Schönbrunn Palace is an iconic landmark — and you get to savor it after-hours during a VIP visit on Luxury Gold’s Harmony of Central Europe tour. 

A private tour of Vienna, and this Vienna royal palace, is the perfect introduction to the grandeur of Wien. Famous for a myriad of reasons, including hosting a performance by a young Wolfgang Mozart, Schönbrunn Palace sits on a site that’s been occupied since the Middle Ages. 

Skip the line at Schloss Schönbrunn and enjoy a crowd-free visit to this Vienna royal palace on your fourth day of travel with Luxury Gold. Until then, here’s everything you need to know about this private tour of Vienna’s regal estate. 

The Royal Treatment: All the ways we make your trip exceptional

A Brief History of Schönbrunn Palace

Long before Mozart’s music filled these halls, a summer retreat and hunting lodge were just two of a number of guises this storied building took in its early years. 

The Middles Ages through Schönbrunn Palace’s naming

Since the Middle Ages, the land that Schönbrunn Palace sits on has been developed and redeveloped to suit the owners of the day. It wasn’t until hundreds of years after the first structure was erected that the estate began appearing in historical record as the Katterburg estate. 

1548 saw a major extension of the estate, which was extended further in 1569 to include a game park. The estate gained the name we know it by today Emperor Matthias found a fair spring (or Schöner Brunnen) while hunting. The official name change was first documented in 1642.

17th & 18th Centuries

Despite such continued architectural attention, Schönbrunn Palace was heavily damaged when  invading Turks seized Vienna in the late-1600s. The former manor house was then rebuilt as a hunting lodge for Emperor Joseph I, though he died before it was completed. 

The palace changed hands again and again, before Emperor Charles VI gave it to his daughter, Maria Theresa. She had the hunting lodge rebuilt as a palatial summer residence where it would become a center of political and court life in Vienna.

Her husband, Franz Stephen of Lorraine, was crowned Roman-German Emperor in the 1740s, and the palace began to grow alongside the new imperial family. Opulent staircases, grand galleries, a theater, and more were designed with ceiling frescos and intricate stucco detailing. More than 1,000 people were accommodated in this Vienna royal palace. Maria Theresa continued renovating the palace even after her husband’s untimely death. 

She died in 1780, just before the palace and garden renovations were completed. 

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19th Century

As you stroll the halls during a private tour of the Vienna royal palace, you’ll wonder how this magnificent palace could remain relatively empty from the time of Maria Theresa’s death until the 1810s. Save for Napoleon occupying it in both 1805 and 1809, the beautiful Vienna royal palace began to wilt. 

By 1814, Schönbrunn Palace began another decades-long chapter of renovations and regal residences. The state took over ownership of Schönbrunn Vienna royal palace after World War I and it was deemed worthy for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Schönbrunn Palace Today

No matter the century, Schönbrunn Palace has always been and will likely always be one of the most prestigious landmarks in Austria’s capital. International tour groups as well as Vienna tours by locals almost always include either a public guided or an audio-guided private tour of Vienna’s royal palace on the itinerary. 

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What to know before a private tour of Vienna Schönbrunn Palace

Any traveler can come to Schönbrunn Palace without required reading and instantly fall under its opulent spell — though we recommend knowing a few key facts about this Vienna royal Palace:

• It was designed by Fischer von Erlach, an architect who also designed the Palace Schwarzenberg and the Karlskirche.
• Mozart performed for the royal family in Schönbrunn Palace when he was only six years old.
• Marie Antoinette, daughter of Maria Theresa, was born inside this Vienna royal palace. 
• The hallmark yellow color of Schönbrunn Palace isn’t the hue it’s always shone; testing suggests it was orange, red, and white prior to its new yellow coat in the 1800s. 

And one critical fact to remember: an estimated 8 million people visit Schönbrunn Palace each year, but with a private tour of Vienna’s palace from Luxury Gold, you get to explore its splendor without the crowds.

Other harmonious activities on this journey

Schönbrunn Palace is a favorite for many on our 13-day Harmony of Europe journey, but it’s far from the only gem on the itinerary. You’ll also:

• See Prague’s Astronomical Clock
• Sit front row for a Mozart and Strauss concert
• Dine at the Michelin-starred Borkonyha Winekitchen in Budapest
• Visit Melk’s historic hilltop Abbey
• Stay at the Grand Hotel Krakow

Experience a VIP private tour of a Vienna royal palace this year with Luxury Gold.

