Haus der Musik (House of Music), Vienna

Haus der Musik (The House of Music) is a modern, hands-on museum designed to enable visitors to interact with the displays at all levels. Spread over five floors, this is one of a kind museum fully dedicated to the fascinating world of music and sound.

The 5,000 sq. meter facility has won numerous awards for the innovative way of presenting the exhibits. Among them are numerous musical inventions vividly illustrating the diversity of our perception of what exactly constitutes music. The variety is astounding. Here you can conduct the Vienna Philharmonic yourself, compose your own music, have your name written in music in Mozart's hand, and see the Vienna Philharmonic in action in videos of the New Year's and summer concerts.

Another interesting tidbit about this place is that it is located in the former Palace of Archduke Charles where in the mid 19th century lived Otto Nicolai, founder of the Vienna Philharmonic and author of the now famous musical piece “The Merry Wives of Windsor”. This classic comedic opera is also subject of a display here. In modern times, the museum has become an official repository of the history of the Vienna Philharmonic. Whenever you're in Vienna, do make plans to visit this extraordinary place.

Why You Should Visit:
To get a feel for the magnificence of the composers who once blessed Vienna with their presence.
To test your own musical talent on the Virtual Conductor, enjoy a short version of the famous New Year's Concert, compose your own waltz with the interactive Waltz Dice Game, learn more about Mozart, Strauss or Beethoven and experiment with pitch, sounds and musical instruments.
A good mix of information on the science of sound, the composition of music and famous composers.
Well worth a visit, particularly with kids.

Operation hours: Daily 10 am - 10 pm.