Schönbrunn Palace Grounds Walk

By Vicky · Published Sep. 16th, 2025 · Updated Sep. 23rd, 2025

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Follow this self-guided tour around Schönbrunn Palace Grounds, visiting all the major attractions and highlights of the park.

How to get to Schönbrunn Palace

There are many ways to reach Schönbrunn Palace. The underground, tram and bus are all very convenient. There’s also a car park, but it’s much easier to get public transport.

Underground

Line U4 stops at Schloss Schönbrunn and leaves directly from Karlsplatz near the centre of Vienna. It takes 10 minutes, leaving every 10 minutes. If you’re in the very centre of Vienna, for example by the cathedral, you can catch the U1 underground to Karlsplatz and change there. Alternatively, it’s a 15-minute walk from the cathedral.

Tram

Trams 10 and 60 stop at Schloss Schönbrunn. This can be a good option if you’re coming from Westbahnhof or the north-western suburbs.

Bus

Bus 10A stops right outside the palace. It’s also a potential optin if you’re coming from the north-western suburbs.

Alternatively, the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus* comes here.

Schönbrunn Palace Grounds Walking Tour Map

Top Things to Do at Schönbrunn Palace

Discover the best things to do in and around Schönbrunn Palace.

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Top Tours of Schönbrunn Palace

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Schönbrunn Palace Grounds Walking Tour Route

This walking tour starts from the front of Schönbrunn Palace. If you haven’t got your ticket to the palace already, first head to the ticket office just inside the main gate on your left. If not, head onwards to the palace. The entrance is on the left.

1. Schönbrunn Palace

Key Information: Open daily from 8:30am. Tickets have fixed admission times and ideally should be reserved in advance. Tours last 40-75 minutes.

Schönbrunn Palace itself is the main attraction and one of the top things to do in Vienna. It makes sense to visit the palace either first or last, since the gardens stretch quite a long way from the palace building and you don’t want to be rushing back in the middle of walking around the palace grounds.

An advantage of visiting first is that you then don’t have to worry about the timing of your palace entrance. An advantage of visiting last is that in the early morning, when it’s less busy, you can wander around the grounds (though note that some attractions in the grounds only open at 9:30am).

Directions: Whether you’ve already done the palace tour or not, walk around the left side of the palace (when looking at it). You’ll reach both the Orangerie (on the left) and the Privy Gardens (on the right).

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Top Activities at Schönbrunn Palace

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2. Orangerie

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass or exclusive Gardens at Schönbrunn. Open April – October from 9:30am.

The orangerie was, and still is, used to house the more exotic plants during winter, in particular orange trees. In the summer, the plants are mainly set outside in the garden, and there’s even a small vineyard!

3. Privy Garden

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass or exclusive Gardens at Schönbrunn. Open April – October from 9:30am.

The Privy Garden is a formal garden that’s best appreciated from the end further from the palace. There’s a raised bridge, and from here you can see the precise geometry of the garden.

Directions: From here, continue with a lovely walk around Schönbrunn Palace Grounds.

4. Schönbrunn Palace Grounds Walk

By clicking on Number 4 on the map above, you can see a suggested walk through the palace grounds. This route brings you to the main attractions, plus several of the smaller ones, such as the many fountains.

Directions: The general route heads into the grounds and left from the Privy Gardens. You’ll pass the Obelisk Fountain, the Roman Ruin (not really from Roman times), and then a pigeon house, before reaching the large Neptune Fountain.
This suggested route then heads up to the Gloriette for great views, and it’s also a great place for a coffee and cake. After heading back down the other side, you’ll be in the Great Parterre. The Maze Garden and Zoo are immediately on your left. Continue left through the gardens, and you’ll reach the Palm House, little Japanese Garden, Botanical Garden and Desert House.
After the Desert House, return towards the main park entrance. You pass the Children’s Museum and are close to the Imperial Carriage Museum if you’re interested in either of those.

5. Gloriette

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass or Exclusive Gardens at Schönbrunn. Houses Café Gloriette, open from 9am.

The Gloriette is a wonderful structure at the top of the hill overlooking the palace and grounds below. The panoramic roof terrace (paid, summer only) has slighlty better views than from floor-level and there’s also a charming cafe inside, with outdoor seating in summer.

6. Maze Garden

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass or exclusive Gardens at Schönbrunn or combined with the Children’s Museum. Open April – October from 9:30am.

There are actually a few mazes/labyrinths in the Maze Garden. You don’t have to be a child to enjoy them; they are very fun. There is also a children’s playground within this little garden.

7. Schönbrunn Zoo

Key Information: Open daily from 9am. There are several cafes and restaurants inside.

Schönbrunn Zoo is the oldest zoo in the world, created back in 1752. Even though it seems small from the outside, there’s lots to see on the inside and a visit lasts about half a day. If you plan to visit both the palace, grounds and zoo on the same day, arrive early to fit everything in!

8. Palm House

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass Plus or individually, or combined with the Desert House. Open from 10am.

The Palm House looks great from the outside, but it’s also worth exploring the inside. There are many exotic plants, and the narrow walkways make it feel like you’re walking through a jungle. There are many benches and signs explaining everything about the plants, including coffee, vanilla and many more. You could spend a long time inside if you read about everything.

9. Desert House

Key Information: Entrance included with the Classic Pass Plus or individually, or combined with the Palm House. Open from 9am.

The Desert House is smaller than the Palm House and the plants are less impressive, but there are some desert animals. For example, snakes, desert tortoises and a few more creatures that thrive in desert environments.

10. Children’s Museum

Key Information: Entrance individually or combined with the Maze, or with the Maze plus Zoo. Open daily, 10am-5pm.

The Children’s Museum is a museum both about the life of Children in olden times, and a museum designed for children to enjoy. There are many interactive stations, and you can dress up in posh old clothes. It’s a super fun place for kids. The recommended age range is 3 to 12 years old. 

11. Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna

Key Information: Entrance individually. Open winter 10am-4pm, summer 9am-5pm.

The Imperial Carriage Museum, as the name suggests, displays many, many carriages. A lot of them are gold-encrusted and very fancy. Also shown are the clothes of the emperors/empresses and portraits of horses owned by Empress Sisi.

Explore different areas of Vienna on our other walking tours: Central Vienna, Along the Ringstrasse, and Belvedere & Around. For more walking tours and hikes in Austria, see our Austria Hiking Page.

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