The Burggarten is a roughly 38,000 m² imperial garden in Vienna's 1st district, tucked between the Hofburg palace and the Albertina. Laid out in 1818 as the private garden of Emperor Franz I, it was opened to the public in 1919 and is designed in the English landscape style. It is best known for the Mozart Monument with its treble-clef flowerbed, the bronze statue of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and the Art Nouveau Palmenhaus (Palm House) with its adjoining Butterfly House. In 2026 it remains a free, centrally located green retreat, ideal as a short pause on a walk linking the State Opera, the Albertina and the Hofburg.
Mozart Monument: sculpted by Viktor Tilgner, unveiled in 1896 and moved here in 1953; the seasonal treble-clef flowerbed planted before it is the garden's signature photo spot.
Art Nouveau Palmenhaus: a glass-and-steel palm house designed by Friedrich Ohmann and built 1901-1906, the last great Habsburg orangery, today also home to the Brasserie Palmenhaus café.
Butterfly House (Schmetterlinghaus): a tropical greenhouse in the left wing of the Palm House where 50-plus species of free-flying butterflies live year-round at a constant ~26 C (separate paid ticket).
The bronze statue of Emperor Franz Joseph I, and the Franz Stephan equestrian statue of 1781 - the oldest such monument in Vienna.
Quiet early mornings, when Lipizzaner horses from the nearby Spanish Riding School are sometimes seen being exercised.
Good to know
CautionVendors dressed in Mozart-era costume around the Opera and the Ring push concert tickets that are often overpriced; book performances only through official box offices or verified websites.
SafetyThe Karlsplatz-Opera-Ring area and the metro and trams draw crowds and pickpockets. Wear bags in front and keep your passport and wallet in an inside pocket.
RulesEntry to the garden is free, but the Butterfly House needs a separate ticket (about EUR 10 for adults) and closes earlier than the park. Always check the latest prices and hours before you go.
MannersIn the Butterfly House do not touch or catch the butterflies and avoid flash photography. Sitting on the lawns has been allowed since 2007, but stepping into or trampling the flowerbeds is prohibited.
SeasonFrom November to February the garden closes at 17:30 and the beds are bare and plain. The treble-clef flowerbed is at its best in spring through autumn; on cold or rainy days the indoor Palm House and Butterfly House are good alternatives.
RulesVienna public transport has no gates, but you must buy and validate a ticket before boarding; riding without one carries a heavy fine. A 24/48/72-hour pass or the Vienna City Card is convenient to arrange in advance.
Practical info
It is a short walk from the U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz station or the U2 Museumsquartier station, and from Ring tram lines 1, 2, 71 and D (Oper or Burgring stops), right beside the State Opera and the Albertina. The garden is free to enter while the Palm House and Butterfly House are separate; seasonal opening hours and Butterfly House prices should be confirmed on the official websites before visiting.
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