Sight guide · Vienna · Austria
Visiting Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Habsburg art collection fills a palatial building of 1891 on the Ring, with the world's largest group of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, including Hunters in the Snow and The Tower of Babel, Vermeer's The Art of Painting, Caravaggio, Titian and Rubens, plus an Egyptian collection and the Kunstkammer of curiosities.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Superbass, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Kunsthistorisches Museum is a museum in Innere Stadt, Vienna. Allow 3 hours; it is mid-priced. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- Innere Stadt
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- art, rainy day and history
- Best months
- May–July
About Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Habsburg art collection fills a palatial building of 1891 on the Ring, with the world's largest group of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, including Hunters in the Snow and The Tower of Babel, Vermeer's The Art of Painting, Caravaggio, Titian and Rubens, plus an Egyptian collection and the Kunstkammer of curiosities.
Tip: Take coffee and cake in the café under the grand cupola, one of the most beautiful museum cafés in Europe.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3 hours.
- Cost: Mid-priced.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Innere Stadt, the historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses.
Best time to visit Kunsthistorisches Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- May: 21°C (70°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- June: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, busy crowds.
- July: 26°C (79°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, very busy crowds.
When to visit Vienna has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vienna itinerary visits Kunsthistorisches Museum on day 2, together with Spanish Riding School, St Stephen's Cathedral and Vienna State Opera.
- No. 6 of the 20 sights in our Vienna things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 7-day plan.
- One of the picks in museums in Vienna.
- One of the picks in vienna on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Vienna.
Near Kunsthistorisches Museum
Also in Innere Stadt, so you can walk between them:
- Albertina — 2 hours, mid-priced
- St Stephen's Cathedral — 1–1.5 hours, free
- Spanish Riding School — 1–1.5 hours, mid-priced
If you like Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Belvedere — Landstraße, 2 hours
- MuseumsQuartier and Leopold Museum — Neubau, 2–3 hours
- Ringstrasse by tram — Ringstrasse, 30 minutes–2 hours
- Secession Building — Wieden, 1 hour
Staying near Kunsthistorisches Museum
Stay in Innere Stadt ($$$$) to walk here: the historic 1st district inside the Ring: cathedral, Hofburg and classic coffee houses. All areas to stay in Vienna.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Kunsthistorisches Museum?
Plan 3 hours. With Albertina nearby, it fits a half-day in Innere Stadt.
+Is Kunsthistorisches Museum free?
No, it is mid-priced. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Kunsthistorisches Museum?
May–July, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Take coffee and cake in the café under the grand cupola, one of the most beautiful museum cafés in Europe.
+Do I need to book Kunsthistorisches Museum in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.