Laxenburg Park | Castle & Royal Gardens South of Vienna

The village of Laxenburg is located about 15 kilometers south of Vienna. As early as 1388, the village gained a respectable status and became a beloved residence for the Habsburg family during the spring and summer months. Thanks to the nobles and royals who frequented the village, it grew and developed, as did its impressive castle, which is surrounded by vast royal gardens. Today, more than a million visitors from around the world come each year to explore the castle and its grounds. The area is especially popular with couples taking pre-wedding photos, and with so much to see, it’s easy to spend an entire day enjoying the gardens and the castle.

The Laxenburg castles (Schloss Laxenburg) are the heart of the village and, together with their vast royal gardens, form one of Europe’s most beautiful palace complexes. Designed under Empress Maria Theresa and her grandson Emperor Franz, the gardens feature grand lawns, old trees, and a large lake, creating an atmosphere of elegance and splendor.

In this article, we have compiled the most important information about Laxenburg.

The Special Buildings in Laxenburg
What Can You Do in Laxenburg?
How to Get to Laxenburg by Public Transport from Vienna?
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

The Special Buildings in Laxenburg Park

At the park entrance, visitors arrive at a broad paved square surrounded by historic buildings. Nearby stands the Blue Palace (Blauer Hof), which passed through several noble families before being acquired by Maria Theresa. She commissioned architect Nicolò Pacassi to expand and decorate the building, adding new wings such as the dining hall and theater, richly adorned with carvings and ceiling paintings. Opposite the palace is the village church, built in the early 18th century on the site of an earlier structure destroyed during the Turkish invasions, and next to it stands the Town Hall, once a farmhouse later transformed into an elegant civic building.

Inside the park is the Old Castle (Altes Schloss), dating back to the 13th century, originally part of a hunting estate. Expanded under Emperor Albert III, it was damaged during the Turkish invasions of the 17th century and later restored. It served as the Habsburgs’ spring residence for many years and later housed an international school between 1925 and 1938.

The most famous and striking structure in the Laxenburg complex is the New Castle, known as Franzensburg. Built between the late 18th and early 19th centuries over a period of roughly 35 years, it was commissioned by Emperor Franz II, who insisted on a design inspired by medieval knightly castles. It stands on an artificial island in the lake and now functions as a museum displaying imperial treasures.

Laxenburg was a favored retreat of the Habsburgs and the site of major historical events, including the honeymoon of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, as well as the birth of their son, Crown Prince Rudolf.

This is what Laxenburg Park from a bird’s eye view looks like

What Can You Do in Laxenburg Park?

In the vast Laxenburg Park, there are a variety of fun activities for the whole family. You can easily spend 3 hours on a relaxed walk along the park’s paths or stop by the lake for a picnic. If you want to enrich your visit to Laxenburg, you can choose from several other fun activities:

1. Guided Tour of the historic Franzensburg Castle

In the heart of the park, on an artificial island, lies the picturesque castle containing the treasures of Emperor Franz II. You can visit the castle only as part of a guided tour. The tours take place from April to November 1st. The tours are suitable for the whole family, including children.

Castle Museum Tour Times: Every day at 11:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:00 PM, and 3:00 PM. Tour Cost:

Adult: €11
Child: €7
Family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): €28

Castle Towers and Viewpoint Tour Times: Every day at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Tour Cost:

Adult: €11
Child: €7
Family ticket (2 adults + 3 children): €28

Tickets can be purchased at the castle’s museum shop. The shop is open during the season from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Please note! To get to the castle, you need to take a small ferry to cross the lake. The ferry costs extra and is separate from the tour.

Ferry Operating Times (from April to November 1st):

Monday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Saturday, Sunday, and holidays: 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Ferry Cost:

Adult: €0.90
Child (from age 3): €0.80
Child (up to age 3): Free

2. Boat Rental and Boating on the Lake

Around the impressive castle, there is a huge lake (the size of 50 football fields) where you can boat peacefully and enjoy the views of the castle. You can rent pedal boats, rowboats, or electric boats.

Boat rental is available between April and October on days with good weather (not too rainy). On weekdays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and on weekends from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

You can contact the company directly for more information and to book a boat in advance (not required, but it can save waiting time if there are many people). Contact phone: 0676/9308625.

3. Playground

About a 10-minute walk from the main entrance is a nice, large playground. The playground has a variety of equipment such as “the castle,” a miniature train, swings, slides, and more.

4. The Park Train

Join a ride through the park on the old train – the Laxenburg Express. The train operates between April and November 1st from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The train has three pick-up and drop-off stops: the main entrance, the lake, and the ferry station to the castle. You can get on and off at any stop.

5. The Recreation Area in the South of the Park

In the southern part of the park, there is a complex with a restaurant called Flieger und Flieger, a swimming pool, and a mini-golf course for children. The mini-golf course is open during the restaurant’s opening hours.

Address: Erholungszentrum Laxenburg, Müchendorfer Straße 7, 2361 Laxenburg

How to Get to Laxenburg by Public Transport from Vienna?

The most convenient way to get to the park is from the bus platform located next to Vienna’s main train station (Wien Hauptbahnhof). You can reach the main train station via the U1 red underground line. Get off at the Südtirolerplatz-Hauptbahnhof station.

The bus platform is located under the bridge to the right of the main station building. From there, take bus line 200, operated by Postbus. The bus departs every half hour, and the journey takes about half an hour. Get off at the Laxenburg Franz-Josephs-Platz stop, and from there it’s about a 3-minute walk to the park entrance.

The cost of the trip each way is about €4.50. You can buy a ticket on the bus.

Detailed bus schedule

Additional Essential Information for Your Visit

There is an entrance fee for Laxenburg Park. The gardens are open all year round, but you can only rent boats or take a tour of the old castle between March and November.

Entrance fee for the gardens only: