Short info:
- Where is it located? Directly opposite the Palm House in Schönbrunn Palace Park, 1130 Vienna
- What time is it open? Jan – Apr and Oct – Dec: 9am – 5pm, May – Sept: 9am – 6pm.
- How much does entry cost? You can find the price list here. Admission is free once with the NÖ Card.
- What is there to see? Mainly cacti and desert plants as well as a few animals.
The desert house is located directly on the grounds of Schönbrunn, a few meters in front of the zoo, directly opposite the palm house. You can recognize it quickly by the metal cactus in front of the entrance. However, the desert house is not part of the zoo, you have to pay a separate entrance fee here. However, there are various combination tickets.
An adventure trail leads through authentic desert landscapes from Central America to Madagascar. Mainly cacti and other succulents (succulent plants) can be seen here. There are also a few animals if you are lucky enough to spot them.
nibble fish
Right at the entrance there is a pool with reddish sucker barbs. Native to Turkey, Syria and Jordan, these schooling fish are known to many as munching fish, as they are often used in therapy for various skin conditions.
Here you can put your hand in a tank and let the fish nibble at you, which is particularly popular with children.
Rattlesnakes and other cave dwellers
It first goes along a path where you can see some fish and a rattlesnake. In addition to the Zagros newt, which is considered the most beautiful newt in the world, and the blind cave tetras, which have no eyes, you can also discover jerboas here. Unfortunately, they didn’t show up during our visit.
Facility for naked mole rats
A highlight of the desert house is the 70 meter long glass tube labyrinth, which is inhabited by around 50 naked mole rats – not a single one showed up here during our visit either…
Unique to these ugly mammals (they have a wrinkled body, long incisors and bristles): they live like bees in a single-queen colony – all underground.
At least you meet different species of turtles again and again. The path always offers interesting information boards with information about different plants
Our verdict: it’s quite a nice visit if you’re in the area. The exhibition is small but beautifully done. Seeing it once is probably enough 😉