Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace Skip-the-Line Private Tour & Gardens

Wander through palace halls and gardens with a private guide in vienna

You’ll slip past long lines at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna with your private guide, exploring ornate rooms and wandering through lush gardens at your own pace. Listen to stories of emperors and musicians while sunlight filters through grand windows. The tour includes hotel pickup if you want it, plus those quiet moments when history suddenly feels personal.

Options for this experience

4 options

From € 227.10 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

2h Highlight Tour: Palace and Garden 8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 15:00 Guide in 12 languages 2-hour Highlight Tour: admire 24 amazing rooms inside Schonbrunn Palace and explore the Garden and Gloriette. Expert guide: Official 5-Stars Guide who is an Expert with Schonbrunn License. The guide speaks fluently in the chosen language. ATVI004

2.5h: Grand Tour of Palace and Garden 8 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:30 Guide in 12 languages 2-hour 30-minute tour: choose the Grand Tour to explore 40 amazing rooms of Schonbrunn Palace, including ceremonial and representative halls. Expert guide: Official 5-Stars Guide who is an Expert with Schonbrunn License. The guide speaks fluently in the chosen language. ATVI004

3H Highlight Palace and Garden Transfer 11 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00 Guide in 12 languages 3-hour tour: join the Highlight Tour to explore 24 amazing rooms inside Schonbrunn Palace along with its fabulous Garden and Gloriette. Includes a 1-hour round trip transfer. Led by a Private Guide who is fluent in the chosen language. 5-Stars Private Guide: Official 5-Stars Private Guide who is an Expert in this kind of tour. The guide speaks fluently in the chosen language. ATVI004. Pickup is included.

3.5H Grand Palace and Garden Transfer 10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 13:30 Guide in 12 languages 3-hour 30-minute tour: join the Grand Tour to explore 40 amazing state rooms of Schonbrunn, its Gardens and Gloriette. Includes a 1-hour round trip transfer. Led by a Private Guide who is fluent in the chosen language. 5-Stars Private Guide: Official 5-Stars Private Guide who is an Expert in this kind of tour. The guide speaks fluently in the chosen language. ATVI004. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 5 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens Tour

• Skip the line at Schonbrunn Palace
• Explore 24 palace rooms with guide
• Visit Schonbrunn Palace Gardens
• See Angel Fountain and architecture
• Learn Habsburg family history

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Schönbrunn Palace Entry included 2h
2. Schönbrunn Palace Garden 40m

What’s included

Your day includes skip-the-line tickets for either the Imperial or Grand Tour of Schönbrunn Palace (depending on your choice), time exploring both palace interiors and gardens with an official private guide fluent in your language, plus optional hotel pickup and drop-off within Vienna for longer tours, so you won’t need to worry about transport or waiting around outside.

Times

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• Every day 09:00 09:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:30 14:00 14:30 15:00

Information

Step into Vienna’s imperial past with skip-the-line entry to Schönbrunn Palace, explore secret rooms & gardens, and enjoy a private guide plus easy pickup.

Group Private 5 similar group tours ›

Live guide English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Japanese, Polish and Russian

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 356 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to 10h before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Accessible transport Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.66 ★★★★★ Excellent 87 verified traveler reviews 83% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 72

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2 ★ 2

1 ★ 2

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The experience

He’s waving us over, already halfway up the gravel path: our guide, Thomas, who looks like he’s lived in Vienna forever. I’m still fumbling with my ticket but he just grins, “No rush, we’ll skip the line anyway.” The crowd outside Schönbrunn Palace is thick, but suddenly we’re gliding past them. Inside, the air smells faintly of old wood and polish, and I catch myself whispering even though no one says you have to. Thomas points out a tiny detail on a gilded doorframe: apparently Maria Theresa had a thing for hidden symbols. I wouldn’t have noticed it if he hadn’t paused right there.

The rooms go on and on, I lost count after ten, each one colder than the last, but the sunlight through those tall windows is warm enough to make me forget. There’s this moment in the Hall of Mirrors where everything feels hushed except for some distant footsteps and Thomas quietly explaining how Mozart played here as a kid. I try to picture that (all these chandeliers and velvet curtains), and it almost makes sense. We wander into the gardens next. It’s late morning so there’s dew still clinging to the grass. The air smells green (if that makes sense). A couple walks by with their dog and nods hello.

We climb up towards the Gloriette for what Thomas calls “the best view in Vienna”. He’s not wrong, though my legs are burning by then. He tells stories about the Habsburgs that don’t sound like textbook stuff. More like gossip passed down from someone’s grandmother. At some point I realize I haven’t checked my phone once since we started. Maybe it’s just being outside or maybe it’s all this history pressing in from every direction. Either way, I’m glad we didn’t rush through it.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 356 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you can type in your address.

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Croatian and Polish.

Is skip-the-line entry included for Schönbrunn Palace?

Yes, skip-the-line tickets are included for both Imperial and Grand Tour options.

Does this tour include transportation from my hotel in Vienna?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in the 3-hour and 3.5-hour options.

How many rooms do we see inside Schönbrunn Palace?

The highlight tour covers 24 rooms. The grand tour covers 40 rooms including ceremonial halls.

Are the palace and gardens wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible on this tour.

Is there a local guide during the tour?

Yes, you’ll be guided by an officially licensed Austrian guide who speaks your chosen language.

How long does the Schönbrunn Palace tour last?

You can choose between 2-hour, 2.5-hour, 3-hour or 3.5-hour options depending on your preference.

Are infants or small children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants can join. Prams/strollers are welcome and infant seats are available if needed.

Operated by Rosotravel - Vienna Tours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago