Technisches Museum Wien

About the museum

The engineer and university professor Wilhelm Exner had pursued the idea of a large technology museum since the Vienna World Exhibition of 1873. For the 60th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's reign, its founding was decided in 1908; industrialists supported the project with donations. In 1909 the emperor laid the foundation stone for the building, designed by Hans Schneider.

The building was completed in 1913, but because of the First World War the museum only opened on 6 May 1918. A few years later the state took over the financially struggling institution. During the Nazi era, looted objects also found their way into the collection; since the end of the 1990s the museum has been researching their provenance and presents the results in a dedicated exhibition.

From 1992 the building was fundamentally renovated and extended. Today the Technisches Museum Wien is a scientific institution under public law and is one of the federal museums; the Österreichische Mediathek is part of the house. Across around 22,000 square metres, the exhibitions span locomotives, vehicles and musical instruments, energy, media and everyday technology, up to climate and the circular economy. Peter Aufreiter has directed the museum since 2020, and in 2025 the permanent exhibition "Materialwelten" ("Material Worlds") was added.

Highlights

• Historic locomotives in the exhibition LOK.erlebnis
• Vehicles and aircraft in the Mobility exhibition
• Exhibitions "Energy" and "Klima. Wissen. Handeln!" ("Climate. Knowledge. Action!")
• Historic musical instruments and the Music Lounge on electronic music
• Children's areas miniXplore and minTi
• techLAB, an open workshop in the museum

Permanent exhibitions

• Mobilität – Shows the development of the bicycle, car, aeroplane and other means of transport, along with their consequences for society and the environment.
• Materialwelten – Since 2025 the exhibition has told the story of where raw materials come from and how they become materials for everyday life.
• LOK.erlebnis – Up-close views of historic locomotives and carriages from the museum's railway collection.

Founded

1918

Operated by

Technisches Museum Wien mit Österreichischer Mediathek (wissenschaftliche Anstalt öffentlichen Rechts)

Director

Peter Aufreiter

Visitors per year

approx. 467,894 (2024)

Admission & discounts

Discounts at the ticket office only: 20% with Ö1 Club, Vienna City Card and KlimaTicket; 10% with ÖBB Erlebnisticket, Wiener Linien card, Vienna Welcome Card and VHS Science Card; €4 off with a Westbahn ticket. Free admission with the Kulturpass ("Hunger auf Kunst & Kultur"), ICOM and Museumsbund membership cards, Vienna Pass and Bundesmuseen Card. Tours, workshops and special offers cost extra.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: not available
• Easy-to-read materials: not available
• Audio description: not available

Almost all exhibition levels can be reached by wheelchair, but not the historic demonstration mine. Wide ramps to the main entrance (without handrail), main lift to all levels and a further lift between levels 2 and 4. Accessible toilets on all levels except level 1. Wheelchairs free of charge at the ticket office. Two disabled parking spaces in front of the main entrance. Tactile guidance system in the exhibition "In Arbeit" and some objects to touch; no induction loops.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Dedicated children's areas: miniXplore for families with children aged 3 to 8 (40-minute time slots, reservation recommended) and minTi. A self-assembled puzzle rally with stations in ten exhibitions, workshops and children's birthdays for 4- to 12-year-olds with its own party room.

Getting there & parking

Bicycle parking in front of the main entrance.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

tmw café (Monday–Friday 9 am–5:30 pm, Saturday/Sunday 10 am–5:30 pm) and museum shop. Coin-operated lockers, larger lockers against ID.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 300 guests.

Art Nouveau festival hall with gallery (up to 180 people), central hall among the exhibits (up to 300 people with theatre seating, 220 for a banquet) and event forum (62 people) for congresses, gala dinners, presentations and receptions; catering and technology freely selectable, certified as a Green Location.

Plan your visit