When you look at the best things to do in Vienna, Schoenbrunn Palace and Gardens will surely come up. If you have more than one day in Vienna, you should add Schoenbrunn to your itinerary. Let me take you around the Schoenbrunn Gardens to help you plan your visit.
Schoenbrunn History
Schoenbrunn (Schönbrunn) means ‘beautiful spring‘ and takes its name from a well that provided water to the imperial court. The complex started as a hunting ground for Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Later, the Schoenbrunn Palace developed, and it became the imperial summer residence of Empress Maria Theresa. Today, Schoenbrunn Palace and its gardens are one of the major tourist attractions in Austria.
Schoenbrunn Gardens
Behind the Schoenbrunn Palace lies an ample park. Most areas are free to visit and walk around, and it’s an ideal place for running in Vienna. However, there are a few gardens that require a ticket to visit. Exploring the free park will easily take a couple of hours, and it’s a budget-friendly way to walk in imperial footsteps and get some great photos in the process.
If you want to visit the palace and some of the other gardens, plan to spend the better part of the day.
Free Areas of the Schoenbrunn Gardens
The park around the Schoenbrunn Palace extends for about a kilometer from the palace to the Gloriette on the hill and a little more from side to side.
On the southern side of Schoenbrunn Palace, the Grand Parterre with manicured flower beds creates an ample open space between the palace and the Neptune Fountain (Neptunbrunnen). 32 statues guard the French-inspired garden.
The Baroque-style Gloriette dominates the southern hill, creating great photo opportunities with the palace and Vienna in the background.
When you find the Roman ruins on one side of the park, they seem a little out of place. They were actually built in the 18th century when fashion dictated that rich properties should have some Roman ruins on the grounds. So, the ruins are fake, though they look much like the real thing.
Not far from the fake ruins, a well a beautiful white pavilion protects a well. It’s a peaceful place that makes you think this might be the spring that gave the domain the Schoenbrunn name.
Other Schoenbrunn Gardens
Some of the themed Schoenbrunn garden require buying a ticket. Choose the ones you are interested in from the list below and check the official website. The best deal is to choose a combined…
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