The Spanish Riding School is one of the oldest and most magnificent institutions to survive time.
Famous for preserving the city’s traditions through the art of horse riding, the Spanish Riding School welcomes thousands of tourists every year.
Tourists get to experience the famous Lipizzan horse acts practiced to perfection.
The Spanish Riding School offers several activities other than splendid architecture.
Top Tickets
# Tickets for Morning Training
# Guided tour of Spanish Riding School
# Spanish Riding School performancesIt’s highly recommended to book your Spanish Riding School tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.
Key takeaways
It’s better to book tickets online to avoid long queues, especially during peak seasons. Kids below three years aren’t allowed inside.
Do not miss the breathtaking morning trainings that start at 10 am. Those who love horses and history would benefit from guided tours.
The front row of the Royal Box or the Parterreloge offers the best views. Seats near the middle are quite comfortable and they also offer impeccable views.
Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours at the riding school.
What’s ahead
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Things to know before booking tickets
You can buy Spanish Riding School tickets online or at the attraction.
Online tickets let you skip the lines, often at a lower price, while guaranteeing your visit’s availability.
After the purchase, tickets are emailed to you, and you can enter by showing the e-ticket on your smartphone—no printouts needed.
Remember to bring your official IDs.
Spanish Riding School tickets
Visiting Spanish Riding School can be an overwhelming experience for most tourists.
The oldest riding school offers different experiences, from morning training to guided tours. Check out the top-rated tickets below.
Note: The use of cameras and recording equipment is strictly forbidden as they can scare the horses.
Tickets for morning training
Tickets for morning training at Spanish Riding School get you a seat close by even as Europe’s oldest breed of horses – the Lippizan – do their morning workout.
Classical Viennese music plays in the background as the horse and its handler do the morning training, making it a breathtaking experience.
You may even see the horses indulge in acrobatic jumps and jump kicks if you are lucky. Depending on the seating category you select, the ticket prices will vary.
The morning training starts at 10 am.
Ticket prices
Adult (19 to 64 years): €16
Youth (6 to 18 years): €9
Student (up to 25 years, with valid ID card): €11
Senior (65+ years): €11
Note: Kids three years and younger aren’t allowed to enter. If you are traveling with kids aged 4 to 6 years, you don’t need to buy tickets for them if they can sit on the parents’ lap.
Buy This TicketGuided tour of Spanish Riding School
If you love horses and history, you will love the Spanish Riding School’s guided tour, available in English and German.
An equestrian expert guide walks you through the Winter Riding School, the Summer Riding School, and the stables.
This 1-hour tour is available at 2 and 4 pm. Please note this is only a tour of the historic school that started way back in 1735. You don’t get to see the horses perform.
Ticket prices
Adult (18+ years): €23
Child (6 to 17 years): €13
Student (up to 27 years, valid ID card): €19
Senior (65+ years): €19
Kids aged 3 to 5 years get in for free.
Buy This TicketSpanish Riding School performances
Spanish Riding School performance is a special equestrian show put together by the graceful Lipizzaners, Europe’s oldest breed of horses.
With this ticket, you get to watch horses in all stages of training, from young, boisterous colts to majestic stallions, perform at the Baroque Winter Riding School.
The duration of this performance is approximately 70 minutes.
These are ‘standing tickets’ for Spanish Riding School performances. Spectators must stand (as shown in the pic below) for the duration of the performance. However, these tickets are very much in demand, so book early.
Note: The prices vary depending on your preferred seating category while booking.
Ticket prices
Standing room – adult (13+ years): €41
Second gallery (13+ years): €81
Architectural tour of Spanish Riding School
This is a 1.5-hour guided tour around the stables and buildings of the Vienna attraction.
During this tour, you can’t but marvel at the 450+ years old Baroque architecture.
The tour starts at 3.30 pm and ends with stunning views of Vienna’s first district from the Spanish Riding School’s wooden attic.
The minimum age for this guided tour is 12 years.
Ticket price
Adult (18 to 64 years): €23
Buy This TicketSpanish Riding School hours
Spanish Riding School is open from 9 am to 4 pm every day. The souvenir shop is also open during this slot.
For the latest information on the hours, you can call them at +43 1 533 90 31-0 or email them at office@srs.at. Or visit here.
Lipizzan horses are used at the Spanish Riding School for their exceptional intelligence, agility, and elegance. Their natural ability to perform complex dressage movements, combined with centuries of selective breeding, makes them perfect for showcasing the school’s classical equestrian tradition. They are particularly suited for the demanding “airs above ground,” which require strength, balance, and precision.
