The Albertina (the gallery/museum) is located in the first district of Vienna, right next to the Hofburg Palace gardens and the city’s Opera House. As soon as you arrive in the area where the Albertina is located, you will feel like you are stepping back in time to the glorious days of the Austrian Empire. At the foot of the museum is Albertina Square, where coachmen stand leisurely with their horse-drawn carriages. The square is bustling with Viennese coffee houses and, of course, surrounded by magnificent historical buildings. If you are an art lover, the Albertina is the place for you! You can combine a visit to this gallery with a visit to the equally impressive Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History). At the end of your visit to the gallery, you can dine at the Albertina’s prestigious restaurant, called Do&Co.
In this article, you can read about the palace that houses the gallery/museum, the collections on display, and Albertina Square with its attractions.
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The Story of the Palace Housing the Gallery
The gallery building once served as a residential palace for the Habsburg family. The palace was built on the site of the former Augustine Fortress, which was intended to protect the walls of the old city. Initially, the building was used for the Habsburg’s construction office and was designated as the residential palace for the head of the office, Emanuel Teles Count Silva-Tarouca. For this reason, it was known for a time as Palais Taroucca. Later, the palace passed into the hands of Duke Albert, who was the husband of Maria Christina (the favorite daughter of Maria Theresa). Duke Albert was a great art collector, and his many collections were scattered in various places. Some were stored in Bratislava Castle, which served as his residence for many years, and some were in Brussels, where he served as a regional governor. To centralize and preserve his collections in one place, Duke Albert decided to bring the artworks to Vienna and store them in the palace where the gallery is located today.
Due to its function as an active residential palace, the gallery building was designed with exceptional splendor and magnificence. The various rooms literally glow in shades of yellow, green, and turquoise. The rooms are exquisitely decorated with sculptures, wall carvings, and huge chandeliers. Some of the furniture is original and has been there since the 18th century. In the outer courtyard of the palace stands an impressive statue of Emperor Joseph II on horseback, dressed as a military commander.
The palace came under the ownership of the Austrian Republic in 1919, and its art collections were merged with the art collections of the Imperial Library (now the National Library). In 1921, the name of the place was changed to Albertina in honor of Duke Albert.
In 1945, towards the end of World War II, the Albertina gallery was severely damaged by Allied air raids. It took many years of renovations and repairs to restore the building to its former glory. The renovations continued in stages until 2008.
The Gallery’s Collections and Exhibitions
The collection of works in the Albertina gallery is one of the largest and most important in the world. The collection includes about 65,000 drawings and approximately one million ancient and modern artworks. Among its famous works are pieces like “Hare” and “Praying Hands” by Dürer, as well as paintings by Schiele, Gustav Klimt, Kokoschka, Picasso, and Rauschenberg.
As part of the permanent exhibition, there are various works that reflect the artistic movements and trends of the last 130 years from all over Europe. The interesting collection recently displayed in the gallery includes modern art by famous artists such as Monet, Picasso, Chagall, and Baselitz.
You can enjoy the gallery in the following video:
Click to order fast-track entry tickets to the Albertina
Albertina Square
The beautiful plaza outside the gallery is called Albertina Square. The square is an attraction in itself. In the square, coachmen stand leisurely with their horse-drawn carriages, and you can take an enjoyable tour with them through the old city. In the center of the square is a special monument against war and fascism. It was created by Alfred Hrdlicka in 1988. On the site where the monument now stands, there was once a luxurious building that was completely bombed during World War II. All the building’s occupants were buried under the rubble. The monument serves as a reminder of the dark chapter in Austrian history and is dedicated to all victims of war and fascism.
Besides that, the square is bustling with Viennese coffee houses and, of course, surrounded by magnificent historical buildings. You can sit for a cup of coffee and cake at the Viennese “Café Mozart.” It is a place loved by locals and tourists alike.
Essential Information for Visiting the Albertina Gallery
Opening Hours:
- The gallery is open every day from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- On Wednesdays and Fridays, the gallery is open until 9:00 PM.
Costs:
- Adult: €19.90
- Student (up to 26): €15.90
- Senior (65+): €15.90
- Children and youths up to 19: Free
- Guided tour of the gallery: An additional €6 to the entrance fee
- Audio guide: An additional €5 to the entrance fee
- More information on ticket prices
Purchase fast-track entry tickets to the Albertina directly from your mobile phone
Accessibility:
The venue is accessible and equipped for people with disabilities.
- Official Website
- Address: Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien
How to get to the Albertina by public transport?
The location of the Albertina is very central, and it can be reached using Vienna’s excellent public transport system.
- Subway: You can take the subway to Karlsplatz station and from there walk for about 5 minutes. The U1 (red line), U2 (purple line), and U4 (green line) subway lines stop at this station. You should exit the station at the Opera (Oper) exit, and from there, it is about a 5-minute walk. Another option is to take the U3 subway line (orange line) and get off at the central cathedral station of Vienna (Stephansplatz) and from there walk for about 15 minutes through the beautiful streets of the old city.
- Tram: Due to the gallery’s proximity to the Ringstrasse, there are many trams that pass nearby. You can take lines 1, 2, 62, 71, and D and get off at the Kärntner Ring/Oper station. From there, it is about a 5-minute walk.
- Bus: Bus line 2A arrives right next to the gallery. You should get off at the Albertina stop.
Map:
After visiting the Albertina, you can continue to wander around the first district and the old city. Read about the best attractions in this area of central Vienna.
