Vienna State Opera — Attraction in Vienna

Plan this as far in advance as humanly possible.

It's magical, it's beautiful, It's some type of magnificent historical experience.

At least, that is my perspective.

... like seeing Broadway show for the first time.

It's was a "brain burn" moment for me.

That's the phrase I use when something I see and / or experience is an unforgettable moment, and it makes an impression on me and stays in my head.

Yes ... You could use it, AND know you got it here from a the Vienna State Opera Google review. Lol (Consider that copyrighted) Omg

Anyway...

That's what this experience is like.

Go to a performance at the Schoenbrunn and another theater.

But this one, especially in a balcony, is brain burn for me.

I'll add... Even if you want standing room only or " leftover seats," (seats that are expensive or have a restricted view) you're going to have to wait on a line for possibly hours before the performance.

I was lucky and caught a Sunday matinee.

Yes, they do exist.

In advance, ahead of time, asap, hurry, don't wait, Run don't walk, and what the heck are you waiting for?!

Yes, it's like that.

I said it before, and I said it again now.

It should be the first thing you do after you book your airline ticket. LOL

If it were up to me, I would have let someone else book the hotel, and I would have booked tickets for the performances.

For real, it's like a competition for seats on a plane.

People make it a priority that they're comfortable and have the perfect view.

If you're going to drop 200 to 300 Euro on each ticket for a performance, you must get a great seat

Matinee seats and some seats are less than $50. Prices can get as low as 9 Euro foursome performances like a Sunday matinee that is an interview and many performances For an upcoming show.

There are special rates for seniors, differently abled and kids.

I even wanted to see one of the performances created just for kids.

They were sold out in the future as well.

As far as view & seat choice are concerned, do what you can to not be in the third row in the box seats unless you're on the end or in front

Also, balcony seats / box seats are awesome all around if you're in the first row.

Restricted view seats are really restricted.

However, when a performance starts & everyone is settled in, if the people in the front don't move around too much, you'll be able to see through them. It sounds sort of ridiculous.

Why do you think I was making such a big deal about planning ahead?!

I am very short and could not see over anyone. It worked to my advantage, though, because I was low enough to see between people's heads. Smdh

They have a cloak room.

If you're looking up the stairs with entrance stores behind you, the cloakroom is all the way on the left. It's free. And you get to leave your bags if you are a backpacker and / or are traveling with a suitcase. Yes, big suitcases too.

Do not leave them there

All doors are closed and locked after each performance.

Performances - in the Box Seats there are little tablets embedded in the front and on the wall.

There are usually four. One for each person in the second and third row. I know, right!

Brilliant! I didn't get to use mine because I didn't get there early enough.

Arrive early for the performance.

15 minutes early is not enough

30 minutes is barely enough. I'm not much of a picture taker and I did it. I was so impressed with the space that I just wanted a memento.

You know who else wants a memento? ...600 of your new best friends in the theater.

Get their way early!

I was at the theater on Thursday and Sunday. Daytime and nighttime. So many things happen in the front of this place.

The hop-on hop-off bus and tours to Budapest & salzburg... the people in yellow vests is there too.

All the way on the other side is a ticket booth. It reminds me of Times Square. Pretty much any performance, that's the place to inquire/ pay.

Oh, and learn some german. At least get Google Translate ready.

The people are kind. The names of these places are...

Fabulous experience! Truly a must when in Vienna 👏👏👍 a bit of kerfuffle upon arrival - if you are visiting during winter, do not attempt to go in without visiting the garderobe (it is on the left side) , also only line up to go up the stairs if you are in the boxes, for the stalls enter through the doors on either side of the stairs - left and right respectively. Be prepared to keep dodging the photo takers, it is quite intense 😂 There are several rooms with bars serving drinks, mini-cakes and midi-open-sandwiches, all of them have tables (looked like first come first get a table but maybe possible to reserve) A little tip - the further you go the shorter is the queue 😀Haven't tried the savouries but the pink chocolate I got was fab!! It's some sort of boozy marzipan 🍫 UK theatre folk - don't expect ice-cream at the interval - there's none!😂

Two things stood out: The building is MAGNIFICENT but inside the walls of the corridors around the stalls are totally bare yellowish beige, almost clinical. During the performance transitions between the Acts is a dead silence (the orchestra stops) and for a few minutes there's a pause, when it happened the third time some people got confused and left thinking it's the intermission 😀 Tip 2 - if the lights aren't coming on - the play will continue! Each seat has a fab little screen with subtitles in several languages, loved it! (Although for me not all the languages worked) Didn't get myself a programme straight away, then at the intermission couldn't find it, to be fair I didn't ask anyone, just looked around.

Highly recommend going even if you aren't an "opera connoisseur"!

Overall - there's a bit of confusion what's where and you might be getting opposing info from the people working there re your seats or where the toilets are, but it's all very exciting!!

Apparently Archduchess Mathilde of Austria the daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen who was intended to become the Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto I, was preparing to go to the Opera, had accidentally set herself on fire (by smoking in a gauze dress and hiding the cigarette behind her) and died...

On September 5, my day started by going to buy standing tickets for Carmen. While we were waiting in line, the woman who came and took our e-mail address and took care of us was very polite, added the good seats to the basket and told the ticket seller to give these tickets to the ticket seller but the person with a thin mustache at the first box office sold us different tickets even though we told him. Because of our love for the opera, we preferred to buy standing tickets because there was a suit requirement as we read in the rules and because we were on a trip, but when I look at those who entered, there are people from Vienna who came in shorts in good seats. When the opera started, we realized that the tickets sold only saw half of the stage, which was a complete disappointment because if the stage is visible at most 60 percent of the stage, this should be indicated on the ticket. When the opera interval was over, we wanted to move to the empty seats when the doors closed, but because a creature dressed as a woman was barking in German, the door was opened and the attendant came and said that the price of these seats was different. Although I said I would pay, she said the rules. Meanwhile, the creature continued to speak to the attendant in German and it was clear that he was saying racist words. When I told the officer that everyone had changed their places, he said he couldn't do it because he only saw us, but that was a big lie, I don't think he has the ability to see through closed doors. whereas it is also a rule not to open the doors after they are closed, but he let a couple in after they were closed. if you can speak German, then there is no need for rules. If you have the records of we were standing in seats B2 and B3, you can see that the door openings I mentioned violated the rules. In my country, when the door closes, it is a theater culture to move to empty places before the stage starts, this is welcomed by people who love opera, you can come and see it. If he has shame, I can buy the opera director's ticket, let him come and learn what respect and love for...