Imagine the luxury of having some of the world’s most iconic tourist hotspots all to yourself. To be able to take your time and enjoy them as you please. Well at Luxury Gold that’s how we believe travel should be and are proud offer our guests unique VIP access  to some truly amazing places. To tempt you further we’ve highlighted five benefits of visiting these magnificent landmarks out of hours.

You feel like a VIP

As you approach and the velvet rope is pulled back, with the doorman admitting only selected individuals to an iconic landmark, this is a truly VIP experience. This is Luxury Gold.

Join us to explore Italy and in Venice you’ll step into the spectacular Doge’s Palace after-hours for an exclusive tour. Bask in the 14th-century Venetian Gothic details, stroll the halls and  the magnificent Gold Staircase in an intimate group. Formerly the Doge’s residence and the seat of Venetian government, the Palace is the symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

From the moment you enter to the moment you leave, the joy of such a rare and special experience at one of the world’s iconic tourist hotspots will leave memories for a lifetime.

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You have the place to yourselves

When we dream of seeing the world’s magnificent sights, we generally don’t account for the crowds. In our minds it is just ourselves, wonder and awe. But understandably, iconic tourist hotspots are also popular with other travelers which can have its drawbacks.

Now imagine gazing up at one of Egypt’s ancient structures with just a handful of your traveling companions for company. If it is serenity that you are after, travel with Luxury Gold and enjoy exclusive VIP access as you explore UNESCO World Heritage Site the Temple of Luxor after-hours. Founded in 1400 BC during the Golden Age of Thebes, this was the largest and most significant religious center in ancient Egypt.

Meander at your heart’s content without having to think of others. Choose your own route as you explore, stopping to view anything of interest to you, without waiting in line or jostling for space. Embrace the unique opportunity to really lose yourself in your location and appreciate the wonders of the world in such a decadent way.

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You can take as long as you want  

@museumrosengart

When presented with a Picasso or a Renoir, you want to savor the moment. And, with champagne in hand at a private viewing, you can take all the time in the world. Admire the subject and textures, the intricate details and contemplate the meaning of the masterpiece. With no pressure to move along, stay until your curiosity is sated.

At the acclaimed Rosengart Collection in Switzerland, we invite you to enjoy an exclusive VIP experience, with a private after-hours viewing. The collection exhibits over 300 works of art by 23 different artists of the so-called Classical Modernist Period, including Cézanne, Monet and Matisse. And is world renowned for housing two unique groups of work by Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee. The Rosengart Collection was originally the private Art Collection of the art dealer Siegfried Rosengart (1894–1985) and his daughter Angela.

Whether you are an expert or just an admirer, and be it masterpieces or artefacts, having the opportunity to take your time is priceless.

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You have more time to learn from your expert guide

The joy of exploring a magnificent palace is only enhanced with a historian at your side. Whether an aficionado or a newcomer, the amount you can learn from such an expert greatly enriches your experience. And when visiting iconic tourist hotspots after-hours you have the time and space to ask everything you want and more.

During an VIP visit to Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace after-hours you can use up every minute of your Local Expert’s time. At Luxury Gold we have selected the most knowledgeable and likeable experts to bring the iconic sights to life for you, and to truly personalize your visitor experience. Stand beneath frescoed ceilings, crystal chandeliers and gilded Rococo frames, where Mozart performed as a child prodigy and ask anything you want. Whether you want to examine the opulent furnishings or the socio-political history of the time, there is no rush.

Discover this on: Harmony of Central Europe

Read more: Why a highly personalized travel experience has never been more important

Iconic landmarks have so much to offer, so many nooks and crannies and different aspects and angles. When you have access out of hours, you have the space and time to fully appreciate the finest details that you might otherwise miss.

Travel to England with luxury Gold and after the sun sets and London lights up, embark on a private tour of the Tower of London after-hours. Beneath the moonlight, a serving Yeoman Warder greets you and accompanies you through the grounds. While you walk they regale you with stories of this haunting site. Full of intriguing buildings and small historical details, enjoy the freedom to pick out the things that interest you most. With no one blocking your view or hurrying you along it is amazing what you can discover.

To round off a very special evening, you’re invited to to experience the ancient gate-closing ritual of the Ceremony of the Keys. This is the oldest practiced military ceremony in the world. Get an inside look at the history of the tradition and etiquette of handling the keys. This tradition has been carried out every night by the Yeoman Warder for the past 700 years.

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For inspiration: England destination guide

If you want to discover the world like a VIP and benefit from special access to iconic tourist hotspots, then take a look at our exclusive worldwide collection of luxury guided tours.