Local Guides World

Best History museums in Austria

Top Rated History museums

Top Reviewed History museums

Reviews

The Festungsmuseum in Salzburg, located within the Hohensalzburg Fortress, is a must-see for history buffs! Built in 1077, Hohensalzburg was one of Europe’s largest fully preserved castles. Fun fact: The fortress withstood a 15-week siege in the 16th century, highlighting its formidable defenses. Visitors can explore the museum’s interactive displays and enjoy panoramic views of the city. A visit here offers a fascinating look at Salzburg’s rich history and architectural marvels.
Chris Dobson
at 2024 Dec 19
Chris Dobson
at 2024 Dec 19
The information signs in this museum are written in "simple language" to try and make it more accessible. Unfortunately the effect is the opposite, as it is both uninformative, and the broken sentences are actually difficult to read. At times it accidentally reads like bad poetry which can be quite amusing.
The cable car ticket also included this museum, so make sure which options are available when and where you buy your ticket. I am not a fan of war, weapons and everything that is included in the context, but I can certainly appreciate a very well put together museum with a good collection, and this was the case.
Erich Thalacker
at 2024 Jul 12
Erich Thalacker
at 2024 Jul 12
Really enjoyed this museum. Was great to read the history and have it in such a historic place, the fortress.
Kyrylo Sulyma
at 2024 May 23
Kyrylo Sulyma
at 2024 May 23
Entrance is free with the Salzburg card.
Quentin Moreau
at 2024 Apr 29
Quentin Moreau
at 2024 Apr 29
Good history museum with entrance already included in your fortress visit ticket. Around 30min to visit. Nice collection.
Nora Miller
at 2024 Jan 04
Nora Miller
at 2024 Jan 04
Absolutely worth your time to visit this astoundingly amazing museum. Descriptions of artifacts and rooms were perfect and got straight to the point. 10/10
Matea Mocic
at 2024 Jan 03
Matea Mocic
at 2024 Jan 03
The museum Is great, but the souvenir shop doesn't have almost anything museum related. Personally, we would have loved to purchase a sword replica or something similar but unfortunatelly there wasn't anything like that. Otherwise a great experience and a very impressive collection.
Martina Lovrić
at 2023 Dec 30
Martina Lovrić
at 2023 Dec 30
A very interesting museum in the city centre, well worth a visit even for people who are not history enthusiasts. At the entrance you can get a booklet in multiple languages with interesting information about the collection. It took me a little more than half an hour for the entire museum, but do make sure to check the opening times on the website as it changes throughout the year and sometimes admission is only with a guided tour.
Ruben
at 2023 Dec 29
Ruben
at 2023 Dec 29
Impressive museum. A must do when in Graz.

note: advised is to have an audio guide/real guide if you want to optimize your visit.
CK Cheong
at 2023 Nov 06
CK Cheong
at 2023 Nov 06
Hofburg Palace means 'Castle of the Court' originally built in the 13th century. Massive grounds with other monuments such as Column of Pest, the statue of Emperor Franz I, the Heldenplatz and St Michael's Church within the compound. Unesco Heritage Site. Worth a visit
N H
at 2023 Nov 03
N H
at 2023 Nov 03
Sehr charmantes kleines Museum mit einer vermutlich einzigartigen kulturhistorischen Sammlung zum Thema Weihnachten (und Nikolaus, Silvester).
Up Urs
at 2023 Nov 02
Up Urs
at 2023 Nov 02
I cannot say anything that has not been said already about this amazing building. I was to impressed with architecture of the outside of this building that I did not take the time to go inside. It is not possible to capture what your eyes can see in a single picture. It is absolutely stunning. This is an absolute must to see and to get the full experience the Hoftburg has to offer you need two days to enjoy it all.
Ulrike
at 2023 Oct 25
Ulrike
at 2023 Oct 25
Ein Tag Wien und den ganzen Tag nur in der Hofburg. Was für ein Komplex!! Erst in der Bibliothek: ein Muss für jeden Bücherfreak, dann eine Führung ,,hinter den Kulissen der Hofreitschule". Und dann noch im Sissi Museum.Hier war fotografieren leider verboten. Eins schöner wie das andere. Und mehr als einmal musste ich schlucken bei so viel Schönheit ( allerdings auch bei den Eintrittspreisen. 50€ weg wie nix. Aber ist o.k.
Max Peleh
at 2023 Oct 03
Max Peleh
at 2023 Oct 03
Amazing museum, consists of 4 floors packed with weapons and armor, make sure to download the audio guide app called Museum Joanneum and use the numbers that are written with chalk on the walls and pillars.
Sami Peterson
at 2023 Sep 10
Sami Peterson
at 2023 Sep 10
I really enjoyed this museum and learning more about Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) I did the English guided tour and you could tell that our guide really enjoyed talking about the subject and he made it fun to learn more and also Kinda show us what to look out for when we were walking through the rooms before we even started so that made it really nice since some of the rooms got to be a little tight and it was hard to See everything or it took a while to get to the front to see the item. I’d say this is definitely a tour that’s worth doing especially if you like this time. And learning about old Kings and Queens;Or this case an emperor and empress.
Costescu Mihai
at 2023 Sep 01
Costescu Mihai
at 2023 Sep 01
Absolutely fabulous! The largest collection of medieval armor and weapons, with so many exhibits in one place! Must visit!
Chandra Kanth Reddy
at 2023 Aug 30
Chandra Kanth Reddy
at 2023 Aug 30
I didn't go inside, but the building's design and the view are really impressive and enjoyable, even from the outside. The architecture catches your eye, and you can still appreciate its beauty without entering.
Don Pokocha
at 2023 Aug 22
Don Pokocha
at 2023 Aug 22
We didn’t go inside the museums but still enjoyed looking at this marvellous architecture. It is so grand yet the details of the ornaments are so delicate and impressive.
Gideon Dijkstra
at 2023 Aug 16
Gideon Dijkstra
at 2023 Aug 16
Really awesome experience, I've never seen such a vast collection of handcannons and medieval armor. Must see!!!!
Ben Hauser
at 2023 Aug 13
Ben Hauser
at 2023 Aug 13
One of the coolest museums. Make sure to get the audio guide, I think it should come included in the ticket TBH...
Cute museum! Very small, but its entrance is included in the Salzburger Card. 😊👍
A lovely and unique museum for Christmas decoration enthusiasts… wonderfully displayed and an inspiration to build your own collection. I picked up a few decorations at the shop… all unique and beautifully made
Incredible historical armoury. You can find weapons and armour from 15th century to 19tg century. If you are interested in history, medieval weapons, armour, swords etc. you must visit this place.
I had the Christmas feeling while there. It was really great to see every item at one place. I learned a lot about the Christmases back than. I think it is a great way to spend money, but with Salzburg Card, free entry. If you are bored of the classis museums this is a great freshener😁
Elias Chelala
at 2023 Jul 01
Elias Chelala
at 2023 Jul 01
The Hofburg in Austria is an absolute gem that takes you on a captivating journey through history. As an avid traveler, I have visited numerous landmarks, but the Hofburg stands out as a place that truly encapsulates the essence of Austria's rich heritage.

