How to visit Schönbrunn: AVOID these Mistakes!
Are you planning a visit to the stunning Schönbrunn Castle in Vienna? Before you embark on your journey, let's discuss some common mistakes that visitors make, so you can make the most of your experience.
Mistake 1: Driving to Schönbrunn
One big mistake is driving to Schönbrunn, as traffic can be heavy, and parking is expensive. Instead, take the metro-line U4 and exit at the "Schönbrunn" stop. It's a quick 10 to 15-minute walk to the castle. Alternatively, you can use buses, trams, or even rent a Wien Mobil bike.
Besides the public transport, you could also use the hop on hop of busses, which are sightseeing bus lines. And they have a stop in front of Schönbrunn Castle.
Learn more:
Mistake 2: Not Planning Your Visit
Schönbrunn is vast, so plan ahead. Know what you want to see and what you're willing to skip. To decide, what you want to see, but also what you want to skip, check out my blog post and video with Pro Tips for your Schönbrunn visit!
Mistake 3: Dressing Inappropriately
The castle isn't climate-controlled: There is no air conditioning in summer, and no heating in winter. Consequently, it can get hot in summer and cool in winter. Plan your outfit accordingly.
Antoher thing to remember, when planning your outfit of the day for Schönbrunn is, that you will need to carry your coat or jacket with you during the castle tour, since there are no no lockers or coat hooks available for storage.
As for your choice of shoes, you might want to wear really comfortable ones because you will walk a lot, and the pathways in the park are covered with gravel.
And also keep in mind that backpacks, umbrellas, and other large items are not allowed inside the castle and must be left at the cloakroom.
Mistake 4: Taking Pictures Inside the Castle
Unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures or videos inside the castle. And consequently items like tripods or are not allowed. So i recommend to live in the moment and enjoy the beautiful rooms of Schönbrunn castle while you are there. And of course you can take as many pictures as you want outside the castle and also in the park.
Mistake 5: Eating or Drinking Inside the Castle
Both are prohibited due to the sensitive nature of the castle's interior. However, there are quite a few restaurants and cafes on the premises. I included my personal favorites in this blog post.
Mistake 6: Not to check for Bathroom Facilities
Inside the castle, there are no bathrooms facilities during the tour. So it is it's best to use them before your tour starts. You can do so at the visitor center at the castle gate or directly when you enter the castle. The first one at the visitor center is bigger and therefore faster but you have to pay for it, the second one is for free but usually you have a long waiting line.
And if you visit the park, there are bathrooms facilities and you can can find their locations on the map as well as on the Schönbrunn App. Just keep in mind to take some coins with you to have some coins with you, as you have to pay for these facilities.
Mistake 7: Getting Locked Inside the Park
The castle park closes at night, and the closing times vary depending on when the sun sets. The closing times can be found at the gate at the park entrance aswell as on the website of Schönbrunn castle. You can check the current opening hours at the park's entrance gates or on Schönbrunn Palace's website.
Actually, this mistake happened to me once ;) So speaking of experience: If you overlooked the closing times, there is a night exit at the castle entrance.
Mistake 8: Using Bikes or Scooters Inside the Park
Avoid entering with bikes or scooters; these vehicles are actually forbidden in the park. Since the park is really big, and maybe you don't want to walk all the time, you could either use the sightseeing train or feel like a pricess and use one of the horse carriages to get around!
Mistake 9: Bringing Pets
Unfortunately, dogs and other pets are not allowed in the park or castle.
Bonus Mistake: Skipping My Pro Tips Before your visit ;)
Read my blog post & watch my video with Schönbrunn pro tips video to get the most out of your Schönbrunn visit.