Museums
During their long reign, the Habsburg dynasty collected numerous works by artists such as Raphael, Caravaggio, Tizian, Rubens, Bruegel, Arcimboldo and many others. Those paintings, as well as artefacts from ancient civilizations, are on display in the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Speaking of Habsburg: The crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Empire as well as many other valuables can be seen in the Secular and Ecclesiastical Treasury.
Paintings of the 19th and early 20th centuries, most notably Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka, are hosted in the Upper Belvedere. Similarly, the Leopold Museum is focused on paintings of the early 20th century. It is located in the so called Museumsquartier, a complex which houses several museums, but also bars and restaurants. An impressive collection of drawings (e.g. by Dürer) and prints can be found in the Albertina.
The history of Vienna is well represented in the Wien Museum, next to St. Charles’s Church. MAK, the museum of applied arts, has a large collection of handicrafts from medieval to contemporary periods. The Sigmund Freud Museum is located in the former place where the inventor of psychoanalysis lived and worked. The rich Jewish history of Vienna is revealed in the Jewish Museum Vienna.
This is only a short list of the most prominent museums. If you want to go into more detail and maybe really want to visit the schnapps museum (yes, there is such a thing!), please refer to this comprehensive list of museums in Vienna.
Music
Based on that long tradition, there are many places in Vienna where one can listen to classical music (in a wider sense, including the 19th and early 20th centuries as well). First of all, the well-known Vienna State Opera is certainly worth a visit, but be aware that it is not always easy to obtain tickets. There are two more opera houses in the city: one is the so called Theater an der Wien and performing rather rare but high-quality works, and the other one is the Volksoper (People’s Opera), which also features operettas and musicals. Other places where one can see modern musicals are Raimundtheater and Ronacher.
There are many more places to go if you want listen to a concert. The most prominent one, Musikverein, is the home of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the venue of their world-famous New Year’s Concert. In contrast to the traditional program of the Musikverein, the Konzerthaus features a wider range of works, also including contemporary music. In addition to those houses, many more concerts with all kinds of cast – from soloists to full orchestras – are offered every day, e.g. in churches.
Interesting Places
Museumsquartier
Vienna’s exciting art complex near the Imperial Palace offers not only renowned museums such as the Leopold Museum with its numerous works by Schiele, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Kunsthalle: a lively array of restaurants, cafés and bars make this museum district even more attractive. See and be seen is the motto – and above all: enjoy! The MuseumsQuartier (MQ) is one of the largest art and culture complexes in the world.
Address: Museumsplatz 1/5, 1070 Vienna
MQ Institutions:
Leopold Museum – highlights of Art Nouveau and Classical Modernism
mumok – museum moderner kunst stiftung ludwig wien – extensive collection of international art from the 20th century
Kunsthalle Wien – focuses on photography, video, film, installation, and new media
Tanzquartier Wien – center for contemporary dance and performance
Architekturzentrum Wien – changing exhibitions demonstrating the diversity of contemporary architecture
Dschungel Wien – a theater for young audiences, stages a wide range of productions for families, children aged six months and up, teenagers, and young adults.
Zoom Kindermuseum – Austria’s leading museum for children, offers year-round exhibitions, workshops, a multimedia lab, and much more for children aged 8 months to 14 years. It also provides a comprehensive program of science education.
Naschmarkt
Address: 1060 Vienna, along „Wienzeile“ between Kettenbrückengasse and Getreidemarkt
Naschmarkt is one of Vienna’s most famous markets and the oldest too, having been held since the 16th century. Nowadays, one can buy fresh fruit and vegetables from around the world, exotic herbs, cheese, baked goods such as bread, kaiser rolls, torte, meats, and seafood.
There are also many restaurants and cafes dotted throughout the ancient market, where you can sample not only Viennese delicacies but food from all over the world
Summerstage
When the temperatures rise, the summerstage opens - Vienna's classic outdoor location.
Until the end of September 2024
Address: Donaukanal, U4 Rossauer Lände, 1090 Vienna
Whether for art lovers, gourmets, sports enthusiasts or for fans of fine live concerts - the summerstage offers something for every guest! Culinary delights, readings, concerts, open art, sculpture garden, exhibitions, wine tastings, boules, trampoline and more.
