When you’re an imperial dynasty, chances are a few pieces of art fell into your hands through time. But where to put them all?
One answer is the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM), now a group of prestigious public institutions that includes the famous same-named museum of fine art.
- Locations in Vienna plus Schloss Ambras in Innsbruck
- The main museum is a must-see (both contents and building)
- The other locations are pretty darned good, too
- See also:
Not just one museum
Get an overview of the different institutions within the KHM group, then dig deeper into the individual locations and collections through the links.
The main site
(The main museum, filled with historic art)
The prime location is the museum building on Maria-Theresien Platz just opposite the Hofburg complex that once provided a home for the Habsburgs.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum (the term applies both to the group and the main location) houses the following themed collections:
- The Kunstkammer: the chamber of wonders with an eclectic mix of astonishing art and artefacts from across the centuries. My favourite part of the museum
- The Picture Gallery: home to all the famous paintings, including a world-renowned collection of Bruegels and numerous other painters like Titian, Raphael, Rubens, Rembrandt, and similar
- The Egyptian collection: a smorgasbord of objects from ancient Egypt with all the expected favourites, such as sarcophagi and mummies
- Greek and Roman Antiquities: notable for the gorgeous lighting and presentation. Look for the Gemma Augustea in particular
- Coin collection: which also houses an intriguing display of miniature “celebrity” portraits put together in the 16th century
The late 19th-century building itself also deserves your attention thanks to the gorgeous external and interior architecture (including frescoes by Gustav Klimt). You might want to pop into the shop and restaurant, too. The latter occupies a quite stunning location.
The Kunsthistorisches Museum also holds various special exhibitions throughout the year. Autumn and winter tends to feature a major Old Masters exhibition, for example.
Other top locations in the KHM group
(The Neue Burg: home to several KHM collections)
The Neue Burg palace wing adjoining Heldenplatz square has:
- The Weltmuseum Wien: a museum of world cultures with a remarkable atrium and intriguing special exhibitions
- The Ephesos Museum: antiquities from the Greek/Roman city that housed the Temple of Artemis
- The Arms and Armour collection: rather impressive ceremonial and tournament weapons and armour from imperial times
- The Historical Musical Instruments collection: a timeline of instrument development that includes several used by famous composers
(The innocent entrance to the magnificent Schatzkammer)
Elsewhere in Vienna, you can also find:
- The Schatzkammer: the Imperial Treasury in the Hofburg Palace complex, filled with priceless crown jewels and Christian relics from the Habsburg era
- The Wagenburg: the Imperial Carriage Museum at Schönbrünn Palace with its bonus exhibition about Empress Elisabeth
- The Theater Museum: close to the Albertina and the State Opera House. Also home to the Eroica Saal made famous by Beethoven
- The Theseus Temple exhibition: in the Volksgarten park and featuring a work of contemporary art for part of the year
The KHM group also has a site in Innsbruck in the very west of Austria: Schloss Ambras, which I don’t cover for self-evident geographical reasons.
The map below marks the locations of the main Viennese KHM sites: