Schoenbrunn Palace & Gardens is one of the top things to do in Vienna. Schoenbrunn should be on your itinerary if you are staying in Vienna for more than a day. I’ll show you the Schoenbrunn Gardens so you can plan your trip.
Schoenbrunn History
Schoenbrunn is a German word that means “beautiful spring” and was named after a well which provided water for the imperial court. The complex began as a hunting grounds for Roman Emperor Maximilian II. The Schoenbrunn Palace was developed later and became the summer residence for Empress Maria Theresa. Schoenbrunn Palace, with its gardens, is one of Austria’s most popular tourist attractions.
Schoenbrunn Gardens
Hinter the Schoenbrunn Palace is a large park. The majority of the park is free to walk through and visit. It’s a great place for running. There are some gardens where a ticket is required to enter. The free park is a great way to explore the imperial past and take some beautiful photos.
Plan to spend a full day if you plan to visit the Palace and other gardens.
Schoenbrunn Gardens: Free areas
The park surrounding the Schoenbrunn Palace stretches for approximately a kilometer, from the palace up to the Gloriette at the top of the hill.
The Grand Parterre, with its manicured flowerbeds, creates a large open space on the southern side between Schoenbrunn Palace and the Neptune Fountain. The French-inspired garden is guarded by 32 statues.
The Baroque Gloriette, which dominates the southern slope of the hill, creates great photo opportunities.
The Roman ruins that are located on the one side of the park seem out of place. The ruins were built in 18th century, when it was fashionable for rich properties to have Roman ruins. The ruins are not real, even though they appear to be the same as the original.
A beautiful white pavilion guards a water well not far from the fake ruin. This peaceful spot makes you wonder if this is the spring which gave the domain its name Schoenbrunn.
Other Schoenbrunn Gardens
Tickets are required for some of the Schoenbrunn themed gardens. Select the garden you’re interested in and visit the website. A combined ticket is the best option.
The Privy, or Kronprinzengarten
The Imperial garden is located on the east side. The sunken garden is separated from the rest by a pergola. The greenery is interrupted only by five iron pavilions. The princess was able to walk in the shade, enjoy the air and flower beds in total privacy.
Orangery
Schoenbrunn’s Orangery is the largest in Europe. This building was used by the Imperial family for various celebrations. The exotic plants and orange trees were decorated.
The Orangery’s hypocaust is a Roman style heating system that is still used today to maintain a constant temperature.
You can also find a small apple orchard outside. During the summer, classical concerts are held in The Orangery. Treat yourself to an Imperial Schoenbrunn concert if you enjoy classical music. It is one of the most memorable Vienna experiences. To purchase your tickets for a Schoenbrunn concert, click the link.
From April until the end of October, you can visit Schoenbrunn Orangery.
The Maze & Labyrinth
Fashion dictated that every Grand Palace in Europe needed to have a Maze area. The one at Schoenbrunn has three different areas. You can find your way through the Maze, solve puzzles within the Labyrinth and have fun with the children on the Labyrinthikon playground.
The Gloriette
The Gloriette stands at the top of the southern hill, overlooking Schoenbrunn Palace and Vienna behind it. It was the final touch Empress Maria Theresa added to her beloved Schoenbrunn.
It’s a beautiful Baroque building with arches and colonnades. The attraction is the roof platform you can visit for the best views over the park and palace. Cafe Gloriette, at the center of the structure, is a great place to stop for a coffee with one of the best views in Vienna. You can even try Maria Theresa’s favorite coffee with a touch of orange liqueur.
You can visit the Gloriette viewing platform from April to the end of October.
The Palm House
The Palm House (Palmenhouse) has three iron pavilions, each recreating a different climate zone: cold, temperate, and tropical. It’s the largest palm house in Europe, displaying more than 800 types of plants.
The Palm House is open every day of the year, from 9:30 AM to 6 PM (May to September) and from 9:30 AM to 5 PM from October to April.
The Zoo (Tiergarten)
The Tiergarten of the Schoenbrunn Park is the oldest still-functioning Zoo in the world. The emperor’s menagerie from the 18th century became one of the best Zoos in Europe. Visiting the Zoo is also one of the best family activities in Vienna.
The Zoo is open every day of the year from 9 AM. Closing time varies throughout the year. Check the updated times on the official website if you plan to visit in the afternoon.
Plan your visit to the Schoenbrunn Gardens
How to get to Schoenbrunn Palace and Gardens
You can easily reach the Schoenbrunn on Subway line U4 to the Schoenbrunn station. Alternatively, you can get there on bus 10A or trams 10 or 60.
Duration
You can easily plan to spend a full day at the Schoenbrunn if you want to visit the palace, the Zoo, and the gardens. However, if you’re short on time, you can tour the palace and take a stroll through the park in a couple of hours.
Schoenbrunn ticket options
There are various ticket options for the Schoenbrunn palace and gardens. You can choose one depending on what you’re most interested in and the time you have.
Look at the combined ticket options if you want to see the palace and some of the gardens. The Classic Pass includes a palace tour and also the Privy Garden, Orangery Garden, Maze, and Gloriette. In addition to that, the Classic Pass Plus includes access to the Zoo, the Desert Experience, and the Palm House.
Another option is to buy a Vienna Pass to help you save throughout your stay in Vienna.
Lunch and snacks options
If you plan to see both the palace and the gardens, you’re going to need a break at some point. You can stop for coffee at Café Gloriette or Café Residenz by the entrance. You can also have lunch at either of these places. In addition, you can have a very Viennese experience if you want to see the Strudel Show. Have a coffee and a fresh slice of apple strudel while enjoying the show of making the Viennese pastry. Read my post about the Strudel Show at the Schoenbrunn if you need more convincing.
Inside the Zoo, there are a few lunch options, but I recommend the Kaiserpavillon Café, a historic pavilion with good food at the center of the Tiergarten.
Disclosure
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Did I miss anything? Do you have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!