Guide to the Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum in Vienna
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The Sisi Museum in Vienna provides an incredible look into the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria (aka Sisi).
I have to admit, before going to Vienna, I didn’t know much about Sisi at all. From my recollection of history class, she wasn’t mentioned, so this Hofburg Palace tour was really informative.
She was an extraordinary woman who fully deserves her own exhibit within the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Included in the tour were also the Silver Collection and the Imperial Apartments in Vienna.
For over 600 years, up until 1918, the Hofburg Imperial Palace was the political center of the monarchy and the residence of Austrian royalty. Today, it is the center of the Democratic Republic of Austria.
A Short Habsburgs History
The House of Habsburgs takes its name from Habsburg Castle, a fortress built in the 1020s in present-day Switzerland. During the 13th century, the House of Habsburgs (aka the House of Austria) reigned as the first rulers of the Austrian patrimonial lands.
Starting in 1452, they became the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire until their extinction in the male line in 1740.
Then, in 1806, they ascended to become emperors of Austria until the end of the monarchy in 1918. The house also produced emperors and kings of Bohemia, Hungary, Croatia, Galicia, Portugal, and Spain with their respective colonies. As well as rulers of several principalities in the Netherlands and Italy.
History of the Hofburg Imperial Palace
The Hofburg Imperial Palace was originally a medieval fortified castle dating from the 13th century. It grew with the reign of each emperor.
The complex consists of 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and 2,600 rooms, in which nearly 5,000 people still work and live today. The medieval fortress core has been preserved; however, the four corner towers, most of the moat, and the drawbridge have been altered over the centuries. In the middle of the 16th century, the façade was changed to the Renaissance style.
I should note that the Imperial Treasury is part of the palace; however, on the day I went, it was closed, so I was unable to see it. I was able to see the Austrian National Library, which is also nearby and looks to be straight out of the Beauty and the Beast library!
The last royal occupant of the Hofburg Imperial Palace was Emperor Franz Joseph, who passed November 21, 1916.
The Silver Collection
I went to the Hofburg Imperial Palace, particularly for the Sisi Museum in Vienna. Upon arriving, you first go through the Silver Collection. I’ve never seen so much gold and intricate designs on all sorts of dinnerwear! This collection alone is worth a fortune!
Don’t get me wrong. It is not just knives, forks, and plates. Some centerpieces are about 100 feet long (30 meters)! The exhibit aims to give visitors an insight into the culture of elegant dining.
Back in the 15th century, the first written record of the office of Silver Chamberlain appears during the time of Emperors Frederick III and Maximilian I. Responsible for the table silver, table linen, and the setting of the imperial table.
It became a more prominent role as time wore on, encompassing the Court Kitchen, the Court Confectionery, the Court Linen Room, the Court Cellars, the Court Silver and Table Room, the Court Depot of Victuals, the Court Firewood and Coal Depot, and the Court Light Room.
Now that the royals are no longer using them, the collection is sometimes used in state banquets and dinners or displayed in the former offices of the Silver Room. Of the total 150,000 items that they own, about 7,000 are on display at the Silver Collection.
The Sisi Museum in Vienna
The Sisi Museum in Vienna houses 300 personal items that once belonged to the Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi). This museum is exceptional at providing a unique view of her life and personality. If you’ve watched the 1950s Sissi film series, you’d believe that her life was something of a fairytale.
However, as with the truth of many fairytales, there are darker tones to them. Inspired by her poetry, the Sisi Museum in Vienna walks you through her life, starting with her unconventional upbringing, marrying Emperor Franz Joseph I at the age of sixteen, and then onto her court life and tragic death.
The Hofburg Palace tour of the Sisi Museum included her parasols, fans, gloves, jewelry, portraits, clothing, beauty products, games case, traveling medicine chest (including her cocaine syringe), and even the original death certificate. My favorite items on display were her dresses!
They have two of her reconstructed dresses on display: a summer dress she wore as a young bride on the evening before her wedding and her Hungarian coronation dress!
As someone who is the same height as Sisi, 5’8″, she was rather thin, called “almost inhumanly slender” in her day. From what I recall at the exhibit, she only fluctuated between 98 and 101 pounds. This probably can be attributed to her obsessive dieting, exercise, and depression.
