My husband and I are going to be in Vienna late May and really wanted to get a tour of the opera house. The website seems to imply that the tours are already sold out for the entire month of May; but the Rick Steves guidebook implies that they don't sell out and you can just walk up and buy a ticket on the day? Does anyone know if this is true, or are we out of luck?
Posted by
2366 posts
The website of the State Opera says:
Guided tours can only be purchased in our ticket store or 30 minutes before the respective tour on site at the box office (entrance at the corner of Opernring/Operngasse). Please note that only remaining places are available for purchase on site.
I would go there, check the times for English tours, and wait in line on time. Just across the street there is AÏDA, a well-known chain of pastry shops, where you can get a good coffee and cakes to shorten waiting time.
Posted by
OP
20 posts
Thank you, I must have overlooked that! We will give it a try. And thanks for the advice about the bakery... sounds amazing- an excellent idea! :)
Posted by
Chicago
630 posts
Consider going beyond a tour of the opera house: Attend an opera.
In 2015, I went to a performance of Richard Strauss's Salome at the Staatsoper Wien in Vienna. Every seat has a video screen that allows the user to follow the dialogue in one of about 15 languages, including English. You can buy your tickets before you leave the U.S.
I loved it! I'm a classical music fan, but prefer orchestral, chamber and religious music, having attended probably 200 or so concerts. I went to my first opera in Vienna.
Posted by
San Francisco
15308 posts
I have done the tour twice, checked the time for the next desired tour, bought the ticket on the day either cash or credit card at the ticket counter. There was a large crowd (this was summer). After I was let in, went straight to the ticket counter to purchase the ticket, efficient and straight forward.