Schönbrunn park austria. Schönbrunn Palace and Park Ensemble (Schloß Schönbrunn)

Schönbrunn Palace is the Viennese residence of the Austrian emperors and one of the most important architectural structures Austrian baroque. The palace and park ensemble includes huge park and the palace itself, here you can visit the oldest zoo in Europe, as well as botanical garden and labyrinth, admire the fountains and other landscape gardening facilities. Visitors especially like the Palm House and the Gloriette Pavilion. The palace and its gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History of Schönbrunn

The first mention of the building that occupied the site of the current palace dates back to the 14th century. It was an estate with the name Katterburg, it was owned by the Klosterneuburg monastery and included a residential building, a stable, a watermill and a garden. In 1569, the Habsburgs became the owners of this place. There is a legend that Emperor Matthias, hunting in 1612, witnessed "beautiful springs" (Schöne Brunnen), it was thanks to this moment that the palace acquired its current name. By order of the emperor, at the same time, a well was installed here and a hunting lodge was rebuilt.

Emperor Ferdinand II and his wife Eleanor Gonzaga, big fans of hunting, Schönbrunn was chosen as a place for hunting trips of the court. When Ferdinand died in 1637, his widow took over the castle, giving it the name Schönbrunn.

In 1683, the building was partially destroyed during the siege of the city by the Turks. Emperor Leopold I decided to restore the palace, and in 1696 Fischer von Erlach undertook the construction of the palace complex, taking the Palace of Versailles as a model. The main part of the work was completed by 1713, but the construction was never completed. After 15 years, Charles VI bought the castle and gave it to his daughter Maria Theresa, who later became Empress. Her reign was a key one in the history of the palace, thanks to her assistance the place became the center of political and palace life. The years 1742-1743 gave rise to construction work, during which the building was once again reconstructed, after which the estate acquired its current appearance. The empress wished to build a theater in the northern wing of the castle; it was solemnly opened in 1747, and five years later her husband, Emperor Franz I, set up a zoo next to the palace, which is now considered the oldest in the world. In the west of the park, the emperor purchased a plot of land, and many greenhouses, greenhouses and greenhouses were placed here, planted with regularly replenished exotic plants.

After Maria Theresa died, the estate was used exclusively as the summer residence of the emperors. In the 19th century, the place was twice occupied by Napoleon, and in 1830, in the same place, in the eastern wing of the palace, Franz Joseph was born. Two years before his birth, the greenhouse part of the park was replenished with the Palm House - an unusual brick building with glazing. At the end of the 19th century, it was replaced by three pavilions, for the construction of which glass and metal were used: all the main temperature zones were taken into account.

After the ascension to the throne of Franz Joseph in 1848, a new remarkable era began in the history of the palace. The emperor made the place his main residence and spent most of his life in the castle.

After the fall of the monarchy, the castle and park were made available to the public in 1918. In 1945, the palace was partially damaged by bombing, after the war the castle began to act as a headquarters for the British command. Since 1992, the area (excluding the palace gardens) has been managed by Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und BetriebsGmbH.

Poster 2019

You can learn about the upcoming events of the palace and purchase tickets on the official website of Schönbrunn Castle.

Buy a concert ticket

The purchase is available online, it is also possible to purchase through the box office.

Guided tours at Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Zoo

The zoo was founded in 1752 on the territory of the Schönbrunn palace and park complex. The territory of the current zoo was occupied by a menagerie back in 1570, but it turned into a full-fledged zoo only in the middle of the 18th century thanks to Emperor Franz I. A breakfast pavilion was built in the center, around it there were 13 enclosures for animals, resembling 13 slices of a cut pie.

In 1779, the place was opened to the general public, admission was free. Already in 1828, the zoo was replenished with a giraffe brought by the emperor from an expedition, and in the summer of 1906 the first elephant in captivity was born in the zoo.

During the First World War, the zoo had 3,500 animals, but problems with the amount of food reduced their number to 900. The Second Came World War reduced the number of inhabitants of the place to 400, most of the zoo buildings were also destroyed.

The zoo suffered a financial crisis in the 1980s and was privatized in the early 1990s. In honor of the 250th anniversary, a special 5 euro silver coin was issued in 2002, which depicted animals against the backdrop of the central pavilion.

Today, the place is one of the few zoos where giant pandas live. Thanks to the local aquarium, guests can explore the bottom of the Amazon River, the polarium introduces animals living in the Arctic, and a terrarium is also presented to the attention of tourists. Excursions are regular at the zoo, it is possible to rent a place for a short time. A veterinary clinic operates on the territory of the zoo, the menagerie conducts its publishing activities.

Schönbrunn Palace Park

The magnificent park has become an excellent addition to the majestic building of the palace, its architectural elements and baroque gardens fit perfectly into the overall atmosphere. It will take more than one day to see all the attractions of the park: its dimensions are 1 km from north to south and 1.2 km from east to west. There are special sightseeing trains for those tourists who do not have big amount time, thanks to them in an hour you can see the most interesting places in the park.

The most curious sights of the park include the fountain of Neptune, from the center of the group complex of which a statue of a god rises, holding a trident in his hands, his figure is placed in a chariot in the form of a huge shell. On his right hand was placed the sea nymph Thetis, kneeling and asking for approval for the participation of the son of Achilles in the battle of Troy.

Gloriette is a columned building, which was created using the style of early classicism. Its central section is in the form of a triumphal arch, at the top of which sits an imperial eagle, and two wings extend from it.

Another iconic attraction of the park is the Roman ruins, consisting of a rectangular pool surrounded by an imposing semi-circular arch with side walls, and a large number of statues of Roman gods. The Labyrinth, the Obelisk fountain next to the Maindlig Gate, the Japanese garden with flowering trees and herbs, and the dovecote are also interesting.

Events in Schönbrunn

On the territory of Schönbrunn Castle is the Palm Orangery, which has become the largest Baroque greenhouse after the Palace of Versailles. The place was rebuilt in 1755 and from that time began to act as a popular platform for holiday events the imperial family of the Habsburgs. A huge number of famous musicians and composers were noted within the walls of the greenhouse, one of the speakers here was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself.

Today, in the greenhouse, park guests can participate in the regular Midsummer Night Concert and Schönbrunn Evening, during the latter they will take part in a special three-course dinner in a luxurious restaurant and enjoy a classical concert. The local theater is also available for visiting; the program of performances in the palace changes daily.

In winter, the place invites you to plunge into the atmosphere of the impending holidays, attend New Year's concerts, which have become a wonderful Viennese tradition, and become part of the Christmas market opposite the castle. The tents set up on the grounds offer products from Austria and other countries; here you can become the owner of wooden Christmas decorations and Christmas decorations made of glass, gourmets are presented with an abundance of food and desserts, including raclette cheese with ham and roasted chestnuts. During New Year's fairs jazz concerts are held, the zoo and fountains are closed to the public at this time.

Also, at any time of the year, you can take part in the famous Strudel Show, which takes place every hour in the observation hall of the bakery cafe "Residenz". Here guests learn how to bake strudel according to traditional canons, treat themselves to pastries left over from the last performance, and purchase memorable souvenirs.

