
Haus der Musik (House of Music), Vienna
In Vienna’s House of Music—history hums, composers gossip from the walls, and even the staircase plays along...
Housed in the former Archduke Karl Palace, this sonic playground opened its doors in the year 2000, sprawling over 5,000 square meters of auditory intrigue. It’s part museum, part time machine, and part science lab—perfectly pitched between highbrow and hands-on. Here, you can expect everything from Viennese classicism to the wild evolution of sound, all woven together with the story of the mighty Vienna Philharmonic.
The building itself has had quite a life. Born in the 16th century as an imperial cannon foundry (really!), it later became home to Archduke Karl of Austria-Teschen, famous not only for his military victories but for being the first Habsburg to bring a Christmas tree indoors. A few centuries later, the place morphed into a student residence, then a cultural hotspot, and finally, the palace of music we know today.
Your journey begins through a stately courtyard, where a grand piano welcomes you with all the grace of a tuxedoed maître d’hôtel. Inside, prepare to tickle the ivories yourself—literally—on the "Stairplay" piano staircase, where each step strikes a note.
On the first floor, you’ll meet the Vienna Philharmonic—not in person, but close. Dive into its glittering history with rare memorabilia, cheeky concert posters, and even an hourly cinema. Don’t miss the Mozart & Haydn dice game—it’s musical composition by chance, and surprisingly addictive.
Head up to Sonotopia on the second floor, a wonderland of sound science. From the Origin Room to the Wave Tube, it’s a sensory playground that explains why your ears are amazing and how sound gets from a vibrating string to your brain.
The third floor is a love letter to Vienna’s musical Classicism—Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and the gang. Peek into their lives via personal relics, funky holograms, and charming recreations of their 18th-century hangouts.
And for the finale, the fourth floor hands you the baton—literally—with the Virtual Conductor, where you can lead the Vienna Philharmonic yourself (they won’t judge your tempo, promise). Wind down in the Room of Silence, or hit the gift shop for souvenirs that sound as good as they look.
In short: music lives here—and it’s got stories to sing...
Housed in the former Archduke Karl Palace, this sonic playground opened its doors in the year 2000, sprawling over 5,000 square meters of auditory intrigue. It’s part museum, part time machine, and part science lab—perfectly pitched between highbrow and hands-on. Here, you can expect everything from Viennese classicism to the wild evolution of sound, all woven together with the story of the mighty Vienna Philharmonic.
The building itself has had quite a life. Born in the 16th century as an imperial cannon foundry (really!), it later became home to Archduke Karl of Austria-Teschen, famous not only for his military victories but for being the first Habsburg to bring a Christmas tree indoors. A few centuries later, the place morphed into a student residence, then a cultural hotspot, and finally, the palace of music we know today.
Your journey begins through a stately courtyard, where a grand piano welcomes you with all the grace of a tuxedoed maître d’hôtel. Inside, prepare to tickle the ivories yourself—literally—on the "Stairplay" piano staircase, where each step strikes a note.
On the first floor, you’ll meet the Vienna Philharmonic—not in person, but close. Dive into its glittering history with rare memorabilia, cheeky concert posters, and even an hourly cinema. Don’t miss the Mozart & Haydn dice game—it’s musical composition by chance, and surprisingly addictive.
Head up to Sonotopia on the second floor, a wonderland of sound science. From the Origin Room to the Wave Tube, it’s a sensory playground that explains why your ears are amazing and how sound gets from a vibrating string to your brain.
The third floor is a love letter to Vienna’s musical Classicism—Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and the gang. Peek into their lives via personal relics, funky holograms, and charming recreations of their 18th-century hangouts.
And for the finale, the fourth floor hands you the baton—literally—with the Virtual Conductor, where you can lead the Vienna Philharmonic yourself (they won’t judge your tempo, promise). Wind down in the Room of Silence, or hit the gift shop for souvenirs that sound as good as they look.
In short: music lives here—and it’s got stories to sing...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Haus der Musik (House of Music) on Map
Sight Name: Haus der Musik (House of Music)
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" – Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I
Vienna’s flirtation with Art Nouveau—known locally as Jugendstil—unfolded in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The so-called Vienna Secession movement, which emerged in 1897, was led by a group of rebellious artists and architects like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser, who turned their backs on historicism in favor of bold, modern aesthetics. As the new language for buildings,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent a significant portion of his life in Vienna. Here, he achieved recognition, and the city holds enormous historical and cultural significance for his legacy. Mozart first visited Vienna as a child prodigy in 1762, and in 1781 came here to stay.
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Vienna Introduction Walking Tour
A city of green parks, opulent architecture, elegant shopping, crowded theaters, and boulevards for leisurely sauntering — Vienna, the capital of Austria, embodies a blend of regal tradition and contemporary vibrancy. The origin of the city's name is rooted in Roman times, stemming from the Celtic word Vedunia, meaning “forest stream”, which later evolved into Vindobona, a Roman... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Famous Homes of Vienna
Throughout centuries, the Austrian capital has been home to numerous famous individuals, from creative people of arts to thinkers, scientists, and politicians. Vienna's illustrious history is closely intertwined with the abodes of its celebrated residents, where artistic virtuosos and luminaries of their time found solace and inspiration.
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
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