Vienna’s museums are among the finest in the world. Whether they contain antiquities or avant garde art, they translate to hours of browsing pleasure. The half dozen museums below are internationally famous.
Historical Museum of the City of Vienna
One of the oldest museums in the city, the Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien, was founded in 1888 and moved to its present location in 1959. Displays on the ground floor are devoted to Neolithic period and tribal migrations. The exhibits of archeological excavations, of the construction of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Models of Vienna in the 19th Century are also outstanding. (Karlsplatz 4; daily, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., free admission Sundays)
Museum of Fine Arts
Built in 1891 to contain the imperial family’s extensive art collection, the Museum of Fine Arts most notable treasure is its fabulous collection of paintings by Pieter Breughels – largest in the world. The collection of European art is generally impressive, with works by Raphael, Rembrant and Rubens, Durer, Tintoretto, Titian, Vermeer and Velazquez hanging on its walls in ornate gilded frames. Sculpture, decorative arts and architectural pieces are also displayed in this vast repository. The “Art and Pleasure” Thursday evenings at the museum combine art, a buffet dinner and classical music (US$12.60, adults; open Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday, 9 p.m.; Mariatheresien Platz 1).