The Solo Scale:
There’s no shortage of palaces in Europe. Dilapidated, resplendent, lived-in, abandoned — you name it, Europe’s got it. You might even decide you’re getting sick of them, but if you’re in Vienna, that can’t possibly be the case. It’s a must-visit, solely for the incredible gardens and the view of the city. One of the most stunning palaces I’ve ever seen is Schönbrunn Palace. The colours alone make it more vibrant and incredible than many other palaces that prefer to go for an ivory white.
Your visit starts inside the palace . This can be a very popular destination for tourists, including on bus tours, so buy your tickets in advance! They’re not too fussy about the time of arrival, as we were a few hours late for ours, but it was fine). Inside the palace, you’ll discover a few options for tours — Imperial or Grand. With the Grand, you’ll have access to everything, but specifically areas from Maria Theresa’s days. In the Imperial, it will mainly be the rooms belonging to Franz Joseph & Sisi.
Either way, no matter what you choose, it will be an amazing view, but photographs and video in the palace is off-limits. If you’re curious about the rooms you could see and want more information to make a more educated choice (or maybe you just want to explore online because Vienna isn’t in the plans), you can check out the virtual tour on the website here.
Give yourself an hour to two hours to explore inside, and then you’ll head out to what I consider the best part of the visit — the gardens.
Not to be outdone by the grandeur of the palace, the gardens are magnificent and vast. If you want to walk up the hill to the gloriette at the top of the hill, you might need to do some cardio training — or just take it a little slower. It’s worth the hike, though. From the top, you’ll get a fantastic view of Vienna.
Now, be warned (again) — it is a hell of a hike. Once you’re done with the maze and labyrinths and rose gardens at the base, you can head up for a view of Vienna that is truly impressive considering you’re just headed up the hill. Before you come back down, take your time and relax on the grass. There’s no rush, after all. You’ll also notice on your hike back down that you can also visit the zoo. We didn’t on our trip, but only because we ran out of time. If you want to make a whole day of it, work that into your plans.
TRIP TIP: End your visit with a delicious apple strudel in the café in front of the Palace. You’ll get an amazing view, a great treat, and it will leave you relaxed and ready to take on Vienna.
To get more information for your visit, to buy tickets, or to learn more, visit the website here.
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