Short info:
- Where is the Natural History Museum located? Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna
- What is there to see? Fossils, animals, plants and minerals from all over the world, including some rare and extinct species, can be admired at the Natural History Museum Vienna.
- When is it open and how much does admission cost? It is generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Here you can find the opening times and prices in detail.
The NHM in general
With over 30 million items in the collection, the Natural History Museum in Vienna (NHM) is one of the most important natural history museums in the world. The museum was opened on August 10, 1889. Directly opposite is the Kunsthistorisches Museum, a mirror image of the NHM.
Today, the museum has over 500,000 visitors a year. They can stroll through the halls and explore the development of nature from the beginning of the earth to the modern animal and plant world. The highlight of the museum is the impressive collection of dinosaur skeletons.
The museum is known not only for its scientific collections but also for its stunning architecture.
The highlights
The Natural History Museum in Vienna offers a wide range of exhibitions and collections, including the following highlights:
- Dinosaur Exhibit: An impressive collection of dinosaur fossils including large skeletons of Diplodocus, Allosaurus and Iguanodon
- Meteorite Collection: A unique collection of meteorites from different parts of the solar system.
- Mineral Collection: An extensive collection of minerals from around the world including gems, crystals and other rare minerals.
- Zoological Collections: An extensive collection of animals including specimens of exotic and native animals, insects, butterflies and fish species.
- Anthropological Collections: A fascinating collection of human skeletons and fossils, including replica Neanderthal and early human skeletons.
- Art and Culture Exhibitions: In addition to the natural history collections, the museum also offers temporary exhibitions of art and culture.
- Planetarium: A modern planetarium that gives visitors the opportunity to explore the starry sky and learn about the universe.
History of the collections
The oldest holdings in the Natural History Museum in Vienna are more than 250 years old.
Emperor Franz I Stephan von Lothringen, Maria Theresa’s husband, bought what was then the largest and most famous collection of natural history around 1750, thereby laying the foundation for the Natural History Museum. Among the 30,000 objects were very rare fossils, snails, shells and corals as well as precious minerals and precious stones. After the early death of the emperor, Maria Theresia made the scientific collection the property of the state and made it accessible to the public.
Permanent exhibition and collections- by room
Mezzanine
- Minerals, rocks: minerals, ores, precious stones, rocks and meteorites are shown
- Meteorites: Hall 5 houses the largest meteorite show in the world. 1100 meteorites are shown today
- Geological history, fossils: The central theme of halls 6 to 9 is the history of the development of life in geological history.
- Dinosaurs: The skeletons of Diplodocus, Allosaurus and Iguanodon can be admired from all sides. A highlight not only for children is the animatronics model of an allosaur that moves and makes sounds.
- Prehistory: the most important cultural developments and achievements of early human history are presented here
- Anthropology: The permanent exhibition in anthropology is dedicated to the general theme of “hominid evolution” and deals with the process of human development up to the Neolithic period.
- Digital Planetarium: Films in different languages are shown here.
First Floor & Second Floor
- Microcosm: this room is dedicated to the smallest representatives of the animal and plant world: tiny protozoa, water fleas and insect larvae can be observed on a screen in large-scale projects
- Protozoa, corals, mollusks: you can see invertebrates: protozoa, sponges, coelenterates, a wide variety of “worms”, snails, mussels, squid, echinoderms and arthropods
- Crustaceans, arachnids, insects: most of the room is dedicated to the enormous variety of insect species, such as crustaceans, arachnids, millipedes and butterflies
- Fish: The museum’s collection includes around 2 million specimens, of which only about one per thousand can be shown.
- Reptiles, amphibians: Here, too, only about 0.5% of the 200,000 objects are shown. 930 wet preparations and 130 dry preparations can be seen.
Birds: Almost a quarter (2,500 objects) of all known bird species on earth can be discovered here in four display rooms. - Mammals: The entire collection now includes between 80,000 and 100,000 specimens. Around 470 dermoplasties can be seen in seven showrooms
- Deck 50: the new experimental room at the Natural History Museum Vienna, a stage for exciting science shows and school workshops
In addition to the permanent exhibition, there are always special exhibitions
Tip: coffee restaurant in the upper cupola hall.
In the impressive dome hall you can enjoy traditional Viennese fare, from coffee specialties and pastries to hearty snacks for in between and warm dishes as a main meal.
Conclusion
A visit to the Natural History Museum Vienna is an unforgettable experience for young and old. It offers a unique opportunity to experience and understand nature in all its diversity and beauty. A special highlight is the regular night tour through the museum, where visitors can take an unforgettable look at the collections in the dark. The Natural History Museum Vienna is an unmissable destination for anyone wanting to experience the best of Vienna’s cultural and natural history.