Inside Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna (10 Epic Artworks)
WanderInEurope is reader-supported. Affiliate links and ads help us keep creating useful content for you.
Summary
The exhibits of Kunsthistorisches Museum are spread across three floors of the palatial building it is located in and its collections are grouped into five major categories.
1. Egyptian and Near Eastern Collection Exhibits — It is a vast collection of over 17,000 Egyptian and Near Eastern (Nubia, Mediterranean, Arabian) artifacts, dating from 3500 BC to the early Christian era. The collection, which includes items from the funerary cult, cultural history, sculpture and relief, and the development of writing, features notable pieces like the Offering Chapel of Ka-ni-nisut and a depiction of a lion from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon. 
2. Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities Exhibits — The Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities features over 2,500 objects, dating from the 3rd millennium BC to the early Middle Ages. Highlights include antique cameos like the Gemma Augustea, treasures from the great migrations and early Middle Ages such as the golden treasure of Nagyszentmiklós, and masterpieces like the Brygos Cup. 
3. Picture Gallery Exhibits — originating from the House of Habsburg’s art collections, is one of the world’s largest and most significant. It emphasizes 16th-century Venetian, 17th-century Flemish, Early Netherlandish, and German Renaissance paintings. It uniquely houses works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, along with masterpieces by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Raphael, Caravaggio, Velázquez, and Italian Baroque painters. 
4. Kunstkammer Wien Exhibits — a world-renowned collection with 20 galleries showcasing a variety of curiosities. It features over 2,200 artworks from the Renaissance and Baroque periods, including rare and unusual objects collected by Habsburg emperors. Highlights include the Saliera by Benvenuto Cellini, the Krumau Madonna, bronze statuettes, ivories, precious stone vessels, clocks, automatons, and scientific instruments. 
5. Coin Collection Exhibits — is among the world’s top five of its kind, with 600,000 objects spanning three millennia. The collection includes coins, paper money, medallions, and orders. The first hall traces the history of medals, the second focuses on the evolution of coin and paper money, and the third hall hosts special exhibitions.
A Detailed Look: What’s Inside
Among the exhibits, the Picture Gallery is the largest collection.
It occupies 30 rooms, which make up almost the entire first floor of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
If I’m not mistaken, the entire northeastern wing of the first floor is dedicated to Dutch, Flemish, and German artworks. The southwestern wing, on the other hand, houses Italian, French, and Spanish artworks.
There are so many beautiful paintings.
As a Pacific Islander, I was really impressed by how sophisticated Western society was in terms of art, even during times when our society didn’t yet exist.
I was intrigued and amazed, from the canvas of naked angels with baby faces from the Middle Ages in Cabinet 3, to the portrait of the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette, in Room VII, and the painting of the Tower of Babel in Room 10.
Room by room, I gained a deeper admiration for Western civilization, despite all the bad things they did to other cultures during the age of colonization.
Some artworks simply fascinated me due to the wild imagination required to create them
Next to the Picture Gallery, the Kunstkammer Wien occupies the most space in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
More than half of the upper ground floor is dedicated to the Kunstkammer Wien, which spans 21 large rooms.
Here, you can find some of the most artistic artifacts and unusual objects that are sure to stimulate your curiosity.
From detailed sculptures of saints and tablets depicting biblical stories, to the Viennese crystal clock, a groundbreaking work of precision mechanics from the early 17th century, there’s so much to fascinate.
Some of the unusual items that stayed in my memory include a glass designed like a boot, a drinking horn in the form of a dragon, and a figural clock with a sculpture of a girl on horseback.
Later, I’ll tell you about all the most amazing things I found in the exhibits, which I think you’d also want to see.
The antiques and artifacts from Egypt and Near Eastern collections, as well as the Collection of Greek and Roman Antiquities occupy another half of the upper ground floor of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Overall, there are 25 smaller rooms for these exhibits.
The remaining part of the upper ground floor is then reserved for special exhibitions.
If you’re the history-loving type of traveler, these antique collections inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum will be the most exciting part for you.
They are the oldest things that you’ll ever see in Vienna.
Some even date back more than a millennium before the birth of Christ.
You will see several kinds of sarcophagi, sculptures of Egyptian gods, glyphs-filled ancient tablets, and many more noteworthy artifacts.