Morning exercise at Spanish Riding School
Photo: Srs.at
The morning exercise at the Spanish Riding School is as essential as the performance of the horses.
It comprises a light training session that displays the effort and determination that goes behind every act.
The exercises are done in the backdrop of light Vietnamese music to bring out the exotic Lippizan experience.
The morning exercise focuses on strengthening the horses’ muscles and easing them into different positions.
Regular morning exercises don’t put much strain on the horses, and they can easily mold into the dance.
Some moves, like classical school jumps, are not performed during the morning exercise, as they are only reserved for the acts.
Visitors must book tickets to watch the morning exercise.
Best seats at Spanish Riding School
If you’re going to the Spanish Riding School to watch a performance, you must ensure you’ve got the best view.
Though the theatre’s shape makes it easy to observe the performance from every angle, there are still some seats that offer better views.
Most people prefer the seats in the front row of the Royal Box or the front row of the Parterreloge.
There are three categories of tickets that offer the best views.
Category 1: The front row of the Royal Box Hofloge.
Category 2: The front row of the Parterreloge, the box beneath the Royal box Hofloge.
Category 3: The Upper Short Side, Obere Stirnseite.
Other than these, the seats under Category 5 also have an impeccable view.
Try to get seats near the middle as they are the most comfortable and allow you to see all the beautiful formations.
If you’re looking for the best view, try category one.
But if you’re hoping to get a closer look at the horses, you should go for Category 2.
Dress code at Spanish Riding School
There is no official dress code for the Spanish Riding School.
However, due to the expensive crowd that ends up near the royal boxes, visitors tend to dress up a little formally.
Dresses for women and suits for men are standard at the Spanish Riding School.
If you want to blend in or don’t want to come off, you can wear a dress.
But if you’re going for entertainment and enjoying the fantastic act prepared with utmost precision, you should visit wearing something comfortable.
Avoid something that will be ruined by horsehair.
Spanish Riding School with Vienna Pass
The Vienna Pass is an excellent way to save money and time while exploring the city of Vienna.
It provides free entry not just to the Spanish Riding School but 90 of Vienna’s other attractions.
Some of the top tourist attractions where this Pass can help you gain free entry are – Schönbrunn Palace, Giant Ferris Wheel, Vienna Zoo, Albertina Museum, etc.
The best part is that you won’t even have to wait in any lines – you can walk right in.
Vienna Pass is available for one day, two days, three days, and six days. The price varies accordingly.
*Visitors 19+ years old are considered adults. Kids aged 6 to 18 years need to buy the child pass. Kids 5 years and below enter for free.
Buy Vienna PassIs it worth visiting the Spanish Riding School?
Visiting the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is absolutely worth it, especially for true lovers of history, culture, and equestrian art.
Known for its world-famous Lipizzaner stallions and centuries-old traditions, the attraction offers a unique glimpse into the mastery of classical dressage.
You can attend a morning training session, take a behind-the-scenes tour, or attend a full gala performance- each of these experiences is worth the time and money.
The venue itself is a marvel of Baroque architecture, and it seamlessly blends elegance, tradition, and cultural heritage.
How to reach Spanish Riding School
The Spanish Riding School is located between Michaelerplatz and Josefsplatz in Hofburg, in central Vienna.
Address: Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Wien, Austria. Get Directions
Its central location brings it closer to the other attractions, making it convenient and easy to fit into your schedule.
Since it is situated in the city center, there are many easy ways to reach the attraction.
By tramway
If you opt for the Tramway, you can get down at several stops around the Spanish Riding School.
Depending on where you are starting your journey, you can get onto Tramways 1, 2, D or 62.
Tramway 1, 2, or D will drop you at the Kärtner Ring Oper stop or Burgring stop.
Tramway 62 will drop you at the Kärntner Ring Oper stop.
By metro
Vienna’s Metro efficiently connects the whole city. It is also a great way to observe the locals’ lives.
The Metro offers four lines to reach the Spanish Riding School: U1, U2, U3, and U4.
The U1 Line stops at the Stephansplatz station, where the Spanish Riding School is just 700 meters (half a mile).
The U3 Line stops at the Herrengasse station, where the riding school is a brisk 4-minute walk.
The U2 and U4 Lines stop at Station Karlsplatz, and from the Karlsplatz station, the Spanish Riding School is 1 km (0.65 miles) away.
By bus
If a bus is your preferred mode of public transport, you can choose between three available routes.
Route 1A: The nearest stop to the Spanish Riding School is Herrengasse.
Route 2A: The nearest stop will be Michaelerplatz. We recommend this because the Spanish Riding School is within walking distance.
Route 3A: The nearest stop is Habsburgergasse.
