Vienna has over 100 museums. Nobody sees them all, and nobody should want to. Here’s a sort by who you are and how much time you have.
If you only manage one
Kunsthistorisches Museum. The Habsburgs collected for 300 years and you see the result. Bruegel, Vermeer, Caravaggio, Velazquez. The Bruegel room alone is 90 minutes. Tip: take a break in the dome café, that’s part of the museum.
If you manage two
Add the Upper Belvedere for Klimt and Viennese Modernism. “Kiss”, “Judith”, Schiele’s “Death and the Maiden”. About two hours, then through the gardens to the Lower Belvedere or back.
If you manage three
Add the Albertina. Temporary exhibitions often beat the permanent collection. Downstairs the Batliner collection with Monet, Picasso, Bacon. Thursday late opening until 9 pm.
For Schiele fans
Leopold Museum in the MuseumsQuartier. World’s largest Schiele collection, plus Klimt, Kokoschka, Gerstl. Three hours minimum.
For modern and contemporary art
mumok in the MQ. Postwar and contemporary art, pop art, Austrian avant-garde. Rarely crowded, good exhibition architecture (architects: Ortner & Ortner).
Kunsthalle Wien in the MQ and at Karlsplatz for changing exhibitions. Cheap admission, often younger artists.
For history travellers
Wien Museum at Karlsplatz (reopened after renovation end of 2023). City history from the Roman camp to the Republic, well curated, free.
Sisi Museum in the Hofburg for imperial romance, honestly framed (also covers her eating disorder and depression).
Jewish Museum with two sites: Dorotheergasse for the history, Judenplatz for the memorial and medieval synagogue.
For science fans
Naturhistorisches Museum opposite the KHM, twin building. Dinosaurs, minerals, the Venus of Willendorf (25,000 years old).
Technisches Museum in the 14th district. For families with kids: many hands-on exhibits, a full day is possible.
For Vienna Modernism and architecture
Wagner:Werk in the Postsparkasse. Otto Wagner’s main work, freely accessible during opening hours.
MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) on the Stubenring. Wiener Werkstätte, Loos, Asian collection, Klimt’s Stoclet Frieze cartoons.
For specialist interests
Freud Museum at Berggasse 19 (9th district). Sigmund Freud’s apartment and consulting room, small, intense.
Haus der Musik for kids and adults with musical curiosity. Conduct an orchestra yourself, explore sound.
ZOOM Kindermuseum in the MQ for 4-12 year olds. Reserve a slot in advance.
Ticket maths
The Vienna Card only pays off from four to five museum entries plus public transit use. Individual museums are often cheaper with concessions (students, 65+). KHM and Belvedere have combo tickets, save about a third.
Thursday is late-opening night at the Albertina, KHM and Belvedere. Some offer reduced admission on the last Sunday of the month.