Schönbrunn and the Hofburg: the 15 Best Vienna Palace Tours

1.Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5,918 reviews · 2h 30m · from $61Our pick

Spend 150 minutes with a licensed guide such as Alex, Mario, Nicole, or Mirko at Vienna’s Hofburg. You’ll see Sisi’s personal items, imperial rooms, courtyards, the Spanish Riding School, and Burggarten. Choose English, German, French, Italian, or Spanish, and expect a group of up to 25.

“Ana is an extraordinary guide, very kind and provides a lot of great insights in History, the life and many details around Empress Sisi life and difficulties. We come from Mexico and enjoyed a lot learning and enjoying the Sisi Palace Tour”

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2.Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,791 reviews · 1 day · from $18

Visit the Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg’s Swiss Wing with a one-day entrance ticket. See the Austrian Imperial Crown, Holy Roman Empire regalia, Empress Elisabeth’s jewelry, the Holy Lance, a huge emerald, the famed agate bowl, and the unicorn horn. Allow one to two hours.

“Really impressive collection of crown jewels, religious and royal objects. Well laid out and easy to navigate your way through.”

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3.Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,460 reviews · 2 hours · from $56

Walk from Albertinaplatz into Vienna’s Habsburg center, visit the Augustinian Church and Lipizzaner stables, then skip the line at the Hofburg and Sisi Museum. Guides such as Siri, Dieter, Anna, Lisa, and Michael bring court life and Empress Elisabeth’s story to life in English, Spanish, or German.

“Rafa had extensive knowledge and a great sense of humour. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour”

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4.Skip-the-Line Schonbrunn Palace Guided Tour and Vienna Historical City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 940 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Start near the Vienna State Opera for a guided drive along the Ringstrasse, passing the Hofburg, Parliament, City Hall, and museums. Then enter Schönbrunn Palace with a guide, followed by about 40 minutes of free time. English is offered daily, though some departures combine languages.

“Learning about Maria Theresa in the different rooms and how the Hapsburgs expanded their influence by marriage throughout Europe and their interest in the different cultures around the world”

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5.Entry Ticket Upper Belvedere, Klimt’s Kiss & Permanent Collection

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 831 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $23

Visit Vienna’s Upper Belvedere at your own pace with a timed admission ticket. See Klimt’s The Kiss, along with works by Monet, van Gogh, Schiele, and Kokoschka, then explore the Baroque palace and formal grounds. No guide is included, and the optional audioguide costs EUR 5.

“One of the best art museums in Vienna. This is a self-guided tour and you really need to be there early. They WON'T let you in if you miss your time. Wide range of art work including Van Goughs and home of the best Klimpt pieces including "The Kiss". Takes a few hours to tour plus the grounds are free to wander around.”

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6.Skip-the-Line Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 801 reviews · 2 hours · from $55

Follow an English, German, or Italian-speaking guide through the Hofburg’s Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments, then walk across Heroes’ Square and Josefplatz. Guides such as Michael, Claudia, Petra, and Kristina are praised for clear storytelling, humor, and useful details about Sisi and the Habsburg court.

“Claudia has been an amazing guide! She made the tour really interesting and also fun!! Would love to do more tours with her. The place and the museum are amazing. A must see !”

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7.Imperial Treasury & New Hofburg Palace Combo Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 614 reviews · 10 days · from $40

Enter Vienna’s Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg’s Swiss Wing, then explore the New Hofburg Palace with an audio guide. See the Austrian Imperial Crown, Holy Roman Empire treasures, Habsburg armor, Mozart’s fortepiano, and the Weltmuseum Wien. The $40 ticket is valid for 10 days after first use.

“This was an excellent combination of things to see in the massive Hofburg Palace complex! We really enjoyed the museum and Treasury collections.”

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8.New Hofburg Palace Audio-Guided Tour & Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 566 reviews · 1 hour · from $27

Enter the New Hofburg through the Weltmuseum Wien and follow a self-guided audio tour in nine languages. See imperial armor, antique musical instruments, Mozart’s fortepiano, and a wax bust of Joseph Haydn. Plan extra time if you want to explore the wider museum displays.

