Top 10 Things to Do at Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace
view from the Gloriette
Schönbrunn Palace is one of Vienna’s most prestigious monuments and has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1996. The estate dates back to the beginning of the 14th century and the palace and surrounding grounds are considered a work of art. Here are some of the best ways to pass the time during a visit to Schönbrunn Palace:
1. Dine at the Gloriette. This picturesque hilltop building serves amazing gourmet café food and is a great place to take in a view of the palace and surrounding city below.
2. Get your picture taken in front of the Neptune Fountain. This impressively large and Grecian looking fountain is a great backdrop for vacation photos.
3. Feed the squirrels. The tame pointy-eared critters scurrying around the Schönbrunn grounds are known to eat from visitors’ hands.
4. Jog or walk. The numerous fine gravel paths around the Schönbrunn Palace provide a comfortable and beautiful arena for exercise.
5. Navigate your way through the hedge maze. This is a fun adventure for the whole family best enjoyed when the hedges have full foliage. (€2.90 entry fee)
6. Enjoy the gorgeous landscaping. The ever-changing supply of fresh flowers and other pristinely-pruned flora that cover the Shönbrunn grounds is breathtaking.
7. Take the palace tour and peek into the preserved grandiose rooms of Vienna’s summer palace. A highlight is the opportunity to waltz across the floor of the palace ballroom in time with the music played on the audioguide. (€12.90 admission for the 40-room tour)
8. Take a walk through the Carriage Museum (Wagenburg). The museum features more than 100 decadent antique horse-drawn carriages and carriage accessories. (€4.50 general admission)
9. Visit the Children’s Museum. A friendly cartoon ghost guides children through what palace life was like for children at Schönbrunn, complete with imperial toys to play with and dress up opportunities. (€4.50 for children; €6.50 for adults)
10. Hire a horse-drawn carriage. Touring the palace grounds in this classic and elegant mode of transportation inspires a feeling of royalty in sync with the palace’s own ambiance. (seasonal; rates vary)
To get to Schönbrunn Palace, take the U4 metro line, 10 or 58 trams, or 10A bus to the Schönbrunn station. For more information, visit the palace website.
Palace hours: April 1-June 30 & September 1-October 31 8.30 am to 5 pm; July 1-August 31 8.30 am to 6 pm; November 1-March 31 8.30 am to 4.30 pm
Park hours: April 1-October 31 6 am until about sunset; November 1-March 31 6.30 am until about sunset
