Spielzeug Museum Salzburg

About the museum

The museum's roots lie in the private collection of the decorative-arts expert Gabriele Folk (1902–1994). As a child she had already gathered old toys and arranged them in small boxes like miniature exhibitions; together with her husband, a collector of paper theatres, it grew into the largest private toy collection in Austria.

The museum director of the Salzburg Museum Carolino Augusteum at the time campaigned for the city and state of Salzburg to acquire the collection. In May 1978, the first toy museum in the state opened from it. It is located in the Salzburg Bürgerspital in the old town, a former hospital courtyard that also houses the Museum of Historical Musical Instruments.

The collection ranges from wooden toys to dolls and doll's houses, clay and tin figures, building sets and board games, international toys and everyday objects from the world of children. The paper theatres are considered among the most important collections of playable stages. Several donations, including the Tomschik, Krahe and Fichtenthal collections, have expanded the holdings.

Today the house is part of the Salzburg Museum and is designed as an interactive experience world for children aged 0 to 10: across three levels, themed rooms, quiet zones and large play areas invite visitors to take part, complemented by special exhibition areas.

Highlights

• Three levels with around 1,500 m² of exhibition and play space
• Wunderkammer (cabinet of curiosities) with over 1,000 objects on display
• Slide and a Carrera race track available for rent
• Paper theatres, doll's houses and tin figures from Austria's largest toy collection
• Children's library and baby room

Permanent exhibition

• Wunderkammer – Permanent exhibition with over a thousand small treasures from the toy collection, inviting visitors to discover and marvel.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Salzburg Museum GmbH (Stadt und Land Salzburg)

Admission & discounts

Members of the Salzburger Museumsverein have free admission. The Carrera track can be rented exclusively in half-hour time slots.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The house is barrier-free and equipped with a lift. Assistance dogs may enter all houses of the Salzburg Museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Designed for children aged 0 to 10. Play courses for babies and toddlers aged 6 to 36 months, workshops for kindergarten groups (ages 3–6) and school classes (ages 6–10). Baby room with nursing area on the third floor, changing tables on every level, and stroller parking in the entrance area. Children's birthday parties with themed programs available on request.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

Packed snacks (Jause) may be eaten in the designated snack zones on all three levels; tea and tap water are free. Eating is not permitted in other areas.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit