Schönbrunn Palace is the former summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty and one of Europe’s most important cultural monuments. This 1,441-room Baroque masterpiece served as the seat of Habsburg power for centuries and witnessed pivotal moments in European history — from the six-year-old Mozart performing for Empress Maria Theresa to Napoleon establishing his headquarters here during his occupation of Vienna. The palace interiors are a dazzling parade of rococo excess, with the Great Gallery’s ceiling frescoes, the Hall of Mirrors, and the opulent Millions Room paneled in rare rosewood all competing for attention.

The palace grounds are equally magnificent, encompassing one of the best-preserved Baroque gardens in Europe. The formal French garden stretches toward the hilltop Gloriette, an arcaded pavilion offering panoramic views over Vienna. The park also includes the world’s oldest zoo (founded in 1752), a palm house, a hedge maze, and Roman ruins folly. An entire day barely suffices to appreciate the full scope of this Habsburg legacy.

Pro tip: Buy the Grand Tour ticket for access to 40 rooms instead of the Imperial Tour’s 22 — the additional rooms include the exquisite Bergl Rooms with their extraordinary 18th-century tropical wall paintings. Arrive at 9:00 AM for the first entry slot, then spend the afternoon wandering the free gardens up to the Gloriette for coffee with a view.