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The Austrian capital boasts the presence of some of the most important museums in all of Europe. The Art History Museum alone is one of the main reasons for a visit, for fans of the genre. The proposals for teenagers and children are also excellent: above all, the interesting Natural History Museum and the inevitable Madame Tussauds.
Here are some of the main museums in Vienna to visit during your vacation. Without forgetting, of course, the Hundertwasser Museum, and, above all, the Imperial Palace (Hofsburg), with the annexed Sissi Museum.
THE BEST VIENNA MUSEUMS
MUSEUM OF ART HISTORY
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the most important museums in the world, an unmissable stop on holiday in Vienna… whether you are a fan or not. It was commissioned by Emperor Franz Joseph to house the vast and rich collections of the House of Habsburg
This imposing neo-Renaissance-style museum houses masterpieces spanning five millennia, from Ancient Egypt via Ancient Greece to the end of the 18th century. The Pinakothek includes outstanding works by Dürer, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, Velázquez and Vermeer, as well as the world’s largest collection of Bruegel’s paintings. In the Kunstkammer Vienna the most beautiful works of art, exotic finds from distant climates and mystical-magical finds are on display. Don’t miss the famous “Salt cellar” by Benvenuto Cellini.
To visit the museum, you will have to go to the museum island of the historical centre. By public transport, lines U2 and U3, getting off at the Volkstheater stop. Trams D, 1, 2, 71. Buses 2A, 57A.
The museum is open from June to August every day from 10:00 to 18:00. On Thursdays, postponed closing at 21:00. From September to May from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 (Thursday from 10 to 21). Closed every Monday. The full ticket costs €15.00; children up to 19 years free. You can buy the salatalfila ticket, avoiding the queues at the box office, directly from this link, with no commission. FREE WITH THE VIENNA CITY PASS. For all the practical and updated information, and the collections, please consult the official website.
ALBERTINA
The Albertina Museum (named after its founder, Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen) houses one of the most complete and prestigious collections in the world of graphic art from the 14th century.
The collection has 50,000 drawings and watercolours, and over one million prints by ancient and modern artists, including Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, Cranach the Elder, Dürer, Rubens, Klimt, Picasso, Goya, Chagall, Monet, Cézanne, Mirò, Kokoschka, Rothko, Warhol, Rauschenberg, Richter, Katz, exhibited to the public in rotation.
With a little luck, you’ll be able to admire Dürer’s famous “Hare”, considered the jewel and symbol of the museum.
Hours: every day from 10 to 18 (Wednesday from 10 to 21). Christmas period: 24 December from 10 to 14; 25, 26, 31 December, 1 January from 10 to 18.
Prices: Adults €12.90, over 65s €9.90; students (up to 26 years old) €8.50; children up to 19 years free.
BEST VIENNA MUSEUMS FOR CHILDREN
In Vienna, one never gets tired of seeing something. It also applies to children and families. The Prater is, certainly, one of the main attractions, but some interesting museums are also worthy of attention.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Photo ©, Dr. Bernd Gross
The Naturhistorisches Museum is located in the central Maria-Theresien-Platz, housed in a splendid and enormous building. It was inaugurated in 1889 by Emperor Franz Joseph.
It is one of the most important museums in all of Austria, with about 20 million objects, with which it is possible to get to know the history of the planet and the variety of nature up close. Inside, numerous areas are represented: from geology to paleontology, zoology and anthropology. Among the precious prices of the collection, the famous Venus of Willendorf, a find of about 29500 years ago, among the most important in the world!
The little ones will find the Sala dei Dinosauri quite interesting with skeletons and artifacts of gigantic prehistoric animals, and, above all, an allosaurus that moves and roars, as if it were alive!
MUSEUM HOURS AND TICKETS
The Natural History Museum is open all year round, Thursday to Monday, 09:00 to 18:30. Wednesday from 09:00 to 21:00. Always closed on Tuesdays.
The standard fare ticket costs €14 (19 to 64 years old). Reduced, €10. Children under 19 enter for free.
MADAME TUSSAUDS
Photo ©, Plamen Agov
The classic that never sets. This is the best known and most famous Wax Museum, with offices all over the world. Vienna is one of 8 European cities to host a Madame Tussauds Museum.
Of course you have to be lovers and, above all, take into account a considerable expense if you are in the family. It will certainly not be one of the best Vienna museums but Madame Tussauds certainly represents a good reason for entertainment for your children. Smartphone in hand, you can take wonderful photos with many celebrities, from Beyonce to the beloved Princess Sissi, up to the latest arrivals: Zendaya and Dominic Thiem.
The museum is located along the Riesenradplatz, easily accessible by public transport. With the U1 and U2 you get off at the Praterstern stop, just a few minutes away.
TIMETABLES AND TICKETS
Madame Tussauds is open every day, Monday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Entry is allowed until 5pm.
Numerous tickets are available. The standard ticket goes from €24 (from 15 years on) and €20 reduced (from 4 to 14 years), to the Silver Ticket at €34 and €29 . The latter offers access to the Museum and exclusive gifts including a souvenir photo. The expensive Family Star Ticket, on the other hand, at a cost of €89, offers lots of souvenirs, souvenir photos and access for 2 adults and 2 children to the museum.
Schonbrunn, with the Palace, the beautiful Gardens, the oldest Zoo in Europe and the Children’s Museum, is an unmissable stop on holiday with the little ones.