Vienna’s opera scene is renowned worldwide, as the city was for centuries the bastion of classical music, with many famous opera composers calling Austria’s capital home. The Vienna State Opera is an enchanting landmark that is well worth the visit, both for its stunning architecture and the captivating performances it holds.
Going to the opera in general is definitely a bucket-list experience, and doing so in Vienna will make it even more magical and memorable.
However, it is true that some Opera tickets, especially in the beautiful city of Vienna can be quite expensive, and while it may be worth splurging for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it may still be too expensive for your budget.
Luckily, there is a way to see an opera or ballet performance for a fraction of the price in the Vienna State Opera, so read on to find out about it!
History of the opera in Vienna
Opera is an art form that combines singing, drama, poetry and sometimes even dance, making it a deeply passionate and theatrical musical performance.
It originated in Italy at the end of the 16th century and spread through all of Europe throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries with renowned Italian composers such as Verdi or Puccini. This art form quickly inspired many European composers, including Austrian ones, that still wrote their pieces in Italian language.
One of them is the world-famous Mozart, that was born in Salzburg, in Austria, and was one of the first to introduce this dramatic art form to his country. He wrote pieces in German but is mostly famous for his work in Italian.
The Vienna State Opera (Staatsoper in German) was built in the 19th century and was used by the kings and nobles to enjoy the increasingly popular form of entertainment that was opera.
Nowadays, the building is one of Vienna’s most visited landmarks and it has gained his reputation thanks to iconic names such as Luciano Pavarotti or Maria Callas that played on its stage.
It is not anymore reserved to the elite of society, and anyone can go and visit this beautiful building and see an opera or ballet performance there.
Going to the Vienna State Opera – Tickets
Going to the Vienna State Opera is a fantastic experience that you will want to include in your trip to Vienna, whether you are ready to splurge and pay an expensive ticket for the best view or you are on a tight budget but still want to see this beautiful building from the inside.
There are many options to see the Opera in Vienna and what you choose will depend on the time you have, your budget and your own personal interests. Here’s a quick overview of what you can do:
Visit the Opera during a guided tour
If you are interested in the history of the Staatsoper, you can go on a 40-minute guided tour that will allow you to see its rich interiors and lavish decor and learn more about the building thanks to the guide’s expertise.
A guided tour won’t allow you to see a performance. This is a great option if you are short on time and are not that interested in actually seeing an opera or ballet.
A standard ticket for adults will cost you 13 euros, so it can also be a good option if you are on a tight budget. Check the official website for more information.
See an opera or ballet with standard seating tickets
If you want to see an opera or ballet performance at the Vienna State Opera, this option is for you! You can check the calendar on the Staatsoper website and select the available shows at the time of your visit.
When booking your ticket, you will be able to see the seating chart so you can select the seats that work best for you among the available ones.
The price of standard seating tickets can vary from around 15 euros to more than 250 euros, and those cheaper tickets sell out pretty fast, so I highly suggest you to book your ticket in advance!
See an opera or ballet with standing tickets
If all the affordable tickets within your price range seem to be sold out at the time of your visit, but you still would very much love to see a performance at the Vienna State Opera, do not despair, there is still one solution!
The Vienna State Opera has more than 400 standing places, that allow you to see the performance of your choice at a much cheaper price (from 13 to 18 euros). What’s the catch?
- it is a standing ticket, so you’ll have to stand up throughout the performance (you can sit down during the breaks).
- you have to be quick and ready to buy the tickets: either on the official website (only 2 tickets at a time) or by going directly at the box office of the Staatsoper 80 minutes before the beginning of the show. For very famous operas/ballets I would recommend going even earlier than that.
- you will definitely have to queue to buy your tickets at the box office and there’s no guarantee you wil get one if they sell out sooner.
- the view will be less nice from the “standing room”, but you’ll have screens that show you subtitles and the sound is great too.
You’ll find more detailed information on the Vienna State Opera website page for standing tickets.
Standing tickets at the Vienna State Opera – My experience
I visited Vienna around Christmas with my friends a few years ago, and since we were only there for a long weekend and because we already knew the city pretty well, we didn’t book any specific visit. However, one evening we thought it would be great to try and see the Opera, as none of us had already been.
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The period around Christmas in Vienna is amazing, but it is very busy with tourists, so we couldn’t find tickets online, and opted for the great budget-friendly option that are the standing tickets.
We got at the box office around 1h30 before the performance and got the tickets pretty seamlessly. The queue got longer after us, but I believe many people were discouraged by the cold weather.
We went to see the opera Tosca by Puccini and we absolutely loved it! We didn’t have the best view, but you have handrails to support you a bit and you can sit during the breaks. Little screens showed us the text in German and English so that everyone could follow the story, and from up there we had a fantastic view over the room.
During the breaks, we sat down a bit and explored the stunning and richly decorated building of the Vienna State Opera, thanking ourselves for this amazing experience we got to live!
Going to the Opera in Vienna – Q&A
What should you wear to the Vienna State Opera?
Going to the Opera in Vienna is nowadays very accessible for everyone, so you are not really required to wear a fancy evening gown or a proper suit.
I would recommend however to clean up a bit before going and wear something more “formal” and nice, also so you don’t feel too out of place.
Where can you buy tickets for the Vienna State Opera?
I highly recommend buying your tickets either at the official box office on the side of the Staatsoper building, either on the official website of the Vienna State Opera.
There are many other websites or sellers on site, but they are not all trustworthy and you might get scammed, so do it at your own risk and research it a bit more before buying from another source than the official one.
What opera or ballet performance should you see at the Vienna State Opera?
In my opinion, literally any performance is worth seeing at the Staatsoper. You might want to check out the most famous ballets or operas out there, but be mindful of the fact that you will probably struggle to find tickets and you will definitely have to buy them in advance.
If during your visit there is nothing you really know, I still really suggest going in a bit blindly, as you might very well discover something amazing! And even if in the end you don’t fall in love with the performance, the beauty of the building will absolutely compensate for that!
When should you buy your tickets for the Staatsoper?
The tickets are on sale two months in advance, so for example, the tickets for June and July 2024 will be available on the website from April 1st 2024.
However, you can always pre-order tickets in advance if you want to make sure to get yours.
If you absolutely want to go to the Vienna State Opera, I recommend checking when you have decided the dates of your trip to Vienna which performances will play and buy the tickets as soon as possible.
If there are no more tickets, you’ll always have the standing ticket option you can try!
Is a standing ticket worth it?
Yes. In my opinion it is absolutely worth it to get a standing ticket to see an opera or ballet at the Vienna State Opera. One thing you have to prepare for is the queue and the fact that you might be too late to get a ticket, but it truly is a bucket-list-worthy experience!
I would of course not recommend it if standing is difficult for you or if you have such a limited time in Vienna that “wasting” 80 minutes or more in a queue makes it less interesting. You can always book a guided tour of the opera if you want to see the lavish interiors of the Staatsoper.
