Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn was the summer palace of the Habsburg emperors, a vast baroque residence of fourteen hundred rooms in Vienna, set in enormous formal gardens rising to the Gloriette arch on the hill. A UNESCO site where Mozart played as a child and the emperors held court, its state rooms and grounds are among the grandest in Europe.

What you actually see

• The state rooms - the imperial apartments and the dazzling Great Gallery.
• The formal gardens - the vast parterre rising to the Gloriette arch.
• The Gloriette - the hilltop colonnade with a view over the palace and Vienna.
• The zoo and maze - the oldest zoo in the world and the garden maze in the grounds.

When to go

Spring to autumn for the gardens in bloom and the full grounds; the palace is worthwhile year-round. Book a timed palace ticket ahead in the busy season.

Honest expectations

The palace interior is a timed, ticketed visit that books up and is busy, so plan ahead. The gardens are largely free and vast, a highlight in themselves. It is a major attraction, so expect crowds, especially in summer.

Nearby

The zoo is in the grounds; central Vienna and the Belvedere are a short U-Bahn ride.