Schonbrunn Palace (Vienna)

Located a couple of miles outside of the city of Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace is a must-see, whether your interest is purely historical or you are looking for a day of fun with the kids. It is an impressive imperial palace which was once used as a summer residence for a succession of Habsburg heads of state. Built in 1780, it has an imposing baroque facade and features over 1,400 rooms, including some of the most sumptuous state apartments you are likely to see in Europe. Many are open to the public to view and a Vienna city break will delight history and classical music lovers, as they savour the most elegant interior design and priceless antiquities garnered from all over the world.

 

A visit to the Schonbrunn Palace will take up at least a whole afternoon, and in addition to the main palace, there is much to see and do for all ages. The palace is surrounded by sprawling grounds that include a variety of eccentric follies, pavilions, monumental baroque fountains and ornamental landscaped gardens. There is a Victorian Palm House and orangery filled with exotic plant life from Asia and the Americas, and kids will love getting lost in its historic maze. Families on short breaks in Vienna will head straight for one of the world's oldest private zoos or the enchanting marionette puppet theatre, which also houses a captivating museum of toys and puppetry.

 

Despite its overwhelming popularity, its sheer size ensures an un-crowded and relaxing ambience, and you can explore at leisure as there is certainly a lot to take in. Some of the rooms are especially memorable. The Mirror Hall is a must-see, in which a young Mozart captivated the Viennese elite, or stand in awe in the Blue Chinese Room; a regal suite filled with priceless oriental porcelain. Schonbrunn is the ideal spot to take a breather on a Vienna city break, with acres of shady woodland and rolling hills to relax and unwind in, perhaps with a picnic. If you head up to the delightful Glorietta neo classical arcade, which is perched on a hill behind the palace, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the Viennese skyline.