Skip to main content
‌‌‌‌
‌

Experience the best of Kunsthistorisches Museum

Crafted by Headout, a global experiences brand offering curated tours, tickets & experiences. Discover with ease, book with peace.
4.6/5
2,693 travellers from around the world love this
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of this venue
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌
‌

Top things to do in Vienna

Belvedere Palace in Vienna with green domes and manicured gardens.

The Belvedere Palace

from

€12

Gothic cathedral interior with illuminated arches and altar, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris.

Light of Creation

from

€24

Visitors walking towards Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna under a blue sky.

Schönbrunn Palace

from

€17

Giraffe standing near a building at Schönbrunn Zoo, Vienna.

Schönbrunn Zoo

from

€9

Ferris Wheel Riesenrad in Prater, Vienna with cityscape background.

Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel

from

€14.50

Open-top Big Bus tour in front of Vienna City Hall, Austria.

Big Bus Vienna Hop-on Hop-off Tours

from

€28

Albertina Museum entrance with illuminated facade in Vienna.

Albertina Museum Vienna

from

€9

Mozarthaus Vienna exterior with historical architecture.

Mozarthaus Vienna

from

€16

Couple admiring Klimt painting at Leopold Museum, Vienna.

Leopold Museum

from

€19

Person appearing to float sideways in a room at the Museum of Illusions.

Museum of Illusions

from

€19

Imperial crown with jewels at the Imperial Carriage Museum, Vienna.

Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna

from

€12

Crown, orb, and scepter displayed at Imperial Treasury Vienna.

Imperial Treasury Vienna

from

€16

Welt Museum Vienna facade with ornate architecture, Vienna, Austria.

Welt Museum Vienna

from

€16

Participants in Vienna chocolate workshop displaying decorated chocolate bars.

Chocolate Museum Vienna

from

€39

Mozart portrait with Vienna landmarks, hot air balloon, and dragon illustration.

Mozart Experiences Wien Tickets

from

€16

Klosterneuburg Monastery's baroque architecture in Vienna, Austria, under a clear blue sky.

Klosterneuburg Monastery Vienna

from

€20

Mannequins displaying elegant dresses at the Heidi Horten Collection exhibition.

Heidi Horten Collection

from

€18

Holocaust Memorial in Vienna's Judenplatz near Jewish Museum.

Jewish Museum

from

€15

Musicians playing violins at a concert in Hofburg Vienna.

Hofburg Vienna

from

€16

Lippizan horse performing at Spanish Riding School, Vienna.

Spanish Riding School

from

€18

Hofburg Palace entrance with visitors, Vienna, near Sisi Museum.

Sisi Museum Vienna Tickets

from

€17.50

How Headout makes choosing experiences effortless

We curate the best ways to experience

We research and organise all unique experiences - from tickets to tours to special combos - so you get all the choices without the clutter.

We partner with the best

Every supplier is vetted for quality, reliability, and value so you only get top rated experiences. No surprises, no disappointments.

All the best options, in one place

Each experience is thoughtfully organised to give you maximum availability, great value and an easy way to choose.

Book with complete peace of mind

Free cancellations, Flexible payments, and 24/7 support - thoughtfully designed for flexibility, assurance, and total peace of mind.

Slide 1 of 4

Slide 1 of 4
We curate the best ways to experience

Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna | Home of the Habsburgs’ Imperial collections

Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the world’s premier art institutions, founded in 1891 to house the Habsburg dynasty’s vast art collection. It is home to one of the largest and finest collections of Renaissance European paintings, including works by Titian, Rembrandt, and Rubens. Among its most prominent exhibits are masterpieces like The Tower of Babel by Bruegel, Raphael’s Madonna of the Meadow, and The Art of Painting by Vermeer. Its extraordinary Kunstkammer (chamber of art) features treasures like Cellini’s Saliera salt cellar and rare objects of art of the finest craftsmanship. Additionally, the museum boasts an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts spanning 4,000 years.

Quick overview

  • Ways to explore: Choose standard admission for a self-paced visit, or a guided tour with fast-track entry and expert commentary.
  • Combo options: Pair the museum with the Natural History Museum, Imperial Treasury, or Leopold Museum.
  • Guided experiences: Choose a 2 to 2.5-hour guided tour, a small group of up to 15, or a private tour for up to 8.
  • Additional access: Selected private tour options include Imperial Treasury entry and private car transfers.
  • Queues and entry: Fast-track entry is included with guided tours.
  • Best upgrade: Choose a guided tour with fast-track entry for expert insights and less time spent waiting.