Carriage Museum

To the right of the palace is the Wagenburg Museum of Imperial Carriages, where you can admire the winter sleighs of the imperial family, wedding carriages, special hunters' carriages and children's carriages, in which the little princes and princesses moved around the park. The space of the first floor offers visitors a carriage painted by Rubens himself and harnessed with dummies of horses, a separate room on the second floor presents portraits of 25 favorite horses of Elisabeth of Bavaria, and at the end of the exposition you can see the gloomy, but at the same time beautiful and majestic funeral carriage that delivered the body of Elisabeth to Austria.

Schönbrunn Palace premises

The residence of the Habsburgs has 1441 rooms. When visiting the Schönbrunn Palace, tourists have access to several halls and 40 rooms, 190 rooms are not part of the museum and are rented from private individuals.

The tour of the castle starts from the west wing. Guests pass the Blue Stairs and get acquainted with the apartments where Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth lived, then a cursory inspection of the official premises follows, and after them the tourists find themselves in the rooms of other representatives of the royal dynasty.

The most impressive effect is possessed by the Hall of Mirrors, intended for ceremonial receptions. Burgundy carpets and curtains are placed on the parquet and windows, and huge wall mirrors create a feeling of endless space. You can also admire the intricately crafted bronze clocks and precious blue and white Chinese vases.

Grand gallery is a luxurious front hall of impressive size. The rococo style was used for its decoration, and frescoes created by the Italian Gregorio Guglielmi flaunt on the white and gilded walls. The vaults of the gallery are decorated with rich paintings, the hall is full of mirrors and crystal lamps.

Next comes the Small Gallery, striking with its golden stucco decorations. The room is filled with light, there are frescoes on the ceiling. The ceremonial hall attracts attention with five huge canvases, which were created by order of Maria Theresa. The paintings tell about the solemn marriage of Prince Joseph and Isabella of Parma, showing the audience in detail the clothes and interior of the event.

Big hall Roses greets guests with a ceremonial portrait of Maria Theresa. Here you can linger for a long time, looking at the walls of the hall, on which landscape paintings depict views of Switzerland and Italy. In Napoleon's room, the situation is somewhat sad: the last person living here was the Duke of Reichstadt, who died very young. In the hall there is a cage where the duke's favorite lark once lived.

No less interesting for inspection are the Roesselzimmer room, which shows a painting depicting a hunt, a millionth room with rosewood paneling, a round cabinet for playing cards by the imperial family, a tapestry room and the Maria Theresa Bedroom.

At the end of the tour, guests find themselves in the Yellow and Red Salons and the Salon of Empress Elizabeth, decorated in the Rococo style. Created in 1854, the hall played the role of a reception room; here you can see the ceremonial portraits of the Empress and pastels depicting her children. Franz Joseph's office is more modest in terms of decoration. The room contains the emperor's desk, which was directly involved in solving the most important state affairs.

How to get to Schönbrunn in Vienna

You can get to Schönbrunn Palace by metro U4, for this you need to get off at Schönbrunn station.

Getting to the castle on your own or rented transport from the center is not difficult. You can leave your car in a large parking lot located opposite the entrance to the Schönbrunn Palace, it is also allowed to park cars along the Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse.

Bus number 10A and trams number 10 and number 58 go to the place, the stop is called Schönbrunn.

Those who prefer comfortable transportation should choose a local taxi or use the Uber app.

The next place of interest to tourists is the labyrinth, or rather two labyrinths. One of them has high walls, the other is lower. The first labyrinth with high walls is not very interesting, you just need to go through it, don't get lost.

The second one, which you see in the photo above, is much more fun, it has branches and mirrors in the center. It is especially fun for tourists with cameras near the mirrors, you can get a photo with several images of a person in one frame.

These two labyrinths also differ in names. They are called in German “irrgarten” and “labyrinth”, and in English “maze” and “labyrinth”.

At first glance, it is completely incomprehensible why these two labyrinths have different names? In Russian, they are both called labyrinths, we have differences.

There is a difference between English and German. Labyrinth has no branches, you can't get lost in it, an example is in the photo on the right.

Maze (aka irrgarten) has branches and you can easily get lost in it, which is why it has low walls in Schönbrunn Palace.

At the end of the path, at the top of the hill, is Gloriette. This is a large triumphal arch built by Empress Maria Theresa to the glory of the Habsburg dynasty. Now from here you can admire the view of Vienna and sit in a cafe.

Tourists climb to the roof of the building, there is an observation deck, in addition, the majestic statues at the top can be viewed closer.

AND last place in the park, which we would like to talk about in more detail, is called the “fountain-obelisk”.

It was built in 1777, and it is this architectural composition that can be called unique, we have not seen anything like it anywhere.

Such obelisks were erected in ancient egypt, the obelisks of Pharaoh Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut are especially famous. Pharaohs recorded their exploits and great deeds on them.

The emperors of Austria-Hungary decided to do something similar. The history of the Imperial House of Habsburg is written on this column.

They could not write this in the ancient Egyptian language, since the hieroglyphic language of the ancient Egyptians had not yet been deciphered, the Rosetta stone (it was he who gave the key to reading the ancient symbols) was found only in 1822.

A synthetic language of symbols and signs was used, rather reminiscent of the language of pictures. There is no point in trying to read this without knowing the true history of the Habsburg dynasty, nothing is clear.

The statues in the fountain below are made in the Greek antique style, the obelisk itself is in the Egyptian style, so the composition looks a little strange, but for most tourists this does not matter seriously.

This is where we will finish the story about the Schönbrunn Palace, during our visit we did not manage to get into either the zoo or the stables. We hope that in the future we will return here and prepare another review.

And in conclusion, let's say that live squirrels are found in the park. They are not afraid of people, although they do not allow themselves to be touched.

Enjoy your walks through the palaces of Vienna, and read our articles about Austria ( links below).

Every self-respecting tourist or traveler must visit this magnificent building with its gardens and zoo. Since I am just such a tourist, I got ready to go, and my funny friends joined me. When we arrived and saw the palace from afar, we exclaimed in unison: “Oh God, how huge!” And to be surprised, believe me, there was something.

It will take more than one day to go through all 40 rooms, explore the park and also go to the cute animals in the zoo corner. So we decided to visit the palace and the park on one day, and the zoo the next. I advise you to prepare mentally before visiting (do not see other sights in front of Schönbrunn, anyway, previous impressions will be erased from memory) and physically (of course, you will have to walk and stand a lot).

