Schönbrunn Zoo - Plan Your Visit

A day at Schönbrunn Zoo goes more smoothly when you know which entrance to use, when the animal houses close and how to get up the hill to the Tirolerhof. This guide covers tickets, facilities, food and the practical details.

Ticket Information

What the Ticket Covers

The skip-the-line ticket gives you one entry to Tiergarten Schönbrunn, shown on your phone at the entrance. It stops being valid once you leave the zoo. At the zoo, children under 6 are admitted free.

Types of Tickets

Tiergarten Schönbrunn: Skip-the-Line Entry
Transfer Train: Tirolerhof and Schönbrunn Zoo
Panoramabahn Schönbrunn Express: Hop-on Hop-off Train

Train Tickets

Neither train ticket includes zoo entry. The transfer train runs non-stop between the Elephant House and the Tirolerhof and needs a valid zoo ticket. The Panoramabahn is a day ticket for a nine-stop loop around the palace park.

Schönbrunn Zoo: Skip-the-line admission

Highlights

See giant pandas from China, Siberian tigers, koalas and polar bears.

Visit African elephants, lions and penguins as you explore the zoo.

Discover rare and endangered Austrian species.

Explore a zoo founded in 1752 by Francis I, which now has some of the most modern facilities of any zoo.

Vienna: Tirolerhof Shuttle Train & Schönbrunn Zoo

Vienna: Schönbrunn Express Hop-on Hop-off Train

Highlights

Ride as often as you like for a whole day, getting on and off at any of the 9 stops across the 160-hectare Schönbrunn park.

Stop at Gloriette Hill to see its arch and enjoy views over the park.

Hop off at the foot of the hill to visit the area around the Neptune Fountain.

Enjoy panoramic views of the park with audio commentary along the way.

Schönbrunn Zoo - Facilities

Lockers and information: In the building just inside the main entrance.

Toilets and baby changing: Spread across the grounds, along with drinking fountains.

Accessible toilet: Available on site.

Schönbrunn Zoo - Location and Hours

Address: Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Vienna, Austria.

Main entrance: Through the Hietzinger Tor, a short walk from Hietzing U4 station.

Days open: Every day of the year, public holidays included.

Hours: From 9:00 AM. Closing time runs from 4:30 PM in winter to 6:30 PM between April and September.

Last entry: 30 minutes before closing.

Schönbrunn Zoo - Accessibility

The main entrance is step-free, with swinging doors, and most paths work for a wheelchair or a pram. The Tirolerhof area at the top of the grounds has steep slopes, and the transfer train runs up to it from the Elephant House.

Assistance dogs: Allowed with an ID card, a vaccination record and an official harness vest. Other dogs are not allowed anywhere on the palace grounds, the zoo included.

Things to Know Before Visiting Schönbrunn Zoo

Open Every Day

The zoo opens at 9:00 AM all year, including public holidays, so you can fit it into any day of your trip.

Use the Hietzing Entrance

The main entrance is a short walk from Hietzing U4 station, with lockers and information just inside.

Mind the Animal House Hours

Most houses close 30 minutes before the zoo, and the Bird House closes an hour early.

Pick Up a Map

The map at the entrance lists the day's feeding times. The sea lion feeding is a good one to plan around.

Go Midweek in Summer

Summer weekends get very busy, so a weekday visit gives you more room at the popular enclosures.

No Re-entry

Your ticket is no longer valid once you leave, so plan lunch inside the zoo.

Children Need an Adult

Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Leave the Dog at Home

Dogs are not allowed on the palace grounds. Assistance dogs are the only exception.

Schönbrunn Zoo - Food and Drink

Central pavilion: The baroque pavilion at the center of the zoo, completed in 1759, now works as a café and restaurant.

Tirolergarten: A restaurant on the hill at the back of the grounds, serving traditional Austrian food.

Snack bars around the zoo cover quick bites, and there are benches and picnic tables if you bring your own lunch.

Schönbrunn Zoo - Nearby Attractions

Schönbrunn Palace: The palace whose park surrounds the zoo.

Gloriette: On the hill above the palace gardens, and a stop on the Panoramabahn.

Palm House: The glasshouse beside the walkway from the Hietzinger Tor to the zoo.

Imperial Carriage Museum: Another Panoramabahn stop, near the palace.

FAQs about Visiting Schönbrunn Zoo

Do children need a ticket for Schönbrunn Zoo?

Children under 6 get in free. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I leave the zoo and come back on the same ticket?

No. The ticket is no longer valid once you leave, so plan breaks and meals inside the zoo.

Are there lockers at the zoo?

Yes. Lockers are in the building just inside the main entrance, next to the information point.

Is Schönbrunn Zoo accessible for wheelchairs and prams?

Mostly. The main entrance is step-free and most paths are manageable. The Tirolerhof area at the back is steep, and the transfer train runs up from the Elephant House.

Where can I eat at the zoo?

The baroque pavilion at the center of the zoo and the Tirolergarten restaurant on the hill both serve full meals. Snack bars and picnic tables are spread around the grounds.

Can I bring my dog?

No. Dogs are not allowed anywhere on the palace grounds. Assistance dogs are allowed with an ID card, vaccination record and official harness vest.

When do the animal houses close?

Most houses close 30 minutes before the zoo. The Bird House closes an hour early, while the Aquarium-Terrarium House and the Tirolerhof farmhouse stay open until closing time.