Johann Strauss Museum (Johann Strauss Wohnung)

The basics

This residence-turned-museum is a highlight of Strauss-themed tours through Vienna, along with a clutch of historic sights related to the life and legacy of the whiskered “Waltz King”. Other must-sees for classical music fans include the gilded statue of the composer at the Strauss Monument in Stadtpark and his monumental tomb in the Zentralfriedhof cemetery. Cap off your tour by catching a performance of Strauss’ works at landmark concert venues like the Musikverein and Wiener Staatsoper (State Opera).

Things to know before you go

• Classical music enthusiasts will be especially fascinated by the antique instruments and sheet music on display.

• Posted information about the objects on display is in German and English.

• Opt for a combination ticket to visit six Vienna apartments that were once residences to musicians from Strauss and Schubert to Beethoven.

• The second-floor museum is accessible via an elevator, but doors are narrow so check with the museum for full accessibility information.

How to get there

The Johann Strauss Museum is located on Praterstrasse near the sprawling Prater park and its many attractions, including the Riesenrad Ferris wheel and Madame Tussauds wax museum. To reach the apartment by public transport, take the U1 metro line to the Nestroyplatz station; the museum is just outside the station’s Praterstrasse exit.

When to get there

The museum is closed on Mondays but open daily the rest of the week, with a one-hour lunch closure from 1 p.m. This pocket-sized collection is easy to add to a day of sightseeing and there is rarely a crowd, so visit during the peak hours of the day when other more famous Vienna museums are overrun.

Original Strauss artifacts at the apartment museum

The Johann Strauss Museum contains a mixed collection of original memorabilia belonging to the composer and objects related to the era in which he lived. Strauss’ personal effects include the standing desk from the 1880s that he used for composing and his mid-19th-century sheet music cabinet, plus a grand piano gifted to him by Bösendorfer in 1896. There is also a home organ from the 1880s and an early 17th-century Amati violin, both of which are believed to have belonged to the maestro.