I’m fascinated with the scrolls which contain hand-painted images, intriguingly telling the stories of ancient Egyptians.
The detailed sculptures of Greek Gods and sculptures of ancient Romans within these exhibitions are remarkable, too.
Two more exhibitions await you on the second floor of the Kunsthistorisches Museum: the Coin Collection and the Umgang (I’m not exactly sure of its exact name).
Compared to the collections located on the lower floors of the museum, you’ll spend less time here. They are contained within just four rooms.
However, you must not underestimate them, especially the museum’s coin collection. As mentioned earlier, it’s one of the most important coin collections in the world.
It houses monetary and pre-monetary forms of payment used over a great span of time. To my knowledge, there are coins within this collection dating back to the 7th century BC.
I found coins not only from Europe and the classical world but also from Persia and Eastern Asia.
It’s interesting to see how the general design of coins hasn’t changed much.
One face has the relief of the head of an important person. The flip side has the relief of symbols and figures, depicting where the coin was used.
The Umgang collection, however, contains beautiful tapestries that depict historical events in Europe.
If you want a detailed look at the exhibits inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum, check out the museum’s official website, linked in the resources section of this post.
Must-See Exhibits
With thousands of exhibits, a visit to the Kunsthistorisches Museum can be quite overwhelming, especially if you don’t want to miss the most interesting exhibits. If you were to ask me about my favorite discoveries inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum, I have 10 to share with you. However, it’s worth noting that the curators of the museum have their own recommendations. These are exhibits unique to Vienna, and they’re definitely worth checking out (see the resources section).
Location: Room VII, upper ground floor.
It’s the most detailed Egyptian artifact I’ve found.
The lines on the clothes of the people depicted on the stele, and the glyphs above these people, are simply mesmerizing. I wonder what story they tell.
Anyhow, it dates back to around 1314-1304 BC and is approximately 1 meter in height. As for the interpretation, Hi, the owner, performs a ritual of censing and pours a libation before four gods.
In the lower register, Hi and his family are shown bringing gifts and receiving offerings.
Location: Room 4, upper ground floor.
I recommend seeing this artifact or ancient artwork, simply because it has this unique characteristic: emotion.
Among the reliefs from ancient times, it’s the only one where I’ve noticed emotions. You can see them right in the facial expressions of the relief depicting the tragic and comic masks.
It somehow provides insights into the form of entertainment during ancient times. Interestingly, the majority of the large number of mask reliefs were found in Rome and in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were buried by Vesuvius.
So, this one that you’ll find in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna seems special.
Location: Room XIX, upper ground floor.
This painting is one of the largest you can find in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
It depicts how the artist, Julius Victor Berger, views the Habsburg Family, not only as rulers but also as protectors and promoters of art.
The painting shows Emperor Maximilian I to Emperor Franz Joseph I, surrounded by their court scholars and artists. Looking at the details of this artwork, you might also think that it’s a painting that represents every kind of art you’ll see in the Kunstkammer section of the museum.
Location: Room XXVII, upper ground floor.
This clock is a must-see because I think it’s one of the most wondrous little mechanical things inside the museum.
Actually, many consider it one of the outstanding works in the history of clocks. And I agree with that!
This clock, with a representation of the heliocentric planetary system, made me wonder how it worked, how it was created, and why the people from the early 17th century ended up building such a clock.
Most importantly, the so-called Vienna Crystal Clock is the second oldest preserved clock with a second display.
Location: Room XXVIII, upper ground floor.
As a map lover and a traveler, old maps like this really fascinate me. This is why it has caught my attention very well.
But definitely, it’s a must-see, whether you’re a map lover or not, because it’s a unique map. It’s unique not only because of the artistic design but most importantly because of the way it was built: Hinterglasmalerei.
This map is a painting on the back of a glass. It also tells a story of how the Habsburg Empire was once the easternmost frontier of the western world against the Ottoman Empire to the east.
Location: Cabinet 3, first floor.
It’s a painting depicting Eros (Cupid), Himeros (Desire), and Pothos (Longing) forming an erotic triad.
To me, this painting is a must-see for its uniqueness, especially with how Parmigianino (the painter) depicted Eros: a grown-up man with a baby face.
I wonder if this is how people depicted Cupid (a young, handsome, tall, slender, and winged man) in the 1500s. Another thing in the painting that caught my attention was the faces of Himeros and Pothos. The emotions are so real.
