The Hofburg - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
The Hofburg
The Hofburg
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
About
For centuries the Vienna Hofburg was the centre of the Habsburg empire. Today the palace houses three museums which afford historically authentic insights into the traditions and everyday life of the imperial court: The Imperial Apartments with their original furnishings and decoration, the Sisi Museum with its sensitive staging of the empress' life, and the Imperial Silver Collection which contains a comprehensive range of tableware and other utensils used at the imperial court.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Inner City
In Vienna's best-known district, pedestrian boulevards Kärntner Strasse and Graben connect you with landmarks such as the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera), Vienna’s iconic Stephansdom (St. Stephen’s Cathedral) and the vast compound of Hofburg, the Habsburgs’ former Imperial Palace. Peek down side streets such as Annagasse and Weihburggasse, and Graben’s Seilergasse and Habsburggasse, to get a feel for the center. The Imperial Apartments and the refreshingly demystifying Sissi Museum are must-dos at Hofburg. Spacious squares such as Am Hof and Freyung often host beautiful seasonal and antiques markets.
How to get there
  • Herrengasse • 3 min walk
  • Stephansplatz • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • VegasNick26
    Las Vegas, Nevada266 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Horsing Around
    In my opinion, the coolest thing about The Hofburg is the Lipizzaner training school & performance center. The tour of the stables is so insightful & the guide was very good! The performance, if you can get a ticket, is incredible! The above ground (aka air skills) were so cool to see. You can tell the riders put in countless hours training with their horses. The Hofburg Palace apartment tour & treasury were just so-so to me, but you don't know what you're gonna get unless you see for yourself.
    Visited September 2022
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 7, 2023
  • Marianne R
    7 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice museum
    This was a very nice museum; although, the lighting made it difficult to see the signs on the exhibits. I understand the low lighting is due to preservation of the exhibits. The signs were mostly very low which made them hard to read without really bending over or squatting down. I have bad night vision so maybe it's just me.
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 20, 2023
  • Les C
    Hengoed, United Kingdom112 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Hofburg.
    If you are remotely interested with the history of Vienna and the influence of the Habsburg dynasty on Austria, then this is a must. You can use an audio guide or elect to join a tour, either way you will definitely get an insight into the family and their style of Monarchy. I would recommend buying a ticket before you go to avoid the queues and go early to avoid the crowds.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 28, 2023
  • Famontherun
    894 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Tour and Experience
    We booked a ticket for a tour of the palace apartments and the Sisi museum ahead of time. Our guide was a young man who was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable! The audio equipment is a must as there are other groups going through at the same time. Part of the museum was a bit hot and crowded, but the subjects of Sisi and Franz Joseph were so fascinating, I did not mind. These 2 royals lived gripping, rich but sad lives; made me want to learn more. The apartments are beautiful with a story for each area; so crazy to see how they lived! This was one of our favorite things we did in Vienna. FYI we booked through the Sisi Museum Site.
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 29, 2023
  • JJJC_Family
    810 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    No way you are going to miss this
    The Hofburg is one of several palace/castle complexes I have seen, composed of royal apartments, treasuries displaying crown jewels and other beautiful items, museums of various sorts, churches and other odds and ends. They are typically great and this one is no exception. We only saw the apartments, treasury, Sisi Museum, St. Augustin church and the Grand Hall of the Austrian National Library. The stars of the show, as far as I am concerned, were the treasury and the Grand Hall of the Austrian National Library, Prunskaal in German. The treasury was perhaps the largest I have ever seen and had an amazing collection of high quality objects, including the royal crown, sceptre, etc. I had thought it would be exceptional, but it accomplished the rarest of rare experiences, exceeding my exceedingly high expectations. If you like seeing beautiful, exquisite creations of worksmanship and materials, paln on spending at least an hour to even begin to give this place its due. My only regret was not having enough time on this trip to come back for a second helping. The Prnskaal was. Similarly, the biggest, I believe, and best library I have seen, particularly with the large and fabulous fresco on the ceiling. I could have spent an