Last Updated on April 24, 2023 by gregor
Vienna on a budget – tips for saving money in Austria’s capital city on everything from museums to opera.
The Austrian capital is one of the many cities that offers a great deal of culture and art. We understand that you are traveling on a budget, which is why we have listed down the top museums and galleries you can visit for free or at a low cost on your trip to Vienna.
Vienna – Top Art and Culture Things To Do On A Budget
Free Museums, Galleries, And Theaters In Vienna You Can Enter
District Museums
Every Viennese district around the city has its own museum that allows you to enter without spending any money. Visiting a district museum is one of the best free things you can do. Some focus on niche themes, such as chimney sweeps, clowns, or bricks, while others focus on Vienna’s history. They are not related to each other, which is why each one offers a different opening time. To find out their opening time before you head on over.
- Location: In every district of Vienna
- Website: Bezirksmuseum (Click)
Ostlicht (Gallery for Photography)
The free entry museum, Ostlicht Gallery, is a go-to spot for modern-day photography and is located in the old bread factory. It has been turned into a cultural and social space known as the Brotfabrik. The place opened back in 2012, and the loft-like space holds several exhibitions by local and solo artists from around the world.
- Location: Absberggasse 27, 1100
- Website: www.ostlicht.at
Money Museum of the OeNB
If you are interested in learning the history of money without spending any, then head over to the money museum. The central bank of Austria offers a complete display of everything that is related to money. It’s a must-see in Vienna and completely free to enter.
- Location: Otto-Wagner-Platz 3, 1090
- Website: www.oenb.at
Museum Startgalerie Artothek (MUSA)
The Museum Startgalerie Arthohek is a modern free art gallery, that is run by the Cultural Affairs Department of the City Administration. The MUSA features a special area that showcases works from the gallery’s collection but focuses solely on young and upcoming artists.
- Location: Felderstraße 6–8, 1010
- Website: musa.at
Guided Tours of City Hall
Vienna City Hall offers a complete guided tour of the space and offers visitors a chance to get up close and personal. This allows them to see where their hard-earned tax money is being spent and how business is done. Along with taking in the breathtaking Gothic architecture, the tour will take you through the entire space, so you can take in a great deal.
A free audio guide is also available upon request.
- Location: Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna
- Website: https://www.wien.gv.at/english/cityhall/
- Meeting point for guided tours: MON, WED, FRI at 1 pm, not on council meeting days, or public holidays.
Snow globe Museum
We all know that there are a lot of unique places in Vienna, and the snow globe museum is one of them. This is where the first ever snow globe was made by Erwin Perzy in 1900. Learn how he came up with a bright idea and how it has evolved into what it is today. Make sure you don’t leave without getting your hands on your very own personalized snow globe as a souvenir.
- Location: Original Vienna Snowglobe factory, Schumanngasse 87, 1170 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://schneekugel.at/
The Circus & Clown Museum
The Circus and Clown is a museum that only opens on Sundays in Vienna and is always free to enter. It focuses on the history of the circus world and how much it’s entwined with the capital. From props that have been used in the past to costumes that are still used today, you’ll learn all about what goes on behind the scenes.
- Location: Circus-u Clownmuseum Wien, Ilgpl. 7, 1020 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.circus-clownmuseum.at/
Vienna Museums, Galleries And Theaters That Are Sometimes Free To Enter
Kunsthalle Wien MQ
This art museum is one you can visit for free in Vienna. It’s a place to visit if you are interested in contemporary forms of art. As it offers a great range of exhibitions, that will blow you away. As the space is filled with work by local and international artists who showcase amazing talent.
- Location: MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070
- Website: kunsthallewien.at
Museum of Applied Arts (MAK)
MAK opened its doors back in 1864, and since then they have showcased thousands of exhibitions and art pieces. The place offers a great range of brilliance and focuses on applied arts, architecture, design, and contemporary art. This mesmerizing place offers the wide space you need to showcase any piece of art in the perfect manner. Here you will find various exhibitions, from graphic designs to contemporary videos and even sculptures. When you are heading inside, you should keep your mind open to the world of possibilities.
