Hofburg or Schoenbrunn: Which Palace to Visit
Updated September 18, 2026
Verdict
With one day in the centre and no travel time to spare, the Hofburg: it is in the old town, costs EUR 20, and takes about two hours. If you want gardens and the Habsburg story at its grandest, and have half a day, Schoenbrunn earns the trip out.
This is the most asked question about a Vienna trip and the operator that runs both answers it plainly: the Hofburg was the Habsburgs' main seat and winter residence, and Schoenbrunn was the summer residence. What you see differs accordingly. At the Hofburg you walk the apartments of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth, restored to historical models, plus the Silver Collection and the Sisi Museum. At Schoenbrunn the rooms are weighted to Maria Theresa's reign, and the gardens are half the visit. Checked 18 September 2026.
| Criterion | The Hofburg | Schoenbrunn Palace |
|---|---|---|
| What it was | Main seat and winter residence for six centuries | The imperial family's summer residence |
| Whose rooms | Franz Joseph and Elisabeth, on the piano nobile of the Imperial Chancellery Wing | Weighted to Maria Theresa's reign |
| Where | In the historic centre, 320 m from Herrengasse U-Bahn | Outside the centre, its own journey |
| Adult ticket | EUR 20 for the museum route | Set by the same operator; we have not verified it |
| Time needed | About two hours | Half a day with the gardens |
| Gardens | The Burggarten and Volksgarten, free and small | The formal park, the reason many people go |
The operator's own answer
Asked to explain the difference, the operator writes that the Hofburg was the main seat and winter residence for more than six centuries, and that you can visit the apartments of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth there, fully furnished and authentically restored. Schoenbrunn, it says, was the summer residence, where the emphasis falls on Maria Theresa and where Franz Joseph spent much of his life. Both descriptions come from the same house, which is unusual and useful.
Did Sisi live at the Hofburg?
Yes, and the operator addresses the confusion directly: she really did live here, on the main floor of the Amalia Wing, which the apartments tour includes. The Hofburg was the winter residence; in summer the family had Schoenbrunn and Laxenburg, and they often stayed at the imperial villa in Bad Ischl. So the answer is both palaces, in different seasons.
Doing both
The Sisi Pass covers the Hofburg, Schoenbrunn and the Imperial Furniture Collection for EUR 60 including an audio guide, which is the sensible route if you want both palaces. The Vienna PASS covers both as well, among 85 attractions, at about $125. Neither is worth buying for one palace.
Why we do not quote Schoenbrunn's price
We quote figures only where we have read them on the operator's own page. We verified the Hofburg's prices and hours on 18 September 2026 and have not done the same for Schoenbrunn, so this page compares what each palace is rather than pretending to a precision it has not earned. Check schoenbrunn.at before you plan around a number.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the Hofburg or Schoenbrunn?
The Hofburg if you are short of time and staying central: EUR 20, about two hours, in the old town. Schoenbrunn if you want the gardens and a half-day out.
Did Empress Elisabeth live at the Hofburg or Schoenbrunn?
Both. The operator says she lived on the main floor of the Amalia Wing at the Hofburg, the winter residence, and that the family used Schoenbrunn and Laxenburg in summer.
Is there a ticket covering both palaces?
The Sisi Pass covers the Hofburg, Schoenbrunn and the Imperial Furniture Collection for EUR 60. The Vienna PASS covers both among many other attractions.
Sources