Story

Now you say: "What a bore to read this story." But how else? You can’t just come to the palace, look at the interiors and leave without understanding the main events that took place there. The history of the summer residence of the Habsburg emperors is very interesting and eventful. Here are the main ones:

in the 14th century, on the site of the palace, there was the Katterburg estate with a garden plot owned by the monastery,
1548 - the mayor of Vienna (Hermann Bayer) registered the property of the monastery in local real estate,
1569 - with the help of Emperor Maximilian II, the estate (as well as a stable, a garden, a mill) joined the possessions of the Habsburgs,
1576 - the estate passes into the possession of Rudolf II, who was not particularly interested in improving it,
1612 - Emperor Matthew discovered the source "Schöne Brunnen!" (“beautiful springs”) and installed a well and a hunting lodge in this place,
1637 - the widow of Emperor Ferdinand II, Eleanor, moved to the palace,
1642 - renamed Schönburnn,
1683 - the destruction of the palace, after the Turkish siege,
1696-1713 - construction of the palace from scratch (based on the Palace of Versailles),
1728 - Emperor Charles VI gives Schönbrunn to his daughter - Maria Theresa,
1742 -1743 - resumption of construction and reconstruction of the entire palace,
1805, 1809 - use of the complex as the headquarters of Napoleon,
1882 - completion of the construction of the Palm House,
since 1848 - the transformation of the palace during the reign of Franz Joseph, since the castle became the main residence of the emperor,
1945 - damage to the palace as a result of bombing during World War II,
since 1992 - restoration of the castle,
1996 - inclusion of the palace in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO.

Schönbrunn Palace

The chic palace was built in the Baroque style. And this means “no” to simplicity and routine, “yes” to pomp and luxury. Already at the entrance to the territory imperial palace you know that everything is tastefully done.

History lovers are already aware that the castle has more than one thousand rooms (namely 1441). Fortunately (or unfortunately), you can only see 40.

How to get to the palace and park

Address: Schönbrunner Schlossstraße 47-49.

Schönburnn Palace and Park are located at the same address, in the thirteenth district of Vienna, Hietzing. You can get there in different ways:

By metro - green line U4 to Schönbrunn station.
By bus number 10A to the Schloss Schönbrunn stop.
On trams 10 and 58, stop Schloss Schönbrunn.

See the cost of the trip at the end of the story (after the zoo).

Palace premises

Finally, we got to the most interesting - the inner chambers and rooms. As soon as I began to climb the stairs (pictured below) leading to the beginning of the tour, to the apartments of Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth (Sisi), there was a feeling that my dress code (sneakers and jeans) did not fit the place. Although, maybe this is not important, but I still advise you to choose a long dress, you will feel more confident.

Above is a diagram of the layout of the halls. Each of them has its own story...

Guards room

In this room, the guards stood guard, protecting the entrance to the emperor's private domain.

The room is bright and spacious. It must have been a pleasure to work here.

billiard room

Is the hallway of Franz Joseph. Several times a week he hosted members of his government and other high-ranking officials.

And so that they would not get bored while waiting for their turn to receive him, the emperor installed a large table for playing billiards. That's what it means to take care of subordinates!

Room with walnut wood trim

Here Franz Joseph just received all the officials.

More elegant than this, I have never seen a workplace! The gilded decorations throughout the room, the wooden details and the emperor's table are simply chic.

Franz Joseph's office

After the previous rooms, the office looks rustic.

Portraits of him and his wife Elizabeth hang on the walls.

In this office every morning at five o'clock in the morning the emperor began his work.

Bedroom

It is also characterized by modesty and simplicity. Even the bed on which he died is made of simple wood.

The emperor got up at 4 in the morning, washed his face with cold water and prayed. And here you can also see a portrait of Prince Rudolf and a portrait of the emperor himself before his death. An English-style toilet was installed at the exit of the room at the end of the 19th century.

Study room with terrace

This room belonged to the Empress Elisabeth.

The walls attract attention: they are covered with silk.

Room with wooden stairs

Here Elizabeth wrote letters, diaries. The walls are upholstered with silk wallpaper.

The uniqueness of this room is that from it you can go straight to the garden via a spiral staircase.

dressing room

It is immediately clear that this is a women's room. Here you will see pieces of furniture and its details: a table, a clothes hanger, a washbasin, a mirror, paintings and a figurine of Franz Joseph's husband.

In this room, Elizabeth spent a lot of time. As you know, the Empress had luxurious hair and they required special and long-term care.

Bedroom of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth

The walls of the dormitory are upholstered in blue and white silk. This room was used only in the first years of the marriage.

Due to the fact that Elizabeth loved to travel a lot, the emperor became more lonely, but continued to love the beautiful Sisi until her tragic death.

Salon of Empress Elisabeth

The bright room is decorated in neo-rococo style.

An interesting feature is the clock in front of the mirror, they stand with their backs, that is, you can see what time it is just by looking in the mirror.

Marie Antoinette's room

This is one beautiful space that has been converted into a dining room. On the tables are crystal glasses, Viennese porcelain. In the center of the room on the wall is a painting of Franz Joseph at the age of 20.

The room is named after Marie Antoinette because there was once a tapestry of her and her children. Today it is privately owned by the Habsburg family.

Children's

Although the room is called a nursery, it was not one. Rooms for children were on the first or upper floors of the palace.

And here, in the right half, you can see the portrait of Maria Theresa. She was the daughter of Emperor Charles VI and was born in 1717. At the age of 19, she married Francis Stephen of Lorraine and bore him 16 children: 11 daughters and 5 sons. The room is decorated with several portraits of her girls.

On the left you will see the bathroom, which was installed in 1917 for the last Empress of Austria, Zita Bourbon of Parma.

Breakfast room

The room is located in the southwestern side of the palace. Previously, as you might guess, it served as a breakfast room under Empress Maria of Bavaria.

The room is decorated with interior details in the Rococo style.

yellow room

Another luxurious room! Guess what color prevails in the interior? Yes, yes, yellow!

The armchairs are upholstered in golden silk fabric, the walls are also trimmed with golden decorations. Rococo.

Room with balcony

The paintings in this room show the children of Maria Theresa, including Maria Elisabeth, who was considered the most beautiful of the daughters. But after she fell ill with smallpox, her face was disfigured by scars, and she never managed to find a husband. The only way out was to go to a monastery, which she did.

mirror hall

In my opinion the most impressive hall in the palace. Thanks to the large number of mirrors, the room looks very voluminous. The combination of gold and burgundy color gives the room the chic that was so loved in those days. This is what it means to be a well-hired interior designer!

Chinese vases and bronze clocks, which are very skillfully made, also attract attention. Unexpectedly, there is also an altar with the image of the Virgin Mary. By the way, this hall was popular for various events - the famous Austrian composer W. Mozart performed here, many ministers took the oath, arranged receptions.

Rose rooms

The following rooms are no worse than the previous one. They were named after the artist (Josef Roza) who designed these halls. Huge paintings of Italian and Swiss landscapes hang on the walls. The canvas with Swiss nature also depicts the castle, which is the hereditary residence of the dynasty.

Between these paintings is a large portrait of Franz I, which was placed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum for a long time.

hall with lanterns

Before the installation of electricity in the palace, this room housed the so-called lantern-bearers, whose duties included lighting the passage of the royal family or its members after dark.

Grand gallery

Meetings and celebrations were held in this hall.

It looks pompous, as it should be in such a room.

