Square & Landmark

Palace of Justice (Vienna)

📍 Palace of Justice (Vienna), Vienna, Austria

1 photos

4.4/ 5.0

★★★★☆

Introduction

Standing on Vienna's Ringstrasse, the Palace of Justice was erected between 1875 and 1881 and still houses Austria's Supreme Court. In July 1927 demonstrators set the interior ablaze after a controversial verdict, and the violent aftermath became one of the bloodiest episodes of the First Republic. Restored to full grandeur, the building opens its vast marble atrium to the public free of charge after a security check, and the café set into the gallery lets you drink coffee beneath statues of Justice and a towering skylight — an atmosphere found nowhere else in the city.

✨ Highlights

The atrium

A marble hall rising to a glass roof — the Supreme Court works right beside it.

Statues of Justice

Note the details of sword, scales and blindfold at the entrance and within the hall.

Fire of 1927

On-site panels recall the blaze and the political shockwaves of the First Republic.

Gallery café

A café tucked into the upper arcade overlooks the hall at surprisingly gentle prices.

🛈 Practical Info

→Address：Schmerlingplatz 10-11, on the inner side of the Ringstrasse between Rathaus and Parliament.

→Transport：Trams circle the Ringstrasse; U-Bahn to Rathaus means about a five-minute walk.

→Access：Entry is free but passes a security check; carry ID for registration just in case.

→Hours：Open on weekdays during office hours only — closed weekends and public holidays.

→Time needed：Forty-five minutes covers the atrium and café; an hour with photos.

→Extra：Some court hearings are open to the public; schedules are posted by the courts.

💡 Tips

• The café is packed from noon to 1:30 p.m.; go off-peak for a railing table with the best view.

• The building closes on weekends and holidays, so plan around Saturday and Sunday.

• The atrium is strongly backlit — use a wide lens and dial down exposure compensation for the dome.

• Combine it with City Hall, Parliament and the university for a classic half-day Ringstrasse walk.

FAQ

Any practical tips for visiting Palace of Justice (Vienna)?

The café is packed from noon to 1:30 p.m.; go off-peak for a railing table with the best view. The building closes on weekends and holidays, so plan around Saturday and Sunday.

Information on this page is compiled from public sources. Opening hours, ticket prices and other details may change — please verify with official sources before your visit.