A Look at Sisi’s Beauty
The only way she felt appreciated was through her looks, which is why her physical appearance was her top priority. Her bedchamber was installed with mats and balance beams so that she could exercise every morning.
You see some of her exercise equipment on the tour of her rooms. Taking up fencing in her 50s as well as riding horses for several hours a day.
Her beauty routine for her incredibly long hair took 3 hours daily! Interesting fact: while getting her hair done, she’d learn languages. Talk about using your time wisely!
The Legacy of Empress Elisabeth of Austria
There’s a lot more you can learn about Sisi in the museum that, if I covered, would make this post 8,000 words long, so I suggest reading about her further and viewing the video above. The video includes the exhibit as well as the Schönbrunn Palace.
Her life is ripe for a movie with everything from an arranged marriage gone wrong (her older sister was supposed to marry Emperor Franz Joseph) to a tragic death. 25-year-old Italian anarchist stabbed Elisabeth with a sharpened needle file that was 4 inches (100 mm) long. I highly recommend the Sisi Museum in Vienna should you be traveling there.
Imperial Apartments in Vienna
The Imperial Apartments in Vienna cover 24 rooms that were once occupied by Emperor Franz Joseph and Sisi. On the tour, you get to see his study, their private rooms, reception room, and dining room, amongst others.
The curators of the Imperial Apartments took special care to maintain the highest standards of historical authenticity—the fittings and furniture date mostly from the second half of the 19th century.
The ceramic stoves are part of the original 18th-century wares. Up until the end of the 19th century, the chandeliers held candles, and then electricity was introduced into the palace.
Hofburg Palace Tickets
As I usually do, I got a sightseeing pass for Vienna. The Vienna Pass covered the Hofburg Palace tour of the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Silver Collection, and the Imperial Apartments in Vienna.
Whether or not you get the Vienna Pass or get Palace tickets onsite, you should know they also provide visitors with audio guides for free!
Available in 13 languages and handed out after the turnstiles. If you’d like to get it ahead of time and not wait for the audio guide (though there was no line when I went in the summer), you can download their zip file or iTunes guide free of charge.
If you’d like to take the work out of visiting Hofburg Palace and the Sisi Museum on your own, then I suggest Get Your Guide Tours as they offer many marvelous options. I love booking with them because if any issues arise, it’s easy to get a refund. Their tour operators are also affordable and reliable.
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How to Visit the Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum in Vienna
The Hofburg Palace tour of the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Silver Collection, and the Imperial Apartments are open daily, including public holidays! Check their official website for the latest on opening times.
It’s pretty easy to reach the Hofburg using public transportation. I used the hop-on, hop-off bus that comes with the Vienna Pass, but you can also use the underground or other public transport.
Underground: U3 (orange), get off at Herrengasse
Trams: 1, 2, D and 71, get off at Burgring
Bus: 1A and 2A, get off at Hofburg
Note: The only place I was allowed to take photos was in the Silver Collection; the rest are from the official Hofburg site.
Are the Sisi Museum and Hofburg the same?
No, they are located in the same area but are not the same. The Sisi Museum is situated within the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. In addition to the Sisi Museum, the Hofburg Palace includes the Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Silver Collection.
What is there to see at the Hofburg Palace?
Situated within the Hofburg Palace are the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Imperial Silver Collection.
Is the Sisi Museum worth visiting?
Yes, a visit to the Sisi Museum, located in the Hofburg Palace, is well worth visiting. It provides an in-depth view into the life of the Empress Elizabeth. I walked away feeling like I learned a lot about her and what it must have been like to be in her shoes.
How much time do you need to visit the Sisi Museum?
To fully experience the Sisi Museum, I’d recommend spending around 2-3 hours exploring all the exhibits. It’ll give you the best chance to listen to the audio guide and view her personal items and chambers.
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Thank you for this detailed guide! I loved the tips about the best times to visit and the highlights of the Sisi Museum. The history of Empress Elisabeth is so fascinating, and now I can’t wait to explore the Hofburg Palace on my upcoming trip to Vienna. Your insights really made me excited about it!
Hey! First, thanks for taking the time to visit my blog! Second, I’m so thrilled it’s helped and excited you. The Sisi Museum is one of my fondest memories of Vienna, so I’m so excited you’ll be experiencing it as well.