Kunsthistorisches Museum

The Kunsthistorisches Museum stands as a rectangular structure with a dome reaching 60 meters (about 197 feet) in height on Maria-Theresien-Platz in the Innere Stadt district of Vienna. The dome is crowned by a statue of Pallas Athena, and the facade shows symmetry with the surrounding buildings.

Emperor Franz Joseph I commissioned the construction between 1872 and 1891 to make the Habsburg art collection available to the public. Completion marked the transition of the imperial collection into a public institution.

The building takes its name from art history, the study of art across the centuries, and displays works from several periods in its tall halls. Visitors move through rooms where paintings, sculptures and decorative objects from the Habsburg collection are on view.

The building opens its doors Tuesday through Sunday between 10 in the morning and 6 in the evening, with extended hours until 9 on Thursdays. The three floors are accessible by stairs and elevators, and a visit typically takes several hours.

The Coin Cabinet holds more than 700,000 objects, including both the largest and smallest gold medals in the world. This collection traces the development of money from ancient times to the present in a compact space.

Location: Innere Stadt

Location: Vienna

Inception: 1891

Founders: Franz Joseph I of Austria

Official opening: October 17, 1891

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Operator: Republik Österreich

Address: Museumsplatz 2

Opening Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 10:00-18:00; Thursday 10:00-21:00

Phone: +431525240

Email: info@khm.at

Website: https://khm.at/en

GPS coordinates: 48.20388,16.36160

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03