In Day 11 or our epic family adventure we do some sightseeing around the legendary city of Vienna, Austria. Today we head to Schonbrunn Palace, which is perhaps the number one attraction in Vienna. Here we learn about the history, splendor and imperial lifestyle of Vienna.

Schonbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence located in Vienna. It has 1,441 rooms and is one of the most important architectural, cultural and historical monuments in Austria. So much so that it is Unesco World Heritage listed.

Catching Vienna Subway to Schonbrunn Zoo

On the way we experience the Vienna subway, taking 2 trains from out hotel to the Schonbrunn station. The trip was fairly economical at a cost of 15 Euros for 2 x 24 hour passes. I was a bit concerned using the vending machines to purchase our tickets, due to the language issues. As it turned out they were simple to use, and the subway system easy to navigate.

Schonbrunn Zoo

Our first stop entering Schonbrunn Palace was to visit the Schonbrunn Zoo. We arrived at 12:00 lunchtime and figured that we’ll have a 3-4 hour stroll around the zoo and then do a palace tour. As it turned out the zoo was very big and interesting. It took us 6.5 hours to get around the zoo and see all the exhibits.

Clarc did a great job of navigating our way around the labyrinth of trails, ensuring we didn’t miss anything. However we did miss out on a palace tour. Instead we spend our last hour at Schonbrunn exploring the gardens.

Schonbrunn Gardens

Behind Schonbrunn Palace is a massive expanse of gardens and other attractions. There is a massive sun fountain at the base of a hill. A walk up to the top of the hill takes you to a massive monument called Gloriette with a cafe / restaurant.

You are also treated to brilliant views of Vienna, Schonbrunn Palace and its expansive gardens on a viewing deck.

The Schonbrunn Complex

We underestimated the extent of this massive complex. We went to the Zoo and explored a part of the gardens. However there are so many other attractions in the palace ground that we would love to have seen. There is a maze, many garden and forest walks, Mozart concerts, Roman ruins, botanical gardens and many more.

The list is long of things to see at Schonbrunn Palace, such that it really requires 2 days to see the majority of it. It is a stunning attraction and well worth seeing as much as you can. It is definitely and experience I’ll never forget!

Catch our other European VLOG adventures

You can catch other VLOG episodes of this family adventure by clicking these links:

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