Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule)

The Basics

During morning training sessions at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, impeccable and graceful snow-white Lipizzan horses practice intricate figures and jumps accompanied by classical music, with riders dressed in their historic empire-style uniforms and bicorn hats. They go through their paces in the elegant 18th-century Winter Riding School (Winterreitschule), commissioned by Emperor Charles VI. In addition to exercises, the school also holds more formal exhibitions and even gala performances a few times each week in addition to daily guided tours of the Baroque Summer Riding School and the Stallburg, one of Vienna’s most significant Renaissance structures. If you want to see the horses without watching a training session, you can observe them from outside the adjacent Stallburg stables. A stop at the Spanish Riding School is a must during any Vienna city walking tour or hop-on hop-off bus tour; the school is included in the Vienna Flexi Pass and Vienna Pass tickets as well.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Children from three to six years old are admitted free of charge but must be held on an adult’s lap; children under three years old are not admitted.

• The school is accessible to those with limited mobility, and tickets for wheelchair spaces are available.

• The school is not recommended for those with allergies to horses or dust.

How to Get There

The Spanish Riding School is located in the Hofburg, in central Vienna. The closest metro station is Herrengasse on line U3; alternatively you can take tram line 1, 2, D, or 62 and get off at Kartner Ring Oper or Burgring station. Buses 1A (Herrengasse stop), 2A (Michaelerplatz stop), and 3A (Habsburgergasse stop) also stop nearby.

When to Get There

Morning exercises are held daily from 10am to 12pm, except from late June to early August and on days when a gala performance is scheduled.

History of Lipizzan Stallions

Maximilian II first imported this prized breed of horse from Spain in 1562, and in 1580 a stud was established at Lipizza (hence “Lipizzan” or “Lipizzaner”), now in Slovenia. Since 1920, the stud located in the village of Piber has been the breeding center for Lipizzan stallions destined for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

Ways to explore

Much of the practice at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna happens behind closed doors; you can get a glimpse of this institution when sightseeing or taking walking tours by visiting the horses resting in the adjacent Stallburg stables. To see the famous Lipizzaner horses in action, though, book tickets to the formal performances or morning training sessions; the performances are more popular, so reserve in advance to secure a spot. You can also take a guided tour to learn about the riding school and see behind the scenes. These varied experiences each last about an hour, and since they take place at different times, you could spend half a day seeing everything.

Accessibility

The school is accessible to those with limited mobility. Tickets for wheelchair spaces should be arranged in advance.

Age limits

Children 3 to 6 years old are admitted free of charge, but they must be held on an adult’s lap. Children under 3 years old are not allowed entry.

What to pack

Face mask (if allergic to horses), bottled water

What to wear

Smart casual clothes are recommended. Note that there is no coat check at the riding school.

Not allowed

Dogs, luggage, photos during the performance

Amenities

Café, gift shop

Address

The Spanish Riding School is located in the Hofburg, in the historical center of Vienna. Visitors can walk there from elsewhere in the city center, and will also need to walk a little when using public transportation or driving.

Driving

Driving to the entrance off Michaelerplatz is difficult because of the surrounding one-way streets; the only road leading into the square is Schauflergasse. Park in one of the garages on the Ringstrasse and walk from there.

Public transportation

Take the U3 metro to Herrengasse or the U1 metro to Stephansplatz. Alternatively, take tram line 1, 2, D, or 71 and get off at the Burgring stop, or ride the 1A inner-city bus to Michaelerplatz. However you go, expect to walk 5–10 minutes to the riding school.

Best times to visit

Both morning exercises and performances are generally between 10am and 12pm.

Best days to visit

Morning exercises are held on weekdays, and actual performances take place on weekends, as well as occasionally on Friday mornings or evenings.

Best months to visit

The school holds no performances from late June to early August. It’s great to visit outside of summer, and booking is more open, when Vienna is quieter, such as in April, May, September, or October.

Special events

Extended gala performances, which last 1.5 hours, are held at most a few times a year. Tickets for these events are more expensive and sell out quickly.