Kunsthistorisches Museum
#4of 9 places to visit in ViennaVienna, Vienna, Austria
Also known as KHM · Museum of Fine Arts Vienna · Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien
Quick answer
Opening hours: 10:00–18:00 and 10:00–21:00, closed Mondays. Entry: €22. Allow 3 hrs. Best time: 10:00 - 11:00.
Updated · Compiled by Traveliac, AI-assisted · 4 min read
- Opening hours
- 10:00–21:00
- Closed Mondays
- Entry fee
- €22
- Ticket from
- Time needed
- 3 hrs
- Best time of day
- 10:00 - 11:00
- Best months
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct
- Address
- Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna, Austria
About Kunsthistorisches Museum
The Kunsthistorisches Museum charges EUR 22 online and EUR 24 at the desk for adults, as of 2026, and is free for everyone under 19. Vienna's Museum of Fine Arts holds the Habsburg family's picture collection and the largest holding of paintings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in the world, including The Tower of Babel and Hunters in the Snow. Kunsthistorisches Museum occupies a neo-Renaissance building of stone and marble opened in 1891, and its central hall is as memorable as the paintings: a stairwell of coloured marble, gilded stucco and spandrel and column-gap paintings by Gustav Klimt, Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch, beneath a dome about 60 metres high. Vermeer's The Art of Painting hangs among the Dutch and Flemish rooms, and the Kunstkammer displays goldsmith work including Benvenuto Cellini's salt cellar.
Best time of day: 10:00 - 11:00. On a weekday morning, or Thursday after 18:00 when the museum stays open until 21:00 and tour groups have left.
Kunsthistorisches Museum timings
- Opening hours
- 10:00–21:00
Monday Closed Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00 and 10:00–21:00 - Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-18:00; Thursday 10:00-21:00.
- Closed on
- Monday
Good to know: Rooms are occasionally closed for rehanging or loans; check the official site for the room list before travelling for one particular painting.
Opening hours compiled from khm.at and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Kunsthistorisches Museum ticket price
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard ticket | €22 |
| Concession (student / senior) | €19 |
| Children | Free |
The Kunsthistorisches Museum charges EUR 22 for adults booking online and EUR 24 at the on-site desk, as of 2026, with a reduced rate of EUR 19 online (EUR 20 on site). Children and teenagers under 19 enter free with valid ID. Vienna City Card holders pay EUR 23. From 8 September 2026 the museum states that admission is available only in reserved time slots, so book online. Special exhibitions and the Kunstkammer may carry separate terms - verify at the official site.
Prices compiled from khm.at and public records, last updated . They change without notice — confirm before you travel. How we write these guides
Best time to visit Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Quiet
- Moderate
- Busy
- Very busy
10:00 - 11:30
Opening Slots
The first slots are busy at the entrance but the Bruegel room and painting galleries are still walkable.
Moderate11:30 - 15:00
Tour Group Peak
Guided groups and school visits crowd the Bruegel room and the domed staircase; expect a queue for the café.
Very busy15:00 - 18:00
Afternoon Wind-Down
Numbers ease but the museum stays steady through the afternoon, especially in July, August and on rainy days.
Busy18:00 - 21:00 (Thursday)
Late OpeningBest time to go
The Thursday evening opening draws fewer groups and a calmer room-by-room visit, though last entry times apply.
Quiet
History of Kunsthistorisches Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum was designed by the architects Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer and opened by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1891, one of two identical museum buildings facing each other across Maria-Theresien-Platz on the Ringstrasse. The collections it holds come from the Habsburgs' picture galleries and their earlier cabinets of curiosities, gathered by rulers such as Emperor Rudolf II and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm.
Kunsthistorisches Museum's most famous theft was of Cellini's Saliera, a gold and enamel salt cellar of 1543 that was stolen in May 2003 and recovered in January 2006 after being buried in a lead-lined box in a forest. The Kunstkammer has since been reopened after restoration. The Bruegel room is the museum's centrepiece, and The Tower of Babel, painted in 1563, is one of the best-known pictures in the collection.
Rules & etiquette at Kunsthistorisches Museum
Kunsthistorisches Museum requires timed entry slots from 8 September 2026, so book online and arrive within your slot. The museum offers free coat and umbrella storage and lockers but no luggage storage, so bring only a small bag. Photography is allowed for personal use only, without flash or tripods, and some works are marked as not to be photographed.
Kunsthistorisches Museum admits animals only if they are assistance animals, and children under 19 need a valid ID to prove age at the entrance. Keep to any barrier distance in the Bruegel and Vermeer rooms and speak quietly in the Kunstkammer, whose cases hold small, fragile objects.
Tips for visiting Kunsthistorisches Museum
- 1
Kunsthistorisches Museum can absorb a full day, so pick a route before you arrive: the Bruegel room, the Dutch and Flemish galleries, and the Kunstkammer form a manageable half-day, and the Egyptian and Near Eastern collection is a good second visit. The Thursday late opening until 21:00 is the calmest window, and a ticket bought online costs EUR 2 less than one bought on site.
- 2
Kunsthistorisches Museum's café beneath the central dome is one of the more atmospheric places in Vienna to sit, but expect to queue on weekends; cafés in the MuseumsQuartier across the road and on nearby Museumstrasse are alternatives. Vienna City Card holders pay EUR 23, as of 2026, which is only slightly below the on-site price.
How to reach Kunsthistorisches Museum
The red star is Kunsthistorisches Museum; the numbered pins are the 7 nearest places in our guides, each showing its rank in its city. Tap a pin for details.
Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna, AustriaDirections in Google Maps
From Vienna International Airport (VIE)
18 km · 45-55 min
Roughly EUR 4-5 for the airport S-Bahn fare plus a Vienna transport ticket (as of 2026, verify at wienerlinien.at)
From Stephansplatz
1.8 km · 6-8 min
Single ticket approx. EUR 2.40-3.00 (as of 2026, verify current Vienna tariff)
From Hofburg (Heldenplatz)
0.5 km · 6-8 min
Free on foot
Nearest airport
From Vienna International Airport (VIE)
about 18 km south-east; S7 to Wien Mitte then U-Bahn and a short walk (about 50 min in total).
Nearest station
From Volkstheater U-Bahn station (U2, U3) and MuseumsQuartier (U2), each about 5 minutes on foot; trams D, 1 and 2 stop on the Ring.
Kunsthistorisches Museum FAQs
How much does the Kunsthistorisches Museum cost?
The Kunsthistorisches Museum costs EUR 22 online and EUR 24 on site for adults, as of 2026. Reduced tickets cost EUR 19 online, and children and teenagers under 19 enter free.
When is the Kunsthistorisches Museum closed?
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is closed on Mondays. It opens Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, and until 21:00 on Thursdays.
Which Bruegel paintings are in the Kunsthistorisches Museum?
The museum holds the world's largest collection of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, including The Tower of Babel and Hunters in the Snow. Check the official site before visiting, because rooms can close for rehanging.
Do I need to book Kunsthistorisches Museum tickets in advance?
Yes, from 8 September 2026 admission is only available in reserved time slots, according to the official site. Booking online also saves EUR 2 on the adult price.
Compiled with AI assistance from official sources and public records, and published only after the checks in How we write these guides. Nobody from Traveliac has visited this place. Last updated . How we rank and check places
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Straight-line distances from our map; times are estimates.
