Visiting Vienna State Opera

About Vienna State Opera

Opened in 1869 on the Ringstrasse, the Staatsoper stages a different opera or ballet almost every night of its season. Guided tours show the grand staircase and auditorium, and inexpensive standing-room places, released shortly before performances, make world-class opera affordable.

Tip: Check the official site for how standing-room tickets are sold for your date, and dress smart-casual for evening performances.

Plan your visit

• Time needed: 1 hour tour; 3 hours for a performance.
• Cost: Mid-priced.
• Book ahead: Seated tickets for popular performances sell out; book online well ahead.
• Where: Innere Stadt, the historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses.

Best time to visit Vienna State Opera

To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:

• March: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds.
• April: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
• October: 15°C (59°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.

When to visit Vienna has the full month-by-month picture.

Fit it into your trip

Our 3-day Vienna itinerary visits Vienna State Opera on day 2, together with Spanish Riding School, St Stephen's Cathedral and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

• No. 8 of the 20 sights in our Vienna things-to-do list.
• Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
• Day 1 of the 4-day plan.
• Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
• Day 1 of the 7-day plan.

Near Vienna State Opera

Also in Innere Stadt, so you can walk between them:

• Albertina — 2 hours, mid-priced
• Kunsthistorisches Museum — 3 hours, mid-priced
• Natural History Museum — 2–3 hours, mid-priced

If you like Vienna State Opera

• Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel — Leopoldstadt, 2–3 hours
• Hundertwasserhaus — Landstraße, 30 minutes

Staying near Vienna State Opera

Stay in Innere Stadt ($$$$) to walk here: the historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses. All areas to stay in Vienna.

Questions travellers ask