Empress Elisabeth (collage)

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Sisi in Vienna

The date is September 10, 1898. The time is 1.30pm. Sisi and her lady-in-waiting are hurrying to the steamship that was to take them from her hotel in Geneva to a spa town. Just before they reach the ship, a man lunges towards the Empress. She falls, but quickly stands up again and boards the ship. She does not realize that she has been mortally wounded. Her attacker, Luigi Lucheni, had stabbed Elisabeth in the chest with a file. The Empress collapses on the steamer and asks: “What has happened?” She then loses consciousness and is taken back to the hotel. Once her corset is opened, a small brown fleck is visible above her left breast. The Empress of Austria died at 2.40pm. Sisi’s tragic death was a major factor in the creation of the myth that continues to surround her. This is one of the reasons why she is probably the most famous woman in the world to this day.

Immerse yourself in the life of the legendary empress and learn the truth about Sisi.

Audio guide in ivie

Visitors to Vienna can follow in the footsteps of the legendary Empress. Our own Sisi Audio Guide in the ivie app guides them to the most important locations in Vienna. First and foremost are of course the two residences that allow guests to immerse themselves in Sisi’s life: the Schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg. When the keen traveler Sisi was in Vienna, she lived here with her husband, the children and a giant royal household. Schönbrunn Palace Park is also home to the Imperial Coach Collection; an area of the exhibition is dedicated specially to the Austrian empress. New at the palace is a virtual reality experience: In an immersive 24-minute film, visitors are brought closer to the history of Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs generally, and the tragic life of the former empress. 


Sisi Museum

Nowadays, the Sisi Museum is housed in the Imperial Palace, or more accurately in the former Imperial Apartments. Numerous exhibits from her life (such as her first milk tooth) are exhibited there. Also situated in the Imperial Palace complex is the Church of the Augustinian Friars, where Sisi married Emperor Franz Joseph on 24 April 1854. Just around the corner, in the Volksgarten, a monument of Sisi can be found tucked away in a secluded corner, which is all the more beautiful for this quiet location. The former imperial rose garden impresses each year with a riotous display of over 400 different kinds of rose.

Sisi's taste can best be sampled on Kohlmarkt at the former imperial and royal court confectioner Demel: The purple-colored violet ice cream is offered here, which even the super-slim Sisi was unable to resist.

The last journey that Sisi ever made was to the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. Her final resting place is next to her husband and her son, Crown Prince Rudolf.

The films starring Romy Schneider made the Austrian Empress famous the world over. The trilogy's title also led to her name being written with a double-S: "Sissi". The original furniture used in the film can also be seen in the Vienna Furniture Museum in direct comparison with a number of film clips in a range of languages.

There is even a Netflix series dedicated to Sisi: the first season of “The Empress” was a huge success in 2022. The second season is due to be released in 2024.

Video about Empress Elisabeth of Austria

Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn)

Schönbrunner Schlossstraße
1130 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Your benefit with the Vienna City Card: -6%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Classic Pass: 36€ instead of 38€ (incl. audio guide, valid vom 2.4.-3.11.) /
      Sisi Ticket (Grand Tour / Schönbrunn Palace; Sisi Museum; Vienna Furniture Museum): 45,00€ instead of 49,00€ (incl. audio guide) / Tickets on www.imperialtickets.com and on site

  • Opening times

    • 03 November 2023 to 01 April 2024
      • (Last entry: 16:15 h) daily, 08:30 - 17:00
    • 02 April to 03 November 2024
      • (Last entry: 16:45 h) daily, 08:30 - 17:30
    • 04 November 2024 to 31 March 2025
      • (Last entry: 16:15 h) daily, 08:30 - 17:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
    • Car parks Main entrance
      • Parking spaces for people with disabilities
        at main entrance portal (Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse, 3 parking spaces), Meidlinger Tor (2 parking spaces), close to Kavalierstrakt as well as Valerietrakt (2 parking spaces) and Fürstenstöckl (1 parking space)
    • Elevator available
      • Door 90 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Free wheelchair rental – contact attendant at main portal (3 wheelchairs) or at Hietzinger Tor and at Meidlinger Tor (1 wheelchair each). Supplemental devices available for the visually impaired. Tours for visitors with with disabilities or special needs on request. Museum Sign Language Guide available in ÖGS and IS for the Imperial or Grand Tour, prior reservation recommended, further information: https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/visitor-information/barrier-free-access

    • Comments

      Access to all exhibition rooms: no steps. Freight elevator for extra wide wheelchairs: door width: 160 cm, cabin depth: 220 cm, cabin width: 156 cm.

      Ticket Center in the Gardetrakt by the main gate, stepless access, door width: approx. 144 cm, wheelchair-accessible restroom can be reached by wheelchair platform lift – platform 110/140 cm, door width: 90 cm in the corridor area and 94 cm to the outdoors, accessible from outside with a Euro-Key.



Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna (Kaiserliche Wagenburg Wien)

Schloss Schönbrunn
1130 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Your benefit with the Vienna City Card: -8%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 12€

  • Opening times

    • 15 March to 30 November
      • daily, 09:00 - 17:00
    • 01 December to 14 March
      • daily, 10:00 - 16:00
  • Accessibility

    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Special tours for people with special needs on request.
 More information: kunstvermittlung@khm.at or Tel. +43 1 525 24-5202

    • Comments

      Main entrance: steps (more than 3 cm), double doors (each 68 cm wide), entrance to the collection: double swinging doors, total width 130cm, exhibition area: flat floors, wheelchair-accessible. Second floor area reachable via steps (width 128 cm, 12 steps, landing, then 155 cm, 10 steps, handrail on both sides of the steps, 100 cm high). Restroom outside Coach Collection.

Sisi Museum

Michaelerplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Comments

    • Entrance via Batthyanytor/Michaelerkuppel

  • Vienna City Card

    • Your benefit with the Vienna City Card: -8%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 19,50€, reduced ticket price: 18,00€ /
      Sisi Ticket (Schönbrunn palace, Sisi Museum & Imperial Furniture Museum): 45,00€ instead of 49,00€ / Tickets on www.imperialtickets.com and on site

  • Opening times

    • daily, 09:00 - 17:30
    • (Last entry: 16:30 h)

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps
    • Elevator available
      • 125 cm wide and 129 cm low , Door 79 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Admission free for a person accompanying a blind visitor or a visitor in a wheelchair, provided that the accompanying person is included in the ID.

    • Comments

      Barrier-free access to the exhibition rooms on the 1st floor by elevator.

Church of the Augustinian Friars (Augustinerkirche)

Augustinerstraße 3
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • Mo, 07:30 - 17:30
    • Tu, 07:30 - 19:15
    • We, 07:30 - 17:30
    • Th, 07:30 - 19:15
    • Fr, 07:30 - 17:30
    • Sa, 09:00 - 19:30
    • Su, 09:00 - 19:30
    • High mass: Sunday and holidays 11 am; Herzgruft ["Crypt of Hears"]: Tours after high mass, Sundays and by appointment

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • 3 Steps (Double swinging doors )
      • Ramp 150 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
    • Comments

      Access to Loretto Chapel: 5 steps.

Volksgarten

Volksgarten, Burgring
1010 Vienna

Demel K. & K. Hofzuckerbäckerei

Kohlmarkt 14
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • daily, 10:00 - 00:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Double swinging doors 115 cm wide)
    • Elevator available
      • Door 75 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.

Capuchin Crypt (Kapuzinergruft) Imperial Crypt

Tegetthoffstraße 2
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Your benefit with the Vienna City Card: -18%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 8,50 €
      reduced ticket price: 7 €

  • Opening times

    • Mo, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Tu, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Mo, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Th, 09:00 - 18:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 18:00
    • 1 and 2 November: 10.00 am - 2.00 pm, 24 and 31 December: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm.

  • Guided tours

    • Wednesday - Saturday

      • 2 pm (German)
      • 3.30 pm (English)
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Automatic sliding doors 142 cm wide)
    • Elevator available
      • Door 90 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Comments

      Access to all exhibition rooms: no steps, except 3 steps to the tomb of emperor Franz Joseph and to the burial vault chapel.

      The touching of objects is not permitted due to reasons of preservation.

Vienna Furniture Museum

Andreasgasse 7
1070 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Your benefit with the Vienna City Card: -10%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 14,50€, reduced ticket Price: 13€ /
      Sisi Ticket (Vienna Furniture Museum, Schönbrunn Palace, Sisi Museum) 45,00€ instead of 49,00€ with the Vienna City Card / Tickets on www.imperialtickets.com and on site

  • Opening times

    • Tu, 10:00 - 17:00
    • We, 10:00 - 17:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 17:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 17:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 17:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 17:00
    • also open on: 1.4.2024 (Easter Monday), 20.5.2024 (Whit Monday)

  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Double swinging doors 180 cm wide)
    • Elevator available
      • 90 cm wide and 160 cm low , Door 90 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Free admission for one person accompanying blind or wheelchair-bound visitors. Group tours for people in wheelchairs on request. Separate guided tours of the Furniture Museum for blind and visually impaired visitors on request: During these tours, selected objects can be touched, and access is provided behind barriers.

    • Comments

      Wheelchairs are available free of charge at the ticket office. Seating for visitors is available in the museum. Barrier-free accessible toilets are located in the ticket hall and in the area of the permanent exhibition on the 1st floor, guide dogs are permitted. Free admission for one person accompanying blind or wheelchair-bound visitors.
      Elevator 3rd-5th floor. Lifting platform to the first floor: door width: 83 cm, cabin depth: 117 cm, cabin width: 75 cm. stepless access to the restaurant / café (from the main entrance).

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