Small gallery

This hall is more modest than the previous one, but it is not inferior in importance. Concerts were organized here, lunch breaks were arranged.

The room is decorated with two gilded chandeliers.

Chinese cabinets

On both sides of the Small Gallery there are two Chinese cabinets - oval on the left and round on the right. The fashion for art from China and Japan had a huge impact on the decoration and furnishing of royal residences in the 18th century. The rooms are distinguished by their parquet with intricate patterns and luxurious chandeliers.

Two rooms were used by Maria Theresa for conferences with her ministers, for holding secret state conferences with her chancellor, and also for playing cards.

carousel room

Do you think you will see a carousel and a cotton candy stand here? Very in vain :).

In this room, the canvases on the walls show a line of ladies' carts and women in the saddle, including Maria Theresa. The reason for the celebration was the retreat of the French and Bavarian troops from Bohemia (Czech Republic). Also, this hall was a waiting place for an audience with Maria Theresa and her husband.

ceremonial hall

The name speaks for itself.

Paintings depicting various ceremonies and grandiose battles hang on the walls.

Roesselzimmer room

This room served as a dining room. On the walls are paintings of riding horses from the imperial stables.

The combination of colors - white, gold and red attracts attention.

blue chinese saloon

This room was the first in Franz Joseph's private apartments.

The walls are decorated with Chinese tapestries.

Vieux Laque room

A dark room, on the walls black lacquer panels from Beijing are framed in gilded frames.

Previously, this room was the office of Franz Stefan, but after his unexpected death, his wife Maria Theresa converted this workroom into a memorial one.

Napoleon's room

When Napoleon occupied Vienna in 1805 and 1809, he chose Schönbrunn as his headquarters. And during this time the room was used as his bedroom.

Later, in 1832, the only legitimate son of Napoleon died here of tuberculosis at the age of 21.

porcelain room

Another fine room presents the visitor with mounted wood panels and a carved blue and white painted frame that was intended to imitate porcelain, a material that was used in great demand in the 18th century. As many as 213 patterns are embedded in these wood panels. Looks just amazing!

Million Room (or Feketin Cabinet)

I didn’t really like this room because of the combination of blue and brown colors in the interior.

Cartouches with various Indo-Persian miniatures are inserted into the wooden panels of the room.

tapestry salon

The walls of this room are hung with tapestries from the 18th century. The harbor in Antwerp is depicted in the center of the hall. Six armchairs are also upholstered with tapestries depicting the twelve months and the signs of the zodiac.

Duchess Sophie's office

The room of the mother of Franz Joseph, who really wanted to see her son on the throne. And this, as you already know, happened. In general, the library was originally located here.

red saloon

The room features portraits of several Habsburg emperors, including Leopold II, who briefly succeeded his brother Joseph II as emperor.

The room is normal and didn't impress me much.

East office with terrace

Also known since 1775 as the Cabinet of Flowers. From here you could go out to the terrace. I think it's a very nice place.

Franz Joseph's birth room

Emperor Franz Joseph was born in this room in 1830. The room served as the bedroom of his parents: Franz Karl and Sophie. Today, the only surviving lodge of the Viennese court is located here.

Until 1947, the bed was located in the former bedroom of Maria Theresa in the Hofburg, since 1980, visitors to Schönbrunn can see the bed in a restored state.

Working room and salon of Franz Karl

This room, together with the adjoining salon, was at the disposal of Archduke Franz Karl, father of Emperor Franz Joseph.

After the death of the Archduke in 1878, the rooms were renovated, their interiors and furniture have remained the same to this day.

hunting hall

The last viewing room in the palace.

The fact that a long time ago Schönbrunn was used as a hunting lodge is reminiscent of the paintings on the walls. The perfect end to a tour of the palace.

***

As you can see, I did not describe in detail all the rooms, I want you to remain intrigued and make a "march" to the palace :).

Palace opening hours

The palace is open daily, including public holidays:

April 1 - June 30 08:30–17:30,
July 1 - August 31 08:30–18:30,
September 1 - October 31 08:30–17:30,
November 1 - March 31 08:30–17:00,

Tickets are sold from 08:15.

Ticket price

Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the box office or

Imperial tour Imperial Tour- visiting 22 rooms in 30-40 minutes (the ticket includes an audio guide, a guide is not provided):

adult - 13.30 euros,
children - 9, 80 euros.

Big tour Grand Tour- access to 40 rooms in 50 minutes (audio guide included in the ticket):

adult - 16.40 euros (19.40 euros with a guide),
children -10, 80 euros (12, 30 euros with a guide)

Classic Pass- Includes visit to the Grand Tour Palace with audio guide, labyrinth, Glorietta terrace, conservatory, Crown Prince Garden:

adult - 21, 60 euros,
children - 13, 40 euros.

Peculiarities Classic Pass:

Save up to 25% compared to the price of individual tickets.
Valid only on the date of purchase.
The duration of the tour is approximately 3 hours.
The guide is not provided.

Gold Pass- Includes visit to the Grand Tour Palace with audio guide, labyrinth, Glorietta Terrace, Privy Garden, Conservatory, Zoo, Palm House, Desert House, Carriage Museum, Schloss Hof):

adult - 55, 50 euros,
children - 30, 50 euros.

Gold Pass Benefits:

Valid for one year from the date of purchase.
Entitles you to one visit to all listed attractions.
Dedicated lanes for fast passage to the tour of the palace.
Save up to 20% compared to the price individual tour.
The guide is not provided.

Schönbrunn Park

After visiting the palace, it's time for a walk in the park. It will be long, but interesting, especially in summer, when the territory is full of flowers. Like the palace itself, in accordance with the principles of the Baroque style, the park looks chic.

Below is a map of the park.

It has been open to everyone since 1779. And since then (not surprisingly) has become the most popular holiday destination. And now I will tell you in more detail about the main attractions of the park.

Fountain of Neptune

The most important of the fountains in the complex. It is located behind the palace, at the foot of the hill.

Construction began in 1776 and was completed only in 1780. And it was not in vain that it took so long to build: the fountain really turned out to be powerful. Power radiates from him.

In the center of the composition, the sculptor placed the very god of the sea, Neptune, with a trident in his hand. Behind him is a shell-shaped chariot. On the left is a nymph, and on the right is his companion, the goddess Thetis, on her knees, imploring Neptune to help her son Achilles sail for the conquest of Troy.

At the foot of the grotto are tritons (half-human, half-fish) that help keep the sea horses at bay.

Neptune Fountain opening hours

Roman ruins

The ruins, built in 1778, are located at the foot of the hill. In general, the fashion for such structures arose in England in the middle of the 18th century, but only decades later it began to spread in Europe. The structure consists of a rectangular pool in which statues of the gods of the rivers are located. There is even a small fountain. In the center stands a bulky arch, decorated on the sides with a bas-relief.

Despite the fact that this composition is called "Ruins", which somehow hints at destruction, it looks incomparable. With taste, like everything else.

Fountain operation mode

From mid-October to mid-April, daily from 08:00 to 21:00.

