Anyone wishing to visit renowned art collections in Vienna now pays around 21 euros for a regular ticket at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Located directly on Karlsplatz, however, the completely renovated Vienna Museum proves that there is another way. Following an extensive renovation costing 108 million euros, the entire permanent exhibition—spanning 3,000 m²—is permanently open to all visitors with free admission.
3,000 square meters of city history with no ticket checks
In the 25-meter-high atrium, the 1.7-metric-ton Prater whale statue Poldi appears to float, while original stone figures from the Donnerbrunnen fountain, dating back to 1739, line the airy central space. A wide staircase leads to three floors that chronologically span the history from ancient Vindobona through Baroque Vienna to contemporary history.
The second floor, in particular, houses significant examples of Viennese Modernism, including world-famous works by Gustav Klimt such as the 1898 painting *Pallas Athena*, as well as original stained-glass windows from St. Stephen’s Cathedral. Instead of waiting behind barriers, you can stroll right past the exhibition’s approximately 1,700 objects without an appointment. We asked the on-site staff: Even on busy fall weekends, admission proceeds without any significant delays.
Floating concrete and an unobstructed view of St. Charles’ Church
Architecturally, the designers Ferdinand Čertov and Winkler + Ruck superimposed a striking floating floor made of exposed concrete onto the historic foundation from 1959. Precisely in the joint between the old building and the addition lies a freely accessible terrace with a sweeping panoramic view of the Baroque St. Charles Church. Here, visitors can linger after the tour without any obligation to purchase anything, before continuing on to the museum’s own restaurant, trude.
Visitors planning a museum visit on rainy fall days can take advantage of extended hours until 9:00 p.m. every Thursday. The heavily trafficked Karlsplatz subway station, served by lines U1, U2, and U4, is just a few steps from the entrance pavilion. With this permanently free permanent exhibition, the City of Vienna provides a remarkable counterpoint to the trend of steadily rising admission prices in the cultural sector.
📍 Location/Address: Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Vienna
⏰ Opening Hours/Dates: Tue, Wed, Fri 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Thu 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Sat & Sun 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (closed Mon)
💶 Admission/Cost: Permanent exhibition 0 euros (permanently free admission); special exhibitions vary (generally free for those under 19)
