THE PLACE TO EXPLORE

VIENNA AND THE MUSEUM

THE CLASSICS OF SIGHTSEEING

Vienna offers a wide variety of museums with outstanding works of art, treasures and curiosities. Here you can indulge in past eras, explore modernity or learn more about the history of the city.

These sightseeing classics are at the top of the list for visitors to Vienna, and for good reason. In addition to world-class collections, you will find great exhibitions that will attract you to Vienna again and again.

We show you our favorites!

Museum of Art History

In a magnificent building directly on the Ring, you will find the

Museum of Art History

with its excellent collection of historical paintings by masters such as Rubens, Velázquez and Tintoretto. The permanent display collection is spread over several halls and you should take enough time to explore it.

The original imperial collections also include an extensive Kunstkammer, which has been on display again in a permanent collection for several years. Priceless handicrafts can be admired here. Whether precious metals, gemstones or exotic materials such as ivory or rhinoceros horn – not only are the materials luxurious, the workmanship is also breathtaking.

The Egyptian-Oriental Collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum is also worth a visit. The world-class collection contains works from around 4000 BC to around 500 AD, including beautifully decorated sarcophagi, statues and reliefs as well as handicrafts.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets are sold in front of the museum in a separate pavilion.

Albertina

Directly in the 1st district (behind the Vienna State Opera) is the
Albertina.
The building was originally a residence of the Habsburg family. The name of the museum goes back to Albert Casimir Duke of Saxe-Teschen, the original founder of the collection.

Here you will find treasures by Egon Schiele as well as the world-famous hare by Albrecht Dürrer. However, you don’t always get to see them. The museum does not display any permanent collections, but scores with high-quality exhibitions – including modern painting and graphic art.

Don’t miss out on a visit to the lovingly restored state rooms of the Albertina. The faithfully restored rooms contain furniture from Duke Albert.

The museum is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Belvedere

A paradise in itself is the

Belvedere

. Originally the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Upper Belvedere is now home to a wonderful collection of paintings and prints by Austrian artists from the Middle Ages to the present day. Highlights include works by Gustav Klimt and Hans Makart.

In addition to changing exhibitions, the Lower Belvedere also displays a wonderful collection of medieval art and some of the Belvedere’s state rooms. You can also visit the orangery and the botanical collection of plants from the Austrian Alpine regions.

The Upper Belvedere is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. The Lower Belvedere is currently still closed for renovations.

Secession

If you love Austrian art, you should definitely visit the
Secession
in the program. Located right next to Vienna’s Naschmarkt, it is an attraction from the outside alone. The artistic association and the building itself were created at the end of the 19th century by artists such as Gustav Klimt, Josef Hoffmann, Otto Wagner and many others. They wanted to give their art space and founded Viennese Art Nouveau.

In addition to changing exhibitions, the world-famous “Beethoven Frieze” by Gustav Klimt is on display here. The picture cycle is 2 meters high and 34 meters long and symbolizes Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Leopold Museum

The works of art of the 2001 opened

Leopold Museum

which opened in 2001, come from the private collection of Rudolf Leopold and are dedicated to the period of Austrian art history from the second half of the 19th century to the present day. The museum is best known for its incredible variety of works by Egon Schiele and his contemporaries.

Changing exhibitions on Austrian art from this period complement the program and have made the museum a world-famous and much-visited museum. The Leopold Museum is part of the Museumsquartier, which is located just behind the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It is open from Wednesday to Sunday and on public holidays from 10:00 to 18:00.

Discover more museums in Vienna:

Vienna and the museum: the moderns

Vienna and the museum: Everything is music

More Highlights