hour just looking at that lovely, elaborate concoction. As with the treasury, I wish we had time to return here. The apartment was very impressive, as many royal apartments are and still enjoyable to gawk at despite having seen a whole bunch over our travels. Sisi, the princess that Austrians and tourists obsess over had her story told yet again in the portion of the palace dedicated to her. I have seen enough exhibits about her beforehand that it was old hat. Yet she is a truly interesting character who captures you with more than her beauty. A free spirit in an age that did not expect it, she definitely stood out, particularly shocking people even more so because she was a woman when it was almost inconceivable that a woman should or even could be one. She had the good fortune of having a husband who actually loved her with a passion and intensity and loyalty, exceedingly rare when royal matches were almost exclusively matters of statecraft. In reading about their lives and their relationship, you feel even sadder for the way he was treated by her than the travails of of a 16 year old girl who had to marry the emperor of the Austrian state, who is obviously a sympathetic character, as well. The church was nice, but not spectacular. Five minutes will suffice here, ten at most. I would have liked to have seen the Lippizan horses perform their drills, as I have been waiting for years to do so and now after two trips to Vienna, they still elude me. If there is a third trip, they will be at the top of the list for sites to visit. Absolutely. The show in Jerez de la Frontera in Spain whet my appetite. Vienna offers an embarrassment of tourist riches. True. Nonetheless, you must visit here.
    Visited May 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 17, 2023
  • Razvan Iulian
    Bucharest, Romania11 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing Place
    The Hofburg is something else! Besides the beauty of the buildings, the history and mystery they hide behind make you feel like you're in a fairy tale. I definitely recommend you to visit it during your Viennese trip.
    Visited December 2022
    Written August 13, 2023
  • AdventureMN95
    Minneapolis, Minnesota127 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Romanticized History
    I really enjoyed this museum and learning more about Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) I did the English guided tour and you could tell that our guide really enjoyed talking about the subject and he made it fun to learn more and also Kinda show us what to look out for when we were walking through the rooms before we even started so that made it really nice since some of the rooms got to be a little tight and it was hard to See everything or it took a while to get to the front to see the item. I’d say this is definitely a tour that’s worth doing especially if you like this time. And learning about old Kings and Queens;Or this case an emperor and em
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written September 10, 2023
  • Annie P
    Hollywood, Florida384 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A vast structure
    As the Austrian Empire continued to grow, so did the Palace, they say. Even the hardiest museum/castle/palace aficionado will have to tackle this a couple of exhibitions at a time as there is so much to see. The crown jewels, the Lippizaner stables, etc One could come back each day for a few days to really see everything. And this was just the summer palace ...
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 13, 2023
  • Siobhan L
    Belton, Texas854 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Historic area
    The palace was built in the 13th century and housed the royal family for centuries. It now contains a museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Spanish Riding Academy home of the famous Lipizzan horses. ( tickets to this sell out quickly so if you are interested book early). Some of the areas were closed when I visited but you can walk through the breezeway front to back and take in the beauty of the building
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written January 19, 2024
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Traveler O
Washington DC, DC1,078 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
The exterior of this building is something to admire, it's a remnant of the Hapsburg Empire and worth seeing. However, the interior layout with the museums is terrible. Many tours are guided only-meaning it's terrible for kids and you have to book well in advance. There's silver/dishware museum you can usually do a walk-in tour for. Can use the audio guide, but it's really not that interesting of a display. If you really want to see the other museums, than book in advance otherwise you'll likely be told the next available tour is 6 hours later or to book a tour for another day. Too many tourists inside.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AFAK25
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia3,711 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Central point of any visit to Vienna. It used to be the winter palace for the Habsburg monarchy and now houses the most important museums and a riding school that showcase the imperial history of Vienna and Austria as a whole.

