Hotels near Schoenbrunn Palace

Schoenbrunn Palace is Vienna's most visited attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that served as the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty from the 18th century. The palace contains 1,441 rooms - the Grand Tour ticket covers 40 of them, including the Great Gallery where the Congress of Vienna held its banquets in 1815 and the Millions Room panelled with rare rosewood and Indo-Persian miniatures. Empress Maria Theresa's influence is everywhere, from the rococo interiors to the symmetrical French gardens that stretch behind the palace for nearly a kilometre.

The gardens are free to enter and worth visiting even without a palace ticket - walk up the hill to the Gloriette for a commanding view over the palace grounds and the Vienna skyline. The Grand Tour ticket costs EUR 29 (Imperial Tour covering 22 rooms is EUR 24). Timed-entry slots are mandatory and sell out days ahead in peak season, so book online at schoenbrunn.at. The palace opens daily at 09:00, with last admission at 17:00 in summer. Schoenbrunn U-Bahn station (U4 line) is a 5-minute walk from the main entrance.

Pro Tip: Book the first time slot of the day (09:00) and start your visit in the gardens before your palace entry - the Gloriette and Neptune Fountain are nearly empty at that hour. Budget at least three hours for the palace, gardens, and Gloriette combined. The maze garden (EUR 4.50) and the Tiergarten Schoenbrunn zoo (one of the world's oldest, EUR 26) are worthwhile add-ons if you have a full day.