Read detailed Visitors Guide: MAK MUSEUM OF APPLIED ARTS IN VIENNA, VISITORS INFO AND TIPS
- Location: 1010, Stubenring 1
- Website: MAK Wien (Click)
Architecture Center Vienna (AzW)
The Architecture Centre Vienna (AzW) space highlights and explores things related to the city’s fascinating forms of architecture. They have a special skill where they showcase how urban developments and architecture shape our daily lives. In addition, they shed light on stunning architecture from all around the world. In addition, their primary focus is on interesting architecture found in Vienna and they talk about various aspects related to them.
- Location: MQ, Museumsplatz 1, 1070
- Website: azw.at
Wiener Staatsoper – Vienna State Opera
Wiener Staatsoper is the perfect place to be if you are looking for a fancy night out. This is an affordable choice that offers an experience that is hard to forget. Here you can enjoy quality opera for only a few euros and take with you an experience you will never forget. If you want the tickets, you will have to get in line, and one person is only able to purchase a single ticket. Keep your partner or group close to you. On the other hand, if you are a student, you can easily get a ticket from 8 to 28 euros depending on the seat and the show.
Read the detailed Visitors Guide: OPERA IN VIENNA – THE VIENNA OPERA HOUSES, TIPS, TICKETS
- Location: Opernring 2, 1010
- Website: wiener- .at
Volksoper
The Volksoper is regarded as one of the leading opera houses in Vienna and offers a great range of entertainment, which includes opera, operetta, ballet, and musicals. The good news is that standing-room tickets start at 3 euros and go up to 8 euros. This depends on the performance, and sometimes you can purchase the tickets online. This gives you a chance to save a lot of time.
- Location: Währinger Straße 78, 1090
- Website: www.volksoper.at
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater is another free thing to do in Vienna’s city center. Its long-standing history will surely fascinate you. The place offers an experience you shouldn’t miss out on, as it comes packed with an experience you will never forget. As the place offers a number of unique tours and activities, you will be unable to find them.
- Location: Universitätsring 2, 1010
- Website: www.burgtheater.at
Volkstheater
The theatre was built to offer the masses a touch of culture and art. This is why they offer different shows and art pieces that will help add to your cultural quest. You can easily grab a ticket when the box office opens, which is usually an hour before the show. Here you will be able to enjoy great architecture while enjoying a great show.
- Location: Arthur-Schnitzler-Platz 1, 1070 Wien, Austria
- Website: Volkstheater (Click)
Theater in der Josefstadt
This is one of the oldest theaters in the area of Vienna, and luckily, it’s still running shows for you to enjoy. As you walk in, you will take in the beautiful architecture and history the place has to offer. Here you will experience a night that will be hard to forget as they showcase several classics, modern, and international shows for you to enjoy. You can take in all that the place has to offer with a mesmerizing show.
- Location: Josefstädter Straße 26, 1080 & Kammerspiele Rotenturmstr. 20, 1010
- Website: www.josefstadt.org
Museums, Galleries And Theaters That Are Free Entry On The First Sunday Of The Month
RÖMERMUSEUM
One of the exhibitions you can visit in Vienna for free is the Römermuseum. It’s devoted to the times when Vienna was a Roman city. From Roman ruins and relics to the stories about their occupation, some of the artifacts and information you’ll find here will truly blow your mind.
- Location: Wien Museum Hermesvilla, Lainzer Tiergarten, 1130 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/hermesvilla
Hermesvilla
For an interesting, free display of art and architecture, we’d strongly recommend you head over to Hermesvilla. It’s about 40 to 45 minutes away from the city and was given by Emperor Franz Joseph to Empress Elisabeth in the hope she would stay in Vienna for longer periods of time as she was an avid traveler.
Hermesvilla has been nicknamed the “Palace of Dreams.” It’s a permanent exhibition that displays the history behind the emperor and empress and what it was like to live in a lavish house.