Location: Cabinet 8, first floor.
Summer, Winter, Fire, and Water by Giuseppe Arcimboldo, to me, are among the most interesting and unique artworks of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
The paintings depict men and women, with ripe fruits, vegetables, elements, and nature forming their images.
It’s a must-see because it’s a painting ahead of its time. Created in the 1500s, it’s one of the earliest forms of “Surrealism” I’ve ever discovered. You know, it was created during the early Renaissance — the time when art focused on a more realistic view of humans.
It seems like Giuseppe Arcimboldo had an imagination from the future.
Location: Cabinet 21, first floor.
To me, this artwork is a must-see because it’s like a gallery within a gallery—a painting inception; a unique artwork among the Picture Gallery of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
It’s also worth seeing because it’s an epitome of Renaissance art with Teniers, the artist of this artwork, depicting himself in his artwork.
The artwork also shows Archduke Leopold Wilhelm as well as other courtiers examining 51 Italian works from the collection of the Duke of Hamilton, which the archduke had acquired shortly before the creation of the gallery picture of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Location: Hall XII, first floor.
It is a painting depicting a detailed interior scene with the painter himself, painting his model—a young woman who is illuminated by incoming light.
This painting, by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer, is one of the Kunsthistorisches Museum curator’s recommendations for the remarkable use of light and shadow in the artwork.
I also recommend it for the same reason, and simply, it’s an eye-catcher within a room full of portraits of people. Die Malkunst is a head-scratching artwork, actually. This question popped up in my head: how did the artist paint himself if he couldn’t see himself as he painted the girl?
Location: hall X, first floor.
Like Die Malkunst, this painting created by Pieter Bruegel the Elder is another artwork recommended by the curators of the Kunsthistorisches Museum to its visitors.
I think this painting, depicting the Tower of Babel, is a must-see for the same reason that the curators tell us: Bruegel’s monumental composition is the most famous, manifoldly copied, and varied classic of tower-building depictions.
Bruegel’s meticulousness and encyclopedic interest shown in his painting are quite fascinating, too. In the painting, he depicted a multitude of construction techniques and craft processes, the architectural elements, and so on.
More Photos: Architecture & Exhibits
To give you more ideas of what you can expect to see inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum, here are the photos of the exhibits and stunning architecture of the museum.
Museum’s Architecture
Other Exhibits
Tips For Your Visit
I recommend booking your tickets in advance to save time and avoid the long queues at the ticketing desk. If you have a Vienna Pass, you don’t need to buy a separate ticket for the Kunsthistorisches Museum as it’s already covered by the pass. Another way to access the Kunsthistorisches Museum is through a Combo Ticket. This not only lets you access the Imperial Treasury, but also helps you save money.
Planning a trip? From great hotel deals to skip-the-line tickets and affordable eSim to cheap rentals, check out the travel resources I recommend and use for a smooth and memorable trip.
Note: Booking through my links is like giving a free donation to WanderInEurope. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me create more helpful travel guides. Your support means a lot—thank you!
For a convenient, unique, or more enriching visit, check out these experiences and services:
Explore Vienna Further
The Kunsthistorisches Museum is one of the best experiences in Vienna, and you probably know why by now! But there are plenty of other amazing attractions in the city, so don’t forget to check them out.
Try the wanderer’s favorite experiences in Vienna. From breathtaking views to remarkable landmarks, these unforgettable places made exploring this amazing city so special.
For ideas and inspiration on making the most of your visit to Vienna, check out the travel plans below.
Find all the travel guides to Vienna and its tourist attractions below.
Resources
So, that concludes the overview of what you can expect to find in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, as well as the 10 exhibits I believe are a must-see. If you’re interested in a map of the museum that shows the locations of the artworks and artifacts I recommend, you can download the PDF below.
To discover more interesting collections inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum at home, you may check the interactive floor plan of the Kunsthistorisches Museum and the official website of Kunsthistorisches Museum (More Information About The Collections).
Here is the list of artworks and artifacts recommended by the curators of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
You can check the practical information page of the Kunsthistorisches Museum for the opening hours and frequently asked questions. This could help you plan your visit to the museum.
Pin this to save it for later or bookmark it to read anytime.
