You need no introduction from me, given the long history of Madame Tussauds all over the world. Cavort with personalities of the past and current celebrities in a wax-filled selfie heaven.
- Mix of national and international icons
- …also from music & movies
- Tourists and locals both get value
- Surrounded by an entertainment park
- Book Madame Tussauds entrance tickets* online
- See also:
Beethoven to Beyoncé
(Press photo © Madame Tussauds Wien)
Various information displays (in English, too), interactive screens, and similar round out the Madame Tussauds experience, but I imagine what any visitor really wants to know is just who you can meet and grab a photograph with.
Fortunately, Vienna offers rich territory for an attraction like this, given that many local celebrities also serve as international celebrities. Think Mozart or Sigmund Freud.
So if you’re concerned only locals would recognise the figures within, then fear not. The Vienna Madame Tussauds does a nice job of catering to all-comers. Yes, some figures you may not recognise, but most you will.
To the details…
You pass through various themed areas to rub shoulders with figures of the past and present.
On my last visit, you could take a photograph of yourself right at the start enjoying a tête-à-tête with Marie Antoinette of France or Empress Maria Theresa of Austria (actually mother and daughter!)
Just after, I found Mandela and Marx close enough to swap stories. Along with the likes of Barack Obama, Gandhi, and Angela Merkel.
(Chris Hemsworth is a recent addition to the collection; press photo © Georg Aufreiter / Madame Tussauds Wien)
The settings obviously make for memorable photos. Options on my visit included, for example:
- Reclining on a couch while Sigmund Freud presumably took notes about your childhood
- Accompanying Schubert on the piano
- Reminding the world that the hills are alive with the sound of music in the company of Julie Andrews with an Alpine background
- Slipping through war-torn Vienna with Harry Lime. (You can still see many of the actual Third Man film locations around Vienna and visit the very sewers used as an iconic location)
- Solving equations with Einstein
And much more, including a handful of interactive experiences such as a VR ski jump or a VR ride in a 1976 Mercedes 200 (W123) through an alpine landscape.
The music and entertainment sections, particularly, offer plenty of iconic fun.
Alongside classical music greats like Haydn, Beethoven, and Strauss (this is Vienna, after all), I shared a tune with Madonna, Freddy Mercury, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
Expect regular new models: last time I checked, for example, Ariane Grande and Demi Lovato had joined the party.
I also shared movie anecdotes with the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Sandra Bullock. Since then, recent additions to Madame Tussauds have included Arnold Schwarznegger, Zendaya and Chris Hemsworth.
I particularly enjoyed sitting for a cup of coffee with my historical crush, the great Audrey Hepburn, who (sadly and predictably) proved remarkably disinterested in my attempts to make conversation.
The final part of Madame Tussauds focused on Vienna’s most famous imperial pair (Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph), with a chance to dress up and experience more detailed displays than for other personalities.
(Press photo © Madame Tussauds Wien / Christoph Kleinsasser)
Will you come away with a detailed understanding of the geopolitical impact of the Habsburg empire and the role of Haydn in developing the Viennese classical music tradition? No.
Will you have a bunch of photos to bring smiles to the faces of friends and family? Yes.
Tickets & visitor tips
Tickets are available direct or from various online sources.
(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)
If you’re visiting Arnold, Wolfgang and their colleagues, then you’ll also find yourself at the edge of the Prater: a huge entertainment and park complex just to the east of the city centre.
Madame Tussauds sits on the entrance square, with neighbours that include the famous Riesenrad giant Ferris wheel, Magic World, the Pratermuseum and others.
Wander further into the complex for hi-tech thrills and traditional fairground fun: rollercoasters, dodgems, high-speed rides, arcades, tower carousels, and much more.
For those wishing to escape the adrenalin rush, the Prater also has long walks through meadows and light woodland, as well as several decent restaurants.
How to get to Madame Tussauds
The Riesenrad dominates the skyline from afar and that’s what you head for from the Praterstern station that feeds people through into the main entrance to the Prater.
Subway/tram: Take the U1 or U2 subway to reach Praterstern or tram lines O or 5. Both subway lines leave from the city centre (for example Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz or Schottentor).
Address: Riesenradplatz, 1020 Vienna | Website