- Location: Lainzer Tiergarten, 1130 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/hermesvilla
Otto Wagner Pavillion Museums
Otto Wagner is a key figure in Viennese history as he was said to be behind the city’s modernization and was also an Art Nouveau architect. These locations are a representation of Wagner’s life. One is in a former train station building of the Stadbahn on Karlsplatz, which he designed, and the other is at the Hofpavillon Hietzing. Both of these are famous museums in Vienna.
- Location: Wien Museum Otto Wagner Hofpavillion Hietzing, Schönbrunner Schloßstraße, 1130 Wien, Austria + Karlsplatz Metro Station, Karlsplatz, 1040 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/otto-wagner-pavillon-karlsplatz + https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/otto-wagner-hofpavillon-hietzing
Wien Museum Musa
The Wien Museum Musa is one of the best contemporary art museums in central Vienna. It’s situated in an old office building and is home to a whopping display of 30,000 pieces of Viennese art, including photos, paintings, sculptures, and more, created by about 4500 artists. Some are well-known, while others are young, up-and-coming artists. This art exhibition is well worth a visit.
- Location: 1010 Vienna, Felderstrasse 6-8
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/de/standorte/wien-museum-musa
Johann Strauss Museum
Johann Strauss is famous for creating the world-renowned “The Blue Danube,” which is sometimes referred to as “Austria’s unofficial national anthem.” This museum is in memory of his great work. Inside, you can see the instruments he used, his paintings, and his furniture. The whole presentation is fascinating to see.
- Location: Praterstraße 54, 1020 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/johann-strauss-wohnung
Beethoven Museum
Ludwig van Beethoven’s life and work are inextricably linked to Vienna. The famous Beethoven Museum is one of the many great free things to do in Vienna and is an admirable representation of the great work he produced, and it was even once his very own home. It contains 14 rooms filled with information about the house, how he lived in his house, and the legacy he left behind.
- Location: Probusgasse 6, 1190 Wien, Austria
- Website: https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/beethoven-museum
Museum of Military History (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum)
This surprisingly fascinating place offers military history with a touch of interest. You won’t feel that the tour is dry or boring. The military museum has a great amount of history to offer, and all kinds of items from the past will interest you, along with the addition of new techniques. As you know, Austria has been through a lot of wars and has uncovered some amazing war tools. Each of these is showcased here and showcased properly for you to enjoy. These include pictures of weapons, tanks, and arms.
- Location: Arsenal 1, 1030 Wien, Austria
- Website: Military History Museum (Click)
Haven’t Got Enough Museums To Choose From? Here Are Some Paid Entry Museums In Vienna That Won’t Break the Bank
- HAUS DER MUSIK – HOUSE OF MUSIC VIENNA VISITOR’S GUIDE
- JEWISH MUSEUM VIENNA – VISITOR’S INFORMATION AND TIPS
- TECHNISCHES MUSEUM WIEN, VIENNA – VISITORS INFO AND TIPS
- LEOPOLD MUSEUM IN VIENNA, SIGHTSEEING INFO AND TIPS
- ALBERTINA MODERN MUSEUM IN VIENNA – SIGHTSEEING INFO AND TIPS
- NATURHISTORISCHES MUSEUM WIEN – SIGHTSEEING INFO AND TIPS
- MOZARTHAUS VIENNA – A TRAVEL GUIDE TO MOZART’S HOUSE
- VIENNA BELVEDERE PALACES AND BELVEDERE MUSEUMS, ULTIMATE VISITOR GUIDE
- THE EMPRESS SISI MUSEUM IN THE HOFBURG IN VIENNA
- A QUICK TRAVEL GUIDE TO VIENNA’S SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE, VIENNA AUSTRIA
- IMPERIAL TREASURY VIENNA, SIGHTSEEING INFO AND TIPS (KAISERLICHE SCHATZKAMMER WIEN)
Is There A Museum Pass For Vienna?
There isn’t a specific Vienna museum pass, but there is a Vienna City Pass, which gives you access to over 70 attractions for a set fee. For more information, Vienna Pass
https://www.theviennablog.com/2022/05/01/one-day-in-vienna-i-the-perfect-1-day-itinerary/
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