What to expect at the Kunsthistorisches Museum?

Works by European master painters
1/6

Works by European master painters

Built to house the extensive art collection of Vienna’s Habsburg rulers, the Kunsthistorisches Museum is home to some of Europe’s most prestigious artworks. These span the 15th to the 18th centuries and include paintings like Bruegel’s The Peasant Wedding, Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s Summer, David with Goliath’s Head by Caravaggio, and a portrait of Jane Seymour by Hans Holbein.

Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts

The museum houses a collection of ancient artifacts from Egypt, Greece, and Rome going back more than three millennia. The highlights include sarcophagi, animal mummies, sculptures, reliefs, Bronze Age ceramics, cameos, vases, votives, and a unique collection of Roman portrait busts.

Read more

The Kunstkammer (chamber of art)

The Habsburg monarchs’ vast collection of artworks held not just paintings; from the early Middle Ages, they began acquiring decorative objects of art made of precious materials and with intricate detail. The Kunstkammer holds over 2,000 such rare and fascinating items prized for their excellent craftsmanship and artistic innovation. The highlight of this collection is Cellini’s Saliera, an exquisite 16th-century gold and enamel sculpture.

Unique thematic exhibitions

The Kunsthistorisches Museum periodically holds special temporary exhibitions focusing on particular artists, themes, or artworks. These exhibitions feature rare, limited-edition exhibits that are not part of the permanent collection and provide a deeper understanding of the styles, elements, and themes used.

Read more

Renaissance Revival architecture

Built in the Renaissance Revival architectural style, the museum’s building is a masterpiece in itself. The exterior features an ornate facade with arched windows, columns, intricate sculptures, and an octagonal dome. The interiors are equally lavish, with marble, stucco work, frescoes by artists like Klimt, gold leaf, and murals.

Kunstschatzi: A party surrounded by art

Experience the Kunsthistorisches Museum after hours at Kunstschatzi, its monthly party in the magnificent Cupola Hall. Each edition follows a different theme, bringing together art-inspired guided tours in English and German, DJ sets by Radio Rudina, and live dance performances. It is a chance to explore the museum's artistic side in a lively social setting. A separate Kunstschatzi ticket is required; regular museum admission does not include access.

Read more

Things to know before booking your tickets to Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets

  • Standard admission: Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets start from . If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option and want to explore at your own pace, the standard admission tickets are perfect for you.
  • Combo tickets: Combo tickets are ideal if you’re looking to cover multiple museums in Vienna, particularly if you’re an art enthusiast. Pair your Kunsthistorisches Museum trip with a visit to the Imperial Treasury Vienna or the Leopold Museum and soak in the city’s art, history, and cultural heritage.
  • Vienna Pass: If you’re in the city for a short stay of a couple of days to a week, opt for the Vienna Pass. It gives you access to not just the Kunsthistorisches Museum, but also more than 70 other attractions as well as unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off bus rides.
  • Guided vs. self-guided visit: Choose a Kunsthistorisches Museum guided tour if you'd like expert insights into the collections and artworks. General guided tours are available in different formats, including private English-guided tour of Kunsthistorisches Museum. If you prefer exploring independently, use the audio guide, KHM Stories app, or interactive museum floor plan.
  • Plan your route: Check the interactive floor plan before your visit to locate the collections and exhibited artworks. This can help you prioritize the galleries you most want to see.
  • Prioritize the collections: The museum covers several distinct collections, including the Picture Gallery, Kunstkammer, Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, and Greek and Roman Antiquities. Choose the sections that interest you most rather than trying to cover everything in one visit. Plan your visit to Kunsthistorisches Museum.
  • Check the guided tour calendar: Public tours, exhibition tours, lunchtime tours, and children's tours run on selected dates. Check the programme calendar for the language, subject, and availability before booking. Check Kunsthistorisches Museum timings.
  • Allow time for the building itself: Don't rush through the grand staircase, Cupola Hall, and architectural interiors. The museum's historic setting is part of the experience.
  • Free entry for under-19: Present your valid student ID at the entrance to enjoy free entry to the museum if you’re under 19 years of age.
  • Discounted tickets: Show a valid photo ID to get discounted tickets if you’re a student under 25 years, a senior citizen 65 years and above, unemployed, or a visitor with reduced mobility.

Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets explained

Kunsthistorisches Museum admission tickets

Duration: Flexible

  • Discover one of the world’s finest art museums with Kunsthistorisches Museum entry tickets. Explore its collections, including the Paintings Gallery, Kunstkammer, the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection, and the Coin Collection at your own pace.
  • You can upgrade your admission ticket to a 1, 2, 3, or 6-day Vienna Pass to enjoy fast-track entry to more than 70 attractions in Vienna and unlimited Hop-On Hop-Off bus rides.

Recommended ticket:

  • Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna Admission Tickets

Kunsthistorisches Museum combo tickets

Duration: Flexible

  • Combine your visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum with the Imperial Treasury Vienna or the Leopold Museum for a deep dive into art and history. Discover Austria’s medieval royal artifacts at the Imperial Treasury or explore modern Austrian art at the Leopold Museum..
  • These combo tickets allow you to cover multiple landmarks, saving both time and money.

Recommended ticket:

  • Treasures of the Habsburgs Combined Ticket
  • Combo: Leopold Museum + Kunsthistorisches Museum Tickets

Kunsthistorisches Museum highlights & exhibits

The Tower of Babel painting in Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

The Tower of Babel & the Bruegel collection

Bruegel’s Tower of Babel depicts the biblical story of humanity’s attempt to build a tower reaching the heavens. This myth is said to explain the origins of languages on earth. The painting is known for its astonishing level of detail and precision. The Kunsthistorisches Museum holds 12 of Bruegel’s paintings, making it the world’s largest collection of the artist’s works.

The Bravo painting by Titian displayed at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Madonna of the Meadow painting at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Vermeer's "The Art of Painting" at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
The Saliera sculpture by Cellini at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.

Plan your visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum

Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets
  • Opening hours:
    • Friday to Wednesday: 10am to 6pm
    • Thursday: 10am to 9pm
  • Last admission: 60 minutes before closing time.
  • Duration of visit: 3 hours
  • Best time to visit: Weekday mornings close to the museum's opening hours for a quieter, crowd-free visit.
Kunsthistorisches Museum opening hours

Address: Maria-Theresien-Platz 1010 Vienna | Find on Maps

Getting there:

  • By metro: U-bahn line U3 (orange line) 
    Nearest stop: Volkstheater subway station
  • By tram: Lines 1, 2, and D
    Nearest stop: Burgring tram stop
  • By bus: N25, N38, N46, N49, 57A, 48A, N60, and N66
    Nearest stop: MuseumsQuartier, Volkstheater
  • By Car: The Kunsthistorisches Museum is located about 21 km from Vienna Airport.
    Travel time: 30–40 minutes
    Parking: Paid parking garages are located near the museum.
  • By Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tours:
    Big Bus Tours: The nearest stop is "Maria-Theresien-Platz," located near the museum.
    Vienna Sightseeing: The closest stop is "Maria-Theresien-Platz," a short walk from the museum.
Kunsthistorisches Museum directions
Kunsthistorisches Museum exterior illuminated in evening, Vienna.

The museum has two entrances:

