🎨 Must-visit museums & palaces in Vienna
#EuropeanTravel
🎨 Must-visit Museums & Palaces in Vienna
Honest Reviews of Places I've Actually Visited
Living up on the name of the 'City of Classics', Vienna
Even each palace and museum is a work of art in itself.
If you're having trouble deciding on the best ones, I recommend going in this order that I personally visited!
1️⃣ Schönbrunn Palace
📍Vienna's must-see #1! The palace itself is a huge time capsule
This place, which used to be the imperial summer residence,
is a historical experience that goes beyond a simple 'palace tour' with all five senses.
Not only the gorgeous Baroque interior, but also the huge garden, maze, and hilltop observation deck—
I recommend enjoying it leisurely as a half-day course!
🎧 An audio guide is included,
so you can follow the lives of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Franz Joseph. • ⏰ Operating hours: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM daily
• 💸 Grand Tour: Approximately €29 (40 rooms to see)
• 💸 Imperial Tour: Approximately €22 (22 rooms to see)
• Free admission to the garden, separate tickets required for the maze/observation deck
• 🎟️ It’s better to book online than on-site to reduce waiting time!
“The palace is a palace, but I loved the time I spent walking in the garden while feeling the breeze.
Even the time I took a break with an ice cream was like a movie.”
2️⃣ Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum)
📍A must-visit for European painting lovers!
If Schönbrunn Palace was the art of ‘space,’
The Vienna Kunsthistorisches Museum is the main character in the artwork itself.
This is a place where you can see the masters of European painting at a glance, including Velazquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, and Bruegel.
And the real jackpot is…
The building itself is museum-quality. The ceiling painting in the stairwell and the café under the dome are breathtakingly beautiful.
• ⏰ Opening hours: 10:00-18:00 every day (until 21:00 on Thursdays)
• 💸 Admission: Approximately €21
• 🎧 Audio guide separate (€5), but you can fully appreciate it with just the explanation panels
• 🎨 The Bruegel Collection is the world's largest! (Must see)
“Even my friends who weren't very interested in art were speechless when they came out here.
It's a museum where you can just 'be speechless and admire'.”
3️⃣ Belvedere Palace
📍Where Klimt's 'Kiss' is located! The moment you meet the love in the painting in person
This palace, divided into the upper and lower palaces, was built as a summer villa for Prince Eugene of Austria. The most famous thing is Klimt's masterpiece 'The Kiss' in the lower palace.
Even the road to see the painting was full of romance.
The garden in front of the palace is also really pretty, so there are many good photo spots,
and the exhibition composition is also a natural blend of modern and classic.
• ⏰ Operating hours: Every day 10:00-18:00
• 💸 Admission:
• Upper Belvedere (lower palace): Approximately €17.70
• Lower Belvedere (upper palace): Separate depending on the exhibition, usually €15-17
• Combo ticket (upper palace + lower palace): Approximately €24
• 🖼️ Photography is OK with 'The Kiss'!
"When I saw Klimt's gold right in front of me,
I couldn't help but cry because the delicacy and emotion were conveyed."
4️⃣ Sisi Museum & Hofburg Wien
📍Getting to know Empress Sisi deepens the romance of Vienna
The Sisi Museum, located in a part of the Hofburg Palace,
is an exhibition that covers the life of the legendary Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria.
She was loved by many for her gorgeous appearance and free spirit,
but on the other hand, it contains her inner self that suffered from loneliness and norms.
From the dresses she actually wore, to her diary, hairbrush, and even body management tools (!)—
This exhibition clearly portrayed the character of ‘Sisi’ that I was curious about.
The tour of the imperial apartment next to the museum is also very interesting. • ⏰ Opening hours: 9:00-17:30 every day
• 💸 Admission: Approximately €17.50 (audio guide included)
• Most of the interior is prohibited from photography (a bit disappointing, but it makes you focus instead)
“Loneliness hidden behind the splendor.
After learning about Empress Sisi, the palaces of Vienna felt sadder.”
✨ Final recommended points
🎟️ If you have time, I recommend taking a leisurely look at one a day
🕰️ It is much easier to adjust the route to the palace in the morning and the museum in the afternoon
📸 Good places to take pictures are the Belvedere Garden / Kunsthistorisches Staircase / Schönbrunn Front Yard