Visit overview
To plan your visit to the Spanish Riding School, it is highly recommended to book tickets in advance, especially for groups, due to limited visitor places in this historic venue. Be aware of specific rules for e-tickets, Vienna Pass holders, and limited accessibility for visitors with mobility impairments or young children. The venue is easily reached by public transportation, though car parking is limited and paid. Entry is tied to specific times, as indicated on your ticket.
Entry notes
If tickets were purchased directly through the website, you will receive a valid E-ticket that does not need to be exchanged; proceed directly to the entrance indicated on the ticket. Tickets purchased through external providers must be collected at the ticket desk in the Visitor Center by presenting the ticket voucher. For organizational reasons, reservations cannot be accepted with the Vienna Pass; however, tickets for the Morning Exercise can be collected in advance during opening hours or on the same day by 09:15h at the ticket counter in the Visitor Center. The designated entrance for Performances and Morning Exercise (Michaelerkuppel, Reitschulgasse, or Josefsplatz) is indicated on your ticket; go directly to this entrance to ensure timely arrival. For Guided Tours, the meeting point is in the foyer of the Visitor Center, Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Vienna; arrive 5 minutes before the tour starts.
Crowd tips
Visitor numbers in Vienna are particularly high around public and national holidays, and many guests wish to visit the Spanish Riding School. Due to the historical nature of the venue, the number of visitor places is limited, so booking or reserving well in advance is especially recommended for these periods and for groups.
Visit highlights
The Spanish Riding School is located in a historic building without an elevator; all seats in the first gallery, the royal box, and the second gallery are only accessible via stairs and are therefore not suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users and people with limited mobility have a limited number of seats available in the Winter Riding School which cannot be booked online and must be reserved in advance via email. Guided tours are accessible to all visitors, but architectural tours are only suitable for visitors who are physically fit and steady on their feet due to no elevator. Children under 3 years are not allowed to attend any events for safety reasons, and strollers cannot be brought into the riding hall due to limited space. Dogs are generally not allowed, but assistance and service dogs must be announced in advance at the ticket counter or by email and display appropriate identification. There are no cloakrooms or luggage storage facilities. The Winter Riding School is not heated or air-conditioned, so the indoor temperature usually differs only slightly from the outside temperature; visitors should bring coats or jackets if needed. Petting, feeding, kissing, or otherwise touching the horses is not allowed. There is a general ban on video, photo, and audio recordings, with exceptions during Guided Tours where photography may be permitted as informed by your guide.
