Ride the U4 directly from Schottenring to Schoenbrunn - no transfers, no hassle. Vienna's most visited attraction is a straight metro ride from your doorstep. From €45/night.
Schoenbrunn Palace is Austria's most visited tourist attraction, drawing nearly 4 million visitors per year. This UNESCO World Heritage Site served as the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty from the 18th century until the fall of the empire in 1918. The palace complex contains 1,441 rooms, of which 45 are open to the public, ranging from the lavish Great Gallery where the Congress of Vienna held its balls in 1814-15 to the modest rooms where Emperor Franz Joseph I was born in 1830 and died in 1916.
The palace gardens are equally spectacular and free to enter. The formal French garden, designed in the geometric style, stretches from the palace toward the Gloriette - a triumphal arch-like structure on the hilltop that offers a stunning view back over the palace and the Vienna skyline. The gardens also contain the world's oldest zoo (Tiergarten Schoenbrunn, founded 1752), the Palmenhaus (a massive iron-and-glass greenhouse from 1882), a hedge maze, an orangery, and Roman ruins that were deliberately built as decorative follies in 1778.
Inside the palace, highlights include the Million Room, paneled with precious rosewood and Indo-Persian miniatures, the Vieux-Laque Room with its black lacquer panels from Beijing, and the Mirror Room where six-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed for Empress Maria Theresa in 1762. The Grand Tour ticket lets you see all 45 rooms and typically takes 50-60 minutes. Visiting the gardens, zoo, and other attractions can easily fill an entire day.
One of the biggest advantages of Old Vienna Apartments is its location directly on the U4 metro line. Schottenring station is a 1-minute walk from the apartment, and the U4 runs directly to Schoenbrunn station with no transfers required. This is significant because most accommodations in central Vienna require at least one transfer to reach Schoenbrunn - but from Herminengasse 12, you simply board the U4 towards Hutteldorf and ride it straight there.
The U4 line is one of Vienna's most scenic metro routes, following the course of the Wien River through the city. Many of the stations along this line were designed by Otto Wagner, the pioneer of Viennese Art Nouveau, and are architectural landmarks in their own right. Your morning commute to Schoenbrunn is not just convenient - it's a mini sightseeing tour.
Accommodation directly near Schoenbrunn Palace is limited mostly to chain hotels in the 13th and 14th districts, which are residential suburbs without much evening life or dining variety. By staying in Leopoldstadt, you get the best of both worlds: quick access to Schoenbrunn by day and the vibrant restaurants, bars, and cultural scene of inner Vienna by night.
Walk 1 minute to Schottenring station. Take the U4 towards Hutteldorf. Ride approximately 9 stops to Schoenbrunn station. The journey takes around 17 minutes. Exit the station and follow the signs - the palace entrance gate is a 3-minute walk. The U4 runs every 3-5 minutes during the day, so you rarely wait long.
Schoenbrunn opens at 9:00 AM daily. To avoid the worst crowds, aim to arrive right at opening or after 3:00 PM. The Imperial Tour (22 rooms, ~35 min) costs less than the Grand Tour (45 rooms, ~55 min), but the Grand Tour includes the more impressive state rooms. The gardens are free and open from 6:30 AM, making them perfect for an early morning walk before the palace opens. The zoo, Palmenhaus, and maze each require separate tickets, or you can buy a combined ticket for significant savings.
Cafe Residenz (inside Schoenbrunn grounds): Located in the former court bakery, this cafe serves classic Viennese pastries including their own Schoenbrunn Torte. The terrace overlooks the palace courtyard.
Cafe Gloriette (atop the Gloriette): A cafe with arguably the best terrace view in Vienna, looking down over the palace and gardens from the hill. Open seasonally, April through October. Worth the uphill walk.
Plachuttas Gasthaus zur Oper (near Karlsplatz, on the way back): If you stop at Karlsplatz on your U4 return journey, this restaurant serves outstanding Tafelspitz and classic Austrian dishes at more reasonable prices than its famous sibling on Wollzeile.
Brandauers Bierbar (Am Hof, city center): Not near Schoenbrunn itself, but a great spot for dinner after returning to the inner city - just off the U4 line. Serves Austrian beer hall classics in a lively atmosphere.
| Destination | Distance | Walking | Public Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schoenbrunn Palace | 7.5 km | ~90 min | 20 min (U4 direct) |
| Schottenring Metro (U2/U4) | 100 m | 1 min | - |
| Tiergarten Schoenbrunn (Zoo) | 8.0 km | - | 25 min (U4 + walk) |
| Karlsplatz (en route) | 2.5 km | 30 min | 8 min (U4, 4 stops) |
| Vienna International Airport | 20 km | - | 25 min (CAT from Wien Mitte) |
Fully equipped apartments from €45/night. No transfers needed to reach Schoenbrunn Palace.
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