For centuries Vienna has been an important political and cultural city in Europe and nothing represents the city’s prominence quite like the Hofburg. With origins that date back to the 13th century, the Hofburg holds over 700 years of history between its walls. What’s fascinating is that it is not just one palace, but rather a complex of buildings most notable for being the primary residence of the Habsburg dynasty. Today, visitors can explore three main areas within the Hofburg and learn about the history that turned Vienna into the heart of Europe.
History of the Hofburg
The Habsburg Dynasty was one of the most powerful monarchies in what we know today as Europe. It began with Rudolf I in 1273 and over the next 600 years the family’s reign would extend over the regions of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, the Spanish Empire as well as the Holy Roman Empire. The collapse of Habsburg rule took place in 1918 and near the end of the dynasty an incident took place that would lead to one of the world’s most infamous historical events. In 1914, the Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, which is widely cited as the beginning of World War I. While much has changed throughout the 600 years of Habsburg rule, the Hofburg remained their primary residence and the historic centre of their political power.
The oldest part of the Hofburg (today known as the Schweizertrakt, or Swiss Wing) dates back to the 13th century, which was a part of the medieval fortified castle on site. With each century came new additions to the palace complex, with some notable additions including the Amalia Residence (16th century) which later included apartments occupied by one of the most notable Habsburg rulers, Empress Elisabeth, the Winter Riding School (18th century) and the Hall of Ceremonies (19th century) where many Viennese balls have taken place. An interesting aspect of the Hofburg, is that each emperor added their own unique design elements to the palace, which means they have all left their mark on the buildings.
Today, the Hofburg still plays a part in Austrian political life as the residence of the President of Austria. The Hofburg also houses other important cultural buildings such as the Austrian National Library. In addition, the Hofburg houses three main museums and exhibitions for tourists to explore, including the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Silver Collection.
The Sisi Museum
In my opinion, the most interesting area of the Hofburg to explore is the Sisi Museum. This museum showcases the life of one of Austria’s most famous rulers, Empress Elisabeth. Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as ‘Sisi’ was born in Munich and became Empress after marrying Franz Joseph I of Austria in 1854. Sisi was as fascinating character and if you don’t know much about her, she is certainly worth doing further reading on!
Sisi was a unique individual who struggled to adapt to life at the Hofburg as she disliked the confines that came with aristocratic life at court. She is widely known as one of Europe’s most beautiful queens and was loved by her public, especially Hungarians, for her role in the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. And while she was loved, behind the palace walls she lived a sad and turbulent life. In 1889, she experienced the tragedy of her son’s suicide from which she never recovered. Sisi travelled frequently, to escape the confines of the Hofburg, and ultimately her own life tragically ended in 1898 when she was assassinated by an Italian anarchist in Geneva.
Today, visitors can explore Empress Elisabeth’s life at the Sisi Museuem at the Hofburg. The museum gives an insight into many aspects of Sisi’s life including her childhood in Bavaria, her marriage and struggle with life at court, as well as her later years and ultimately tragic death. The museum has over 300 objects on display and is a beautiful homage to one of Austria’s most fascinating royal figures.
The Imperial Apartments
The Imperial Apartments are housed in the Amalia Residence and the Imperial Chancellory Wing and allow visitors to explore the apartments that once belonged to Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. There are a number of stunning rooms to explore, including the Dining Room, both the Emperor and Empress’ saloons used for entertaining, their bedrooms as well as the Audience Chamber where Franz Joseph held a number of important meetings. I particularly enjoyed visiting Sisi’s Dressing & Exercise Room, where she is said to have spent a lot of her time perfecting her appearance.
The Silver Collection
Visitors can also wander through the Silver Collection, which contains a number of objects used at the Hofburg for dining occasions. Historically, there was actually a specific office (called the office of Silver Chamberlain) that would have been responsible for everything to do with setting the royal table. With about 600 years of dining history, it’s definitely worth a visit as you’ll be able to view some exquisite pieces.
Overall, a visit to the Hofburg is a great place to start your historical exploration of Vienna. The many centuries of history covered in the palace’s museums and exhibitions give an interesting and in-depth insight into one of the world’ most famous and powerful royal families. The Habsburgs had an immense influence on the history of Europe and I found it fascinating to explore the place they called home.
Tips for Visiting the Hofburg
1. Where is the Hofburg located? What is the best way to get to the palace?
The Hofburg is located in central Vienna and therefore very easy to get to! It is less than a 15-minute walk from the central area of Stephansplatz or you can also take the subway to Volkstheater station from which is it about a 5-minute walk.
2. How much is a ticket to the Hofburg?
There are a few different ticket options, but I would personally recommend the “Day Ticket” for the Sisi Museum. It costs about €16.00 and gives you access to the Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments and the Silver Collection. The ticket is also inclusive of an audio guide which is great for wandering around at your own pace.
For fans of Sisi, there is also the option to purchase the “Sisi Ticket” for approximately €40.00. This allows you to visit three imperial attractions in Vienna including the Sisi Museum, Schönbrunn Palace(the summer residence of the later Habsburgs) and the Vienna Furniture Museum.
Visit here to learn more about purchasing a ticket to the Hofburg.
3. When is the Hofburg open?
It’s open daily from 10:00am to 5:00pm/6:00pm depending on the time of year. However, always make sure you check the current opening times (and the last entry time) before visiting.
Visit here to check the opening times for the Hofburg.
4. How long is needed to visit the Hofburg?
If purchasing the Day Ticket, I would recommend leaving yourself about 2 hours to explore. You could probably go through it a bit quicker if needed, but there is lots of interesting information to take in.
5. What other historical things are there to do nearby?
The Hofburg’s central location means there are plenty of other great attractions nearby. If you’re interested in more Habsburg history, you’re only a 10-minute walk to the Kaisergruft, which is the burial place of many of the Habsburg monarchs. You are also about a 5-minute walk to Vienna’s Museum of Natural History. And if you’re in the mood for a tasty treat, you are also only about a 10-minute walk away from the Hotel Sacher, where you can try the original famous Sacher-Torte dessert.
For a full list of recommendations, check out 10 Historical Things to do in Vienna, Austria.
This article’s information was last updated in August 2022.