Vienna: Schönbrunn Palace Skip-the-Line & Ringstrasse Bus Tour

Marie Antoinette's Summer Palace Without the Wait

You ride a bus through Vienna's grand Ringstrasse, see seven major landmarks including the Vienna State Opera and Hofburg Palace, then skip the queue at Schönbrunn to walk through 22 opulent palace rooms with a live guide. You get 40 minutes free to explore the gardens or rest at the café before heading back. The whole day takes 3.5 hours and runs in small groups.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Vienna State Operapass by
2. Vienna Central Cemeterypass by
3. Hofburg Palacepass by
4. Vienna City Hallpass by
5. Kunsthistorisches Museum Viennapass by
6. Natural History Museum Viennapass by
7. Schönbrunn Palace45m · entry included

Vienna city tour and Schönbrunn Palace

• Pass Vienna State Opera by bus
• Admire Austrian Parliament building
• See Hofburg Palace grandeur
• Pass Vienna City Hall by bus
• Pass Art History Museum
• Pass Natural History Museum
• Skip line for Schönbrunn Palace tour
• Explore Schönbrunn Palace gardens and café

The experience

"The line here can wrap around the building by ten in the morning," our guide told us as we pulled up to Schönbrunn Palace. "But you're already inside." That skip-the-line access alone saves you an hour, sometimes two, depending on the season. The 3.5-hour tour starts with a bus loop through Vienna's Ringstrasse. You'll pass the Vienna State Opera, the neoclassical Parliament building, City Hall, and the Hofburg Palace, where Marie Antoinette once lived. The guide points things out over a headset (personal ones for groups of 10 or more), so you don't miss the details while the bus moves.

Then you walk into Schönbrunn itself. The palace has 1,441 rooms total, but the tour focuses on 22 of the most extravagant ones: the ones with the gold leaf, the frescoed ceilings, the furniture that belonged to emperors. You're moving through actual Habsburg history, not a replica. After the guided section, you get 40 minutes of free time. Some people sit in the café, some wander the gardens, some just stand in a room and let it sink in. The pace isn't rushed, and the groups stay small enough that you're not shuffling through in a crowd.

The whole thing runs in English daily, though on certain days it operates bilingually: German on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Spanish on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The bus is modern and air-conditioned, which matters when Vienna gets hot in summer. If you're traveling with a stroller, it needs to fold for transport, and if you've got a service animal, they're allowed on board.

What’s included

• Panoramic Vienna city tour by modern, air-conditioned bus.
• live on-board commentary through a personal headset (for groups of 10+).
• skip-the-line admission to Schönbrunn Palace.
• guided tour of 22 opulent palace rooms.
• 40 minutes of free time to explore the palace gardens or relax at the café.
• professional local guide.

Options for this experience

3 options

Guided in Spanish09:30Schönbrunn Palace tour led in Spanish; the title names no further difference from the other options.

Guided in English09:30Schönbrunn Palace tour led in English; the title names no further difference from the other options.

Guided in German09:30Schönbrunn Palace tour led in German; the title names no further difference from the other options.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 100 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Meeting point is 15-10 minutes before departure in front of the Opera Fountain at the Vienna State Opera. Take the lines U1 (red), U2 (purple) or U4 (green) to station "Karlsplatz".”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vienna Sightseeing Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want Vienna's main sights in one morning without planning separate tickets and transport: the fixed 3.5-hour schedule and skip-the-line access mean you see the Ringstrasse landmarks and Schönbrunn's best rooms without the logistics.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the tour?

3.5 hours total, including the bus tour through Vienna's city center, the guided palace walk, and 40 minutes of free time at Schönbrunn.

Do I really skip the line at Schönbrunn Palace?

Yes. You have skip-the-line admission included, so you go straight in while others wait outside.

How many rooms do you see inside the palace?

The guided tour covers 22 of the palace's most significant rooms, including the extravagant staterooms.

What happens during the free time at the palace?

You get 40 minutes to explore the palace gardens, sit at the café, or spend more time in the rooms on your own.

Are strollers allowed?

Yes, but they must be foldable for transport on the bus. Infants can also ride on an adult's lap.

What landmarks do you see on the bus tour?

The Vienna State Opera, Parliament building, City Hall, Hofburg Palace, the Art History Museum, and the Natural History Museum. You pass by these on the Ringstrasse before heading to Schönbrunn.

How big are the groups?

Groups stay small. Personal headsets are provided for groups of 10 or more inside the palace.

Is the bus air-conditioned?

Yes, the bus is modern and air-conditioned.

Can I bring a service animal?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.