Glorietta

At the top of the hill, the majestic Glorietta flaunts - a pavilion with a colonnade. This building was built in 1775, it consists of a glazed triumphal arch in the central part and two wings with columns on the sides. From above, an eagle flaunts on the globe, surrounded by trophies.

Inside, the Glorietta is richly decorated, and every detail is in its place. No simplicity, but no frills either. Previously, the pavilion housed a dining room, now there is a cafe. In my opinion, a good idea to make a dining area overlooking a beautiful park. You can also climb onto the roof and enjoy the panoramic view.

Terrace opening hours

Fortunately, the terrace is open not only in summer and spring, but also before the onset of cold weather:

March 15 - June 30 09:00-18:00,
July 1 - August 31 09:00-19:00,
September 1-30 09:00-18:00,
October 1-24 09:00-17:00,
October 25 - November 2 09:00-16:00.

Terrace entrance fee

Like anywhere else to enjoy beautiful view you have to pay for the ticket:

adult - 3, 60 euros,
children (6-18 years old) - 2, 80 euros,
student (19-25 years old) - 3.00 euros,
pensioners (from 60 years old) - 3.00 euros,
disabled people - 3.00 euros,
with a Vienna Card - 3.00 euros.

labyrinth

Do you want to get lost in green spaces or lead an enemy into a confusing place? Then go (or send him) to the maze! In fact, there is nothing terrible there, rather, on the contrary, it is beautiful and well-groomed.

A labyrinth was created from the end of the 17th century, it was favorite place for walks of imperial families. Its area is 2,700 sq. m., which allows everyone to find a place to play. Especially here it will be interesting for children. Go, you won't regret it!

Labyrinth mode of operation

Same as Glorietta. Children under 14 are only allowed to enter if accompanied by an adult (maze, after all).

Entrance ticket price

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of getting lost. Moreover, it is not so expensive to buy a ticket:

adult - 5, 20 euros,
children (6-18 years old) - 3,00 euros,
students (19-25 years old) - 4.00 euros,
pensioners (from 60 years old) - 4.00 euros,
disabled people - 4.00 euros,
with a Vienna Card - 4.00 euros.

Fountain Obelisk

This is another beautiful composition that we could not just pass by. The fountain was built in 1777 and rises from the Schönbrunn hill. The composition is quite original: at the base there is a pool, behind it is a retaining wall decorated with a balustrade with vases, and the grotto is replete with sculptures of river gods. In the center is a mask from which water flows into the pool.

Well, this is all decorated with a magnificent obelisk, located on four turtles, which are a symbol of stability.

The backs of turtles are covered with hieroglyphs that could not be deciphered for a long time.

Opening hours of the fountain Obelisk

From mid-October to mid-April, daily from 10:00 to 16:00.

fountain angels

This is a cute composition of two angels and an overturned jug between them. The sculpture has been restored several times.

At the same time, the original pool, which was located near the fountain, is now located in the lobby of the palace, and instead of it there is a bowl resembling a seashell.

Dovecote

At first we passed by this building without even paying attention. We thought: "Some old cage, nothing remarkable." In fact, it turned out to be a dovecote!

It was built in the 18th century, the exact year, unfortunately, is not known.

Carriage Museum

We didn't all go to this place. Some of the intellectual friends decided to visit the museum, while the rest of the hungry guys went in search of food (see below). In general, the museum is not bad. Lots of luxurious carriages with various decorations. One stands out in particular, built for the coronation of Emperor Joseph II.

It weighs over 4 tons and has the speed of a pedestrian. Sometimes appearance is more important than physical characteristics.

Opening hours of the carriage museum

The museum is open daily:

March 16 - November 27, 2016 from 09:00 to 17:00,
November 28, 2016 - March 14, 2017 from 10:00 to 16:00.

Entrance ticket price

Here are the ticket prices:

adult - 8 euros,
children and teenagers up to 19 years old - free of charge,
with a Vienna Card - 7 euros.

I advise you to take a walk slowly and enjoy the surrounding beauty.

Schönbrunn park opening hours

Open daily from 06:30, but the park gates are closed:

February 22 - March 26 at 19:00,
March 27 - May 8 at 20:00,
May 9 - July 31 at 21:00,
August 1 - September 18 at 20:00,
September 19 - October 29 at 19:00,
October 30 - February 19 at 17:30.

The schedule of all objects is seasonal, may change, so it is better to clarify it. And ticket prices

Something else

The next few paragraphs will be of interest to culinary experts, women, men, children, the elderly and all those who have not yet lost their way in a palace or park and want "bread and circuses."

Strudel cooking show

What associations does the word "strudel" evoke in you? I have these: apples, pie, yummy! Many people love this dessert. So in the cafe "Residence" in a specially equipped basement is the Strudel show. This 20-minute cooking show will teach anyone how to make a wonderful dessert. The cafe hall looks European cute. It is small but cozy.

So, for 10 euros you will get an already prepared piece of strudel, hot chocolate or coffee and, of course, a master class. While you enjoy dessert, you will be shown and told how this Viennese yummy is actually made. At the end of the show, you will be offered to buy stuffing for making strudel and various souvenirs. We didn’t buy anything, but we left satisfied, well-fed and culinary-savvy :).

By the way, in addition to the show, there are seminars on baking strudel here. Duration about 1 hour. At the end of the whole action, a real diploma is issued!

Presentation time of the Strudel show

Every hour from January to December from 11:00 to 16:00.

For weary travelers

A diesel train runs throughout the palace complex, which makes nine stops at the main attractions:

Schönbrunn Castle,
Wagenburg Carriage Museum,
gate Hitzinger Tor,
zoo,
tyrolean garden,
arch Gloriette,
hohenbergstrasse/ ,
Fountain "Obelisk" / Schönbrunn Pool,
Meidlinger Tor gate.

Travel time by panoramic road is 50 minutes. Two trains run from 10:00 to 18:00.

Day ticket price

In my opinion, the price of a ticket is a little expensive:

adults - 7 euros,
children under 14 - 4 euros,
disabled people - 4 euros.

Zoo Schönbrunn

The next day we devoted to visiting the oldest zoo in the world! For me so perfect place spending the weekend. It will be interesting for both adults and children! I recommend taking a zoo map at the entrance so as not to get lost and find the necessary animal.

A bit of history

Don't want to load history this time. Here are the main dates:

1570 - creation of a menagerie on the site of the current zoo,
1752 - opening of the zoo,
1779 - free entrance zoo for everyone.

Every year there were more and more animals. Unfortunately, their numbers dwindled during the First and Second World Wars. Currently, the zoo "live" 700 species of animals.

The cost of visiting the zoo

The zoo is worth the price. How much will the ticket cost?

adult - 18.50 euros,
children and teenagers (from 6 to 19 years old upon presentation of an identity card) - 9 euros,
disabled people - 9 euros,
children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Combi Ticket (Zoo, Desert House, Palm House):

adult - 24.50 euros,
children and teenagers - 13.50 euros,
disabled people - 13.50 euros,
children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Schönbrunn Zoo opening hours

The zoo is open all year round:

January 09:00-16:30,
February 09:00-17:00,
March 09:00 -17:30,
April - September 09:00-18:30,
October 09:00-17:30,
November - December 09:00 -16:30.

