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The Hofburg
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The Hofburg

See all things to do
See all things to do
The Hofburg
4.5
#2 of 1,058 things to do in Vienna
Speciality Museums
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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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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Admission tickets
from ₹5,087.78
All you need to step foot in the door.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: 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 centre. 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
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See what travellers are saying
  • HonestTel
    Leicester, United Kingdom206 contributions
    The winter palace
    Great place in the centre of Vienna. You can save money if you buy a joint ticket for Schonbrunn. Lovely tour but maybe could do with being longer as I am sure there is more to see. We managed to catch the Spanish Riding School across the road preparing which was a bonus Not suitable for people with walking disabilities.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 16 December 2022
  • Lorcan BW
    45 contributions
    A delightful dive into Vienna’s imperial history
    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).
    Visited August 2022
    Travelled with family
    Written 16 December 2022
  • Ramadama
    New Providence, New Jersey2,262 contributions
    Very nice museum
    Great museum for seeing the royal jewels and many interesting other royal treasures. It's definitely a must when in Vienna. It takes about 1.5 hours to walk around, read everything and take it all in.
    Visited December 2022
    Travelled with friends
    Written 23 December 2022
  • Mike H
    Phoenix, Arizona2,077 contributions
    Another Must Do
    This was the residence of the Emperor of Austria and the royal family. It is now government offices and holds the Cici Museum. While we were there the President was welcoming an ambassador to the country. It appeared that the car had a French Flag on it when it left. This place is on a large acreage and is in the middle of a lot of interesting architecture and museums. You can spend days in the area viewing things but this museum and palace are the crown jewels in the area.
    Visited November 2022
    Written 5 January 2023
  • T-SGlobetrotters
    Preston, United Kingdom2,908 contributions
    Glittering reminder of times past
    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.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 7 January 2023
  • Maggi713
    Baltimore, Maryland12,072 contributions
    Impressive!
    The Hofburg Palace is another example of the opulence of the Habsburg dynasty. It has been here for over 700 years as the seat of Austrian power. Up until the end of the monarchy in 1918, it had served as the official home of the Habsburg Empire and the imperial winter residence. The house of Habsburg was one of the most important dynasties in Europe at the time as it produced some of the kings that ruled Western Europe for several decades starting from the 15th century. You will be able to admire the beauty and style of the baroque architecture, take a tour through the imperial apartments and visit the museums in the complex. Don’t miss the Imperial Treasury. It is the largest and most impressive treasury in the world. Today, the palace serves as the official home of Austria’s president.
    Visited November 2022
    Written 9 January 2023
  • RoyalSilk
    Edgware, United Kingdom286 contributions
    Silverware is amazing, Sisi Museum only so-so, Franz Josef rooms very good
    We started with the silver (for which reads cutlery and plates) museum which was absolutely amazing and we spent an hour just there. The Sisi museum which is the next part of the tour was a bit disappointing - parts of the exhibition are just weird (but then Sisi herself was apparently bonkers - lots of parallels with the Princess of Wales). The Sisi experience is IMHO overhyped. The tour finishes with the rest of the Imperial Palace which is interesting if a little predictable. However, the whole thing at 16 Euros was very good value.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 24 January 2023
  • RandyRoss
    Ridgetown, Canada11,743 contributions
    Huge, Beautiful and Historic
    We were on a Christmas Market Tour, so our first destination was to the Vienna Center Christmas Market. To get there we went on a tour called "Imperial Vienna" which started at a street called Rotenturmstrasse, just at the Danube Canal and proceeded to St. Stephen's Cathedral; then to Graben Street (Plague Column), through the Hofburg Palace grounds (including the location of the Spanish Riding School) and to the Vienna Center Christmas Market at at Maria-Theresien-Platz. Later in the day we returned and went to see the Austrian Crown Jewels. The Hofburg is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. Located in the centre of Vienna, it was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. Since 1946, it is the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria. The name translates as "Castle of the Court", which denotes its origins when initially constructed during the Middle Ages. Initially planned in the 13th century as the seat of the Dukes of Austria, the palace expanded over the centuries, as they became increasingly powerful. From 1438 to 1583, and again from 1612 to 1806, it was the seat of the Habsburg kings and emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, and thereafter until 1918 the seat of the Emperors of Austria.
    Visited December 2022
    Written 2 February 2023
  • Voyageur544
    150 contributions
    The Hofburg - an absolute must
    The Hofburg was brilliant. Lots to see and take in and learn about the Emperor and of course his wife, Sisi. The buildings are amazing and well looked after, deep in history. We went around 2pm and stayed for about 2.5/3 hours. Audio tours are well worth it. In the heart of downtown Vienna with the Spanish Horses sharing the building. Also highly recommend a visit there even if just to book into a training hour at 10am one morning.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 17 February 2023
  • Wael khalifa
    Cairo, Egypt191 contributions
    A must see attraction
    The ticket is for 3 attractions the silver collection where you go through many rooms filled with China dishes, serving plates, center pieces and more. The Sisi museums which takes your for a full history about Sisi and finally the royal apartments which are very well maintained. We took the audio tour which was very nice there is also normal tours.
    Visited February 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 February 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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jerryl0u
Munich, Germany6 contributions
Close to the center ..
Oct 2023 • Business
Very clean and charming , I woul recomend it for dew days and a short visit. Our hotel was not so far and it was easy to visit .I said my friends to visit it again because of the silence.
Written 3 November 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.
CabanaWoman
Shreveport, LA227 contributions
Grand Imperial Life
Aug 2023 • Friends
The Hofburg is an amazing complex of palaces that give the feel of imperial life lived by the Habsburgs, including Sisi. It is all grand!
Written 25 October 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.
raybyerley
Mandeville, LA3,547 contributions
Squeezed in this last stop before sailing upstream on the Danube 10/14
Oct 2023 • Couples
Of the many museum choices here, we picked the Si Si Museum mainly to see the royal apartments.

