Museum
Albertina
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The Albertina is a museum in Vienna's Innere Stadt (First District). It houses one of the world's largest print rooms, with about 65,000 drawings and roughly 1 million old master prints, plus modern graphic works, photographs, and architectural drawings. On permanent loan, it also displays Impressionist and early 20th-century art, and hosts temporary exhibitions.
Don't miss
- One of the largest and most important print rooms in the world, with about 65,000 drawings and roughly 1 million old master prints
- Permanent display of Impressionist and early 20th-century art on long-term loan
- Temporary exhibitions featuring graphic works, photographs, and architectural drawings
- The Essl Collection of 1,323 contemporary works, including pieces by Alex Katz, Cindy Sherman, and Georg Baselitz
- Albertina modern, opened in 2020, with over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists
- A distinctive roof by architect Hans Hollein, completed in 2008
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Albertina
You don't need a tour to visit, entry is free. A tour is worth it if you want transport, a guide, or to combine Albertina with nearby sights in one day. That's what these do well.
Cheapest way inVienna Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour4.2★ · 17 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$6 per personSee dates →
Most bookedBest of Vienna : Historic Center Walking Tour4.9★ · 1,918 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$89 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleOldtimer Tour Vienna Gold Tour4.4★ · 43 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$41 per personSee dates →Getting there
A bit of history
The building was erected on the Augustinian Bastion, part of Vienna's former fortifications. Originally a palace for Emanuel Teles Count Silva-Tarouca, it was later taken over by Albert Casimir, Duke of Teschen, who brought his graphics collection from Brussels and had the building extended. In 1919 the socialist government confiscated the building and collection; in 1921 it was renamed the Albertina. During the Nazi era, stolen artworks entered the collection, and research continues to identify and restitute them. The museum was heavily damaged by bombing in March 1945, rebuilt after the war, and completely refurbished from 1998 to 2003. In 2018 it acquired the Essl Collection of 1,323 contemporary artworks. Albertina modern opened in 2020, and Albertina Klosterneuburg opened in 2024.
Common questions
What kind of art is at the Albertina?
It holds a vast collection of drawings and prints, from old masters to modern graphic works, plus Impressionist and early 20th-century paintings on permanent loan, and contemporary art at Albertina modern.
Is the Albertina the same as Albertina modern?
No. Albertina modern opened in 2020 as a separate museum for modern art, with over 60,000 works by 5,000 artists.
What happened to the Albertina during World War II?
It was heavily damaged by USAAF bomb attacks in March 1945, then rebuilt after the war.
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