Vienna Palace and Castle Tours

Austria's geography is full of castles and palaces, and Vienna is no exception. Whether in the city centre or in the outskirts, you will find many of these majestic constructions that not only refer to the local history, but also reveal the luxury and distinction that identified the Austrian empires from the Middle Ages to the beginning of the 20th century.

Taking a tour of these palaces is one of the best things to do in Vienna. Schonbrunn, Hofburg and Belvedere are ideal places to discover them as part of a guided tour, but they are not the only ones. Here are the most complete options you can find during your tour of the Austrian capital.

Schonbrunn Palace is one of the most emblematic buildings in Vienna and the best way to get to know it in depth is to take a two-hour guided tour that will take you back to the splendour of the Habsburg dynasty. During these tours you will be able to explore the rooms of this baroque palace, which stand out for their luxurious decoration and ornamentation dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries.

The advantage of taking part in a guided tour is that you will have access to the imperial rooms, such as the Great Marble Hall and the Office Room, where the emperors made the crucial decisions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The palace, which was originally built as a summer residence, gained notoriety over the years and became a political meeting place, hence its opulent interiors.

During these tours you will also have the opportunity to discover the palace gardens, which stretch over 160 hectares and are a perfect example of Baroque landscaping, with ornate fountains, classical sculptures and paths that lead into nature. One of the highlights of the gardens is the Gloriette, an elegant pavilion that offers a panoramic view of Vienna from the top of the hill.

These guided tours usually include priority and skip-the-line access to Schonbrunn Palace. In some cases, they will even allow you to enter other sites within the complex, such as the world's oldest zoo and the 18th-century hedge maze next to the palace gardens.

Interesting details

• Price: around 57 euros.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to enter without queuing and you will have access to most of the palace's rooms.

If you want to see Vienna's largest palace complex, then the ubiquitous Hofburg Palace, located in the heart of the Austrian capital, is a must-see. This building was the former official residence of the Habsburg dynasty and the centre of imperial power for centuries. In addition, it was originally fortified and was therefore formally considered a castle because it was expected to be used for military purposes.

Nowadays, the palace is one of the most visited sites in Austria and, among its many attractions, one of the most fascinating is the Sissi Museum, dedicated to the life and legacy of Elisabeth of Bavaria, popularly known as Sissi. On these three-hour tours you can see the interior of the building and also learn about the palace intrigues that tormented what is considered the last great empress of Europe.

The Sissi Museum exhibits a unique collection of the empress's personal belongings, a true reflection of Sissi's private life. You can discover intimate and unknown facets of this famous monarch and learn, with the assistance of a guide, from her most famous dresses to jewellery and iconic portraits that capture her beauty and elegance.

This tour, however, will not only allow you to learn about Sissi's life, but also to explore the secrets of the Hofburg Palace, which houses centuries of history and witnessed the most important moments of the empire. The entrance fee to visit this site is included in the list of activities of the Vienna Pass

Interesting details

• Price: around 48 euros.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know one of the most famous palaces in Austria through the history of one of the most captivating characters of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

The Belvedere complex was built in the 18th century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was one of the most successful generals of the empire. Over the years, however, the building gained prominence and became a witness to key historical events. Today, it not only houses one of the most beautiful palaces in Vienna, but also one of the largest art collections in Austria and is considered one of the best museums in Vienna.

The private tour of this site will allow you to explore this place in greater depth, accompanied by an expert guide who will personalise the experience according to your interests and who will be completely dedicated to you. It is undoubtedly one of the best ways to get to know the Belvedere, which is considered one of the best palaces in Vienna.

The Belvedere Palace has two buildings: the Upper Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere, surrounded by French-style gardens. In the Upper Belvedere you can admire the art collection, which includes works by artists such as Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka and Gustav Klimt, whose painting The Kiss is one of the main attractions. The Lower Belvedere, meanwhile, houses sumptuous rooms decorated with frescoes and furnishings from the imperial era.

One of the great advantages of visiting the Belvedere Palace on a private tour is the chance to explore this iconic site at your leisure and without the crowds that often accompany group tours. Your personal guide will take you through the various galleries and halls, providing detailed information in several languages and anecdotes that will enrich your visit.

Details of interest

• Price: around 186 euros.
• Duration: approximately 2 and a half hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to avoid the crowds of group visits and you will have an expert local guide at your disposal to personalise the tour according to your interests.

A guided tour of Schonbrunn Palace with dinner and classical music concert included is an experience that combines history, art and gastronomy in one of Vienna's most emblematic places. This palace, which was the summer residence of the Habsburg imperial family, bears witness to Europe's Baroque splendour.

