Albertina — Attraction in Vienna

The Austrian National Library is not only the largest library in the country, but also offers you permanent presentations and diverse special exhibitions in the State Hall and the museums – the Literature, Papyrus, Globe and Esperanto Museum and the House of Austrian History.

» State Hall Immerse yourself in Baroque splendour: the State Hall (located directly at Josefsplatz) forms the heart of the Austrian National Library. It is one of the most beautiful library halls in the world. Emperor Charles VI (1685/1711–1740) ordered the construction of this jewel of profane Baroque architecture for his Court Library. Current exhibition: » Of Gardens and People. Designed Nature, Art and Landscape Architecture

» Literature Museum The Literature Museum is the first museum that conveys the diversity and polyphony of Austrian literature from the end of the 18th century until the present day. Current exhibition: » Ingeborg Bachmann. A homage

» Globe Museum Over 250 globes and globe-related instruments such as armillary sphere, planetaria and telluria await you in the Globe Museum. The adjacent study collection possesses the oldest globe within the exhibition.

» Papyrus Museum There are around 400 items for you to discover in the Papyrus Museum: from the oldest papyri in the collection from the 15th cantury B.C. to the most recent papers from the Islamic time in the 16th century A.D. Current exhibition: » A Gift of the Nile. The Power of Water in Ancient Egypt

» Esperanto Museum The Esperanto Museum of the Austrian National Library provides you, through a modern museum concept covering 80 m2, the eventful history of Esperanto and also focuses generally on the relationship between humans and language.

» House of Austrian History The republic’s first museum of contemporary history: Presented in a modern and insightful way, the new museum invites visitors to the Hofburg to examine and discuss...

The Albertina Museum in Vienna is one of the most prominent art museums in the city, known for its vast collection of graphic art, prints, and contemporary works. The museum is housed in the Albertina Palace, a former Habsburg residence, giving it a regal and grand architectural presence. The building itself blends neoclassical elements with modern design, particularly its striking Soravia Wing, a large, angular metal structure that hovers over the entrance.

Surroundings: Albertinaplatz: The museum is located in the heart of Vienna, at Albertinaplatz, a square surrounded by historical buildings, lively cafes, and charming walkways. This area is often bustling with tourists and locals alike.

Vienna State Opera: Just a short walk from the Albertina, this iconic landmark can be found on Karlsplatz. The opera house adds to the cultural richness of the area, making it a central hub for art and music lovers.

Burggarten: Adjacent to the Albertina, the Burggarten is a peaceful garden perfect for a leisurely stroll. The park features lush greenery, statues of historical figures like Mozart, and an impressive butterfly house (Schmetterlinghaus).

Hofburg Palace Complex: The museum is also located near the expansive Hofburg Palace, the former imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. This proximity allows visitors to explore Vienna’s royal history before or after visiting the museum.

Kärntner Strasse: This famous shopping street is just minutes away from the Albertina, offering upscale boutiques, restaurants, and cafes.

The Albertina Museum and its surroundings encapsulate Vienna’s rich cultural and historical legacy, offering a seamless blend of art, history, and...

In short: I enjoyed visiting this gallery with extensive collections of famous artists but I experienced a minor unpleasant situation with the staff.

Complete review: I really enjoyed visiting this gallery in the middle of Vienna. The exhibitions are well created and the spaces are so huge that you won't have time to go through the gallery in the two hours which I had set aside for it. First I visited the permanent exhibition of State Rooms, which was nice to go through. However, I was much more interested in the second permanent exhibition named Monet to Chagall, which was an exhibition of paintings by impressionist, expressionist painters, etc. Finally, I could see paintings by painters such as Monet, Claude, or Renoir. I was interested in the painting Venice, the Pink Cloud (Paul Signac) or Portrait of a Young Girl (Pierre Auguste Renoir). Other exhibitions are only temporary. I personally also visited the Rosenblum exhibition Hauenschild Ritter – Muntean/Rosenblum which is a very interesting exhibition of contemporary art by two artists. At the time of my visit, the exhibition Basquiat. The Retrospective was still going on, which I visited briefly and was not very impressed, although everyone praises it. You have to be careful when visiting the gallery because there is one door that leads to an overpriced gift shop and you can't go through that door back into the gallery, but you can only go out of gallery. If you wanted to return to the gallery, you would have to buy another ticket. I wandered into the store at the end of my tour, but I still had my things in the cloakroom, the staff wouldn't let me in and I had to ask for a new ticket, luckily I'm a student and I had a free ticket. This was a very unpleasant gallery...