There seems to be a dizzying array of combo museum passes available for Vienna. If we want to see the main sites (2 adults - one is a senior), are there any recommendations for what selections of passes is cost effective? Is the Carriage Museum good? How is the Vienna Furniture Museum (on the Sisi Ticket)? I have the 2024 RS Pocket Vienna but it isn't clear.
Posted by
Washington DC
28140 posts
It comes down to what you want to see and what you have time to see. Vienna has a very good public-transportation system, but you can burn a good bit of time just moving from place to place. In addition, some of the museums are large--places where you could easily spend the better part of a day.
You really need to decide for yourself what sights are most important to you and are likely to fit into the time you have available, then add up the costs. One of the passes might make sense for the non-senior but not for the senior.
I didn't go to either of the museums you mentioned. I have no interest in carriages, and I didn't have time for the furniture museum despite spending 17 days in Vienna. My focus was on art and Jugendstil architecture rather than history. Vienna has a lot of large art museums, and I really don't like to leave a museum before I've seen everything I'm interested in. Passes are more likely to benefit skimmers.
Posted by
Northwest Arkansas
686 posts
Yes, Vienna has does indeed have a dizzying array of combo passes. IMO they may not be worth the extra cost unless you specifically want to see the full range of museums in the combo. For example, the Upper Belvedere is great. But for me, the collections in the Lower Belverdere and Belvedere 21 held little interest. So the Euro 8,40 extra for the combo wasn't worth it and next time I'll visit just the Upper Belvedere and skip this particular combo ticket.
Posted by
Virginia
301 posts
Last year I found the combo ticket for both the Kunstmuseum and the Hofburg treasury to be a good buy as it saved a few euros on two things I intended to see and you could see them in different days. Regarding Belvedere, agree that normally Upper is enough, but check website to see what’s on at Lower. When we went there was a special exhibit on Klimt at the Lower that I would have been very sorry to miss so glad I got both. That’s the only one where we got tickets in advance with timed entry (to Upper, then you could do Lower at your leisure). I think we could have been ok just buying at the door but it was pretty crowded (this was in April) so it was good to have them in hand already.
Posted by
OP
Redmond
3 posts
Thanks for the information! We are looking forward to our trip.
Posted by
97 posts
Well, I'm a museum person and discovered the Bundesmuseem Annual Pass (99e) I did the math and will more than break even if I get to all those I'd like to see. But just. The biggest benefit to me is to be pre-paid and not wait in line to pay.
The combi Sisi Ticket (49e) will get me in the Schonbrunn and Hofburg Places.
Together they cover my wish-list of museums to see.
Take some time to determine what's on your wish list, then do the math...and consider convenience.
Have a great trip!
Lee
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5511 posts
I think you first have to decide what you want to see and then figure out if a pass makes sense. Many of the passes try to make you think that certain attractions are highlights just to make money.
To me, the "main sites" include Stephansdom (the cathedral, free), the Graben (a major street in the city center, free), Schonbrunn (I would do the interior, gardens which are free and the carriage museum), the Ringstrasse from Votivkirche to the Opera House (free), Wien Museum including the exterior view of Karlskirche (free), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Upper Belvedere.
If you are an art lover, then I would add the Leopold Museum and the Albertina.
If you love mild hiking and wine, then I would add a trip to Kahlenberg and a walk down that hill/mountain through the vineyards (free, except bus fare) on Stadtwanderweg 1.
If you love gardens, then I would add the Burggarten, Stadtpark and Volksgarten (all free).
If you love music, then I would add a tour of the Opera House and the Haus der Musik. Buy tickets to a performance at the Opera or Musikverein if you can.
If you like animals, then I would add the zoo at Schonbrunn.
If you are an engineer, then I would add the Technical Museum.
If you like to wander cute streets, then I would visit Spittelberg and the Servitenviertel,
You will definitely want to add time in coffeehouses as well - I suggest Sperl, Gerstner (2nd floor), Landtmann and Diglas.