Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School is a centuries-old institution in Vienna as it was founded in the 16th century with the aim of giving riding lessons to Viennese nobles. The site is located within the large Hofburg complex, the palace that was for centuries the residence of the royal family and the administrative centre of the city.

The Vienna Riding School was founded around 1572 and its fame is due to the fact that the tradition of classical riding as it was practised in the Renaissance at the Haute École has been preserved here to this day. The value of the equestrian art practised at the Spanish Riding School is such that it has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Built from the 16th century onwards, however, the School was completed in 1729 during the reign of Emperor Charles VI with the construction of the White Riding Hall, designed by architect Fischer von Erlach. Today, this hall is still open to the public and here one can watch the training and exhibitions of stallions.

The name Spanish Riding School is connected with the pure-bred Spanish horses from which the Lipizzaner breed, which originated in the small Slovenian village of Lipica, is partly derived. In the mid-16th century, Austrian Archduke Charles II purchased the village of Lipica with the aim of establishing a stud farm for horses that would be trained to pull carriages and for riding. Those horses were then taken to Vienna to be used at the Riding School and today the Lipizzaner breed is the one still used at the School, although the horses are now bred in the Austrian town of Piber.

Things to do at the Spanish Riding School

Visiting the Spanish Riding School in Vienna is a must for horse lovers and not only, as here you can discover the history and traditions of this ancient art. The heart of the visit is the stables in the building known as the Stallburg, one of the city’s most important Renaissance palaces that houses the real stars of the place: the Lipizzaner horses.

The tour can then continue with the discovery of the Winter Riding School, considered a true jewel of Baroque architecture boasting a majestic and imposing structure with a unique and original design. By climbing to the highest part of the hall, you can also admire a beautiful view of the city of Vienna. The Summer Riding School, on the other hand, houses one of the largest oval tracks in the world, testifying to how popular this discipline has always been in the city.

You can also watch the wonderful equestrian performances that are always truly spectacular, or take part in the morning training, which is also very scenic! During the morning training, you can see various exercises performed, but also admire the relationship between the ‘trainers’, i.e. the riders, and their Lipizzaners, who are trained through a strict course to become elegant and refined specimens.

Once the training is over, you can also see the trainer handing over a treat to his horse as a prize! The education of each stallion usually consists of three levels: the First Riding, which begins when the horse arrives at the School around the age of four, the Schooling Campaign when the stallion is instructed in gaits, and finally, the High School where perfection takes place. At the same time, riders also have to follow a strict training course that usually starts at a young age.

Attending a show at the Spanish Riding School

There are several tickets to visit the Spanish Riding School and to watch the morning training of the Lipizzaners or the evening shows. It is an unmissable stop not only for horse lovers, but also for history buffs: Lipizzaners are in fact the oldest breed of horses in Europe.

Morning training ticket

The best-selling ticket is to attend the morning training of the Lipizzaners and their jockeys, performed by grey fillies and the ‘white stars’, the most experienced stallions.

Training ticket + guided tour

For a few extra euros you can also take part in a guided tour of the building that houses the Riding School, as well as attend the training sessions.

Ticket for the Lipizzaner horse show

The most complete experience is certainly the show, both the ‘standard’ version and the famous Gala Show; however, tickets must be purchased months in advance, as demand is very high.

Opening hours of the Spanish Riding School

The opening hours of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna are as follows: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 16:00

The School is closed on 22 May and 8, 28, 29, 30 June.

How to reach the Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is located in the city centre and can be easily reached on foot or by public transport. On foot the easiest way is across Michaelerplatz, while by public transport you can use trams, metro or buses.

By tram, take lines 1, 2 or D to the Kärtner Ring Oper stop or to the Burgring stop, and line 62 to the Kärntner Ring Oper stop.

Travelling by underground, the reference lines are U1 (Stephansplatz stop), U3 (Herrengasse stop) U2 and U4 (Karlsplatz stop).

Those wishing to travel by bus can use line 1A (Herrengasse stop), line 2A (Michaelerplatz stop), line 3A (Habsburgergasse stop).