This is an easy walk but allow plenty of time for sightseeing, especially at Hofburg. Zoom out to see the locations of the other palaces and museum (
[7] to
[9] below).
Start the walk at the entrance to
[1] Heldenplatz. On your left is the outer court yard of the Hofburg with an equine statue of the
Archduke Charles of Austria. Proceed to the inner courtyard where you pass another equine statue (of
Prince Eugene of Savoy) to the main entrance of
[2] The Hofburg. The Hofburg is actually a group of buildings comprising the former Imperial Palace. It now houses the office of the President of Austria, the
Schatzkammer (the Treasury) which holds the Austrian Crown Jewels, as well as other museums and many famous works of art. Visit the apartments of
Emperor Kaiser Franz Joseph I and his empress consort
Elisabeth Of Bavaria ("Sissi"); view the magnificent Imperial tableware, fine Rococo and Empire furniture and the 1000-year-old Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire.
Return to Heldenplatz, up to Michaelerplatz and then proceed along historic Josefsplatz to the
[3]
Spanish Riding School, which occupies a number of buildings on the Michaelerplatz and the
Josefsplatz. Performances take place in the Winterreitschule (Winter Riding School) built by
Emperor Karl VI between 1729 and 1735. Adjacent to the School is the
Lipizzaner Museum [Reitschulgasse 2], venerating the world's oldest breed of horse.
Continuing along Josefplatz to Augustinerstraße to the 14th century
[4] Church of St. Augustin. Built as the parish church of the imperial court, it has put the seal on many of the imperial marriages, including the marriage of 16 year-old Sissi to Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1854.
Walk via Lobkowitzplatz and Gluckgasse to
[5] Kaisergruft at Tegetthoffstraße 2, next to and under Kapuzinerkirche (Church of the Capuchins) at the end of Neuer Markt. These imperial burial crypts dating from 1619, were founded by the Catholic
Emperor Matthias. Buried here are 145 members of the Hapsburg family, including Maria Theresa, her husband Franz Stephan, Franz Joseph, and
Empress Zita (who, in 1989, was the last to be interred).
No proceed down Tegetthoffstrasse to finish the walk with a stroll through the
[6]
Palace Gardens (Burggarten). This was the private royal garden for the Hapsburg family for 100 years until the end of the empire in 1918. Look for the monuments to
Emperor Franz I Stephan of Lorraine and Emperor Franz Joseph I, as well as an often-photographed statue of Mozart.
The remaining locations (below) are well worth visiting but are more than a walk away. Refer to their websites for directions.
[7]
The Imperial Furniture Collection
[Andreasgasse 7] This modern museum holds a collection founded by Empress Maria Theresa in 1747.
[8] Belvedere Palace [Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27]. The Belvedere’s two magnificent palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, are 600 metres apart. They were built in the 18th century as the summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736).
[9] Schönbrunn Palace [Schönbrunner Schloßstraße]. A "must see" attraction. Schönbrunn Palace together with its ancillary buildings and extensive park belongs by virtue of its long and colourful history to the most important cultural monuments in Austria.