I was immediately struck by the impressive architecture and the sheer scale of the palace. The blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles creates a visual feast for the eyes, transporting visitors to a bygone era of opulence and grandeur. The attention to detail in every nook and cranny is simply astounding.

The Hofburg's location in the heart of Vienna adds to its allure. Surrounded by charming streets, delightful cafes, and vibrant cultural attractions, it's the perfect starting point to explore the city. I recommend taking a leisurely stroll through the Burggarten, a beautiful park adjacent to the palace, for a moment of tranquility amidst the urban buzz.

Whether you are a history enthusiast, an architecture aficionado, or simply seeking a taste of Austria's imperial past, the Hofburg is an absolute must-visit. It is a testament to the grandeur and cultural legacy of this remarkable country. Prepare to be enthralled by its timeless beauty and indulge in a journey through Austria's rich history.
Tony, le Lavallois
at 2023 Jun 25
Tony, le Lavallois
at 2023 Jun 25
The Hofburg palace is quite imposing from the outside. Like many other locations in Vienna, it has a beautiful architecture.

We didn't get inside, but we still admired the structure.

I definitely recommend you getting to this place, as there are also many other interesting architectures all around.
Marcin Orłowski
at 2023 May 23
Marcin Orłowski
at 2023 May 23
Exquisite place full of museums, history of Austria and it's rich culture. The Hofburg is definitely something to recommend for everyone. Every tourist shouldn't miss on this place, it's well organized, the expositions are highly engaging and there are so many of them, there is a lot to choose from. From my point of view, it's impossible to view all of it in single 24h, so prepare at least a week to take it all in!
There is nothing like the spirit of Christmas in the German lands and this exhibition is splendid in presenting it. Established as a private collection over a 40 years period it has items dating back to the 1840s and you can see the evolution of the holiday during all this time. Some very good explanations in English will give you an idea about the history but don't expect to see anything very detailed, to a large extent this still feels like a collection of items rather than a museum but it is very enjoyable especially if you love Christmas
Außerordentlich schön und sehr geschmackvoll dekoriertes Museum mit allem, was zu Weihnachten dazu gehört.
Ich denke, das meine Fotos viel mehr sagen, als tausend geschrieben Worte - laß Dich einfach vom Zauber der Weihnacht verführen.
Ach übrigens, mit der Bäderkarte von Bad Reichenhall ist der Eintritt sogar gratis - lohnt sich also gleich dreifach
Oliver Findlay
at 2022 Jul 15
Oliver Findlay
at 2022 Jul 15
Beautiful museum with lots of interactive exhibitions.
A bit small but so unique. I think it’s the only christma’s museum in the world. You can learn a lot about Christmas tradition, Saint Nicholas etc. Very huge collection of Christmas objects that are unique and reminded me of my childhood. You can enter for free with your Salzburg card so I highly recommend you to get it from the beginning. I recommend this place if you’re in Salzburg.
Nice little museum with Christmas decorations, paintings and items especially about the past: there was an interesting window with first world war decorations for the Christmas tree (it would be unbelievable to hang weapons on the tree today!) and postcards. We missed a similar second world war window (it is known that also the Nazis had special decorations) but the topic is very delicate nowadays, but still it is a pity this historical period is not covered. The only negative point was the lady at the ticket shop that was not particularly kind and seemed bothered by our arrival and the high prices of the decorations. Entrance fees included in the Salzburg card.