Place · Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens
Schönbrunn PalaceSchloss Schönbrunn
Book the first timed slot online: the interior takes 60–90 minutes and the gardens another hour; midday queues in summer are long.
go at hour · the first timed slot (about 08:30)admission: unknownNot field-verified
Key facts
- Time on site
- 120–150 min
- p95 210 min
- Price
- varies
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- 08:30–?8:30 AM–?
- typical, check
- Best time
- the first timed slot (about 08:30)
- quietest window
- 28″ bags
- No
- Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens: forbidden
- Getting there
- Schönbrunn U4 station
- exit Follow the crowd to the main gate
- Timed ticket
- First slot
- No photos inside
- Go the first timed slot (about 08:30)
- Timed ticket: book ahead
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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Usually Opens 08:30Usually Opens 8:30 AM
Map & directions
Directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Usually Opens 08:30Usually Opens 8:30 AM
Last entry: Moves with the season; last admission earlier.
- Crowds
Quietest around 08:00 · go the first timed slot (about 08:30)
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Fri · busiest Sat, Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: varies (check)
- Child: about €17–20 (≈ US$20–25) (check)
- Time to spend
- 120–150 min · up to 210 min if you linger
Know before you go
- Buy a timed ticket online: the Imperial Tour (about €27 (≈ US$35)) or the Grand Tour (about €30 (≈ US$35)) are the usual choices (2026 estimate, check).
- Choose the first slot at about 08:30 to avoid the summer heat and the queue.Choose the first slot at about 8:30 AM to avoid the summer heat and the queue.
- Photos are not allowed inside the palace.
- Arrive 15 minutes early; the timed slot is enforced.
- The gardens are free to walk; the Gloriette platform is extra.
- Cloakroom for large bags and coats.
Best time of day
Go the first timed slot (about 08:30). Plan 120–150 min inside.
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quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; add one level on weekends and holidays
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Time on site
Minimum
90min
Worthwhile
120min
Typical
150min
p95
210min
Hours change by season and weekday; not printed until verified.
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- Timed entry: book a slot on the official site; walk-up slots can run out.
- Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
- Imperial Tour (fewer rooms): Online or at the desk
- Grand Tour (more rooms): Same
- Child (6–18): Same
- Combination with the gardens or the zoo: Official site
- Queues
- Choose the first slot at about 08:30 to avoid the summer heat and the queue.Choose the first slot at about 8:30 AM to avoid the summer heat and the queue.
- Arrive 15 minutes early; the timed slot is enforced.
- Book the first timed slot online (about 08:30) and pick the tour: Imperial Tour (fewer rooms) or Grand Tour (more rooms).Book the first timed slot online (about 8:30 AM) and pick the tour: Imperial Tour (fewer rooms) or Grand Tour (more rooms).
- Imperial Tour (fewer rooms): An online timed ticket skips the ticket queue.
- Free days
Free entry days in Vienna (pick Vienna in the tool; check)
- Dress code
- Shoes: On.
- Bags & lockers
- Backpacks and large bags go in the cloakroom.
- Lockers or cloakroom Cloakroom for coats and large bags; bring coins or a card.
- Photos
- Not allowed inside the palace; free in the gardens.
- No drones; no tripods in the palace.
- What's closed
- WeeklyOpen every day of the year (check holidays).
- Closing hourcheckMoves with the season; last admission earlier.
- EventscheckSome rooms close for events and receptions.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Skip-the-line reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Tour (fewer rooms) | about €27 (≈ US$35) (2026 estimate, check) | Online or at the desk | An online timed ticket skips the ticket queue. |
| Grand Tour (more rooms) | about €30–33 (≈ US$35–40) (check) | Same | Same. |
| Child (6–18) | about €17–20 (≈ US$20–25) (check) | Same | Same. |
| Combination with the gardens or the zoo | varies (check) | Official site | Same. |
| Reseller skip-the-line tour | tour price | Tour marketplaces | A timed slot is the real skip; a tour adds a guide. |
Inside, in order
State rooms (Imperial Tour: 22 rooms)
45 minThe imperial apartments with gilded rooms.
extra ticketGrand Tour additional rooms
20 minMore state rooms and the Mirror Room.
optionalextra ticketGardens and Neptune Fountain
45 minFree formal gardens.
Palm House and maze
45 minSeparate tickets.
optionalextra ticket
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- light
- Worst while inside
- heavy
- Leave by
- 10:3010:30 AM
- Closing buffer
- 420′
Workable but crowded; keep the queue rule in mind.
- You are still on the approach after 10:00, when the slope below Schönbrunn Palace fills; walk down before then if you can.
- Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 17:30. Last admission earlier; closing hour varies by season (check).
- Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.
How to do it well
- 1Book the first timed slot online (about 08:30) and pick the tour: Imperial Tour (fewer rooms) or Grand Tour (more rooms).
- 2Take the U4 to Schönbrunn, arrive 15 minutes early and leave large bags in the cloakroom.
- 3Follow the audio guide through the state rooms, allow 60–90 minutes, and exit to the garden.
- 4Walk the garden axis to the Gloriette (15 minutes uphill), then take the U4 back.
On the ground
Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Schönbrunn U4 station
- Exit
- Follow the crowd to the main gate
- Ticket
- timed advance official · official site
- Stairs
- Lift available for step-free routes.
