Hofburg Palace
Situated in the middle of the Old Town of Vienna, the Hofburg Palace is the former winter imperial residence of the Habsburg dynasty. From its beginning, it served as the seat of the rulers of Austria. The large complex consists of the palace and other buildings and gardens. Apart from the Hofburg Palace, there is also the Hofburg district, which is home to the Office of the Austrian Federal President and twenty different museums. For example, the Albertina Gallery, the Hofburg Congress Center and the Imperial Treasury with the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire and the Imperial Crown of Austria. The Hofburg Palace complex is very large and the areas open to the public include, for example, the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Silver Collection. The Sisi Museum is dedicated to the life of Empress Elisabeth and displays her personal items. The Café Hofburg, which is famous for its desserts, is part of the palace complex. There are also two palace gardens. The first one is the Volksgarten (People’s Garden) with the Theseus Temple and the Empress Elisabeth Monument, a memorial to Empress Sisi. The second garden is the Burggarten, which was originally reserved for the private use of the imperial family. In front of the Hofburg Palace is the famous Heldenplatz (Heroes’ Square), with the statues of Archduke Charles of Austria and Prince Eugene of Savoy. The entrance to the Hofburg is directly below the great copper dome called the Michaelerkuppel, which can be reached through the Machaelertor gate on the north-eastern side of the palace on Michaelerplatz. The palace hosts concerts, balls and other events.
Useful information for visitors
Public transport connections
The closest public transport stops near the Hofburg:
- Herrengasse metro station
- Burgring tram stop
- Hofburg bus stop
Opening hours and admission
For up-to-date information about the admission fees and opening hours of the Hofburg, visit the official website. Classical music concerts are regularly held in the palace. More information can be found on the website of the Vienna Hofburg Orchestra.
Interesting facts about Hofburg Palace
Originally a medieval castle, the Hofburg was built in the 13th century. With the increasing power of the Habsburgs, who remained in the palace until 1918, it was renovated and converted into a luxurious imperial palace. Remnants of the original castle can be seen in the castle chapel, where Masses accompanied by the Vienna Boys’ Choir take place every Sunday.
