Sight guide · Vienna · Austria
Visiting State Hall of the Austrian National Library
Built in the 1720s within the Hofburg, the Prunksaal is one of the most beautiful baroque libraries in the world: a long hall of walnut shelves holding around 200,000 old volumes under a frescoed dome, with marble statues of Habsburg emperors.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gryffindor, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
State Hall of the Austrian National Library is an architectural landmark in Innere Stadt, Vienna. Allow 45 minutes; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Architecture
- Area
- Innere Stadt
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- architecture, history, rainy day and art
- Best months
- May–July
About State Hall of the Austrian National Library
Built in the 1720s within the Hofburg, the Prunksaal is one of the most beautiful baroque libraries in the world: a long hall of walnut shelves holding around 200,000 old volumes under a frescoed dome, with marble statues of Habsburg emperors.
Tip: Visit early in the day to see the hall before the light dims and the crowds arrive.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 45 minutes.
- Cost: Low cost.
- 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 State Hall of the Austrian National Library
State Hall of the Austrian National Library 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
State Hall of the Austrian National Library is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Schönbrunn Palace and Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum.
- No. 20 of the 20 sights in our Vienna things-to-do list.
- Day 7 of the 7-day plan.
Near State Hall of the Austrian National Library
Also in Innere Stadt, so you can walk between them:
- Haus der Musik — 2 hours, mid-priced
- Natural History Museum — 2–3 hours, mid-priced
- Vienna State Opera — 1 hour tour; 3 hours for a performance, mid-priced
If you like State Hall of the Austrian National Library
- Schönbrunn Palace — Hietzing, Half a day
- Belvedere — Landstraße, 2 hours
- MuseumsQuartier and Leopold Museum — Neubau, 2–3 hours
- Hundertwasserhaus — Landstraße, 30 minutes
Staying near State Hall of the Austrian National Library
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 State Hall of the Austrian National Library?
Plan 45 minutes. With Haus der Musik nearby, it fits a half-day in Innere Stadt.
+Is State Hall of the Austrian National Library free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit State Hall of the Austrian National Library?
May–July, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Visit early in the day to see the hall before the light dims and the crowds arrive.
+Do I need to book State Hall of the Austrian National Library in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.