  • Main entrance: This is located on Maria-Theresien-Platz and can be used by all visitors.
  • Side entrance (Burgring entrance): This entrance is located on the building’s north-eastern side. Wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility can use this entrance.
Visit Kunsthistorisches Museum
Visitor Tips - This is a Photograph of a guy in Wheelchair
  • Wheelchair access: The museum offers barrier-free access with ramps and elevators.
  • Wheelchair rentals: Wheelchairs are available free of charge. Book your rental one day before your visit.
  • Accessible restrooms: Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available on all floors.
  • Parking: Public parking spaces for visitors with disability badges are available on Heldenplatz and near the side entrance.
  • Guided tours: Special guided tours for visitors with additional needs are available upon request.
  • Visual accessibility: Large-print guides, tactile exhibits, and audio guides are available for visitors who are blind or have visual impairments.
  • Service animals: Service animals are welcome inside the museum.
A young girl and a woman engaging with an audio guide
  • Audio guides: Explore the collections with audio guides. The museum also offers the KHM Stories app for interactive, self-guided discovery.
  • Restrooms: Restroom facilities are available within the museum for visitor convenience and accessible restrooms are available in the basement (souterrain), raised ground floor, and first floor.
  • Lockers and cloakroom: Store coats and belongings in the cloakroom before exploring the galleries.
  • Free Wi-Fi: Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi throughout your museum visit.
  • Children's activities: Families can book age-appropriate guided tours, including collection highlights tours for children, as well as creative studio workshops for ages 6–12.
Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets
  • Touching exhibits: Do not touch any artworks or exhibits inside the museum.
  • Flash photography and tripods: Photography is permitted, but flash and tripods are not allowed. Check for signs indicating restrictions in specific exhibition areas.
  • Food and drinks: Do not bring food or drinks into the exhibition areas.
  • Smoking: Smoking is prohibited throughout the museum premises.
  • Pets: Pets are not permitted inside the museum. Service animals are allowed.
  • Large bags and luggage: Store backpacks, large bags, and luggage in the museum's cloakroom.
Museum Shop
  • Shop locations: The museum has two shops, located on Level 0.5 and Level 1.
  • Books and accessories: Browse a selection of books, jewellery, and accessories.
  • Souvenirs and merchandise: Pick up postcards, posters, magnets, and replicas of artworks.
  • Gifts and games: Find gift items, games, and toys for different age groups.
  • Opening hours: Both shops operate during the museum's regular opening hours.
Cafeteria
  • Museum caféteria: Located in the museum’s Cupola Hall, the caféteria and restaurant is a great place to take a break and grab a bite. It specializes in traditional Viennese pastries and coffee. If you’re visiting on the weekend or a public holiday, treat yourself to breakfast between 10am and 12 noon. On Thursday night, the cafeteria offers a fine dining experience.
  • Cafe Restaurant Raimund: Established in 1900, Cafe Restaurant Raimund is an elegant Viennese cafe that serves traditional Austrian fare. Don’t miss out on local delicacies like schnitzel, beef goulash, sausages wrapped in bacon, and sachertorte for dessert.
  • Veranda Brasserie & Bar: For modern Austrian cuisine, head to Veranda Brasserie & Bar. Their rosemary potatoes, lemon chicken, schnitzel, and steak are favorites with diners. The restaurant also serves an impressive selection of drinks, including cocktails and champagne.
Kunsthistorisches Museum Cafe
Interior of a hotel room
  • Budget: Hotel-Pension Wild, Hotel The Weekend, Wombat's City Hostel Vienna Naschmarkt
  • Mid-range: Max Brown Hotel 7th District, Jaz in the City Vienna, K+K Hotel Maria Theresia
  • Luxury:Hotel Beethoven Wien, Hotel Sacher Wien, 25hours Hotel Vienna at MuseumsQuartier

A museum shaped by centuries of history

From an imperial art collection to one of Vienna’s landmark museums, the Kunsthistorisches Museum has a story that spans more than a century.

Key moments in its history

  • 1871 – A museum takes shape: Emperor Franz Joseph I commissions the museum, with architect Gottfried Semper leading its design.
  • 1891 – Doors open: The museum welcomes the public, bringing together the extensive art collection of the Habsburg dynasty.
  • 1895 – Room for more: A new wing is added to accommodate the growing collection.
  • 1918 – A new chapter: Following the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, ownership of the collection passes to the Austrian Republic.
  • 1938–1951 – War and restoration: The museum is affected by World War II, with its collections moved for safekeeping. It reopens after restoration in 1951.
  • 2012 onward – New ways to explore: Multimedia installations, digital guides, and interactive displays add new ways to engage with the collections.
Read more about the history of Kunsthistorisches Museum

Explore beyond the Kunsthistorisches Museum

Weltmuseum

Learn about different cultures from around the world at Weltmuseum, Vienna’s largest museum focusing on anthropology and ethnography. Housed in the Hofburg Palace, its collection holds more than 400,000 objects from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and other parts of the globe.

Weltmuseum Vienna tickets

Leopold Museum

Explore contemporary and modern Austrian art at the Leopold Museum, located in the MuseumsQuartier. Apart from works by renowned artists like Gustav Klimt, Richard Gerstl, and Oskar Kokoschka, it is also home to the world’s largest collection of paintings by Egon Schiele.

Leopold Museum tickets

Schönbrunn Palace

Visit the Schönbrunn Palace, the lavish summer residence of Vienna’s royal Habsburg family. A Baroque architectural masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace features opulent interiors, stunning gardens, and a rich history.

Schönbrunn Palace tickets

Frequently asked questions about Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets

Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets start from . We recommend that you book your tickets online in advance. This will not only save you time and money but also guarantee your entry to the museum.