Four ways to see Schönbrunn with a plan
You can visit the palace on your own with an audio guide, join the palace's own Guided Tour Maria Theresia, book a tour with a guide, or add an evening concert in the Orangery. This page compares the four. It does not list tour operators or tour prices. It helps you decide which type fits you and what to check in a description.
Whatever you choose, the palace works with fixed entry times. You book a day and a time in advance. The operator does not state how long one time slot lasts, so arrive a little early.
Time-slot ticket, official tour, guide or concert
What each option gives you and who it suits.
| Option | What you get | Duration | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ticket with time slot | State Apartments (selected rooms, €30) or Palace Ticket (whole main floor, €42), free audio guide in 21 languages | about 40 or 75 min | Independent visitors who want their own pace |
| Guided Tour Maria Theresia | A guide leads you through the Bergl Rooms on the ground floor, the state rooms and the monarch's private apartments | about 75 min | Visitors who want explanations and a fixed route |
| Tours with a guide | Sold by tour providers, often with a fixed entry time, a live guide and sometimes more sights in one booking | varies | First-time visitors, families, groups, people who want one booking |
| Concert in the Orangery | An evening programme of Mozart and Johann Strauss with an orchestra, soprano and baritone | about 1 h 45 min | An evening in the palace grounds |
Ticket prices for 2026 are in our ticket guide. The Guided Tour Maria Theresia costs more than the Palace Ticket. Concert prices are not published on the official pages, so we do not quote them.
Our picks: guided tours
With a city bus tour, the most-booked palace and gardens tour and a slightly cheaper alternative.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
City bus tour with guided palace visit
A bus tour through Vienna from the State Opera, then a guided visit of 22 state rooms with skip-the-line entry and free time in the gardens.
Check availability →Guided palace and gardens tour
A two-hour guided tour with skip-the-line entry to the palace and a walk through the gardens. Meeting point at the fountain in the main courtyard.
Check availability →
Skip-the-line palace and gardens tour
A licensed guide takes you through 22 state rooms and the gardens, with the entry ticket included. You get there yourself by U4.
Check availability →Schönbrunn tours and tickets
Palace tickets with a time slot, guided tours and Orangery concerts, with live prices and availability.
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
The palace's own Guided Tour Maria Theresia
The one guided tour sold by the palace operator.
Route
The tour covers the Bergl Rooms on the ground floor, the state rooms and the private apartments of the monarch. It takes about 75 minutes.
Languages and times
The ticket page lists daily tours in German at 9:30, 11:30 and 14:30, and in English at 10:00, 12:00 and 15:00. Check the shop for your date.
Who it suits
It suits people who want a story and a guide to answer questions. If you prefer to move at your own pace, the audio guide of the standard tickets is enough.
Prices
The tour costs more than the Palace Ticket and has reduced prices for children and students. See the table in the ticket guide.
Tours with a guide: what to check
Descriptions differ. These points decide whether a booking is good value.
Is the palace ticket included?
Some bookings include the palace entry, others only the guide. Look for the ticket name, State Apartments or Palace Ticket.
Entry time and meeting point
The palace uses fixed entry times. Check the time, the meeting point and whether late arrivals are allowed.
Which rooms
The State Apartments take about 40 minutes, the Palace Ticket about 75 minutes. A short tour cannot show the private rooms of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth if it only uses the shorter ticket.
Language and group size
Make sure the guide speaks your language and ask how large the group is.
Cancellation
Look for a free cancellation rule. It helps if your plans change.
Extras in the package
Some packages add the gardens, the Hofburg or a ride into the city. Compare them with the Classic Pass before you pay extra.
The evening concert in the Orangery
The Orangery concert is held in the Orangery, about 300 m to the left of the main entrance, near the U4 station Schönbrunn. The palace operator notes that Mozart himself performed there in 1786. The orchestra plays with a soprano and a baritone. Part one is Mozart, with overtures, arias and duets from Figaro, The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni. Part two is Johann Strauss, with Die Fledermaus, The Gypsy Baron, the Blue Danube waltz and the Radetzky March.
The concert starts at 20:30 and lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes including a break of about 15 minutes. According to the city tourist office, there are concerts daily from 19 October 2026 to 2 January 2027. On 5, 6, 12, 19, 20, 26 and 27 December there is also a matinee at 16:00. On 24 and 31 December the concert starts at 15:00, and on 31 December there is a second one at 19:00.
Prices are not published on the official pages, so we do not give any. Packages that add a palace tour or dinner are offered. The Vienna City Card gives a discount.
Which option should you choose?
A simple rule of thumb.
Short on time
Take the State Apartments with the audio guide. About 40 minutes.
Want the stories
Book the Guided Tour Maria Theresia or a tour with a guide, and check the language.
Travelling with children
The audio guide lets you move at your own speed. Children aged 6 to 18 pay reduced prices.
Want an evening
Add the Orangery concert. Plan the way back, because it ends around 22:15. See how to get to Schönbrunn.
Plan the rest of your visit
Useful pages before you book.
Schönbrunn tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guided tour at Schönbrunn?
No. The State Apartments and the Palace Ticket include a free audio guide. A guided tour adds a live guide, but it is not required.
How long is the Guided Tour Maria Theresia?
About 75 minutes. It covers the Bergl Rooms, the state rooms and the private apartments of the monarch.
What time is the Schönbrunn concert?
The evening concert in the Orangery starts at 20:30 and lasts about 1 hour 45 minutes including a break. On 24 and 31 December the times differ.
How much does the concert cost?
The official pages do not publish prices. Check the ticket shop for the categories and any packages.
Can I book a tour on the day?
The palace uses fixed entry times, and online tickets with a time slot avoid the queue at the desk. Book ahead in busy periods.