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Vienna Art History Museum - KHM

Vienna Art History Museum - KHM

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Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna: Habsburg collection in a building full of art history

The Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna is one of the most important museums in the world. Located directly on the Ringstrasse, it impresses not only with its outstanding collections – from antiquity to the Renaissance – but also with its magnificent architecture. The world-famous picture gallery displays masterpieces by Bruegel, Vermeer, Titian, Rubens, and many more. A visit is worthwhile not only for the art, but also for the historic building – and one of Vienna's most beautiful museum cafés.

Short info:

Where is the museum located? Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna
What can you see there? Picture Gallery, Collection of Antiquities, Egyptian-Oriental Collection, Kunstkammer, Coin Cabinet
What are the highlights? Vermeer's “The Art of Painting”, Raphael's “Madonna of the Green”, Titian's “Nymph and Shepherd”, Caravaggio's “Madonna of the Rosary”, Bruegel's “Tower of Babel”
What are the opening hours? Tuesday–Sunday: 10:00–18:00, Thursday until 21:00
How much does the entrance fee cost? Full price € 21 | Concession € 18 | Under 19s free. Here you can find all prices. Free with the Federal Museums Card.
How long does a visit last on average? About 1.5 to 2 hours (picture gallery only)
Is there a cafe? Yes, in the domed hall – a popular meeting place with a view of the magnificent architecture
Are there special exhibitions? Yes, constantly changing exhibitions in various collections
What else is included? Admission also includes the exhibition collections in the Neue Hofburg (Weltmuseum Vienna, Court Hunting and Armory, Collection of old musical instruments)

The history of the museum

The origins of the collection date back to the 16th century: collectors such as Emperor Rudolf II, Archduke Ferdinand II, and Leopold Wilhelm laid the foundations for today's diversity. In 1781, the picture gallery moved to Belvedere – a milestone in museum history. The new building of the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) was finally built as part of the Ringstrasse planning process and opened in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph I. Since then, it has housed the centralized imperial collections – systematically organized and accessible to the public.

Architecture: A building as a total work of art

The museum was designed by Gottfried Semper and Carl von Hasenauer and is one of the most magnificent buildings on the Ringstrasse in Vienna. Its twin shape with the opposite Natural History Museum was expressly requested by Emperor Franz Joseph I. While artists, scholars, and patrons adorn the exterior façade, the magnificent domed hall inside offers an architectural experience that impresses even before the first work of art appears. Columns, marble cladding, and artfully designed staircases create the perfect setting for the exhibited works.

The Picture Gallery – the heart of the museum

The picture gallery on the first floor comprises approximately 770 works from four centuries of European painting. Works from the Dutch, Flemish, Italian, Spanish, and German schools are particularly well represented. The collection is based on Habsburg acquisitions and collecting activities and is now internationally recognized.

Important works and masters of European painting

The most important highlights include:

Johannes Vermeer: The art of painting – a rare masterpiece of Dutch Baroque
Raphael: Madonna in the Green – a classic example of High Renaissance harmony
Caravaggio: Madonna of the Rosary – dramatic and brightly staged
Titian: Nymph and Shepherd – Venetian color in its purest form
Peter Paul Rubens: Feast of Venus – an opulent baroque picture full of dynamism
Albrecht Dürer: Portrait of a Young Man – masterful German portrait art
Pieter Bruegel the Elder: Tower of Babel – world-famous depiction of human hubris

These works are only a small selection of a collection that ranges from the early Renaissance to the late Baroque and also includes artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola and Michaelina Wautier.

Other collections in the Kunsthistorisches Museum

Collection of Antiquities

More than 2,500 objects from a period of over 3,000 years: Bronze Age ceramics, magnificent cameos such as the Gemma Augustea, gold treasures, sarcophagi, mosaics and architectural fragments from Greece, Rome and their neighboring cultures.

Egyptian-Oriental Collection

Over 18,500 objects from ancient Egypt through Mesopotamia to the Arabian Peninsula. Highlights include painted wooden coffins, mummies, reliefs, statues, and everyday objects. Particularly impressive: an original cult chamber from an official's tomb in Giza.

Art Chamber

Around 2,200 objects made of gold, silver, ivory and exotic materials – from scientific instruments and automatons to the famous Saliera by Benvenuto CelliniThe rooms present the spirit of the cabinets of curiosities of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Coin Cabinet

With over 600,000 objects, it is one of the largest collections in the world. Medals, monetary history, and decorations are presented in three showrooms, complemented by special exhibitions. Of particular note is the portrait collection of Archduke Ferdinand II.

Café in the dome hall

A real highlight – even apart from the exhibitions – is the Café in the dome hallLocated beneath the museum's central dome. The historic atmosphere, marble paneling, and stylish furnishings make it one of the most beautiful museum cafés in Europe. Perfect for a break between collections.

Special exhibitions (current selection)

“Wax in his hands” – Daniel Neuberger's Art of Deception (until June 9, 2025)
“Splendor & Embossment” – The medal as an art object (until 26 October 2025)
“The Princess of Naples” – Mengs and Velázquez (until 5 October 2025)
“Rain black – colorful?” – Polychromy in Antiquity (until August 31, 2025)