Spanish Riding School in Vienna: Morning Exercise, Performance or Guided Tour?
Updated October 13, 2026 · 5 min read
Book the performance if you want to see the Lipizzaners do what they are famous for. Book the morning exercise if you want a cheap, quiet look at the work behind it, and accept that you will probably stand. The Spanish Riding School Training has 10,327 reviews and is the cheapest way in at €17, but it is also the lowest rated of the three at 3.9 stars.
What the morning exercise is
It is a training session, not a show. In the baroque Winter Riding School you watch riders work horses to maintain their fitness and muscle tone, with classical music playing. The listing says the famous school jumps, the levade, courbette and capriole, are not practised daily and are only sometimes seen. Expect young horses and relaxation exercises as much as the finished stallions.
The school’s own ticket page lists sessions of about 60 minutes, mostly at 10:00, some days also at 11:30. Between 14 October and 10 November 2026 there are three price levels: €17 to €18 for standing room, €19 to €20 for the second seated category and €28 to €29 for the first. The programme is subject to change without notice.
Standing is not a footnote. A reviewer on the booking page says that only afterwards did they realise seats existed and would have chosen one. Another reports that it was mostly the younger horses working, with some commentary explaining the exercises.
What the performance adds
The Performance of the Lipizzans costs from €40.30 on the booking page, rated 4.4 with 4,837 reviews, and runs 70 minutes to 1.5 hours. The school itself lists performances from €26. The listing describes a 1.5-hour gala performance with live commentary and a standard performance; the school itself lists performances of about 45 or 70 minutes.
This is the full programme with music and lighting in the same hall. It is also where the seating problem bites. Reviewers repeat three points:
- From the second gallery you have to lean forward or stand, because of the railing.
- Columns block part of the view from some places.
- The different ticket categories use different entrances, which the listing does not explain.
One reviewer who stood found the standing ticket good value and could still see most of the action. Another recommends paying for the first gallery. Read the seating plan on the booking page before you choose a category.
What the guided tour covers
The Spanish Riding School Guided Tour costs €24, is rated 4.7 with 7,890 reviews and lasts 55 minutes in English or German. It is the only option that takes you behind the scenes: the Winter Riding School, the Summer Riding School with its large oval horse walker, and the historic stables in the Stallburg.
Two things to know. No photos or video are allowed, and the tour is not accessible by wheelchair. The inclusions also list morning exercise tickets; check on the booking page whether watching a training session is part of the date you choose.
Comparison
| Option | Duration | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spanish Riding School Training | 1 hour | €17 | 3.9, 10,327 reviews |
| Spanish Riding School Guided Tour | 55 minutes | €24 | 4.7, 7,890 reviews |
| Performance of the Lipizzans | 70 minutes to 1.5 hours | from €40.30 | 4.4, 4,837 reviews |
Practical points
- Where: Michaelerplatz 1, inside the Hofburg. Tickets can be collected from one hour before, and entry starts about 15 minutes before the start time.
- Photos: Cameras and recording equipment are forbidden at the training and at performances.
- Children: Under 3 are not admitted. According to the booking page for the training, ages 3 to 5 enter free on an adult’s lap and ages 6 to 18 pay a reduced price. The school’s own page states the reduced age band differently, so check the age on your date.
- Wheelchairs: Spaces are limited and must be requested from the school beforehand. There is no lift and the upper galleries are reached by stairs.
- Cloakroom: There is no luggage storage, and dogs are not allowed.
Which one to book
- First visit, short stay: the performance, in a seated category.
- You want the horses, not the show, and the budget is tight: the morning exercise, standing, going in expecting a working session.
- You are curious about how the school works: the guided tour.
- Mobility limits: write to the school first. The training and performance have a few wheelchair spaces, the guided tour has none.
The Hofburg is next door, so a morning exercise combines easily with the Sisi Museum tickets. For evenings, see the concert venues compared. More tickets in the old town are under attraction tickets in Vienna.
