Attraction
Schönbrunn Palace
The Habsburgs' 1,441-room summer palace in Hietzing, with state apartments, formal Baroque gardens, the Gloriette and the world's oldest working zoo in its grounds.
Albertina
A former Habsburg palace by the State Opera holding one of the world's great print rooms, restored state rooms and a permanent collection from Monet to Picasso.
At a glance
- Type
- Art museum and Habsburg state rooms
- Area
- Innere Stadt, Vienna, Austria
- Official site
- albertina.at
Good to know
- Late openings
- Habsburg state rooms
- Terrace with city views
- Museum shop
Why we recommend it
The Albertina occupies a Habsburg palace on the edge of the Hofburg, raised on the old city bastion above Albertinaplatz. It takes its name from Duke Albert Casimir of Saxe-Teschen, son-in-law of Maria Theresa, whose collection of drawings and prints forms the heart of the museum. The graphic collection now numbers around 65,000 drawings and about a million prints, among them Albrecht Dürer's Young Hare of 1502. Works on paper are fragile, so the most famous sheets are shown only occasionally, usually in special exhibitions.
What most visitors see is a mixture of three things. The restored Habsburg state rooms, used by the duke's family and later Archduke Charles, show the palace's Neoclassical interiors with silk walls, parquet floors and fine furniture. The permanent collection, built around the Batliner Collection, runs from French Impressionism to the 20th century, with works by Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Picasso, Chagall and Austrian Modernists. Changing exhibitions fill the remaining halls and are often among the best-attended shows in the city.
The Albertina has two further venues. Albertina Modern, which opened in 2020 in the Künstlerhaus on Karlsplatz, about ten minutes' walk away, is devoted to art after 1945, and Albertina Klosterneuburg opens seasonally outside the city. If you are short of time, the main building is the one to prioritise, since it combines the state rooms, the permanent collection and the major temporary shows under one roof.
The museum suits art lovers and anyone who wants a palace interior and an art collection in one visit. Allow around two hours. Opening hours are 10:00 to 18:00, with late evenings on some weekdays, but check the museum's website for the current schedule. The terrace in front of the entrance, reached by escalator and lift from Albertinaplatz, is a good spot for photos of the State Opera and the rooftops of the old town.
The Albertina is directly behind the State Opera, a minute's walk from Karlsplatz underground station (U1, U2, U4) and from the trams on the Ring. The Hofburg, the Burggarten and its Palm House and the Kärntner Straße shopping street are all on the doorstep, and the Café Sacher and Café Mozart are just across the square.
Albertina FAQs
What is the Albertina known for?
Its graphic collection of around 65,000 drawings and about a million prints, the Habsburg state rooms and a permanent collection from Monet to Picasso.
Can I see Dürer's Young Hare?
The original is light-sensitive and only shown occasionally in special exhibitions, so check the programme before your visit.
How long should I allow?
Around two hours for the state rooms, the permanent collection and one exhibition.
Does the Albertina have late openings?
Yes, on some weekday evenings. Check the museum's website for the current days.
How do I get to the Albertina?
It is behind the State Opera, a short walk from Karlsplatz underground station on the U1, U2 and U4 lines.
What is Albertina Modern?
A second venue in the Künstlerhaus on Karlsplatz, opened in 2020 and devoted to art after 1945.
Is it good for families?
Older children often enjoy the state rooms and the terrace, while the exhibitions vary in how family-friendly they are.