How to get to the zoo

Address: Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Wien.

You can get to:

Metro U4 - Hietzing station.
Tram number 10, 58 to the Schloss Schönbrunn stop.
Bus number 10A to the Schloss Schönbrunn stop.

locals

The zoo is home to 8500 animals, it's just huge! Almost all animals are collected here, including polar bears and even pandas!

See animal feeding schedule

Pavilions with aquarium and terrariums

The ticket price also includes admission to these pavilions. I liked the aquarium with different types of fish the most. Some of them are very funny.

Working mode

Coincides with the opening hours of the zoo.

Tyrolean house

On the territory of the zoo, there is a typical Austrian village house. Sheep, rabbits, chickens live here.

On the ground floor you can taste and buy local products (cheese, milk). The rest of the rooms present expositions that tell about the life of the villagers.

In the yard next to the house there is a small restaurant where you can have an inexpensive and tasty meal. For example, meat soups cost from 4 euros, hot dishes from 8 euros, desserts from 4 euros. For younger visitors there is a special children's menu. All menus can be viewed (only on German, Unfortunately).

Tyrolean House opening hours

Like the zoo.

palm house

An interesting building, consisting of three pavilions, attracted us immediately. It looks like a big greenhouse. The Palm House was built on the site of the former Dutch garden, as I already mentioned, in 1882. It consists of a main (central) pavilion 28 meters high and two side pavilions 25 meters each. They are connected by tunnels.

Each of the pavilions has its own temperature zone - "cold" in the north, "temperate zone" in the central and "tropical climate" in the south. In the latter, it was really like in the tropics: high humidity, it was already difficult to be inside. The required temperature is maintained by steam heating, which makes it possible to grow rare plants here.

Opening hours of the Palm Park

The Palm Park is open all year round:

May - September daily from 09:30 to 18:00,
October - April daily from 09:30 to 17:00.

Entrance ticket price

Below is the price for one ticket:

adult - 5 euros,
children and teenagers - 4 euros,
children under 6 years old - free of charge.

desert house

Another interesting place to visit. It has an impressive collection of plants (mainly from South Africa and Australia). In addition, cute little rodents, insects, turtles, birds and others live in the desert house.

By the way, earlier the building was called the Sundial House.

Desert House opening hours

Desert House is open to the public all year round:

January - April 09:00-17:00,
May - September 09:00 -18:00,
October - December 09:00-17:00.

Entrance ticket price

Ticket prices are shown below:

adult - 6 euros,
children and teenagers - 4.50 euros,
disabled people - 4.50 euros,
children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Besides

The zoo also runs a diesel train that will take you around the main sites.

You can catch it between the breakfast pavilion, the Elephant Park and the Tyrolean Courtyard.

Fare

Ticket prices:

adults - 2 euros,
children - 1 euro.

Public transport fare

I really like to use public transport in Europe. Here you can buy one ticket and ride the metro, bus, tram for a certain time. For example:

one-way ticket - 2.20 euros,
ticket for 24 hours - 7.60 euros,
ticket for 48 hours - 13.30 euros,
ticket for 72 hours - 16.50 euros,
ticket for a week (from Monday to Monday) - 16.20 euros,
ticket for a month - 48, 20 euros.

Taxi

As in many European countries, it is expensive to travel by taxi in Vienna. Estimated fare from the city center to Schönbrunn is about 20 euros. Do not forget that you have to pay extra for landing and waiting. It is better to order a taxi by phone or at the hotel. “Catching” a car is not accepted here.

For tourists

If you come to Vienna to visit many cultural and entertainment venues, then I advise you to purchase one of the cards listed below.

Vienna Card

It is more profitable for a tourist to purchase a Vienna Card ticket, which gives its owner a discount of more than 210 tourist places(theatres, exhibitions, museums):

for 48 hours - 21.90 euros,
for 72 hours - 24.90 euros.

EASY CityPass Vienna

In addition to the “Vienna Card”, there is also the “EASY CityPass Vienna”, which also makes it possible to save a lot on visiting many interesting places including nightclubs and restaurants. Information about discounts can be found And the price is as follows:

for 24 hours - 14.90 euros,
for 48 hours - 17.90 euros,
for 72 hours - 20, 90 euros,
for a week - 26, 90 euros.

QUEER City Pass Vienna

Vienna has its own "QUEER City Pass Vienna" card for certain groups of people (LGBT). By the way, its cost is almost the same as the previous card:

for 24 hours - 14.90 euros,
for 48 hours - 18.90 euros,
for 72 hours - 21.90 euros,
for a week - 26, 90 euros.

Outcome

A visit to the palace, park and zoo is a must for everyone! Otherwise, the trip to Vienna will not be exciting, informative and boring!

Have something to add?

The first written evidence concerning the region located southwest of Vienna dates back to the beginning of the 14th century. In fact, the history of Schonbrunn, inextricably linked with the fate of the ruling dynasty, begins only two centuries later.

The beautiful Schönbrunn palace and park complex, which was once the summer residence of the Habsburg imperial dynasty, is an important asset and cultural value not only in Austria. In 1996, this site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

History of Schönbrunn Palace

In 1569, Emperor Maximilian II took possession of a vast polder, in the central part of which was the Kattenburg estate, which previously belonged to the burgomaster of Vienna, Hermann Weyr.

This corner is like comfortable spot for hunting, liked the heir to the throne - Archduke Matthew. It was thanks to his discovery of a source of artesian waters that the name Schnbrunn (Beautiful Spring) was recorded in the annals, and soon this name was assigned to the estate and the entire district.

After the death of Emperor Ferdinand II in 1637, his widow Eleonora Gonzaga, in love with hunting, settled in this estate for five years and began to expand it. The work was interrupted by the Turkish invasions, in particular, the siege of Vienna in 1683.

The partially destroyed estate was decided to be restored by another lord, Leopold I. Four years later, after repulsing the Muslim invasion, the emperor entrusted these works to the outstanding Austrian master of the Baroque period, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.

At the same time, leading sculptors of the era were invited to restore the residence, including Georg Deprunner from Loreto, Hans Georg Garesle-ben and Veit Steinbock, as well as the architect of the gardens Jean Trechet, who in 1695 laid out a park in the French style. However, due to financial difficulties, the emperor was never able to fully realize all his plans.

The revival of Schönbrunn Palace began from the first days of the reign of Maria Theresa. In 1742, the empress decided to transfer the courtyard to the territory of the summer residence for a long time, allocating significant funds for its decoration. Under the guidance of the architect Nicolò Nacassi, the building was enlarged and its walls were painted in the archduchess's favorite color, imperial gold.

The residents were provided with 1141 premises, including 130 kitchens, as well as extensive carriage houses. The decoration of the walls of many rooms and corridors was made using 14-carat gold and crystal chandeliers, which were specially brought from the Czech Republic for this purpose.

