Rick Steves Tour: Hofburg Imperial Apartments, Vienna

Hofburg Imperial Apartments Tour

ORIENTATION

THE TOUR BEGINS

Map: Hofburg Imperial Apartments Tour

Imperial Porcelain and Silver Collection

Sisi Museum

Imperial Apartments

The Emperor’s Rooms

Empress’ Rooms

In this tour of the Hofburg Imperial Apartments, see the lavish, Versailles-like rooms that were home to the hardworking Emperor Franz Josef and his eccentric empress, “Sisi.” From here, the Habsburgs ruled their vast empire.

Franz Josef was (for all intents and purposes) the last of the Habsburg monarchs, and these apartments straddle the transition from old to new. You’ll see chandeliered luxury alongside office furniture and electric lights.

Franz Josef and Sisi were also a study in contrasts: Franz was earnest, practical, and spartan; Sisi was poetic, high-strung, and luxury-­loving. Together, they lived in the cocoon of the Imperial Apartments, oblivious to how the world was changing around them.

ORIENTATION M

Cost: €11.50, includes well-done audioguide; also covered by €25.50 Sisi Ticket, which includes the Schönbrunn Palace Grand Tour (where you can skip the line) and the Imperial Furniture Collection.

Hours: Daily July-Aug 9:00-18:00, Sept-June 9:00-17:30, last entry one hour before closing.

When to Go: It can be crowded mid-mornings, so go either right at opening time or after 14:00.

Getting There: Enter from under the rotunda just off Michaelerplatz, through the Michaelertor gate.

Information: With this chapter, the included audioguide, and the posted English information, you won’t need the €9 Imperial Apartments/Sisi Museum/Silver Collection guidebook. Tel. 01/533-7570, www.hofburg-wien.at.

Length of This Tour: 90 minutes. If you listen to the entire audioguide, allow nearly 2 hours: 40 minutes for the silver collection, 30 minutes for the Sisi Museum, and 40 minutes for the apartments.

THE TOUR BEGINS M