Römerstadt Carnuntum

The Römerstadt Carnuntum manages the remains of the Roman capital of Upper Pannonia, between Petronell and Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, 45 minutes from Vienna. Besides free entry to the reconstructed Roman district and the Museum Carnuntinum, it organises public guided tours of one hour.

Who they are

The archaeological park, as visited today, opened on 9 June 1996, and in 2026 it celebrates its thirtieth anniversary with more than five million visitors. It depends on Lower Austria's cultural network, whose logo appears on the website. The research goes back much further: the Society of Friends of Carnuntum, founded in 1884, laid the foundations of the excavations, which are still ongoing. Carnuntum is part of the Danube Limes, the former frontier of the Roman Empire declared a World Heritage site.

What can be visited

The park has several sites. At Petronell is the Roman district, with its reconstructed buildings and the colonnade of the Nordstraße. At Bad Deutsch-Altenburg is the Museum Carnuntinum, with the finds from the excavations. The amphitheatre of the military town and the Heidentor, the arch you see in the middle of the countryside, are freely accessible and need no ticket. There is also a virtual reality experience, programmes for schools and, in season, performances such as that of the gladiator group Ferocis Apri.

The day ticket gives access to the Roman district and the museum: €15 for adults, €14 reduced for young people aged 15 to 18, seniors, students and groups of 20 or more, and €8 for ages 6 to 18; under-6s enter free. With the Lower Austrian Familienland-Pass the family pays €12, and the Niederösterreich-Card and the Vienna Pass give one free entry per season.

What the tours are like

They are in German and last an hour. On weekdays they leave at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00 in the Roman district; on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays there are more tours, also in the Museum Carnuntinum, and at 12:00 a "journey through time" tour. They cost €4.50 on top of the ticket; under-6s do not pay. In high season, from May to September, it is best to be at the ticket office half an hour before. For groups there are private tours and a flat guide fee, booked with the reservations team.

Season

The park is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 in autumn, until 15 November 2026, and reopens on 13 March 2027; group bookings for the new season open on 6 March. In winter there are no tours.

How to get there and book

From Wien Hauptbahnhof there are trains every half hour or hour taking about 45 minutes: for the Roman district you get off at Petronell-Carnuntum, a 15-minute walk away, and for the museum at Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, a 20-minute one. By car you take the A4 towards the airport and Budapest, exit Fischamend, and then the B9 towards Hainburg, about 35 minutes. Each site has free parking, and Nextbike hire bikes are available at the sites and stations. Group bookings are made on +43 2163 3377 778 or at [email protected]; tickets, in the online shop.