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Tour buses from 10:00; queues to enter even with timed tickets in July.Tour buses from 10:00 AM; queues to enter even with timed tickets in July.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- medium
Bailouts
heat
Palace café or the Palm House
rain
Interior rooms
crowd
Gardens and the Gloriette
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Palace forecourt and ticket hall (WC)
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: yes · yesSome steps on the standard route; a lift route is available.
- Lifts: yes · yes
- Accessible toilet: yes · yes
- Wheelchair: yes · yesAsk staff at the entrance for the lift route.
- Stroller: yes · yesFold or leave at the cloakroom (check).
- Places to sit: yes · yesBenches in the gardens.
A lift route and step-free entrance are available; ask at the door.
Step-free route
- 1Take the U4 to Schönbrunn, which has a lift.
- 2Ask at the palace door for the lift route.
- 3The garden paths are gravel; the main axis is gentle.
Combine with
- 8 minPalm House and gardens — A glass house; separate ticket (check).
- 8 minMaze and Labyrinth — A family stop; separate ticket.
- 10 minTiergarten Schönbrunn — The oldest zoo in the world (separate ticket).
- 15 minGloriette — A hilltop colonnade and café.
- —Demel · eat — Pastries in town after the palace.
- —Kunsthistorisches Museum — A museum day instead.
Walk the Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
| Spot | When | Rule on the spot |
|---|---|---|
| Palace façade from the main court | Early morning | Keep the entry queue clear. |
| Garden axis from the Neptune Fountain | Morning | Stay on paths. |
| View from the Gloriette | Clear late afternoon | Do not block the platform. |
Red lines
- Timed tickets: arrive 15 minutes early and keep to the slot.
- Photos are banned in the state rooms; bags go in the cloakroom.
More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if · Rules on site · With kids
Rules on site
- food
- Not in the palace; picnics allowed in the gardens (check).
With kids
kids: okstroller: ok
- with kids
- The Children’s Museum, the maze and the zoo are separate tickets; the state rooms are long for small kids.
- child price
- about €17–20 (≈ US$20–25) for 6–18 (check)
Facilities on site
| What | Status | Where / note |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | yes | Inside; paid public toilets (about €0.50–1 (≈ US$1–2)) nearby. |
| Lockers or cloakroom | yes | Cloakroom for coats and large bags; bring coins or a card. |
| Café or food | yes | A café and restaurants in the grounds. |
| Drinking water | yes | Vienna tap water is safe; refill in the toilets or at a public fountain. |
| Seating | yes | Benches and café seats. |
| Wi-Fi | check | Check on arrival. |
| Card or contactless payment | yes | Cards and phones accepted at the ticket desk; a few cafés and stalls prefer cash. |
Seasons, festivals and night openings
| When | What happens | Effect on your visit | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec, Jan and Feb | Winter | Cold and dark early; museums and cafés are the plan, and Christmas markets crowd the centre in Dec. | |
| Jul and Aug | Summer heat and holiday crowds | Hot spells above 30 °C; do outdoor stops before 11:00.Hot spells above 30 °C; do outdoor stops before 11:00 AM.Hot spells above 86 °F; do outdoor stops before 11:00.Hot spells above 86 °F; do outdoor stops before 11:00 AM. | check |
| Easter weekend | Easter | Family crowds; shops and many restaurants close Sunday and Monday. | check |
| 26 Oct | National Day | Public holiday; free or special entry at some sites, and crowds on Heldenplatz. | check |
| Mid-Nov to 24 Dec | Christmas markets | The centre is crowded in the evening; hotels and trains sell out. |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | good | The best palace in the city. |
| Families | ok | Gardens, zoo and maze. |
| Wheelchair users | good | Lift route. |
| Visitors who hate queues | caution | Only with the first slot. |
Skip it if
- You cannot book a slot before 10:00 in July or August.You cannot book a slot before 10:00 AM in July or August.
- You have already seen the Hofburg and want only one palace.
Deep dive
Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources
Questions and answers
Is the U4 the fastest way?
Yes: about 15 minutes from Karlsplatz to Schönbrunn.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Should I book Schönbrunn ahead?
Yes: book the first timed slot online; midday queues are long in summer.
Which tour should I choose?
The Imperial Tour for a short visit; the Grand Tour if you want more rooms.
How long does it take?
60–90 minutes for the palace and an hour for the gardens.
Can I take photos?
Not inside the palace; yes in the gardens.
How do I get there?
U4 to Schönbrunn, about 15 minutes from Karlsplatz.
Is it worth going in winter?
Yes: quieter, with a Christmas market in the courtyard from mid-November.
Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterSchönbrunn Palace and Gardens120 m · 2 min walk
- PlaceGloriette and garden hill560 m · 9 min walk
- Sleep areaNeubau and Mariahilf (6th and 7th districts)3.5 km · 57 min walk
- EatCafé Sperl4.0 km · ride, not a walk
- ClusterRingstrasse and Museum Quarternearest point: MuseumsQuartier courtyard (WC, shade)4.0 km · ride, not a walk
- PlaceNaschmarkt4.1 km · ride, not a walk
Sources
- officialSchönbrunn (official)
- secondaryWikivoyage — Vienna