The Venus of Willendorf
A palm-sized figure some thirty thousand years old — Austria's most famous artefact, and the shock of its smallness is part of the effect.
Stb1er (Dario Premm) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · StefanKir — CC BY-SA 4.0 · János Korom Dr. from Wien, Austria — CC BY-SA 2.0 · János Korom Dr. from Wien, Austria — CC BY-SA 2.0
The twin of the Kunsthistorisches: an identical building facing it across the square, the pair raised together by the Habsburgs so they would balance. What is inside, though, is another world — forty halls of bones, minerals and mounted animals, some displayed since the nineteenth century in their original wooden cases. Its most famous object is palm-sized: the Venus of Willendorf, a stone figure carved some thirty thousand years ago and found in Austria itself. Around it are one of the world's largest meteorite collections, dinosaur skeletons, and a gem hall glinting in low light. It is one of Vienna's best family choices: less crowded than its artistic neighbour and far more fun for children. Its roof opens on a guided tour, giving a rare view down onto the Ring.
A palm-sized figure some thirty thousand years old — Austria's most famous artefact, and the shock of its smallness is part of the effect.
One of the world's largest collections, with a stone fallen from space you are allowed to touch.
Halls unchanged since the nineteenth century — you visit an exhibition and the history of exhibiting at once.
Burgring, Vienna
Maria-Theresien-PlatzThe square between the twin museums, with a vast seated statue of Empress Maria 1 minute walk4.8
Kunsthistorisches MuseumThe Museum of Art History: the Habsburgs' art hoard, assembled over centuries fr2 minutes walk4.7
Kunsthalle WienA contemporary art institution inside Vienna's MuseumsQuartier complex, and a Ku3 minutes walk4.3
MuseumsQuartierThese were baroque imperial stables with room for thousands of horses, converted3 minutes walk4.5
Weltmuseum WienAn ethnographic museum inside the Hofburg's Neue Burg wing, showing what the Hab3 minutes walk4.7Possible with the combined ticket but tiring: four or five hours indoors. Better to take one in the morning with a long break, or split them across two days.
A guided climb to the building's roof for a view over the Ring from an angle visitors normally never get. Places are limited, booked ahead, and cancelled in bad weather.