Imperial Palace at the Heldenplatz

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Hofburg and Heldenplatz

For more than seven centuries, the empire of the Habsburgs was ruled from here. Even after the monarchy, it remains the official seat of the Austrian head of state – the federal president. From the 13th century onwards, the Habsburgs expanded this huge palace in stages to a total floor area of over 300,000 m2. Vienna's Imperial Palace is thus one of the biggest integrated palace complexes in the world.

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VIENNA/NOW episode on Vienna's Imperial Palace and its history.

Historically developed complex

The Gothic Hofburg Chapel, where the Vienna Boys' Choir performs during High Mass every Sunday, is a lasting reminder of the original medieval castle. The oldest part still in existence is the Swiss Wing with the imposing red-and-black Swiss Gate. Directly connected to it is the Amalienburg and the Leopold Wing, which today houses the official seat of the Austrian federal president. The open space between them bears the resounding name "In der Burg" (In the Castle). Further towards the city center, the Imperial Palace ends with St. Michael's Wing and its bronze dome. The complex continues along the Burggarten until it ends shortly before the Vienna State Opera. The final phase of construction, together with many Ringstrasse buildings, produced the most eye-catching section: The semicircular Neue Burg on Heldenplatz.

Art and culture on every corner

Today, some of Vienna's most visited museums and collections are housed in the Imperial Palace – mainly with an imperial background, of course. In the Sisi Museum, everything revolves around the world-famous Empress Elisabeth: The story of the real Sisi is told here, in contrast to the cult film series "Sissi". The former official and residential rooms of the Habsburgs can be viewed in the Imperial Apartments. The Imperial Treasury and the Imperial Silver Collection show valuable insignia (including the legendary crown of the Holy Roman Empire) and extraordinary table services of the Habsburgs.

The focus is on animals for the guided tours and performances of the Spanish Riding School, where the world-famous Lipizzaners and their riders carry out precision riding maneuvers and tricks. At the southern tip stands the Albertina with its masterpieces of classical Modernism and one of the world's most important graphic art collections. Another highlight is the Ceremonial Room of the Austrian National Library. It is the oldest Baroque library in Europe and among the world's most beautiful.

The extensive offering of museums is rounded off by the Weltmuseum Wien, the House of Austrian History, the Ephesos Museum, the Papyrus Museum, the Collection of Arms and Armour, and the Austrian Film Museum. Much more culture in one spot than this is rare in the world. And up to 300 events a year are held in the Hofburg Congress Center against an imperial backdrop.

With the Vienna City Card, you'll enjoy discounts for many of the cultural offerings in Vienna's Imperial Palace:

Buy your Vienna City Card now

Heldenplatz: Tourist hotspot and recreational area

Historic Heldenplatz, once planned as an extensive imperial forum (but never implemented), is dominated by the monumental equestrian statues of Prince Eugene and Archduke Karl. This spot affords the best view of the Neue Burg and the Leopold Wing. The meadow is not only used by tourists as a recreational area: Many Viennese come here in fine weather for a picnic or to practice trendy sports like spikeball or yoga. In the immediate vicinity, there's a whole bunch of parks and green areas to relax in – the Volksgarten, the Burggarten, and Maria-Theresien Platz.

Hofburg Chapel in the Imperial Palace

Hofburg, Schweizerhof
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -20%

      Additional information on the offer:

      The reduced ticket fees for the sunday masses are available via Hompage, E-Mail or at the box office.

  • Opening times

    • Mo, 10:00 - 14:00
    • Tu, 10:00 - 14:00
    • Fr, 11:00 - 13:00
    • At these times, the Hofburg Chapel is open for viewing with free admission. Closed on public holidays.

      Opening hours High Mass (ticket required): every Sunday from mid-September to the end of June the following year, as well as on Dec. 25. Mass starts at 9:15 a.m., admission starts at 8:00 a.m.

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • 20 Steps (Double swinging doors )
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair places (with access by elevator) can be booked via the office of the Chapel of the Imperial Palace: office@hofmusikkapelle.gv.at or Fax: +43 1 533 99 27-75.

    • Comments

      2 x 3 steps inside the building, no ramps.

Heldenplatz

Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna

Neue Burg

Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • We - Su, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
        on left next to main entrance via wheelchair ramp
      • Ramp 300 cm wide
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • 5 Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        at Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
      • Door 65 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair rental possible (reserve one day in advance).

