Weltmuseum Wien

About the museum

The roots of Weltmuseum Wien reach back to the art and curiosity cabinet of Archduke Ferdinand II on Ambras Castle in the 16th century, where objects from overseas were already collected. In the early 19th century, Emperor Francis I founded his own ethnographic collection within the imperial natural history cabinet; among the first acquisitions were objects from James Cook's collection in 1806. The 1817 Brazil Expedition and the world voyage of the frigate Novara 1857 to 1859 brought further large collections to Vienna.

From 1876, the collections belonged to the Natural History Imperial Museum, which opened in 1889. After World War I, they came to the Corps de Logis of the New Burg and were united there with the world travel collection of Archduke Franz Ferdinand; in 1928 the house opened as the Museum for Ethnography. During the Nazi era, it served propaganda and took over looted collections, some of which were later restituted.

Since 2001, the museum has belonged to the KHM Museum Association; in 2013 it received the name Weltmuseum Wien. In October 2017, the newly conceived collection opened, which in a sequence of halls questions central collections like the pre-Mexican feathered headdress, artworks from Benin or objects from the South Seas from today's perspective. The house critically engages with its colonial past and collaborates with source societies in researching the provenance of its collections. With the same ticket, the New Hofburg also features the Court Hunt and Armory and the Collection of Early Musical Instruments.

Highlights

• Pre-Mexican feathered headdress 'Penacho'
• Objects from James Cook's collection
• Hall on Benin and Ethiopia
• Magnificent columned hall of the New Hofburg
• Court Hunt and Armory and Collection of Early Musical Instruments on same ticket

Permanent exhibitions

• Schausammlung des Weltmuseums Wien – A sequence of halls interpreting the museum's central holdings from today's perspective – from the feathered headdress of Mesoamerica through art from Benin and Ethiopia to the South Sea objects from Cook's voyages.
• Hofjagd- und Rüstkammer – Armor and ceremonial weapons from over a thousand years with focus on the 15th to 18th century, including armor of Emperor Maximilian I and Charles V; included in New Hofburg ticket.
• Sammlung alter Musikinstrumente – Instruments from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including pianos on which Mozart, Clara Schumann, Brahms or Liszt played; with audio guide and sound examples, included in New Hofburg ticket.

Founded

1876

Operated by

KHM-Museumsverband

Director

Claudia Banz

Admission & discounts

The 'New Hofburg' ticket also applies to the Court Hunt and Armory and the Collection of Early Musical Instruments. Vienna City Card 15 €. Holders of culture pass and ICOM card have free admission. Original tickets online only via shop.khm.at.

Accessibility

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

Main entrance via platform lift step-free; to cashier two heavy doors must be opened, guest service helps. Lift to all levels (door 89 cm, cabin 162 × 142 cm, with Braille). Accessible toilets on high ground floor, mezzanine and 1st floor. Loan wheelchairs by reservation the day before (guestservice.wmw@weltmuseumwien.at). No tactile guide system; heavy doors and swinging glass doors in exhibitions. Disabled parking spaces at Heldenplatz at Prince Eugen equestrian statue and at the side entrance of the Art History Museum at Burgring. Regular inclusive tours, information in easy language and large print.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

Family and children programs such as tours with baby, KaleidosKids, open studio and summer academy, often with painting and crafts. Birthday parties for 3- to 12-year-olds (up to 12 children, 360 € incl. tour, creative part, cake and drinks). Free reading point/family point, coloring pages for the collection and puzzle rally in the MuseumStars app. Stroller help available; during busy times stroller use may be limited.

Getting there & parking

Entrance in the New Hofburg at Heldenplatz, access via both carriage entrances; from Burgring station about 100–120 meters along Burgring to the Heldenplatz gate.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

cook café & bistro in the columned hall (Tue–Sun 10–18 hrs, Tue until 21:00), also accessible without museum ticket. Museum shop with catalogs, jewelry, replicas and games. Free cloakroom and lockers, free WLAN in exhibition areas. Public specialist library by appointment (Mon–Wed 10–16, Thu 10–18 hrs).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 400 guests.

Columned hall (cocktail up to 400, banquet up to 300, cinema seating up to 200 people) and forum (up to 120 people) for galas, receptions, concerts, presentations and seminars; catering by any.act, upon request with tours. Rental via KHM event management (event@khm.at).

Plan your visit