Performance, morning exercise or guided tour?
All three happen at the Spanish Riding School at Michaelerplatz 1, in the Hofburg. They answer different questions.
| Performance | Morning exercise | Guided tour | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | Choreographed show in the Winter Riding School | Daily training of riders and horses | Riding halls and the Stallburg stables |
| Length | About 45, 70 or 90 minutes | About 60 minutes | About 60 minutes |
| Adult price | €33–€155 (11:00 shows) | €17–€29 | €24 |
| Days (19 Oct–16 Nov 2026) | Mostly Sat and Sun, 11:00 | Tuesday to Friday | Daily afternoons; Monday mornings too |
| Minimum age | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Prices and dates come from the performance, morning exercise and English tour pages, checked 19 October 2026, which showed dates from 19 October to 16 November 2026.
Choose the performance if you want the full routine, with the Lipizzaners performing the classical figures in sequence. Choose the morning exercise if you want the horses and the hall without the show price. Choose the tour if you want the stables, or if your dates have no training.
How much does a Spanish Riding School performance cost?
The performance page lists ten categories. For the 11:00 shows in late October and November 2026 (checked 19 October 2026):
- Category 1 seats: €155
- Categories 2 to 8: €140 down to €67
- Category 9 seats: €50, sold out on every listed date when checked
- Category 10 standing room, left or right: €33
The Friday 30 October show at 19:00 was cheaper across the board, from €110 for Category 1 down to €26 standing. The school's 2026 dates and prices list shows these evening slots as the shorter performance. The page gives three lengths: Performance I and II about 70 minutes, the short performance about 45 minutes and the gala about 90 minutes. Other dates can cost more: the 2026 list prices Performance II at €36–€188 and the gala at €50–€245, so check the category for your date.
Children aged 3 to 6 go free on an adult's lap, and ages 6 to 12 pay a reduced rate that the performance page does not quote. Under-3s are not admitted. The page says performance tickets are sold online and advises booking in advance.
Morning exercise: prices, times and how to buy
The morning exercise is the riders' daily training session, set to music. The morning exercise page listed sessions from Tuesday to Friday, lasting about 60 minutes, with entry 15 minutes before the start. The 2026 price list gives two sessions, 10:00 to 11:00 and 11:30 to 12:30.
Adult prices by date (checked 19 October 2026):
| Dates | Category 1 seat | Category 2 seat | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20–30 October 2026 | €29 | €20 | €18 |
| 3–13 November 2026 | €28 | €19 | €17 |
The 2026 price list also has reduced rates. Seniors over 65 and students up to 25 pay €20, €14 and €12 in January to March and November, or €21, €15 and €13 from April to October and in December. Children over 6 and pupils up to 18 pay €17, €11 and €10, or €18, €12 and €11.
You can book online up to 12 months ahead. The page also says tickets are sold at the cash desk at Michaelerplatz 1, depending on availability.
A worked example for late October: two adults and an 8-year-old in Category 2 seats pay €20 + €20 + €12 = €52. The same two adults in performance standing room pay €66 before adding the child, who needs a reduced ticket the page does not price.
Guided tours of the stables and riding halls
The English guided tour visits the Winter Riding School, the Summer Riding School with its oval horse walker, and the Lipizzaner stables in the Stallburg. It lasts about an hour. Meet at the Visitor Centre 5 minutes before the start.
The 2026 price list gives €24 for adults, €19 for seniors and students and €13 for children and pupils. Ages 3 to 6 go free. The tour page showed afternoon slots between 13:00 and 17:00 every day, plus 10:00 and 11:00 slots on Mondays, with a few afternoon slots already sold out when checked. Tours also run in German and Spanish.
The Visitor Centre is on Michaelerplatz, under the Michaelerkuppel dome, open daily 9:00 to 16:00. The Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum are in the same Hofburg complex; our Hofburg tickets guide covers them.
Seasons, July and house rules
The 2026 price list shows no performances or morning exercise in July. That month lists only guided tours and the Lipizzaner Legends tour. If your Vienna dates fall in July, the tour is the only way inside the riding halls. Its calendar section is hard to read, though, so confirm your exact date on the online calendar.
Rules that apply to every ticket type, from the ticket and visitor pages:
- Cameras and recording equipment are strictly forbidden.
- There is no cloakroom or luggage storage.
- Dogs are not allowed.
- Children under 3 are not admitted.
If you are pairing the school with St Stephen's the same morning, see our St Stephen's Cathedral tickets guide for the cathedral's visiting windows. For the same evening, the State Opera standing room guide explains the cheapest way into a performance. Klimt is a tram ride away: see our Belvedere tickets guide.