Is the Hofburg worth visiting with children?
Updated September 18, 2026
Quick answer
In parts. The palace route is rooms and labels, which younger children tire of quickly, but the Imperial Treasury and the Albertina both admit under-19s free, the Lipizzaners are horses, and the butterfly house is ten minutes away.
The Hofburg was not built to entertain anyone under fifteen, and pretending otherwise makes for a bad afternoon. The workable version treats the palace route as the short adult part and builds the rest of the day around things that move.
What costs nothing for children
Two of the best museums here are free for under-19s: the Imperial Treasury, where the draw is a crown and a lance with a legend attached, and the Albertina. On the palace route, children aged 6 to 18 pay EUR 12 against EUR 20 for an adult, and school groups EUR 8 per pupil.
- Imperial Treasury — Free for under-19s; crowns, the Holy Lance, about an hour
- Albertina — Free for under-19s; open to 21:00 Wednesdays and Fridays
- Palace route — EUR 12 for ages 6 to 18
- Courtyards and gardens — Free, level and open at any hour
The things that hold attention
Horses first: the morning training session at the Spanish Riding School is about $20 and shows the stallions working, which is livelier for children than a formal performance and half the price. Then the Imperial Armoury in the Neue Burg, the butterfly house in the Burggarten, and the Treasury's sheer glitter.
Practicalities
There is a cloakroom on the palace route and a lift at the entrance and exit, which also solves prams. Photography is allowed without flash or selfie sticks. Pets are not permitted, assistance dogs excepted, which catches families travelling with a dog.
Frequently asked questions
Do children pay at the Hofburg?
On the palace route, EUR 12 for ages 6 to 18. The Imperial Treasury and the Albertina admit under-19s free.
What is best for children at the Hofburg?
The morning training at the Spanish Riding School, the Imperial Armoury in the Neue Burg, and the butterfly house in the Burggarten.
Can I take a pram into the palace route?
There is a lift at the entrance and exit and a cloakroom for what you would rather not carry.
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