Vienna State Opera Tours
See behind the curtain by day — then come back when the lights go down. How guided tours of the Staatsoper work, and how to pair one with a performance.
How Tours of the Opera House Work
The Vienna State Opera opens its doors to visitors on guided tours run by the opera house itself, held on most days of the year. A tour typically lasts around 40 minutes and walks you through the grandest rooms of the 1869 building — spaces you only glimpse from your seat on a performance night. Tours run in several languages, and the daily schedule flexes around rehearsals and performances, so times vary from day to day.
To be clear about what we do and don’t sell: tour tickets are sold directly by the Staatsoper, not by us — you’ll find current times and prices on the opera house’s own website. What we sell are tickets to the performances themselves. The two together make the perfect double.
What You’ll See on a Tour
The tour’s pleasure is access. The grand staircase, the ceremonial heart of the building, where the audience has promenaded in its finery since the days of the Emperor. The foyers and tea salon, rich with gilt and portraiture. The auditorium itself, seen empty and quiet from angles no ticket-holder gets — and depending on the day’s rehearsal schedule, a look towards the vast stage machinery that moves entire opera sets in minutes. Guides are excellent on the house’s history: its opening under Franz Joseph, its destruction by bombing in 1945, and its triumphant rebuilding and reopening in 1955.
It’s a genuinely good use of 40 daytime minutes — and it transforms how the building feels when you return at seven that evening and the same staircase is full of people, light and anticipation.
Tour by Day, Opera by Night
Our honest recommendation for a first visit to Vienna: take the house tour in the late morning, lunch in the old city, and return for the evening’s performance. You’ll watch the opera differently once you’ve stood on the grand staircase in daylight and heard how the stage below you works.
The autumn season makes it easy — the house plays almost nightly from September, with operas and ballets on sale now. If you’re choosing seats, our seating guide explains the categories; and if you collect your tickets from our office at Opernring 1 — directly opposite the opera house — you can do it on the way to your tour.
In short: book your tour with the opera house directly; book your performance with us. ONE EVENT is an independent ticket agency. All tickets offered are genuine and valid, but we are not the official box office of the Vienna State Opera. Prices include our service fee and may be higher than the original face value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Vienna State Opera tour last?
Around 40 minutes, led by a guide from the house. Times vary daily around the rehearsal schedule, so check the current timetable on the opera house’s website when planning your day.
Can I buy tour tickets from ONE EVENT?
No — guided tours are sold directly by the Staatsoper. We sell tickets to the opera and ballet performances themselves. Many visitors combine the two: tour by day, performance by night.
Will I see the stage and backstage areas?
Tours visit the auditorium and the grand front-of-house rooms, and what you see towards the stage depends on the day’s rehearsals — the working theatre always comes first. Every tour includes the grand staircase, foyers and auditorium.
Is a tour worth it if I’m already seeing a performance?
Yes — arguably it’s worth it especially then. The tour shows you the building; the performance brings it to life. Seeing both in one day is the fullest way to experience the house.