    • Comments

      Notification by telephone approx. 15 minutes before arrival at the front desk suggested (Tel. +43 1 52 524-7010), automatic gate and stairlift, operation with "Euro Key", then 5 steps to the ticket counter. Elevator available at ticket counter level (door width: 65 cm, cabin depth: 120 cm, cabin width: 140 cm). The collection of ancient instruments and the collections of arms and armor are only accessible via this elevator, the Ephesos Museum can only be reached from this level via steps (total 60 steps).

Sisi Museum

Michaelerplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Comments

    • Entrance via Batthyanytor/Michaelerkuppel

  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -8%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 19,50€, reduced ticket price: 18,00€ /
      Sisi Ticket (Schönbrunn palace, Sisi Museum & Imperial Furniture Museum): 45,00€ instead of 49,00€ / Tickets on www.imperialtickets.com and on site

  • Opening times

    • daily, 09:00 - 17:30
    • (Last entry: 16:30 h)

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
    • Elevator available
      • 125 cm wide and 129 cm low , Door 79 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Admission free for a person accompanying a blind visitor or a visitor in a wheelchair, provided that the accompanying person is included in the ID.

    • Comments

      Barrier-free access to the exhibition rooms on the 1st floor by elevator.

Imperial Apartments (Kaiserappartements)

Hofburg
1010 Vienna
  • Comments

    • Entrance via Entrance via Batthyanytor/Michaelerkuppel

  • Opening times

    • September to June
      Daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
    • July to August
      Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
    • Guided tour for children Sa - Su, 10:30 - 14:30
    • Guided tour for children on holidays, 10:30 - 14:30
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
    • Elevator available
      • 125 cm wide and 129 cm low , Door 79 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Admission free for a person accompanying a blind visitor or a visitor in a wheelchair, provided that the accompanying person is included in the ID.

    • Comments

      The Imperial Apartments are located on the 1st floor and are accessible by elevator.

      Number of steps to the first floor (Imperial Apartments): 72


Imperial Treasury Vienna (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer Wien)

Hofburg, Schweizerhof
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -6%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 16€ / reduced ticket price: 15€

  • Prices

    • Free admission for young people under 19 years of age
  • Opening times

    • Mo, 09:00 - 17:30
    • We, 09:00 - 17:30
    • Th, 09:00 - 17:30
    • Fr, 09:00 - 17:30
    • Sa, 09:00 - 17:30
    • Su, 09:00 - 17:30
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Double swinging doors 200 cm wide)
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        Public parking spaces for people with disabilities on Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
      • Door 80 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair rental (reserve at least one day ahead)

    • Comments

      Exhibition rooms: 20 steps and elevator.

Imperial Silver Collection (Silberkammer) Currently closed!

Hofburg
1010 Vienna
  • Comments

    • Entrance via Batthyanytor/Michaelerkuppel

  • Opening times

    • Currently closed.

  • Accessibility

    • Elevator available
      • 125 cm wide and 129 cm low , Door 79 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Comments

      Access to the exhibition rooms: 1st floor can be reached barrier-free by elevator

Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule)

Michaelerplatz 1 (Besucherzentrum/Visitor Center)
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -11%

      Special Offer:

      5 % discount in the store on presentation of the VCC

      Additional information on the offer:

      Discount is valid on the training. Reduced ticket only available on site.

      Highseason: April - October and December
      Seated: Standard ticket price: 20 € (Savings: 2 €)
      Standing place: Standard ticket price: 18 € (Savings: 2 €)

      Off season: January - March and November
      Seated: Standard ticket price: 19 € (Savings: 2 €)
      Standing place: Standard ticket price: 17 € (Savings: 2 €)

  • Opening times

    • Mo - Su, 09:00 - 16:00
  • Accessibility

    • Car parks Main entrance
      • Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        in the Inner Courtyard
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Request for wheelchair spaces at morning exercises, tours or performances (prices and availability) must be made by email: office@srs.at.

Albertina

Albertinaplatz 1
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -10%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 19,90€ / Savings: 2€ off the daily valid sales price at the museum cash desk (special offers excluded)

  • Opening times

    • Mo, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Tu, 10:00 - 18:00
    • We, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 18:00
    • on holidays, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Double swinging doors 190 cm wide)
    • Elevator available
      • Door 150 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair rental (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Guided tours in sign language available (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Guided tours for blind people available as well as for people with slight to moderate dementia and their escorts (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Please inform Art Mediation department about wheelchair uses in advance. Reduced admission for persons with special needs

    • Comments

      Access to all exhibition rooms, to the restaurant / café and to the Shop: no steps. All rooms are wheelchair-accessible.

      Wheelchair-accessible restrooms on levels 1 and -1, restroom on level 1: door width: 90 cm, room dimensions: 180 x 110 cm.

