Habsburg summer palace with 1,441 rooms, Baroque gardens, and the Gloriette hilltop pavilion. This is where Maria Theresa ruled and Mozart performed as a child. Imperial grandeur at full scale.
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Tour the palace state rooms (Grand Tour for the full 40 rooms), walk the formal gardens to the Gloriette for panoramic views back to the palace and across Vienna. The Neptune Fountain and maze are worth the detour. Allow half a day.
Morning for palace tours before crowds peak. Late afternoon for garden walking when tour groups have departed. Summer for the gardens in full bloom. Christmas market season transforms the forecourt into one of Vienna's best seasonal markets.
Built in the 17th century, redesigned under Maria Theresa in the 1740s in Rococo style. This was the Habsburg summer residence and political center for centuries. The six-year-old Mozart performed in the Mirror Room in 1762. Franz Joseph I was born here, spent every summer here, and died here in 1916 after 68 years as emperor. The gardens are free; palace entry requires tickets. Book online to skip lines. The Gloriette was built as a monument to victory and now houses a cafe with the best view of the palace.