Visiting Burgtheater in Vienna: Guided Tour vs Seeing a Play

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If you’re visiting Vienna, you’ll probably walk past the Burgtheater at some point. It’s located right across from City Hall and it’s Austria’s most famous theatre. But is it actually worth going inside?

One thing to know right away: all plays at the Burgtheater are in German. If you don’t speak German, watching a performance might not be the best option. The good news is that the guided tours are also available in English.

Since I live in Vienna, I’ve experienced the Burgtheater in both ways. I joined a guided tour to see the backstage areas, and I’ve also watched a play there.

The highlight for me was the grand staircase with the Klimt ceiling paintings, which you can see both on the tour and when attending a performance.

Because I experienced both, I can show you what it’s like to visit the Burgtheater on a guided tour versus attending a play, and which option might be better for you.

Table of Contents

Burgtheater Guided Tour Review

Booking and Practical Information

Elegant interior hallway inside Burgtheater Vienna with marble floors, arched doorways, glass entry booths, and detailed white ceiling moldings lit by natural light. — Main entrance area

Lobby of Burgtheater Vienna with red carpeted staircase, crystal chandeliers, and visitors standing near a ticket counter. A sign near the stairs reads "Kassa" and "Information". — Main entrance area

You need to book the Burgtheater guided tour online in advance. There are usually only a few tour dates each week, with some tours offered in German and some in English.
The tour costs €10 and is scheduled to last about 50 minutes. In my case, it ended up taking a little over an hour because quite a few people in the group asked questions along the way.
I joined a German tour, simply because the date worked better for me. The group was quite large, probably around 25 people.
One good thing to know is that photos and videos are allowed during the tour. The guide only asked us not to take pictures of any staff working there.

What You See on the Tour

Rows of plush red velvet theater seats facing stacked balconies with warm lighting inside Burgtheater Vienna, highlighting its classic performance hall design. — The grand staircase

Ornate interior detail of Burgtheater Vienna featuring grand columns, gilded sculptures, painted ceiling panels, and an elaborate decorative lamp in the foreground. — The grand staircase

The tour starts inside the main audience area of the theatre, the same place you would sit if you were attending a play.

At first, the guide explained some general things about how theatres work, like the different seating areas. I have been to the theatre before, so this part felt a bit basic to me. But it quickly became more interesting as the tour continued.

One of the most exciting moments was when we got to go backstage, which gives you a completely different perspective compared to sitting in the audience. We even had a quick peek into an actress’s dressing room.

The highlight of the tour for me was the grand staircase with the Klimt ceiling paintings. This side entrance, which the emperor used back in the day, is incredibly ornate and much more impressive than the main entrance.

Later, we also walked through a beautiful historic passage that connects different parts of the building. Along the walls you can see portraits of famous actors and actresses who once performed at the Burgtheater.

Interesting Things I Learned on the Tour

During the tour, the guide shared several interesting details about the theatre. Here are a few things that stood out to me:

The Burgtheater is the largest German speaking theatre in the world.
When it was built, it actually cost twice as much as the Vienna State Opera.
The theatre has a unique ventilation tunnel that leads to the nearby Volksgarten. It was designed so fresh air, and even the scent of flowers from the park, could enter the theatre.
One of the portraits in the passage shows the actress who reportedly had an affair with Emperor Franz Joseph (the husband of Empress Elisabeth).

Grand staircase inside Burgtheater Vienna with red carpet steps, marble balustrades, and a richly decorated ceiling featuring painted panels and gold accents, with visitors standing along the sides.

What It’s Like to See a Play at the Burgtheater

Choosing a Play

The Burgtheater usually shows a different play every day, so there are many options to choose from.

When I booked my ticket, I actually didn’t look into the play very much. I mostly chose it based on the date that worked for me, not because I was particularly interested in the story.

In hindsight, I would definitely recommend checking what the play is about before booking, because I ended up hating the play I saw.