Austrian National Library (Prunksaal der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek)

Josefsplatz 1
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -20%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 10€ / Reduced ticket price: 8€

  • Opening times

    • Tu - We, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Fr - Su, 10:00 - 18:00
    • From June to September it is also open on Mondays from 10-18h

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
    • Elevator available
      • Door 90 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Guided tours for visitors with disabilities and special needs on prior arrangement.

    • Comments

      Main entrance on first floor and access to Grand Hall on second floor: entrance Josefsplatz.

Weltmuseum Wien (World Museum Vienna)

Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -6%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 16€

  • Opening times

    • Tu, 10:00 - 21:00
    • We - Su, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Automatic sliding doors )
        accessible by platform lift.
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • 5 Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        on Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
      • Door 92 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Tactile tours for the blind and visually impaired provided upon request.

    • Comments

      Automatic gate (width: 130 cm) operated with "Euro-Key". Elevator to the special exhibition areas on the first floor as well as to the exhibition areas on the mezzanine.
      The event area is also wheelchair-accessible on request and accompanied by a staff member (contact via intercom at the entrance to the WMW-Forum and at the ticket counter).
      Both the cook café & bistro and the shopping are in the hall of columns can be accessed without steps by means of an elevator.
      Wheelchair-accessible restroom on the upper first floor and mezzanine.

House of Austrian History (Haus der Geschichte Österreich)

Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -17%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 9€
      Savings: 1,50€

  • Opening times

    • Tu, 10:00 - 18:00
    • We, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
        no steps
    • Elevator available
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Discounts with disability ID.

    • Comments

      The door at the top of the left-hand ramp can be opened with a Eurokey or by using the intercom.
      Access to all other levels by elevator.

Ephesus Museum (Ephesos-Museum)

Neue Burg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • Tu, 10:00 - 18:00
    • We, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
        Entrance Haus der Geschichte Österreichs (House of Austrian History)
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • 5 Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        at Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Tours in sign language and in easy-to-understand language on request; Further information: kunstvermittlung@khm.at or Tel. +43-1-525 24-5202

    • Comments

      To get to the entrance hall, there are a few steps to climb: there is a stair lift (load capacity 225 kg).

      This can be operated with Eurokey or by registering via an intercom system.

      Pre-registration by telephone under: +43 1 534 10 805

Papyrus Museum

Neue Burg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -10%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 5€ / Reduced ticket price: 4,50€

  • Prices

    • Free admission for young people under 19 years of age
  • Opening times

    • Tu - Su, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 21:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
        Middle gate of the New Castle via left ramp, registration via intercom system
      • Ramp 280 cm wide
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        at Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Guided tours for people with special needs on request, Registration by telephone at: +43 1 534 10 511

    • Comments

      Lobby: 7 steps up - hoist used to transport people (width: 96 cm, depth: 78 cm), service desk: 5 steps down - hoist used to transport people (width: 90 cm, depth: 132 cm), entrance to Papyrus Museum: 20 steps down, elevator available (width: 80 cm, depth: 90 cm), then 9 further steps down. Right door wing can be opened with special key or prior notification by interphone and Tel. +43 1 534 10 511.

Collection of Arms and Armor (Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer)

Hofburg, Neue Burg, Heldenplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • Tu - We, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Fr - Su, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
        entrance at World Museum Vienna (Weltmuseum Wien) by platform lift.
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • 5 Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        at Heldenplatz
    • Elevator available
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair rental possible (please reserve one day in advance).
 Touching tours on request for visually impaired and blind people. Tours in sign language and easy-to-understand language.
 Further information: kunstvermittlung@khm.at or Tel. +43-1-525 24-5202

    • Comments

      The collections of arms and armor is also accessible with an elevator.

Austrian Film Museum (Österreichisches Filmmuseum)

Augustinerstraße 1
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • Mo - Su, 17:00 - 23:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Swinging doors )
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        Parking spaces for visitors with disabilities in the immediate vicinity (Albertinaplatz 2, at "Café Mozart”).
    • Elevator available
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • 2 Wheelchair spaces available (cinema)
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Inductive hearing system in the cinema.

    • Comments

      Access to cinema and café: no steps.

      Additional information about your barrier-free visit: https://www.filmmuseum.at/en/visit/barrier_free_visit

Volksgarten

Volksgarten, Burgring
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • April to October
      • daily, 06:00 - 22:00
    • November to March
      • daily, 07:00 - 17:30

Burggarten

Burggarten
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • 01 April to 30 October
      • daily, 06:00 - 22:00
    • 01 November to 31 March
      • daily, 07:00 - 17:30

Maria-Theresien-Platz

Maria-Theresien-Platz
1010 Vienna
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