Skip the lines at Schönbrunn | Save up to 60+ minutes

How to skip the lines at Schönbrunn Palace?

Queues at Schönbrunn Palace can stretch 60 to 120 minutes in peak months, especially between June and August. Long waits under the summer sun or rain are uncomfortable, and lines move slowly due to fixed entry slots. General admission is cheaper, but unpredictable queues mean you risk losing an hour or more of sightseeing time.

With skip-the-line tickets, you can usually enter in 10 to 20 minutes instead of waiting up to 2 hours. Here are the best skip-the-line options you can book right now:

  • Palace & Gardens skip-the-line guided tour (From €46.55 to €50): Dedicated group lanes mean you’re inside in about 10 to 15 minutes. Explore 22 opulent staterooms with a licensed guide and stroll through the gardens and courtyards. Small-group upgrades keep the experience more personal, while extended options add a city tour.
  • Combo: Palace skip-the-line tour + Zoo entry (From €69.87 to €70): The guided palace entry takes around 15 minutes, far quicker than the public ticket queue. Then it’s just a 10-minute walk to the zoo, where your timed entry ticket lets you bypass the on-site sales line.
  • Combo: Hop-on-hop-off bus tour + Schönbrunn & Belvedere (From €90 to €95): Pre-booked time slots at both palaces cut entry waits to 15 to 20 minutes. The included 48-hour bus pass means you can skip transport hassles while seeing Vienna’s landmarks at your own pace.
  • Mozart & Strauss concert (From €55 to €60): VIP tickets bypass the main concert-hall line, reducing waits to under 10 minutes. Enjoy premium front-row seating, a welcome drink, and a keepsake program booklet.
  • Concert & after-tours package (From €97 to €100): Timed entry after closing hours means virtually no waiting. You walk straight in for an exclusive audio-guided tour of the Imperial Rooms before enjoying a Mozart & Strauss concert.

See all your options to skip the lines at Schönbrunn Palace






Book Schönbrunn Palace skip-the-line tickets

Bypass the long ticket queues and head straight inside after a quick security check. These timed-entry options help you save up to two hours in peak season, so you can spend more time exploring the imperial staterooms and gardens, not standing outside.

Pro tip: Popular slots often sell out several days in advance between June and August, so secure your entry early.

























































What does ‘skip-the-line’ really mean for Schönbrunn Palace?

Skip-the-line tickets let you bypass the long ticket desk, but not security. With timed-entry, you use a reserved slot and typically enter within 15 to 20 minutes instead of 60 to 120. Guided tours often use a group entrance, while some packages include after-hours or early access, helping you avoid peak-hour congestion.

How long are the queues at the Schönbrunn Palace entrance?

During Vienna’s busy summer months, Schönbrunn Palace attracts over 4 million visitors annually, leading to long and slow-moving entry queues.

  • June to August: General admission lines often stretch for 60 to 120 minutes, especially between 10am and 2pm. Queues begin forming soon after the gates open around 8:30am, with midday bottlenecks spilling into the forecourt and limited shaded areas. Heat, rain, or cold make the wait more uncomfortable.
  • November to March: During the low season, wait times drop to 20 to 40 minutes, although mornings and weekends can still see steady crowds, particularly on Wednesdays after the palace’s Tuesday closure.

Arriving right at opening or after 4pm often means a significantly shorter line, sometimes none at all.

Note: These wait times apply to the entrance ticket queue only. All visitors must also pass through mandatory security screening after scanning their ticket.

Types of queues at the Schönbrunn Palace

Entry to Schönbrunn Palace is through the main courtyard entrance facing the Grand Parterre, where ticketing, security, and guided tour lines are organized.

Want to skip the 1 to 2 hour queues at Schönbrunn Palace? Start here

During peak summer, lines can stretch well past an hour. With this skip-the-line guided tour, you bypass the ticket desk and enter via the group entrance in about 15 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy the State Rooms and gardens.

Schönbrunn Palace entrance with columns and gates in Vienna, Austria.

All your options to skip the queues

Even with skip-the-line access, your experience will depend on timing, weather, and how early you arrive. Use this guide to book smart and make the most of your visit.

Frequently asked questions about Schönbrunn Palace skip-the-line tickets

Skip-the-line tickets save you 1 to 2 hours between June and August by bypassing the long ticketing queue. You also secure a guaranteed entry slot, avoid last-minute stress, and can add a guided tour for a richer context.

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