What’s it like to visit the Albertina Museum in Vienna? And is it worth visiting?
Albertina Museum was one of my favourite museums in Vienna.
The building is stunning and the art exhibitions are well curated.
It has a huge art collection and the curators seem to have a lot of creative freedom.
The mix of styles – from old classic masterpieces to modern and contemporary art – means anyone can find something they like at this museum.
It’s easy to visit the Albertina Museum, located in Vienna’s historic centre, before or after other famous attractions in the city.
If you’re planning on adding the Albertina Museum to your Vienna itinerary, read this quick guide first so you’ll know what to expect.
Table of contents
Tickets to Albertina Museum
Book tickets to Albertina Museum online in advance.
I found some alternatives to the full ticket price:
The Vienna Pass includes the Albertina Museum. That’s what I used to see all the museums I wanted to see in Vienna, plus some other attractions.
I ended up saving quite a bit of money because I saw many attractions in a few days. The 6-day pass gives you time to see a lot around Vienna.
Also, I found it easier to buy the pass than to book tickets for each and every museum separately.
A combo ticket is a DIY pass which includes the Albertina Museum and two other museums at a discount.
Note that this is a day pass – you’ll need to plan to see all museums in one day. I think it’s doable, but can be intense, so you’ll need an early start and a bit of planning.
Is the Albertina Museum worth visiting?
Yes, the Albertina Museum is worth visiting for any art lover.
The massive collection, the creative curation, the architecture and design of the building, plus the central location, all make it worth visiting.
Albertina Museum has a great mix of styles to cater for any taste.
When you visit the Albertina Museum you’ll soon notice how diverse the collection is: from Renaissance drawings to 21st century art installations.
It includes contemporary artists you may have never heard of, but also masterpieces by famous artists, such as Monet, Picasso, Chagall, Magritte, and more.
The historic building itself is also worth seeing for its magnificent architecture and design.
It’s a former residential palace and its beautiful restored palace rooms are part of the museum visit.
Albertina Museum is right in the heart of the city, close to other great museums and attractions, so it’s very easy to add it to any itinerary.
What to see inside the Albertina Museum
Inside the museum, you can expect to see a great range of paintings, sculpture, photography, and installations that appeal to wide audiences.
Some of the collections are organised by themes and styles.
I was surprised by the curation of the special exhibitions – I found it creative and even experimental. Art in different media may be placed side by side, in chronological order, or in a way that creates original dialogues between different artists or time periods.
Exhibitions change regularly, so check online for the current temporary exhibitions before you go.
The Batliner Collection – modern art
The permanent exhibition features artworks from a world-famous collection of 19th and 20th century art called “from Monet to Picasso”.
This is where you’ll find masterpieces by well-known artists such as Monet, Picasso, Matisse, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Chagall, Magritte, and Munch.
All the major art movements of the period are represented – Impressionism, Post‑Impressionist Cubism, Expressionism, etc.
The graphic art collection
A huge collection of drawings and old master prints, featuring artworks by Dürer, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Klimt, Schiele, Picasso, and Raphael.
It was fascinating to see the way these drawings developed over time and the level of detail the artists reached in some of these works.
The State Rooms of the imperial palace
The lavishly decorated rooms of the former residential palace from the Habsburg era let you see what aristocratic life was like.
These are the grand, historic, elegant rooms that have been beautifully restored.
I liked the chandeliers and statues, as well as the parquet floors, old furniture, and decorated walls,
How to get to the Albertina Museum
The Albertina Museum is located in the centre of Vienna at Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Vienna.
It’s within walking distance from major landmarks like the Vienna State Opera and the Hofburg Palace.
By metro: U1, U2, or U4 to Karlsplatz station; U3 to Stephansplatz station.
By tram: Lines 1, 2, D, 62, or 71 to Oper/Karlsplatz.
By bus: Line 2A to Albertinaplatz.
How much time to spend at the Albertina Museum
Allow about 2 hours to see the main collections and the temporary exhibitions, plus the state rooms.
What to do before or after you visit the Albertina Museum?
The central location of the museum means you can easily see plenty of other attractions in Vienna on the same day, before or after you visit the Albertina Museum.
Within a short walking distance from the Albertina you’ll find:
- Hofburg Palace – The former imperial palace. Tour the Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection.
- State Opera House (Staatsoper) – Just across the street, you can take a guided tour of the opera house (I took it and it was excellent), or catch an evening performance.
- Burggarten – A lovely palace garden right behind the Albertina, perfect for a stroll, where you can see the famous Mozart monument.
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom) – Vienna’s iconic Gothic cathedral with its wonderful tiled roof.
- The House of Music – An extensive exhibition about Viennese music and about sound technologies. Read my full House of Music review here.
Vienna’s historic centre is very walkable and many other attractions are within 10-15 minutes from the Albertina.
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1 Comment
I loved the rose painted stairs outside the museum. They were perfect for taking pictures.