But this museum starts with a history in the life of Elizabeth ( Si Si), we had a personal audio device to get a commentary at 30 or 40 different spots walking through the museum rooms.
Written 14 October 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.
Annie P
Hollywood, FL384 contributions
A vast structure
Sep 2023 • Couples
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 ...
Written 13 September 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.
AdventureMN95
Minneapolis, MN125 contributions
Romanticized History
Sep 2023 • Solo
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
Written 10 September 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.
Fiona01926
Warwick, UK8 contributions
Truly something special
Sep 2023 • Solo
Enjoyed an excellent guided tour of this impressive collection of buildings, which grew and were adapted to meet the needs of the Habsburg ruling family and then continue serving the people of Austria right through to the present. As walls can’t talk it was wonderful to have their story told through the words of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable historian so we could just gaze at its magnificent splendour.
Written 5 September 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.
xcschlr
Milwaukee, WI259 contributions
The Grandest and most lavish place in the city
Jul 2023 • Couples
The Hofsburg seems to be the architecturally grandest and interiorly most lavishly decorated place in Viena. We got the Sisi combination tickets that allowed us to visit the Hofsburg Place, the Schönbrunn Place and the Imperial Furniture Museum, since the prices of tickets to the two places already exceeded the price of the combination ticket.
Written 2 September 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.
Razvan Iulian
Bucharest, Romania11 contributions
Amazing Place
Dec 2022
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.
Written 13 August 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.
𝓝𝓪𝓽𝔂 ® 👑
Moscow, Russia1,16,080 contributions
Hofburg
Jun 2023 • Couples
For several centuries, the Hofburg personified the power of the Hamburgs and was their winter residence. I really liked the luxurious collection of dishes and the exposition dedicated to Sisi.
Written 9 August 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.
JJJC_Family
Virginia808 contributions
No way you are going to miss this
May 2023 • Couples
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.
Written 17 July 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 (Vienna) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

Frequently Asked Questions about The Hofburg
The Hofburg admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost ₹ 5,095.82, while a popular guided tour starts around ₹ 555.74 per person.
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