Vienna Technical Museum (Technisches Museum Wien)

The basics

Set away from Vienna’s Museum Quarter (MuseumsQuartier), Vienna Technical Museum is still easy to reach by public transport and a short walk from the Schönbrunn Palace. Kids are well-catered for in this sizable museum, home to over 160,000 objects. Find everything from soft-play areas to interactive exhibits, virtual reality experiences, and a TechLAB for hands-on activities with technology like laser cutters.

Given the size of the museum, quirky exhibits can easily be missed. To ensure you see all the highlights, consider booking a private tour, which often includes hotel transport plus dedicated guides. For time-pressed travelers, skip-the-line tours and entry tickets are a good way to speed up entry in the busier summer periods, when lines outside the door are more likely. City passes either cover admission or offer discounted rates to help you save some vacation money, too.

Things to know before you go

• The Vienna Technical Museum is a must-do for anyone with an interest in science and innovation through the ages.

• Visitors with the Vienna Pass enter for free.

• The museum is a cost-effective place for families. Children up to the age of 19 are free of charge. Just note that a photo ID may be needed for proof of age.

• If you don’t have a day to dedicate to the museum, allow at least three or four hours to cover the highlights.

• All the exhibits display information in English and German, although there are select events and demonstrations only in German.

• The museum is wheelchair-accessible, with ramps at the entrance and a wheelchair-designated elevator inside. Wheelchairs are also free to borrow at the entrance.

How to get there

Keeping with the Vienna Technical Museum’s sustainable spirit, leave the car behind and use public transport instead. The site is well-served by trams and buses, and nearby stops include Penzinger Strasse (Penzinger Straße), Schloss Schönbrunn, and Winckelmannstrasse (Winckelmannstraße). The closest U-Bahn stop is Schönbrunn station. If you come by private transport, there are accessible car parking spaces near the main entrance on Mariahilferstrasse (Mariahilfer Straße).

When to get there

Vienna Technical Museum is open daily from morning till early evening, with only a few closures for select public holiday dates. The museum is busiest during summer weekends and school vacations, but the admission lines usually move quickly. Like in many Vienna museums, the morning is the quietest time to visit.

Must-see exhibits at the Vienna Technical Museum

Although technology enthusiasts will love most exhibits, there are definite highlights. Among the must-see permanent exhibitions is a replica coal mine with original working machines and the 12.10, a steam locomotive that’s the biggest of its kind built in Austria. The temporary exhibitions change often, but you can always expect intriguing stuff. A popular recent exhibit was a high voltage demonstration during which a Tesla coil was used to create lightning bolts and play music.