Highlights of Kunsthistorisches Museum

Discover the must-sees of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Imperial Collections of the Habsburgs in Vienna.

The Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) in Vienna is one of the world’s most prestigious art museums, home to the Imperial Collections, which include an extraordinary array of art from ancient Egypt, classical antiquity, and the Renaissance. With masterpieces by renowned artists like Titian, Rembrandt, and Vermeer, the museum offers an immersive experience into centuries of artistic achievement.

The highlights at a glance

See the world’s most extensive Bruegel collection and the famous “Saliera” by Cellini
Explore 2,100 objets d'art from the Habsburgs' archives
Have coffee, dinner or a party at the marble Cupola Hall
Discover more of the Imperial Collections of the Habsburgs at the Imperial Treasury, the Imperial Carriage Museum, the Neue Hofburg and the Theater Museum

About Kunsthisorisches Museum

LocationMaria-Theresien-Platz, Innere Stadt (1st district), Vienna

HoursTue – Sun, 10 am – 6 pm | Thursday, 10 am – 9 pm

Established1871–1891

SignificanceOne of the world's largest and most noteworthy art history museums

1. Find beauty in the details with Bruegel

Next to their variant special exhibitions, the permanent shows featuring their fabulous collections are always a must-see. The Kunsthistorisches Museum owns the world’s most extensive collection of works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. As one of the most notable Flemish artists of the 16th century, Bruegel is known for intricate depictions of peasant life and stunning landscapes.

Look closely at masterpieces like “The Tower of Babel” and the minuscule details of Bruegel’s composition. Find ant-like figures dotting the scene, tiny houses on the tower, and entire bustling cities in the background.
The interactive website www.insidebruegel.net gives you a great view of all the paintings by Bruegel in the collection of the museum.

2. Rummage through the Habsburgs’ treasure chest

The Kunstkammer Wien is the world’s most important collection of its kind. You can’t exactly touch the 2,100 objets d’art that make up the Kunstkammer (chamber of art). But peering at ivory carvings and miniatures, timepieces, paintings, intricate sculptures, wall hangings, coins, and weapons is impressive enough.

If you feel suddenly blinded by 10 inches of solid gold, you’ve found the “Saliera” by Cellini. This gold and enamel salt cellar is one of the museum’s glittering highlights.

While navigating through the building, make sure to examine Gustav Klimt’s spandrel paintings between the arches and columns on the lavish museum’s stairwell.

3. Explore the Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection

The Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum is among the world’s most important collections of Egyptian antiquities.

The more than 17,000 objects date from a period of almost four thousand years, from the Egyptian Predynastic and Early Dynastic periods (ca. 3500 BC) to the early Christian era. Geographically their origins range from Egypt, Nubia, the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia to the Arabian Peninsula.

4. Look up inside Cupola Hall

Cupola Hall is the beating heart of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Not only is it located at the centre of the 19th-century complex, but with its magnificent Cupola Cafe, it’s also a meeting point for museum-goers and locals. The hall is panelled with white marble and decorated in gold. Above you, one of Vienna’s most ornate domed ceilings lets in the sun.

Artsy Breakfast & Dinner

How do you take your coffee? At the Kunsthistorisches Museum, it’s served with a dash of culture and views over centuries of art. Sit down for breakfast in the Cupola Hall with its lavish dome and energize before your walk through the collection.

If you’re looking for something more elegant, enjoy a gourmet dinner in the Cupola Hall. On Thursday evenings, from 6:30 pm to 10 pm, it transforms into a stately but intimate dining room. You can even get up between courses and roam the Kunstkammer or the Picture Gallery for an exclusive after-hours tour.

Nightlife at the Museum

Once a month, the Cupola Hall dims the lights, puts on music, and throws a party. This event series is called “Kunstschatzi” (cute for "my art treasure") and notoriously attracts Vienna’s young and young-at-heart to the museum.

A master mixologist creates a themed cocktail for the night, and the museum is open to explore until 11 pm. Enjoy the lineup of local DJs and mingle with other visitors - Tintoretto and Rubens make for excellent conversation starters.