One of the rooms, in connection with the dizzying sum of a million guilders invested in its decoration with rosewood, Indian and Persian miniatures, was called the Millionth Room.

In 1747, the Castle Theater was opened, the stage of which hosted such masters as Joseph Haydn and the 60-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Five years later, members of the court were given the opportunity to visit the menagerie, which featured animal species unknown in Austria. The greenhouse, founded in the middle of the 17th century, was also rebuilt.

The last five years of the reign of Maria Theresa coincided with the work related to the restructuring of the garden. On a nearby hillock, a glorietta was erected - a pavilion with a colonnade, from where one could admire not only the palace, but also the panorama of the capital.

In 1778, stylized Roman ruins designed by Johann Getzendorf von Hohenberg appeared in the park.

At first 19th century Schönbrunn Palace twice (in 1805 and 1809) fell into the hands of the French. During the war with Austria, Napoleon I chose it as his headquarters. In the summer residence of the Habsburgs, on October 14, 1809, an agreement was signed ending the war of France with the Fifth Coalition, and an attempt to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte, which was made by an eighteen-year-old German, Friedrich Sgaps, was also prevented.

And the salons in the late Baroque style played a significant role during the meetings in 1814-1815 of the Congress of Vienna. Numerous balls were held in the Grand Gallery, as well as receptions for diplomats.

After returning to the world order that existed before the French Revolution, the palace continued its development. In 1828, its reconstruction began, which lasted more than two decades. An English-style garden appeared in the western part of the complex, as well as a new arboretum.

Since the 19th century, the palm greenhouse has also undergone transformations, and the imperial menagerie has turned into a zoo.

What to see on the territory of the Schönbrunn palace complex?

Today, 40 magnificent rooms of the palace, a park, a greenhouse, a labyrinth, Glorietta with observation deck, fountains (closed from mid-October to April) and a zoo, considered the oldest in the world. There is also a carriage museum and a children's museum.

To see all the objects of the complex slowly and with pleasure, you need to allocate a whole day for this.

Before purchasing tickets, it does not hurt to familiarize yourself with the basic rules for visiting the palace and the palace park.

Forbidden:

visiting with dogs (except for assistance dogs);
visit by bicycle;
shooting from a quadrocopter;
photo and video shooting in the halls of the palace is not allowed.

Opening hours and cost of visiting

The palace and the palace park are open to visitors all year round, also on weekends and public holidays.

Working hours:

April 1 - June 30: 8.00 - 17.30
July 1 - August 31: 8.00 - 18.30
September 1 - October 31: 8.00 - 17.30
November 1 - March 31: 8.00 - 17.00

Ticket sales end 45 minutes before the complex closes.

There are several types of combined entrance tickets, tours that include several objects of the complex and tickets for visiting individual expositions (children under 6 years old are free).

For different categories of citizens (as well as Wien Card holders) there are different discounts.

You can walk around the park for free (open from 6.30 daily), without visiting the greenhouse and labyrinth, and admire the fountains.

But everything else ... in seven options, choose:

Imperial tour– is designed for 35 minutes, includes audio guides. A small budget tour with a tour of the 22 palace rooms of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth.

Ticket price: adults - € 14.20, children (6-18 years old) - € 10.50.

Grand tour- already includes a visit to 40 rooms of the imperial palace, as well as a ceremonial hall. It is designed for 50 minutes.

Ticket price: adults - € 20.50, children (6-18 years old) - € 13.

Classic Tour(Schönbrunn Classic Pass) - available during the summer season and lasts 3-4 hours. Includes the Grand Tour and four major park attractions.

Ticket price: adults - € 24.00, children (6-18 years old) - € 15.20.

The following facilities can be accessed for a fee:

Glorietta is one of the most popular attractions.

Ticket price: adults - € 3.80, children (6-18 years old) - € 3.

labyrinth- tickets must be purchased separately. The highlight of the park. Occupies an area of 1715 m2. Children under 14 are admitted only when accompanied by an adult.

Ticket price: adults - € 5.50, children (6-18 years old) - € 3.20.

Crown Prince's Garden- located in front of the eastern facade of the park.

Greenhouse- built around 1754 by Nicholas Pacassi. It is 189 meters long and 10 meters wide.

Ticket price: adults - € 3.80, children (6-18 years old) - € 3.00.

Children's Museum– in this museum you can get acquainted with the daily life of the imperial children.

Ticket price: adults - € 8.80, children (6-18 years old) - € 6.70.

Carriage Museum- the chic and rich carriages of the imperial family make an impression.

Zoo Schönbrunn- the oldest zoo in the world, one of the most beautiful and modern, uniquely combining a historic baroque building with the latest architecture.

How to get to Schönbrunn Palace?

Address: Schloß Schönbrunn, 1130 Vienna, tel. +43 1 811 13-0,

It is clear that the first option deserves more attention. Ideally, of course, to visit both, but still the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is summer residence famous Habsburg dynasty and one of the finest palaces in Austria. It is considered an architectural monument and is protected by UNESCO.

Why visit: one of the most luxurious palaces in Europe, the legacy of the richest royal dynasty.
What's the cover charge: You can get to the territory of the palace complex and take a walk in its parks, admiring the architecture of the palaces and fountains, absolutely free of charge. A visit to the palace and other attractions of Schönbrunn is paid selectively at the box office, details of all prices are below in the article.
Opening hours in Schönbrunn: Schönbrunn Park itself is open daily from 6.30 to 21.00 in summer and until 17.30 in winter, palaces and museums are open from 8.00-9.00 to 17.00-18.00 depending on the season.
Where is: in the south-west of the capital (more on how to get there and a map later in the article).

History of Schönbrunn

The first palace here was built in the 17th century. Matthias II came to this area to hunt and saw beautiful springs. In their place, a luxurious castle grew up, which received the name Schönbrunn (beautiful springs). That palace was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1683 during the siege of Vienna. The coming to power of the Habsburg family and the appearance of Austria-Hungary on the map of Europe made their own adjustments.

The main residence of the imperial couple was the Hofubrg, a palace in the center of Vienna. But in the summer, when the heat, dust and stench from horse manure rotting in the sun descended on the city (even now the “aroma” spreads through the central streets, to say nothing about that time), the aristocrats all tried to leave for nature. Schönbrunn became such a place to escape. It was built in the likeness of the French court - the inspiration was Versailles.

The vast territory, immersed in gardens, ponds and fountains, can really compete in beauty with its French counterpart.

The palace complex was restored from the ruins by the architect Mark von Erlach. During the reign of Maria Theresa, the castle was renovated and completed, in this form it has survived to this day. In 1748, there was even a theater in the palace, where the empress herself gave performances.

One of the biggest memories of visiting Schönbrunn is the huge crowds. In another Viennese, there is silence and grace, but here is the market square. At the entrance, I even hesitated whether to go or turn around before it was too late.

