Best Museums in Vienna

Designed and built at the end of the 19th Century by Gottfried Semper and Karl Hasenauer, the Kunsthistorisches Museum houses the Habsburg family's art collection, widely regarded to be one of the finest in Europe. The Picture Gallery is literally a Who's Who of the old masters, containing works by the likes of Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Dürer, Raphael, Titian and Velazquez, as well as a comprehensive collection of paintings by Breugel. One visit is hardly enough to take everything in - lots of people return for a second or third time. The Ephesus Museum - a collection of arms and armour - and the collection of ancient musical instruments in the Imperial Palace also belong to the Kunsthistorisches Museum and are worthy of a visit in their own right.

The Albertina resides on a plateau at the far end of Augustinerstraße, beyond the Augustinerkirche. It is named after Albert, Duke of Saxony-Teschen, who bought the palace in the early 19th century. On the basis of his own enthusiasm as a collector, he turned it into a place to display his collection. Today, the Albertina boasts one of the largest collections of graphic arts in the world, with approximately 50000 drawings, etchings and watercolors as well as over a million and a half printed works by all the important artists from Gothic to modern art.

The Museum of Military History lies outside central Vienna and was designed by Theophil Hansen and Ludwig Förster. After the revolution of 1848, Emperor Franz Joseph I built the Arsenal to prevent Vienna's common people getting arms to fight the authorities. Today, visitors to the Arsenal can find a collection of historical memorabilia, arms, flags, uniforms and paintings of battles. These trophies give an overview of the development of Austrian military life since the beginning of the 17th Century.

This history observatory was originally built for private research in 1886 by Moriz von Kuffner, who was the owner of the Ottakringer Brewery at the time. Later, it operated as an educational facility after World War II until nearby light pollution hampered scientific nighttime observations. Today the Kuffner Observatory focuses on educating the public on astronomy and maintaining the historical equipment. Some of their prime exhibits include the refractor, the heliometer, and the meridian circle.

Established in 1991, the building itself was converted from the Thonet Brothers' furniture factory, built in 1892. One of Vienna's most famous modern artists, Friedensreich Hundertwasser designed this museum/art gallery and filled it with his beautiful and colorful paintings. There are also several international exhibits that change regularly, so you may want to visit over and over again. There is a large museum shop with fabulous artwork and other souvenirs. Of the four floors, the second is dedicated to the works of Hundertwasser, the third and fourth floors contain the international exhibits. On the ground floor, there is the shop and the large and beautiful Im KunstHaus cafe and restaurant.

Built in 1868-1871 by Heinrich Ferstel, the Museum of Applied Arts is the oldest and one of the best museums of its kind in Europe. Its permanent collections are displayed in a series of exhibition halls, each of which has its own unique style (Renaissance, Baroque, Oriental, Art Deco). The design and architecture room contains pieces by some of the 20th Century's greatest designers, while the Studiensammlung showcases fascinating studies of different materials. Visitors will need a whole morning or afternoon to be able to take everything in properly and definitely shouldn't miss the museum café.

In their pursuit of fine art Rudolf and Elisabeth Leopold collected over 5000 pieces. With the efforts of Leopold Museum Private Foundation, their collections were consolidated and in 2001 the Leopold Museum was inaugurated. It features works of artists like Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka. Fans of Egon Schiele will love the nearly 220 pieces of his art on display.

This museum is dedicated completely to showcasing the works of the great Austrian painter and architect, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. A permanent collection of this artist rests in the museum which is a part of the Kunst Haus Wien. Formerly the home of the Thonet furniture factory, this museum is a great place to really experience the genius of this controversial artist. For more information please see the website or contact the museum.

Amongst the museums of Vienna, the Film Museum is a very special one. At the heart of the Österreichisches Filmmuseum is nothing more exciting than a black cube and a screen. Its exhibits are purely movies such as Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, the works of Hitchcock, Fritz Lang and Légers Ballet Méchanique. One can also avail of membership of the club for discounts on tickets and to meet like-minded cinema aficionados. This museum and club has been graced by many famous celebrities such as Jean-Marie Straub, Frederick Wiseman, Martin Scorsese and Federico Fellini.

This museum is one of the two sibling museums at Ring Boulevard and was built in the same style as the Museum of Fine Arts, according to designs laid by Gottfried Semper and Karl Hasenauer. The vast collection in this huge building houses objects of interest in the worlds of mineralogy, petrography, anthropology and prehistory. It is also home to the Saurians Hall and models of big animals. A children's corner offers videos and exhibits to play with, ensuring that children can learn about the museum artifacts in a fun and engaging manner.

This building is hard to miss on Willendorfer Gasse. Schokomuseum, with it's candy-like exterior decor, is Vienna's take on a whimsical chocolate factory. Replete with chocolate fountains and vintage vending machines, delight in a memorable chocoholic experience at this museum. A guided tour gives you a glimpse of the history of this art in Vienna, and ends with sampling delectable sweet treats and confections. They also offer classes and workshops where visitors can prepare their own marzipans and nougats. And with special parties organized, it is a unique way to ring in a birthday.

The Globe Museum, affiliated to the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, is located within the Palais Mollard. The remarkable collection of 650 objects showcased can be credited to the research of the lineage of Austrian astronomers. It features terrestrial globes of the earth, moon, planets and celestial bodies as well as digital exhibitions. With the help of an interactive computer you can also take a virtual round-trip of the solar system. On your way out, visit the Esperanto Museum next door.