Visiting all museums in the Hofburg could take one a whole day to finish. If time permits go for it. Even walking around the perimeters is time-consuming due to its humongous size.

Fiaker horses are available for rental outside the main gate.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

M A R
Los Angeles, CA116 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Once you finish taking in all the beauty of the architecture you can enjoy two of the most memorable cultural experiences you will ever have!!!! The Lippizaners of the Spanish Riding School are not only a treat for animal lovers but a look into a tradition which spans far into the past. The National Library is a sight that will impress you as well. Most of the time you will get to see the training sessions of the Lippizaners. Training starts at 10 AM and lasts till 12 PM. All the while they play classical music. The horses move about gracefully but you will not get to actually see them "dance". Unfortunately, you are not allowed to take pictures or film the horses. We did however, see people take out pretty big cameras and take pictures without even trying to be sneaky.... Who knows what criteria are followed by the workers. If you are lucky, you can see the horses being taken from the arena where they practice to the stables across the street. You can take pictures when this is done. You can also shoot pictures of the horses when they are in the stable. The Library is a real gem!!!! It houses many books in bookcases that reach the ceiling. The bookcases as you can imagine are finely crafted. There are statues and old globes in there as well. Both the horses and the library give you an idea of how enlightened the rulers that lived in Vienna were. They are two fine examples of how high culture was revered in Vienna.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Plutopair
Milford on Sea, UK26 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
The state apartments at the Hofburg are definitely worth visiting. Called the “Sisi”museum they are named after the last empress in the Hapsburg dynasty. The ticket gives you access to the china and silver collection as well as the state apartments. We went in the late afternoon in December to avoid the crowds. If you are interested in porcelain and silver gilt tableware you will not be disappointed; particular highlights are the beautiful oriental porcelain and the 30 metre gold table centre piece. In the state apartments you note the contrast between the emperor and empresses apartments, respectively, simple and lavish. The audio tour is excellent but the part about the life of Sisi was rather drawn out but nevertheless it provides useful context. If you are in a hurry or want to get ahead of a crowd you can cut some of this short without spoiling the rest of your tour.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fotini OA
Johannesburg, South Africa11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
I absolutely loved walking around the Hofburg and the different sections of the palace.
It is so rich in history and so many eras influence the architecture and play out in the halls and structure.
The gardens were also so beautiful and it was such a relaxing atmosphere.
What an amazing experience!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GoGo2SlowGo
Denton, TX1,537 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
The Hofburg was the residence of the rulers of Austria for over 600 years. The Habsburg dynasty made it their home.There are lots of things to see here. The Spanish Riding School has morning exercise tickets regularly and there are also stable tours you can book. The Sisi Museum is all about Sisi and you'll hear her name at Schonbrunn and many other places. We even heard her tales in Bratislava!
The apartment tour is also available. They have a combination ticket if you are interested in a discount for everything.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chrisiel
Argolis Region, Greece64 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Even in January there were queues. Inside the first part of the dishes seem to attract your attention at first but then it s really boring.
Then the dark corridor you cross to see sissis personal belongings is not indicated when there are hundreds of people visiting the place. You feel smothered. The fact that you are not allowed to take photos is a drawback. I understand forbidding the use of flash but no photos? You need 2 hours to see the place.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lorcan BW
45 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
This is one of the most iconic attractions in Vienna for a reason. Just the grandeur and spectacle of the building and the grounds is enough to get you interested, but inside there is the brilliantly maintained living quarters of Franz Joseph and his family, along with an intriguing museum about Empress Elizabeth (also known as Sisi!). Alongside this is a great audio guide in many languages, and even a collection of their silver and crockery if that floats your boat! It is an absolute must-do if you visit Vienna, and it is very easily reached by tram or U-Bahn. However, especially during busy periods, you MUST book online (the tickets are not time slot or date fixed but they allow you to skip the often ridiculous ticket queues).
Written December 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ET101
Vancouver, Canada182 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
Before I went inside I was so impressed with the architecture of the building, but it was the best part.

The palace was divided into different sections, and I got the ticket for the apartment and Sisi. I went there in early September when it was still very hot, and there was no air-conditioning. I may like it more if it wasn’t so hot, but anyway the “apartments” of the palace really wasn’t very impressive and the collection of the queen’s clothes and jewellery etc are mainly just replica. It really isn’t that interesting
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

T-SGlobetrotters
Preston, UK2,952 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2023
If the intention is to also visit the Schonbrunn Palace, it is worth buying a combo ticket on-line which as well as saving money also skips the queues and the requirement and hassle of having to buy a timed ticket for Schonbrunn.
Price includes good audio-guide that provides just enough detail without being too verbose. The tour which follows a set route takes around two hours in total and starts on the ground floor with a tableware collection which we found only mildly interesting although the craftsmanship is undisputed. The best bits are firstly the upstairs rooms that houses the Sisi museum profiling the complex Empress Elizabeth, (Emperor Franz Josef’s wife) which was very well curated together with the Imperial Apartments that follows on.
Everything in the museum was extremely well organised and efficient.
Written January 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Hofburg - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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