Schönbrunn Palace
More than just a summer house.
Schönbrunn translates to "beautiful spring," but let’s be real: it’s the ultimate statement of power. With 1,441 rooms, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of it all. What started as a modest hunting lodge became the heartbeat of the Habsburg Empire, and walking through it today, you still feel that weight of history in every hallway.
Where History Actually Happened
It’s wild to stand in the Grand Gallery and imagine a six-year-old Mozart performing for the Empress right there. But for me, the most interesting parts are the private ones. You see the contrast between Emperor Franz Joseph’s surprisingly simple bedroom and the restless, elegant apartments of Empress Sisi. It makes these historical giants feel like real people who actually lived within these gold-leafed walls.
The View from the Top
The gardens are massive—about 120 hectares of perfect symmetry. If you have the legs for it, I always recommend walking all the way up the hill to the Gloriette. It was built for no other reason than to enjoy the view, and honestly, looking out over Vienna from there makes you feel a little bit like an emperor yourself.
Whether you're visiting the world's oldest zoo or just getting lost in the hedge maze, Schönbrunn doesn't feel like a dead museum. It’s vibrant, grand, and unashamedly gold, exactly as the Habsburgs intended.