Burggarten, Volksgarten and Rathauspark are three central parks in Vienna, set along the Ringstraße near major cultural landmarks. You can combine them on a city walk, starting beside the Hofburg at Burggarten and continuing along the route toward City Hall; a bed and breakfast in Vienna, a bed and breakfast in the city, is one possible starting point.
- Burggarten: Beside the Hofburg in Vienna’s 1st district.
- Volksgarten: A former imperial park on the central Ringstraße route.
- Rathauspark: Another stop along the route, near Vienna City Hall.
- Burggarten hours: Seasonal opening times vary; check the City of Vienna’s official site before you go.
Burggarten for a central garden break
Burggarten sits beside the Hofburg, the former winter residence of the Habsburgs, at Burggarten, 1010 Wien. Its curved paths form a circular route past the garden’s sights, making it easy to take in the grounds on a short loop.
Created as a private garden for Emperor Franz I in the English style, Burggarten opened to the public in 1919. Its sights include the Mozart monument, the Emperor Franz Joseph Memorial, the Butterfly House and the Palm House. The lawns, once closed to sitting, were reopened for it in 2007 after sitting had first been prohibited in 1951.
The garden’s hours change with the season: it opens 07:00–19:00 from 1 March to 31 March, 06:00–22:00 from 1 April to 31 October, and 07:00–17:30 from 1 November to 28 February.
The Butterfly House is also within Burggarten, at Burggarten/Palmenhaus, 1010 Wien. Vienna’s tourism site gives its hours as 10:00–15:45 from November to March and 10:00–17:45 from April to October; a standard ticket costs €10.
The Butterfly House has a step-free main entrance with a 93 cm-wide door, an accessible toilet and permission for assistance dogs. Check the City of Vienna’s official site before you go for Burggarten hours, and the Butterfly House’s official site for its visitor details.
Volksgarten and its rose beds
Volksgarten is another former imperial park on Vienna’s central Ringstraße route. Together with Burggarten, it has been administered by the Republic of Austria since 1918.
Its rose beds give this stop a different garden character from Burggarten’s curved paths and historic monuments. Place it between Burggarten and the other Ringstraße landmarks as you plan your walk; the route also passes the State Opera, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Naturhistorisches Museum, Parliament, Burgtheater and City Hall.
For journeys beyond this central walk, how Vienna’s tickets and lines work can help you plan connections.
Rathauspark and seasonal events
Rathauspark lies along the same central route, with Vienna City Hall among the landmarks along the Ringstraße. It works as the northern end of a walk that begins at Burggarten and passes Volksgarten.
Vienna’s parks and gardens are managed by several public bodies. The city’s municipal parks and gardens are administered by Municipal Department 42, the Forestry Office and Urban Agriculture (MA 49), and Friedhöfe Wien; former imperial parks such as Burggarten and Volksgarten are administered by the Republic of Austria.
Walking between the parks
Burggarten, Volksgarten and Rathauspark sit along a central route that also connects several of Vienna’s best-known landmarks. Follow the Ringstraße to combine the gardens with the State Opera, the two museums, Parliament, Burgtheater and City Hall.
For a broader route through the centre, the parks can be part of a walk from Vienna’s old town to the Ring. Burggarten’s circular paths also make it straightforward to explore that garden as a distinct loop before continuing along the route.
FAQs
Where is Burggarten?
Burggarten is at Burggarten, 1010 Wien, beside the Hofburg in Vienna’s 1st district.
When is Burggarten open?
Its opening hours vary by season, with different schedules from March to October and from November to February. Check the City of Vienna’s official site before visiting.
Do you need a ticket for the Butterfly House?
A standard Butterfly House ticket is €10. Its hours vary between November–March and April–October.
Can you combine the three parks in one walk?
Yes. The parks are along a central Ringstraße route that also includes City Hall, Parliament, Burgtheater and major museums.