Spanish Riding School

Extraordinary Experiences

Photo: Stefan Gutternigh

View of the winter riding school at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling, sawdust lies on the floor so that the horses can walk well. To the right and left are pillars and seats for the spectators.

Two riders reward the white horse after his morning's work. They smile and one rider has his hand outstretched to the horse's mouth to give it sugar.

View of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna during morning work with the Lippizian horses. The white horses are lined up next to each other, the riders stand in front of their horses. All around is the large hall in which the morning work is performed.

Morning work at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. A rider, who is still in training, rides her white horse through the arena.

Morning work at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. A rider leads his horse into the arena. Only silhouettes are recognizable. On the right edge of the picture is the hall, where two riders are already training on their horses.

Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Vienna

Fare Zone Core Zone

U3 Herrengasse

+431 - 533 90 31

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€ 2 on regular admission price for adults (morning exercise)*

Experience The High School Of Classical Horsemanship In Perfect Harmony

Beauty, harmony, and perfection - to this day, these are the values that characterize the Spanish Riding School. With its world-famous Lipizzaners, classical equestrian art at the highest level can be experienced in the baroque ambiance of the Hofburg. The riding institution based in Vienna originally served to train the imperial family as riders. Today, the task of the riding school is to cultivate and preserve the knowledge of Classical Horsemanship, which dates back to antiquity. It is the only institution in the world where this valuable knowledge has been cultivated unchanged from the Renaissance to the present day. Experience the indescribable beauty of the Lipizzaners and their riders in harmony with classical music - book your visit now!

History of the Spanish Riding School

The "Spanish" in the name of the Spanish Riding School Vienna goes back to the Spanish horses that were used for breeding in the 16th century under Ferdinand I and his son Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria. Over time, the Habsburgs cultivated a horse breed that corresponded to their ideas of a perfect horse. Through crossbreeding these noble Spanish horses with Neapolitans, Berbers, and Arabians, the Lipizzaner was born. Lipizzaners are particularly capable of performing the school jumps and lessons of the High School due to their physique and ambitious, intelligent nature.

Since 2010, Classical Horsemanship and the High School of the Spanish Riding School have been part of UNESCO's national intangible cultural heritage and since December 2015 also part of UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The knowledge of Lipizzaner breeding at the Piber Stud has also been inscribed onto the UNESCO list. The Piber Lipizzaner Stud supplies the Riding School with school stallions and aims to maintain traditional Lipizzaners in their baroque type.

Experience elegance in the baroque ambience of the Hofburg Palace

During performances, visitors experience equestrian art by the Lipizzaners in the most beautiful riding hall in the world, which was impressively furnished by the baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach. The Spanish Riding School is located in the Michaelertrakt of the Hofburg in Vienna and is the only riding school in the world where classical riding is still taught unchanged – and has been for 460 years. The aim is to study the natural movements of the horses and to cultivate them with the greatest possible elegance through systematic training. These traditions have been passed down for generations.

Guided Tours, Morning Exercise, Performances

The Spanish Riding School offers different experiences: The Morning Exercise is the daily training, usually taking place from Tuesday to Friday at 10am. It gives a fascinating insight into the daily routines of the riders and their stallions. Visitors can marvel at the often still gray young stallions, as well as older, trained school stallions. The horses refine and perfect some exercises to the sound of classical Viennese music. The famous school jumps that are presented during performances are not always practiced during the training.

Guided Tours provide an interesting insight into the history and tradition of this unique institution.

The Guided Tour allows a look behind the scenes and you experience both the Winter Riding School and the summer riding arena with Europe's largest oval horse walker- Another highlight is the visit to the Lipizzaner stallions in their stables - here you can experience the stars of the Spanish Riding School in a relaxed manner in their "private chambers".

Age appropriate and entertaining tours for children and schools are available, lasting around 1 hour. Here, our young visitors learn everything about the white stallions, can also visit the stables and learn interesting facts about the riding tradition and the history of the Spanish Riding School.

During performances, visitors are enchanted by the world-famous white horses and their beautiful ballet. The white stars, who give a wonderful performance after many years of training and intensive education, are presented by their riders to the sound of Classical Viennese music.

More information:

You can find out the dates of performances and morning work as well as more information about buying tickets at srs.at. Children under 3 years of age are not permitted to enter. You can find more information on the website of the Spanish Riding School Vienna.

Your Benefit with EasyCityPass Vienna: € 2 discount on regular admission price for adults (morning exercise)*

*The discount must be redeemed on-site at the checkout.

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