“The museum was really good, displaying the suit of armour on the top floor, and the middle had history from all over the world.”

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9.Skip-the-Line Sisi Museum, Hofburg and Gardens Tour Vienna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 449 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $57

Meet your English-speaking guide at Michaelerplatz for a 2.5-hour walk through imperial Vienna. Visit the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments with timed entry, see the Spanish Riding School, and explore Heldenplatz, Burggarten, and Hofburg courtyards. Guides such as Alex, Alexander, and Rene are praised for lively storytelling.

“The guide was knowledgeable and informative. I would recommend the tour to other travellers. Good value for money.”

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10.Vienna Belvedere Palace Skip-the-line Tour & Official Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 390 reviews · 2 hours · from $50

Spend two hours at Upper Belvedere with a licensed guide such as Alex, Mirko, or Ute. See Klimt’s The Kiss, major Austrian and European art, the palace interiors, and the Baroque gardens. Timed entry saves time, though security lines remain.

“Verónica gave us an outstanding tour of the Belvedere Palace. Her knowledge of Austrian history, art, and the Habsburg period was truly impressive, and she explained everything in a clear, engaging, and passionate way. She took the time to answer all our questions and made sure everyone in the group felt included. Her explanations of the palace, the gardens, and the masterpieces inside — especially Klimt’s The Kiss — made the experience much more meaningful and memorable. What made this tour special was not only her deep expertise, but also her warmth and enthusiasm. You could really feel how much she loves what she does, and that energy made the…”

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11.Moorea Cruise Ships: 4×4, Belvedere, Pineapple, & Magic Mountain

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 363 reviews · from $70Top rated

Ride an open-air 4x4 through Moorea with guides such as Ron, Mario, Tammo, and Dean. See Belvedere, Cook’s Bay, pineapple fields, Magic Mountain, vanilla, jams, and local drinks in about four hours. Expect steep, rough tracks, big views, and a maximum group of eight.

“Wear your seat belt and hope you’re not afraid of heights. Lots of bouncing but the ride was memorable.”

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12.Concert Tickets for Vienna Hofburg Orchestra

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 330 reviews · from $63

Spend 90 minutes with the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra, up to 40 musicians, opera soloists, and ballet dancers. The program mixes Mozart, Strauss, Lehár, and Kálmán in the Hofburg, Konzerthaus, or Opera. Concerts usually begin at 8:30 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from May to October.

“Lovely evening listening to music in a beautiful concert hall. Only thing is they need to monitor cell phones better. I paid to watch a concert performance and not cell phones recording in front of me. But amazing performance and conductor was brilliant!”

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13.Lower Belvedere Entry Ticket & Temporary Exhibitions

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 275 reviews · from $17Best value

Visit Lower Belvedere, the Orangery, and Palace Stables with a one-day ticket for temporary exhibitions. Walk through Prince Eugene’s Baroque residence, see medieval art, and check current shows such as Klimt. There is no guide, audio guide, transport, or Upper Belvedere access.

“The Lower Belvedere is a stunning building with an interesting collection of art inside. It’s a lovely walk through the gardens from Upper Belvedere which takes no more than 7/8 minutes. I found it was a lot less busy than the Upper Belvedere which I really enjoyed.”

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14.Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum Skip-the-Line Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 223 reviews · 2 - 4 hours · from $249

Meet your private guide at Michaelerplatz for Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments access inside Hofburg Palace. Choose a 3-hour visit with the Imperial Treasury, or add a 4-hour Old Town walk to St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Hotel transfers are available on the 2.5-hour option.

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15.Strauss and Mozart Concert at Hofburg Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 214 reviews · 1h 30m · from $106

Enter the Hofburg Palace through Heldenplatz for a 90-minute Vienna Hofburg Orchestra concert of Mozart, Strauss, Kalman, and Lehár. Expect up to 40 musicians, opera singers, ballet dancers, musical jokes, and a choice of seating categories. English and German assistance is available.

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