Lipizzaner horses in a baroque hall, sold three different ways at three very different prices.
What it costs
Three tiers, and knowing them saves a lot of money:
- Performances are the expensive tier β full choreographed displays, booked well ahead.
- Morning exercise is far cheaper: the horses train, there is no choreography and no commentary, and you can come and go.
- Guided tours of the Winter Riding School show you the hall when the horses are not in it, cheaper again.
All three are separate from every Hofburg ticket.
When to go
The horses go to summer pasture, so there is a stretch of the year with no performances at all β the single most common wasted plan here. Check the schedule before you build a day around it.
Getting there
Inside the Hofburg; metro U3 to Herrengasse. The entrance is on Michaelerplatz.
If you only have an hour
Go to the morning exercise rather than a performance β far cheaper, no booking months ahead, and you can leave when you have had enough. Check first that the horses are not at summer pasture.
What people get wrong
The horses are born dark β bay or black β and turn white as they mature, usually between six and ten years old. The “Spanish” in the name refers to the Iberian ancestry of the breed, not to anything Spanish about the school.
Nearby
Ticketing arrangements and opening patterns as published for 2026 and checked on 4 September 2026. These change without much warning β confirm with the site itself before you travel. More sights, and how they fit together, in Landmarks & Sights.