These tours offer a special activity because, in addition to touring the rooms where emperors such as Franz Joseph and Maria Theresa lived, you can crown the experience with a delicious dinner and a classical music concert in an atmosphere bathed in elegance, making it one of the best things to do in Vienna in the evening.

The guided tour will first take you through some of the 1,441 rooms of Schonbrunn Palace, where you will discover the ornate interiors and imperial halls. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy a gourmet dinner with options for all the stops at one of the elegant restaurants located within the palace grounds. The dinner, which usually includes typical Viennese cuisine, is served in an intimate and refined atmosphere reminiscent of the imperial banquets of yesteryear.

The highlight of these guided experiences is the classical music concert held in the palace's Orangerie. Here you can listen to talented musicians performing the famous works of composers such as Mozart and Strauss, transporting you back to the golden age of Viennese music and allowing you to witness one of Vienna's finest concerts.

Interesting details

• Price: around 137 euros.
• Duration: approximately 5 hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to live a complete experience that combines local architecture with gastronomy and classical music.

You can either book the tours in advance online or book some of these tours once you are in the city. Keep in mind that if you plan to visit Vienna during the summer or during the high season months, when the Austrian capital's attractions become more crowded, you might miss out on the experience or have to choose a time or date that doesn't fit your itinerary.

That's why, because the palaces form part of the city's main attractions, I recommend that you book in advance. This way you will be able to design an optimal and detailed tour before arriving in Vienna, which will allow you to maximise your stay in this destination. In addition, you will be able to better combine these experiences with excursions around the Austrian capital

On the other hand, remember that guided tours of the palaces are part of the best tours in Vienna, so if you book in advance you can get better prices or freeze rates, which will help you to make your trip more economical and allow you to better calculate the costs of your trip.

On guided tours of Vienna's palaces you will discover some of the city's finest imperial buildings, which will not only amaze you with their baroque architecture, but will also give you an insight into the history and imperial profile of the city. Traces of the Austro-Hungarian Empire permeate this destination's most famous palaces, so these complexes will give you the perfect excuse to dive into the gossip of royalty.

In addition, some of these buildings, such as the Belvedere, contain interior museums, so you can also make the most of your visit by learning about the local culture and some of the city's best exhibitions. Also keep in mind that they are distributed in different areas, but always close to other attractions, so if you plan to get there by Vienna's tourist bus or by public transport, you can combine several activities in the same day.

Finally, you will also find alternatives that include music concerts or even dinners, so it is an ideal option if you also want to know the Austrian gastronomic heritage and the best dishes of the local cuisine.

• One of the essential tips for visiting Vienna is to book all your activities in advance. The Austrian capital is an expensive destination, but if you plan ahead you can save money and even get more complete experiences, such as dinner and concert tickets during visits to the palaces and castles of this destination.
• If you have no budget restrictions, I recommend you to try the local gastronomy and attend a classical music concert in Vienna . In that case, as I also recommend you to visit these palaces, a tour with several activities is a perfect alternative to optimise time and, also, to enjoy a varied tour.
• Come and join a guided tour! The city's palaces, which in some cases have more than 1,000 rooms, can be overwhelming if you visit them on your own, but with an expert local guide you can get the most out of your visit and avoid spending hours wandering around the complex without understanding the vital importance of each of the sites you visit or the works of art you come across along the way.

Much of Vienna's imperial splendour lies in its palaces, so you won't be able to say you've experienced the city until you've visited some of these sites. What's more, the imperial spirit of the Austrian capital is evident in its buildings, so you won't just be sightseeing the buildings, you'll be diving into the local idiosyncrasy. On the other hand, if you visit Vienna in winter, these places will be perfect to spend the coldest days.

Bear in mind, too, that many of these complexes include other indoor attractions, such as museums, concert halls, restaurants or even zoos, so if you choose not to visit the interior of these sites you'll be missing out on much more than imperial architecture during your trip.

The palaces included in these tours are, for the most part, unmanageable. Many have more than 1000 rooms, imperial halls, museums, zoos, mile-long gardens and a rich collection of works of art. If you visit them on your own, without the assistance of a knowledgeable local guide, you may not get the most out of the tour. Moreover, you may not be able to access some rooms and chambers on your own.

On the other hand, these castles are part of Vienna's main tourist circuit, so they are prone to crowds. Local guides usually know the most uncrowded time slots and also the alternative paths within the complexes that will allow you to enjoy a more relaxed tour and the best photo opportunities.