Entering Through the Grand Staircase

One of the best parts of attending a play is that you can enter through the grand staircase with the Klimt ceiling paintings.

Right after entering, there is a staff member checking tickets, so you do need a valid ticket to access the building.

The theatre usually opens about 45 minutes before the performance, so you have time to walk inside and admire the architecture before the play begins.

Ornate hallway inside Burgtheater Vienna with crystal chandeliers, tall arched windows, marble columns, and framed portraits along curved walls, creating an elegant pre show gathering space.

Tina holding a glass of orange drink inside Burgtheater Vienna foyer, with chandeliers and marble walls behind her, capturing a relaxed moment during a theater visit.

Drinks Before the Performance

Before the play started, I also had a drink at the theatre bar. The bar area is located in the historic passage with the portraits of actors and actresses, which makes it quite a beautiful place to sit for a moment before the performance.

The drink menu is fairly limited, and the prices aren’t the cheapest. But they’re actually cheaper than in some of Vienna’s famous cafés. I paid €4 for an orange juice, which felt quite reasonable for such a historic venue.

One thing to keep in mind is that not every play has an intermission. The play I saw didn’t have one, so it’s a good idea to get a drink before the performance starts if you want one.

My Honest Experience Watching a Play

I watched the play Liliom, and to be completely honest, I didn’t enjoy it at all. That’s why I would recommend checking the story beforehand to see if it’s actually your cup of tea.

The actors and actresses were great, and the stage design was impressive, but I simply didn’t like the story itself.

The play was entirely in German with no subtitles, so I wouldn’t recommend seeing a play if you don’t speak German or don’t already know the story really well. Occasionally they also perform translated versions of Shakespeare.

Even though the play itself wasn’t my favourite, I still enjoyed the experience of seeing the Burgtheater during a real performance.

Tina smiling from a red velvet balcony seat inside Burgtheater Vienna overlooking the stage with a blue set design, surrounded by ornate box seating and warm theater lighting.

Cheapest Way to See the Burgtheater Interior

If you mainly want to see the inside of the theatre, there is a very cheap option.

You can buy a standing ticket for about €4.

With this ticket you can:

enter through the grand staircase
see the Klimt ceiling paintings
walk through the foyer and bar area
look inside the auditorium

Technically, you could even just go inside to see the architecture and leave before the play starts.

Grand exterior of Burgtheater Vienna with neoclassical columns and statues under a bright blue sky, with people gathered at the entrance. Signs across the facade read "ALLES WIRD BURG".

Guided Tour vs Seeing a Play: Which Is Better?

If you’re trying to decide between the guided tour and watching a play, the better option really depends on what you’re looking for.

Take the Guided Tour if you want to:

See backstage, including parts of the theatre normally closed to visitors
Learn about the history of the Burgtheater
See the Klimt ceiling paintings on the grand staircase
Visit the theatre even if you don’t speak German

See a Play if you want to:

Experience the Burgtheater during an actual performance
Enter through the grand staircase and enjoy the theatre atmosphere
See the stage design and acting up close
Spend more time inside the building

Personally, I really enjoyed seeing backstage during the guided tour and learning about the history, which you can’t experience when attending a play. But if you speak German, it’s also a really special experience to watch a performance there.

See Gustav Klimt at the Burgtheater

One of the highlights of visiting the Burgtheater is seeing the beautiful ceiling paintings by Gustav Klimt above the grand staircase. Whether you join a guided tour or attend a play, you’ll get the chance to look up and admire these ornate paintings.

For me, this was actually the most memorable part of the visit. The staircase itself is already impressive, but the Klimt paintings make it even more special.

What makes them even more interesting is that the ceiling also contains the only self-portrait Gustav Klimt ever painted. It’s quite small and easy to miss, and I definitely wouldn’t have noticed it without the tour guide pointing it out.

If you’re interested in seeing more of Gustav Klimt’s work in Vienna, there are several other places in the city where you can find his paintings.

I’ve written a full guide about it here: Where to See Klimt in Vienna