Guided Tour

Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

Step into the intimate world of Empress Elisabeth of Austria—“Sisi”—within the Hofburg Palace. The Sisi Museum Guided Tour offers a 60-minute journey through her personal items and the elegantly furnished Imperial Apartments, where the empress lived, loved, and endured. You’ll trace her story through original belongings, delicate jewelry, iconic attire, and reflections of her tragic fate.

€50 without Pass
Free with Pass
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What Does the Guided Tour Include?

This guided tour includes:

  • The Sisi Museum—highlighting the life, portraits, and myth of Empress Elisabeth.
  • The Imperial Apartments—rooms where Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph actually lived.
  • The tour runs daily in German and English, with set admission times.

When Is It Available?

The museum is open daily, 9:00 – 17:30, with last admission at 16:00 (exit allowed until 16:45). Guided tour times typically occur around 11:30 and 15:30.

Where Is It Located?

You’ll enter via the Michaelerkuppel (St. Michael’s Dome) in the Hofburg Palace, Vienna’s historic imperial heart. It's accessible via U3 (Herrengasse), trams 1, 2, D, 71, and buses 1A, 2A.

How Long Is the Tour?

The guided tour is approximately 120 minutes, offering an immersive experience through richly curated spaces that blend personal artifacts and stately rooms.

What Can You Expect Inside?

You'll discover Sisi’s private belongings: from mourning jewelry and elegant ball gowns to intimate letters, her harp, and even her funeral death mask. Then step into the Imperial Apartments—the lifeworld of the Habsburgs—adorned with historic furnishings and imperial décor.

Special Highlights

  • Personal Treasures of the Empress: Dresses, jewelry, personal stationery, Sisi’s beauty box, and more.
  • Imperial Apartments: Experience authentic chambers of royal everyday life.
  • Myth vs. Reality: The museum reframes the romanticized “Sisi myth” through authentic objects and narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions
about Hofburg and Empress Sisi Museum Guided Tour

Can I take photos inside Sisi Museum?

Photography is permitted without flash, tripods, or large bags.

What will I see?

Personal items of Sisi from mourning jewelry and garments to her death mask and the elegant rooms she inhabited.

When can I visit?

Daily 9:00–17:30; last admission at 16:00. Guided tour times around 11:30 & 15:30.

How long does it last?

Approximately 120 minutes including both spaces.

What’s included in the guided tour?

Visit both the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Apartments.

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