Vienna: Spanish Riding School Morning Exercise
Duration: 20 minutes
Visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and witness the training of the Lipizzaners and their riders. During the morning exercise you can observe…
Spanish Riding School
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Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School
Duration: 70 minutes - 2 hours
Be impressed by the performance of the famous Lipizzaner in a breathtaking location, the baroque Winter Riding School. The unique atmosphere of this…
Spanish Riding School: Tours & Tickets
Vienna Spanish Riding School Guided Tour
Duration: 55 minutes
Likely to sell out
Enjoy a look behind the scenes of the Spanish Riding School on this guided tour. Admire the stunning architecture of the centuries-old institution.
Walking Tour: Vienna at First Glance
Duration: 2 hours
Likely to sell out
Enjoy a compact tour of central Vienna and see the city's highlights. Admire the Hofburg and see where Mozart lived.
Vienna PASS: 1, 2, 3, or 6 Days of Sightseeing
Valid: 1 - 6 days
The Vienna PASS is an all-inclusive sightseeing card that gives you the opportunity to experience the many faces of Vienna. You’ll get free admission…
Vienna: Flexipass for 3, 4 or 5 Top Sights
Valid: 30 days
Discover Vienna's capital in a relaxing and flexible way. Visit 3, 4 or 5 of Vienna's most famous attractions following a program according to your…
Spanish Riding School & Imperial Treasury Combination Ticket
Valid: 1 day
Discover two of the most fascinating sights in Vienna with this practical combo ticket. Observe the morning exercise of the famous Lipizzaner horses…
Spanish Riding School: From Stables to Attic Floors Tour
Duration: 80 minutes
Catch a glimpse into the Lipizzanerstables at the Stallburg and then take a tour of the Winter Riding School. Embark on a special architecture route…
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Vienna's Spanish Riding school: Top 5 facts
Vienna's Spanish Riding School allows you to relive the prestige and sophistication of centuries past. Here are five fascinating facts about its history, which render the Spanish Riding School the only remaining dressage institution of its kind in the world.
The Lipizzaner
The majestic white stallions of the Spanish Riding School are all Lipizzaner, Europe's oldest domesticated breed of horse.
Haute Ecole
The Spanish Riding School is the only institution in the world where the prestigious, 400-year-old equestrian tradition of the haute école is still practiced in its original form.
Sublime Performances
Accompanied by classical music, the riders and horses perform highly intricate ballets, with such magnificent feats as pirouettes, passages and piaffes, as well as amazing jumps.
Years of Training
At the Spanish Riding School, in order to reach the required level of excellence, a horse must undergo 6 years of training, whereas riders train for 10 to 12 years.
Spectacular Riding Hall
The hall where the performances are held, widely regarded as the world's most beautiful riding hall, was built by eminent baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer in the 1730s.
Our insider tips
Choosing the right ticket
Note that there are different options for visiting the Spanish Riding School, including taking a tour of the stables, watching the morning exercises and, of course, witnessing one of the performances. The availability of each option is also dependent on schedule, so make sure to carefully consider the choices to avoid disappointment.
Summer holidays
The horses and riders have their summer break in July and August. It's best to get informed about the exact dates of the break prior to your visit, as it's not possible to watch a performance during the school's summer holidays.
A sweet finishing treat
Cap your day of Viennese tradition by grabbing a slice of delicious Sachertorte at the café on your way out.
Good to know
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- When should I visit?
- The Visitor Center is open Monday through Sunday 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Performance times vary.
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- Is it expensive?
- Adult tickets start at €14 and go up depending on performances and tours selected.
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- Will I need a guide?
- A guide is not necessary.
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- How to get there
- Take the U3 train to Herrengasse or trams 1, 2, D or J to Burgring.
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- Additional information
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- Children under three are not admitted.
- Each performance is about an hour, and you'll need to secure tickets well in advance.
What people are saying about Spanish Riding School
Nothing too exciting but an insight of how the horses are cared for
We visited the stables after we had seen the show, there was a wait in the main entrance where other people were also queuing up for other events so it got busy at times. We were grouped with a good English speaking guide and taken into the arena and then around the main stable block, we were asked NOT to take photos and were only permitted to in the tack room. We were able to see the horses feed in their individual stables and the guide gave us a brief commentary about the horses answering questions as we walked through, you kind of got the feeling that we were in the way as the grooms were trying to go about their daily routine with groups of people standing around. Under no circumstances were you allowed to touch the horses, but the experience overall was interesting and informative.
Lovely hour spent watching Lippizaner training session.
Exactly what it said on tin. Lippizaner training session from 10am to 12pm but an hour was all we needed. You won’t see horses doing the formations they do in show but you will see them practicing moves on an individual basis. Lovely to watch. Although we purchased on line tickets still had to queue to exchange it for a paper ticket.
One of the world's greatest horse experiences.
The Lipizzaners can live until the age of 24 so there is a mix of young horses in training and older fully trained on show. That also applies to riders and makes it interesting to witness the different development stages. Initially it may seem repetitive but the longer you can stay the more meaningful it becomes. Highly recommended.
The show met my expectations from a childhood dream to see the Lipizza
On the second tier we looked down on the horses from a higher level than anticipated. Also I had hoped there would be live music. Still, seeing these horses perform so elegantly was wonderful fulfillment of a childhood fantasy that began with a Walt Disney movie about the horses.
Interesting to observe how the training session is organised.
The arena was very busy. The ticket advised staying 20 minutes. However many people stayed much longer making it difficult to find a place where a good view could be accessed. I feel some management by the facility is needed to make observation more accessible and fairer.
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