Burggarten

Behind the Hofburg Palace in central Vienna, Burggarten is a former imperial garden now open to the public. Its English-style paths wind past lawns, flower beds, mature trees and a pond with a Hercules fountain. Look for the white marble Mozart Monument and the equestrian statue of Francis I, then visit the Art Nouveau Palm House and Butterfly House. The grounds make a calm place to pause between sights; the Palm House also has a café and restaurant for a drink or a meal.

A garden behind the Hofburg

Burggarten sits behind the Hofburg Palace, close to the Vienna State Opera and the Albertina. The garden was created in the early 19th century as a private space for the imperial family. It was opened to the public in 1919, after the end of the monarchy.

The garden follows the English landscape style, with winding paths, open lawns and mature trees. Today, its central location makes it easy to add a quiet walk or a rest on a bench to a day spent exploring Vienna’s historic centre.

Monuments and the pond

The white marble Mozart Monument is one of the garden’s best-known sights. It includes reliefs connected with the composer’s life and work, and a G-clef shape laid out in the lawn in front. The monument was first unveiled at Albertinaplatz, then restored after wartime damage and moved to Burggarten in the 1950s.

Another prominent work is the equestrian statue of Francis I, commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa in the late 18th century. At the central pond, look for the fountain depicting Hercules wrestling the Nemean Lion. The garden also has other statues, flower beds and lawns, so a slow circuit gives you more to notice than the main monument alone.