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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Top ways to experience The Hofburg
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
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • JaniO
    393 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Impressive historical landmark
    Visited this impressive historical landmark in late February 2023. Former palace with museums, a church, the Spanish Riding School and the Austrian National Library. Top place to visit when in Vienna.
    Visited February 2023
    Written 21 March 2023
  • 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 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 20 May 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 28 June 2023
  • Famontherun
    888 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 29 June 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 July 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 13 August 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
    Travelled solo
    Written 10 September 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
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 September 2023
  • Siobhan L
    Belton, Texas852 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
    Travelled solo
    Written 19 January 2024
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Yura1963
Toronto, Canada166 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Friends
Great tour Sisi tour well prepared. Make sure you have an audioguide. Royal Apartment are fantastic too. This palace is massive , go outside for the great pictures.
Written 28 February 2024
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.

Tiberiu_Baranyi
Timisoara, Romania12,986 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Friends
Since we did not have too much in Vienna in November and a friend in our group has never been in the city we took a stroll on the Graben and than we went to the see the Hofburg.
Obviously the museums and palaces were already closed - but in the evening light the palace was spectacular either ways.
We've entered through the gate of the St. Michael Wing - that has the gate decorated with the great statues , entered to the Inner Castle Square and than exited into the Heldenplatz (the Heroes Square).
For sure the museums were not open - and we did a sort of a hasty tour - but the Hofburg is impressive no matter when you are visiting ... and with the night lights it has a certain interesting "vibe" to it.
Either ways - it was a nice stroll - we made what we could whit the time we had - so yes no matter if you are going during the day - or in the evening it is definitely worth the visit.
Written 25 February 2024
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.

Siobhan L
Belton, TX852 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
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
Written 19 January 2024
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.

amandime colette
Cannes, France32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Amazing museum with god history,its one of the places you must visit when in vienna city.our guide was very knowleagable
Written 6 January 2024
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.

ckh371
Stockton-on-Tees, UK19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Wonderful architecture and interesting museum tours. Try to go early to avoid lots of queuing, and well worth listening to the audio to maximise your visit.
Written 23 December 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.

jerryl0u
Munich, Germany6 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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, LA228 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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, LA3,584 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
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
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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, MN127 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 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.

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THE HOFBURG: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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