Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburg Empire's grandest stage, frozen in imperial amber.
Schönbrunn Palace is the former summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty, Austria's imperial family who ruled much of Europe for over 600 years. Built and expanded in its current form largely under Empress Maria Theresa in the mid-18th century, the palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria — a 1,441-room baroque masterpiece that tells the story of an empire through gilded ceilings, painted porcelain, and the accumulated ambitions of generations of rulers. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consistently one of the most visited attractions in all of Europe.
Visitors typically choose between ticket tiers — the Grand Tour covers 40 state rooms, while the Imperial Tour covers 22 — and work through chambers where Mozart performed as a child prodigy, where Napoleon briefly made himself at home, and where Emperor Franz Joseph I was born and eventually died. The palace interiors are genuinely stunning: the Hall of Mirrors, the Millions Room lined with Indian and Persian miniatures set in carved rosewood, and the Great Gallery with its frescoed ceiling are highlights. But Schönbrunn is as much about its gardens as its rooms. The formal French-style grounds stretch up a hill behind the palace to the Gloriette, a triumphal arch with sweeping views back over the palace and Vienna's skyline. The grounds also contain Europe's oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, which has been operating since 1752.
Buy tickets online in advance — the queues at the door can be long, especially in summer. The Imperial Tour is perfectly satisfying for most visitors; the Grand Tour adds rooms that are beautiful but somewhat repetitive if you're not a dedicated Habsburg enthusiast. Arrive early or come late afternoon to beat the tour groups. The gardens are free to enter and often underused by visitors who rush through — take the time to walk up to the Gloriette for the view, which is one of the best in the city.