Guided Tours

Spanish Riding School Guided Tour

Name: Spanish Riding School Guided Tour
Start: 2026-09-16T15:00:00
End: 2026-09-16T16:00:00
Location: Spanish Riding School

4.8/5(172)

Stine T

Group

Verified booking

Last week

A very knowledgeable guide who knew a lot and patiently answered all our questions. A beautiful arena. The story about the riding school is incredibly fascinating.

Dean M

Couple

Verified booking

4 days ago

The tour was very well organized and informative. We learned much about the school's history and the daily schedules for the horses and riders. We also heard a lot about the breeding program and how they ensure only the top horses and best riders become part of the organization. The only improvement we could see would be to have a saddled horse with one of the riders present during a part of the tour.

Rebecka R

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

Our guide, Inga, was excellent! Very knowledgeable. Especially loved the "back stable" tour (where photos were not allowed). Only wish I had done the tour BEFORE seeing the official show, but as the performance only happens at limited times, it was not possible. Wanted to book more experiences, but ran out of time!

Anna P

Group

Verified booking

Aug 2026

The tour was in German and led by a young man with charm and a knack for wordplay. It was a real experience, and I can't recommend it highly enough to everyone (including locals). It was truly informative and, at the same time, very entertaining!!!

Mclaughlin M

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

Wonderful experience, guide was very knowledgeable.. recommend book the training session well in advance as we would love to have experienced that also.. highly recommend the tour

Manu S

Couple

Verified booking

Aug 2026

Very well thought out and organized; you can really see the tradition and the luxurious lifestyle of the horses, and they receive better medical care than ordinary people do. I’ll definitely come back with my friends to see the horses in action—it wouldn’t be possible to give the spectators a short break to get a drink, like they do at soccer games.

Join a 55–60 minute guided tour of the Spanish Riding School, led by experts who unpack its history, architecture, and equestrian traditions.

Step inside the Winter Riding School, a Baroque riding hall built to exact proportions for classical dressage.

Visit the Summer Riding School, home to one of the world’s largest oval horse walkers, offering a rare look at modern training within a historic setting.

Explore the Stallburg, Vienna’s most significant Renaissance building, where Lipizzaner stallions have been stabled for centuries.

Fun fact: Founded in 1565, the Spanish Riding School is the only institution in the world where Renaissance-era classical horsemanship is still practiced exactly as it was over 460 years ago.

Guided behind-the-scenes tour

Access to Winter Riding School

Access to Summer Riding School

Visit to Stallburg Imperial stables

English or German-speaking guide

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

172 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from Germany, United States, Switzerland and over 13 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Rebecka R
Couple
Verified booking
Aug 2026
Our guide, Inga, was excellent! Very knowledgeable. Especially loved the "back stable" tour (where photos were not allowed). Only wish I had done the tour BEFORE seeing the official show, but as the performance only happens at limited times, it was not possible. Wanted to book more experiences, but ran out of time!
Dean M
Couple
Verified booking
4 days ago
The tour was very well organized and informative. We learned much about the school's history and the daily schedules for the horses and riders. We also heard a lot about the breeding program and how they ensure only the top horses and best riders become part of the organization. The only improvement we could see would be to have a saddled horse with one of the riders present during a part of the tour.
Manu S
Couple
Verified booking
Aug 2026
Very well thought out and organized; you can really see the tradition and the luxurious lifestyle of the horses, and they receive better medical care than ordinary people do. I’ll definitely come back with my friends to see the horses in action—it wouldn’t be possible to give the spectators a short break to get a drink, like they do at soccer games.
Anna P
Group
Verified booking
Aug 2026
The tour was in German and led by a young man with charm and a knack for wordplay. It was a real experience, and I can't recommend it highly enough to everyone (including locals). It was truly informative and, at the same time, very entertaining!!!
Stine T
Group
Verified booking
Last week
A very knowledgeable guide who knew a lot and patiently answered all our questions. A beautiful arena. The story about the riding school is incredibly fascinating.

Step inside a 460-year-old institution on a 55–60 minute guided tour of the Spanish Riding School, exploring its riding halls, stables, and living equestrian traditions.

Getting started

Arrive at the Visitor Centre at least 5 minutes before your tour begins. Exchange your mobile voucher for a physical ticket at the cashier’s desk (available up to 1 hour before start time), then meet your guide for a short introduction.

What to expect

Spanish Riding School

This guided tour takes you behind the scenes of one of Vienna’s most enduring cultural institutions, where classical equitation has been practiced since the 16th century. You’ll explore the architectural spaces that support both daily training and ceremonial performances.

Inside the school

Winter Riding School: Enter the Baroque riding hall and learn how its proportions, symmetry, and light were designed specifically for classical dressage.

Summer Riding School: Visit the training area that houses one of the world’s largest oval horse walkers, offering insight into modern conditioning methods.

Stallburg Imperial Stables: Explore Vienna’s most significant Renaissance building, home to the Lipizzaner stallions for over 460 years.

Equestrian Tradition: Hear how Renaissance-era methods of the Haute École are still followed today, passed down through generations of riders.

What to bring

Mobile voucher to exchange for a physical ticket at the cashier’s desk before the tour.

Comfortable clothing suitable for standing and walking indoors for about an hour.

Light essentials only because you’ll need to carry everything with you, as no storage is available.

What’s not allowed

Cameras, phones for photography, and video recording equipment are strictly prohibited during the tour.

Pets, including dogs, are not permitted inside the Spanish Riding School.

Children under 3 years are not allowed to join guided tours.

Large bags, coats, or luggage cannot be stored on-site.

Accessibility

Due to limited wheelchair availability, visitors must email a request in advance to the Spanish Riding School.

Access is only confirmed once written approval is received and must be shown when collecting tickets.

Additional information

Tickets can be collected up to 1 hour before the scheduled start time.

Children aged 3–6 enter free; ages 6–18 receive a reduced rate.

The tour takes place inside a working historic institution, so rules around movement and photography are strictly enforced.

Your voucher will be emailed to you shortly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the starting point.

Please check your final voucher for the starting point details & specific instructions.