the most comfortable weather. Enter from the palace gardens and combine the zoo with the Schönbrunn maze and children's museum.
+Do I need to book Tiergarten Schönbrunn in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Tiergarten Schönbrunn 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.