Is the Hofburg free to visit?
Updated September 18, 2026
Quick answer
Walking through it is free. The courtyards, Heldenplatz, Michaelerplatz, the Burggarten and the Volksgarten are public ground and cost nothing. Every museum inside charges, from EUR 16 for the Imperial Treasury to EUR 20 for the palace route.
The Hofburg is a quarter of the city rather than a building with a gate, which is why the question comes up at all. You can cross it on the way to the Ring, stand in two courtyards, walk two parks and look at the facades without paying anyone. What you cannot do for nothing is go into a room with something in it.
Free, and open
In der Burg and the Schweizerhof, the two main courtyards, are open ground, with the Franz I monument in one and the red and black Swiss Gate between them. Heldenplatz and Michaelerplatz bracket the complex at either end. The Burggarten, the emperor's private garden until it was not, and the Volksgarten with its roses are public parks.
- The courtyards — In der Burg and the Schweizerhof, walk through at any hour
- The squares — Heldenplatz and Michaelerplatz, including the Roman excavations in the middle of the latter
- The gardens — Burggarten and Volksgarten, both public parks
- The stables window — The Lipizzan stallions can be seen from Reitschulgasse without a ticket
What charges, and how much
The palace museum route is EUR 20 for an adult. The Imperial Treasury is EUR 16 online, and free for under-19s, which is the cheapest serious museum here for a family. The Albertina is EUR 20.90 with under-19s free. The State Hall is set by the Austrian National Library, whose site we could not reach on 18 September 2026, so we do not quote it.
The cheapest ticketed thing in the palace
The Burgkapelle's Sunday mass, sung by the Vienna Boys' Choir from September to June, has ticketed seats and a free standing area at the back. The morning training session at the Spanish Riding School, at about $20, is the cheapest way into the Winter Riding School.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk around the Hofburg for free?
Yes. The courtyards, both squares and both gardens are public and cost nothing at any hour.
Is the Burggarten free?
Yes, it is a public park, as is the Volksgarten across the Ring.
Is anything inside free?
Under-19s enter the Imperial Treasury and the Albertina free. The Burgkapelle's Sunday mass has a free standing area at the back.
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