When those chilly fall days roll in and the skies turn a little grey, there’s no better way to spend your time than diving into Vienna’s world-class museums. Inspiring and full of stories, they’re the perfect place to be when the weather isn’t cooperating. With roots that reach all the way back to 500 BC, Vienna is a living, breathing history book, and its museums are the pages that tell its story.
With over 150 museums scattered across the city, it can be tricky to know where to start. While opinions may differ on which ones deserve the top spot, here are a few that we think are absolute must-visits:

Austrian National Library
A jaw-dropping temple of knowledge and one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. This is heaven for any book lover with its marble columns, baroque ceilings, and that intoxicating old-book smell. Showcasing a collection of over 7.4 million books, the Austrian National Library is a must-visit. Constructed in the 18th century by the Habsburgs, it was originally known as the Imperial Library before being renamed in 1920. The Prunksaal (State Hall), part of the Hofburg Palace, is a true masterpiece. It is divided into two halves symbolizing peace and war, and adorned with an amazing fresco across the dome and walls by Daniel Gran. It’s not just a library, it’s an experience that feels straight out of a royal dream.

Albertina & Albertina Modern
If you love art (or just want to be wowed for an afternoon), the Albertina is the place to be. It’s home to over one million master prints, around 65,000 drawings, plus modern art, photography, architectural sketches, and graphic works. Basically, if it’s beautiful, it’s probably here.
You’ll spot legends like Dürer’s “Hare”, Monet, Picasso, Katz, Rothko, and Chagall - just to name a few. The Albertina holds one of the largest and most valuable art collections in the world, and even the building itself is stunning. It sits on the southern side of the Imperial Palace, right by what used to be Vienna’s last fortress walls. It’s one of those spots that reminds you why Vienna feels like a living work of art.

Belvedere & Lower Belvedere
Once the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Belvedere is a true showstopper. Designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, it’s one of those places where you can’t decide what’s more stunning: the art inside or the palace itself.
Prince Eugene was a serious art lover and filled his residence with masterpieces of Austrian art from the early Middle Ages. Today, the Belvedere still dazzles with its beautiful sculptures, drawings, and paintings, all housed in a building that’s a masterpiece on its own. Much of it has stayed just as it was centuries ago, and it now holds one of the largest collections of medieval architecture and art

Naturhistorisches Museum
If there’s one place in Vienna that makes you feel like a kid again, it’s the Naturhistorisches Museum. Imagine walking through grand marble halls filled with 36,000-year-old sculptures, dinosaur fossils, and even some of the oldest meteorites on Earth. You can basically call it a time machine disguised as a museum.
What started as a passion project by the Habsburgs turned into one of the most impressive natural history collections in the world. Inside, you’ll find everything from sparkling minerals and gems to perfectly preserved insects, ancient pterodactyls, and creatures that once ruled the planet. The building itself is a masterpiece too, a twin to the Kunsthistorisches Museum across the square, with a dome that looks like it’s reaching for the stars.
Whether you’re into science, history, or just love that “wow” feeling, the Naturhistorisches Museum is one of those spots that makes you see the world with wide eyes again.

Kunsthistorisches Museum
If you love art, this is the place to be. The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the biggest and most impressive in the world. Opened in 1891, it feels like stepping into a time capsule of creativity. One of its absolute highlights is the Egyptian-Oriental Collection, where over 17,000 ancient treasures take you on a journey through nearly 4,500 years. Think mummies, hieroglyphs, and ancient artifacts that tell stories from another world.
But the magic doesn’t stop there. The art collection reads like a who’s who of art history: Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, Rubens, van Dyck, Dürer, Cranach… all hanging under one glorious roof. You’ll even find a world-famous collection of works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, plus masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Velázquez.

Secession
The Secession is where Vienna’s art rebels made their mark - literally. Built by Joseph Maria Olbrich, this gleaming white building, topped with a golden dome of laurel leaves, is a total eye-catcher and a symbol of creative freedom.
Back in the day, a group of artists led by Gustav Klimt decided to break away from the old-fashioned art scene and start something bold and new, and this was their clubhouse. The plan was to build it right on the fancy Ringstraße, but after some dramatic protests (because of course there were!), they ended up putting it on the Wienzeile instead. Honestly? The move just made it cooler, more underground, more defiant, more “we’ll do it our way.”
Today, the Secession is the oldest independent exhibition hall for contemporary art in the world and still lives up to its motto carved above the door: “To every age its art, to art its freedom.” Walk inside, and you’ll feel that rebellious spirit still buzzing through every corner.

Leopold Museum
The Leopold Museum is where Vienna’s modern soul comes alive. Home to the world’s largest collection of Egon Schiele and masterpieces by Gustav Klimt, it’s a deep dive into the city’s golden age of art and emotion. The bright, minimalist space lets the colors, passion, and raw genius of early modernism take center stage. It’s bold, beautiful, and impossible to forget.

These are just our recommendations for a artsy afternoon. Of course there are so many more interesting museums and galleries to visit.
For a full list you can go to Vienna Tourism