Wien Tickets

Which Schonbrunn Palace entrance to use? | Hietzinger, Haupttor, & Orangery

TL;DR: Which entrance should you use at Schönbrunn Palace?

If you’ve booked a palace entry ticket or guided tour, use the Haupttor (main gate) on Schönbrunner Schlossstraße—it’s the main meeting point and where skip-the-line/timed tickets are checked.

  • For shorter queues, especially on weekends, try the quieter Hietzinger Tor, which leads straight into the gardens. 
  • Guided tours always start at the main gate. 
  • If you need wheelchair access, head for the Meidlinger Tor, which has a step-free path and easier access to the Vienna Zoo and Palm House.
  • If you’re arriving by U4 metro, the main gate is right across the street. For drivers, the Meidlinger side is usually more convenient for parking.
  • Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to clear security comfortably, especially at the main gate.

​Choose the best entrance for you

How many entrances are there at Schönbrunn?

There are four main entrances to Schönbrunn Palace and its grounds: the Haupttor (main gate) on the east side facing Schönbrunner Schlossstraße, Hietzinger Tor on the west side near Hietzing, Meidlinger Tor to the south by the zoo and Palm House, and the Orangery entrance opposite the U4 Schönbrunn station.

The main gate handles most palace ticket holders and tours, while the others give direct access to gardens or venues. Crowds can build at the Haupttor, but we’ll help you pick the right entrance for your visit.

Map of Schonbrunn Palace grounds showing entrances, highlights, and transit routes.

Choose the best entrance for you

TicketUse this entranceSkips the ticket line?Notes
Skip-the-line guided tours

Haupttor (main gate)

Yes for ticket desk, no for security

Tours always meet here; follow your voucher’s meeting pin.

Concert experiences

Orangery entrance

Yes (tickets usually scanned directly)

Located opposite U4 Schönbrunn station; entry only valid for concerts.

Combo tickets

Meidlinger Tor (Zoo) or Haupttor (Palace)

Yes for ticket desk, no for security

Use the entrance closest to your first activity; the ticket must be scanned.

Schönbrunn Palace has four main entrances, each suited to different visitor needs. Whether you’re here for a palace tour, a concert, or just a stroll through the gardens, knowing the right gate saves you time and stress.

Hate wasting time in lines? Here’s the fastest way into Schönbrunn Palace

During peak season, queues at the Haupttor can stretch well over 45 minutes, even with timed entry. With a skip-the-line guided tour, you bypass the crowded ticket desk and head straight into the palace through the fast-track lane. Your guide meets you at the gate, so you save time and get insider stories along the way.

Schönbrunn Palace facade with vibrant gardens, Vienna.

Accessible entrances at Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace offers several entrances, but not all are equally accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.

  • Meidlinger Tor (south side) is the most wheelchair-friendly entrance, with a step-free route leading directly into the grounds and toward the Zoo and Palm House. This gate avoids the cobblestone-heavy forecourt at the Haupttor, making it easier for wheelchairs, scooters, and strollers.
  • Haupttor (main gate) has some steps at the entry, but once inside the forecourt, ramps are available to reach the palace interior. Most guided tours begin here, so if you’re using a wheelchair or need extra assistance, set aside an extra 10 to 15 minutes to move through the courtyard and ramps before your tour begins.
  • The Hietzinger gate and Orangery entrance both provide step-free access into the gardens and concert venue, respectively. The Orangery has level entryways and concert seating with reserved wheelchair spots.

Across the site, ramps, tactile paving, and clear signage are in place, though the historic layout means some uneven surfaces remain. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the palace’s Information Center (ID required, subject to availability).

If you have a registered disability of 50% or more, you receive free admission to Schönbrunn Palace. One companion may also enter free of charge. Simply show valid proof of disability at the ticket counter when you arrive—no need to book separately online.

​Plan your visit to Schönbrunn Palace >

Security, bags, and re-entry

How to navigate between entrances?

  • Crowds at the Haupttor: Start via Hietzinger Tor for a calmer garden approach, then walk to the Main Gate for your palace slot; the gardens open from 6:30am, so you can arrive early and drift in before tours begin.
  • Zoo + Palace day: Begin at Meidlinger Tor (closest to the Zoo and Palm House), and after your zoo visit, walk through the gardens to the Haupttor for the palace interiors. If you are arriving by public transport, the Zoo is best reached via Hietzinger Tor near U4 Hietzing, while Meidlinger Tor is more convenient for south-side parking.
  • Day visit + evening concert: Tour via Haupttor, then walk about 300m along Schönbrunner Schlossstraße to the Orangery entrance opposite U4 Schönbrunn for the Mozart & Strauss concert.

Routes and tips

  • To walk inside the park from the Haupttor to Hietzinger Tor, go straight through the Great Parterre, pass the Neptune Fountain, and continue west on flat, signposted paths; the gardens are free to enter and open daily from 6:30am.
  • To reach Meidlinger Tor on foot, follow the palace’s south side toward the Palm House and the Desert House; the gate sits by the zoo edge, and the paths are mostly level.
  • For the Orangery from the Haupttor, exit the forecourt onto Schönbrunner Schlossstraße, turn left, and walk 3 to 5 minutes to the doors opposite U4 Schönbrunn.
  • Prefer less walking? Use the Schönbrunn panorama train, which serves nine stops including Hietzinger Tor, the Palm House and Zoo, and the Gloriette; it is wheelchair and pram accessible and runs daily from mid-March to October.
  • For the fastest switch outside the walls, ride the U4 metro line one stop between Hietzing and Schönbrunn; from Schönbrunn station, it is a 5 to 7-minute walk to the main gate.

​How to get to Schönbrunn Palace >

Brief history of Schönbrunn entrances

Frequently asked questions about Schönbrunn Palace entrances

Yes, you can enter through one gate and leave through another when you are visiting the gardens, which are free to access and connect all gates. For palace interiors, entry is controlled, and re-entry is not allowed once you exit, so plan to complete the State Rooms and any exhibitions before leaving the building.

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