My history with Europe’s most beautiful palaces and residences isn’t stellar. I almost had heatstroke while wandering the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and was sick to my stomach at Hampton Court.
But when in Vienna, the Hapsburg residences are unavoidable. You literally can’t turn a corner in the city without being close to one of their homes. And while there are many to tour, Schonbrunn Palace is the most famous and most visited. Thankfully my body was treating me better for my visit there.
Home to a young Marie Antoinette, the style is pure Rococo, all pastels, portraits and extravagance, just like her. The guidebooks tell you to set aside at least three hours to tour the palace. I bought the middle priced ticket because I didn’t want to spend too much money.
After wandering through most of the palace’s rooms and listening to the informative audio tour, I was ready to get outside into the sunshine. The weather gods were smiling on me as there wasn’t a cloud in sight as I explored the gardens, which are free. The Tiergarten, or zoo, is also on the grounds and combination tickets can be purchased.
I could have easily wandered the gardens for hours but my feet weren’t as enthusiastic. Each of the 30 odd fountains featured a different theme, from mythological Neptune to Roman ruins. Be sure to walk up to the Gloriette, above, for the best view of the palace grounds and surrounding Vienna.
If You Go
Schonbrunn Palace is accessible by Underground line U4, Trams 10 and 58 and bus 10A, all to Schönbrunn station.
The palace is open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, but check the website for specific dates. The gardens are open from 6:00 am until dark.
Tickets range in price depending on how much of the palace you would like to see, but all are between €10.50-15.50. I took the Imperial Tour with audio guides and was pleased with it. The gardens are always free, but you may have to pay for the maze and other activities within the grounds.
No photos or video are allowed within the palace.
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