But since I spent time on the road and the entrance is free, it’s strange not to go inside. I was immediately greeted by a Chinese wedding, apparently the bride's dream)

But as soon as you go behind the main palace, the completely deserted expanses of Schönbrunn Park open up to your eyes. There are a lot of people, but over such a vast territory they “dissolve” and there is absolutely no tourist influx. Even benches for rest can be found in abundance.

There are more people near the fountains, but so that you can’t just push through - there’s no such thing, you can always find a frame without extra bodies)

And there are so many hidden corners here, you turn around and there is no one, you immediately feel the palace secrets and conspiracies, which were often discussed in the gardens, so that other people's ears would not hear too much.

It is pointless to say anything about the buildings of the palaces. And from my photographs one can judge that they are luxurious, and in principle it would be surprising if the imperial family lived somehow modestly. That's why comments are redundant here. In addition to gardens, fountains and squares, greenhouses are also beautiful.

toilets on the territory of the complex are paid - 0.5 €, but many visitors hold the door so that it does not close for the next in line, and therefore you don’t have to lower a 50 cent coin, such mutual assistance - Europeans also like to save money;
if you don’t want to go around the entire vast territory on foot, then you can use the sightseeing train, which, although it costs some money - 8 € for an adult and 4 € for a child, but it passes the entire complex along the perimeter, and it will take a whole day to master it on foot;
there are fountains where you can get drinking water for free - take a bottle with you;
it is more profitable to take a general ticket (Classic Pass) for visiting the main places - it costs 26.5 € for an adult and 16.5 € for a child, or combined tickets for topics, for example, for children's places with a visit to the museum and a labyrinth - 12 € for an adult and 8 € for child, but if you buy a separate museum and a separate labyrinth, it will cost 4 € more. In general, choose what interests you and combine tickets, rather than buying a separate entrance to each museum.
there are ATMs on the territory of Schönbrunn, so you can withdraw money if necessary;
there are a lot of cafes and restaurants, but the most accessible way there will be hot dogs and sandwiches in the stalls to eat - they cost from 3.9 €;
free maps for self hiking you can get it at the information center at the main entrance - there is in Russian.

How much does it cost to enter Schönbrunn

Entrance to the park itself is absolutely free - and this is a great opportunity to see Schönbrunn with your own eyes at no cost.

To see the interior of the palace, you need to buy an entrance ticket to it. Here are the prices for official tours according to Schönbrunn(price is per adult/child/beneficiaries):

Imperial tour (visiting 22 rooms with an audio guide) - 16/11.5/14.5 €.
Big grand tour (visiting 40 rooms with an audio guide) - 20/13/18 €.
Classic tour (grand tour of the palace + secret garden + glorietta + children's labyrinth + greenhouse) - 26.5 / 16.5 / 22.5 €.
Vienna Zoo Schönbrunn - 20/10/10 €.

Children are 6-18 years old, for children under 6 years old admission is free. The privileged category is students up to 25 years old inclusive, people with disabilities, as well as holders of the Vienna card.

To learn more about the palace, there is an option to use the audio guide that is issued with the purchase of a classic ticket. If you want live communication and the opportunity to ask questions that arise during the walk, you can book an individual tour:

For an independent walk, you can use the scheme of the park.

Scheme of parks and palaces of Schönbrunn

The territory of Schönbrunn is huge, several hours fly by unnoticed there - each new turn reveals something beautiful, but then it turns out that you have not even walked around half of the territory.

Just look how small the palace itself seems.

The numbers on the Schönbrunn diagram indicate the following main places of the complex:

1. Schönbrunn Palace.
2. Secret garden.
3. Glorietta.
4. Labyrinth.
5. Greenhouse.
6. Schönbrunn Zoo.
7. House of the desert.
8. Palmhouse.
9. Museum of Imperial Carriages.
10. Children's Museum Schönbrunn.
11. Train through the park.
12. Schönbrunn concert venue.
13. Hotel Schönbrunn.
14. Strudel show.
15. Puppet theater.
16. Chocolate boutique.

The main attractions of Schönbrunn Castle

The Schönbrunn area is truly rich in entertainment, museums and beautiful gardens. I will briefly talk about its main attractions, for which tourists from all over the world come here.

Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

The former summer residence of the Austro-Hungarian rulers, and now a museum. The castle has more than 1000 residential apartments, some of which are rented to private individuals.

Tourists can visit 40 rooms. The most famous are: Grand Gallery, Hall of Mirrors, Hall for Ceremonies, Round Chinese Cabinet, Great Rose Hall, Franz Josef anteroom.

To visit the palace, you must buy a separate ticket. A full one costs 20 €, there are discounted children's and student tickets (prices are higher in the article), an audio guide is included in the price.

Schönbrunn Park, gardens and greenhouses

Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace is surrounded by a beautiful park area. French gardens of wisteria and roses are located right behind the palace.

In the middle of spring, tubs with tropical and citrus plants are placed next to fragrant flowers, which are taken out of local greenhouses. It is definitely better to visit Schönbrunn from April to October.

The entire Schönbrunn park is available absolutely free of charge at any time of the year. It is open from 6.30 am to 5-6 pm (longer in summer). Some gardens also require an entrance fee, but if you are even about plants, then open flower areas are quite enough, they are also beautiful.

Glorietta

Walking through the park, you can see the colonnade, which seems to complete the park ensemble, this is Glorietta. The central part of the colonnade is under glass, while the sides are open.

Currently, there is a cafe inside the Glorietta. Entrance to the terraces with a panoramic view of the entire palace complex is paid - 3.8 € for an adult, 3 € for a child.

Fountains

Numerous fountains give freshness and pleasant coolness to Schönbrunn. There are a great many of them, from very tiny to majestic complexes.

The park area has amazing place for connoisseurs of ancient culture - Roman ruins. Ancient exposition, which was created in 1778 by Johann Hetzendorf. It includes a pool with statues of Hercules and famous Roman gods.

In the central part of the complex, the god of the seas himself - Neptune with his marvelous nymphs.

The fountains in Schönbrunn are what impresses the most. They are amazingly beautiful and diverse, it is so nice to sit around them, admiring the jets of water.

And it's absolutely free entertainment. True, in winter the fountains are turned off.

Museums in Schönbrunn

On the right side of the palace is the Children's Museum, where small visitors can see Schönburnn in miniature. Here you can sit on the royal throne, try on the outfits of aristocrats and learn the history of the Habsburg dynasty. In my opinion, this is one of the best and most interesting children's museums in Vienna.

I included it in my list of the best ideas.

The palace houses the first zoo in history, it was opened in 1752. In the 2000s, the zoo was recognized as one of the best on the European continent.

More than 4.5 thousand exotic animals and birds live in the menagerie: pandas, fur seals, pink flamingos, representatives of the cat family, other birds and mammals.

Other children's activities in Schönbrunn

I love Vienna for the children's environment. Even a trip to the palace, which could be boring for the younger generation, turns into an exciting adventure here.

In addition to the zoo and a wonderful children's museum, the park also has a labyrinth with cool playgrounds and crooked mirrors, the Strudel Show, and a puppet theater.