A Classical Music Lover’s Guide to Vienna
Vienna is known as the City of Music and for good reason, having inspired so many composers to write masterpieces of music history. Experiencing the city’s rich classical music scene is a must for any visitor. But it can be overwhelming to know where to begin with the range of incredible options. Don’t worry! We’re here to help you navigate through the abundance of Vienna’s musical offerings, from world-class stages and captivating music museums to unforgettable performances. We’ll also give you clues how far in advance you’ll need to book tickets in order to get the seats you want!
Take Insight Cities’ Vienna, City of Music Tour
One way to start a journey of classical music discovery in Vienna is to enjoy our City of Music tour. Your historian guide will help you explore the major sites where luminaries including Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn lived, worked, and performed. Along the way we’ll ponder what made Vienna so attractive for young musicians seeking their fortune? As you’ll discover, the answer lies within the ranks of the ruling Habsburg family itself and their passionate patronage of music. For added color and context, we pause to enjoy listening to key selections of Vienna’s musical heritage along the way.
Classical Music Venues & Performances in Vienna
Under Habsburg rule, Vienna came to boast some of the best classical performance spaces on this earth. From the grand Vienna State Opera and ornate Musikveiren (home of the Vienna Philharmonic) to the Imperial Chapel / Hofkapelle (echoing with angelic masses sung by the Vienna Boys’ Choir) to the calmer, budget stages of the University of Music & Performing Arts, any visitor to Vienna will find a weatlh of music venues, from extravagant to intimate.
Vienna State Opera
Of all these, no venue is more legendary than the Vienna State Opera House, with top tier opera and ballet productions. Whether you’re a lifelong opera fan or seeing your first opera, the Vienna Opera is the place to encounter elite orchestras and world-renowned singers almost every evening. For popular performances, especially during the peak season from September to June, it’s best to buy tickets up to 6 months in advance. For most other shows, you can usually get tickets a few weeks to a couple of months ahead. If you’re on a budget, you can also try for standing-room tickets, which are sold on the day of the performance at the box office for a much lower price, first-come, first-served. Buy directly on the official Vienna State Opera website or from trusted sellers.
Further Insight: If you can’t make it to a performance, you can also contact us at info@insightcities.com to arrange your own private tour of the Vienna Opera House with an expert guide.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
If opera isn’t quite your thing but you still want a classical music experience on your Vienna trip, consider enjoying a concert of the stellar Vienna Philharmonic or visiting orchestras. Some of the world’s best musicians perform at the neoclassical Musikverein concert hall, designed to look like a Greek Temple. For a full calendar of their performances, check out their website. Many performances sell out a couple of months ahead—so aim to secure your tickets about 2–3 months in advance. However, for high-demand events (like the New Year’s Concert), tickets sell out much faster and you’ll need to book almost immediately when they’re released—even up to a year ahead. Sign up for newsletters so you can act promptly when tickets become available.
Further Insight: While the Vienna Philharmonic typically performs at the Musikverein, they sometimes give concerts at other venues in the city. We recommend checking out their Summer Night Concert which is held annually in the Schönbrunn Palace gardens.
Vienna Boys Choir
World famous for their crystal clear and pure vocals, a concert with the Vienna Boys Choir is a great option for any music lover’s visit to Vienna. Active since the 15th century, the Vienna Boys Choir performs classical music pieces of famous composers such as Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert not just in Vienna, but all around the world.
Further Insight: One of the best performances that the Vienna Boys Choir gives throughout the year is the Holy Mass at Hofburg Chapel. With regular performances from mid-September through December, this is a great opportunity to hear the golden-throated wunderkinder.
Wiener Konzerthaus
One of the world’s top performing arts venues, Wiener Konzerthaus houses four separate concert halls and provides a wide-ranging program, with both traditional classical music that visitors expect in Vienna as well as special series dedicated to jazz, pop, world music, literature and film. A full calendar of events can be found on their website.
Vienna Church Concerts
Numerous churches and cathedrals in Vienna also offer their own chamber and organ music concerts for those who prefer a more intimate atmosphere. You can find performances at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Karlskirche, Peterskirche, the Hofburg Chapel, the Church of St. Anne, and more. If you’re in the Vienna for the winter holidays, don’t miss the Advent concerts at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, held every weekend leading up to Christmas. This exceptional seasonal event allows you to immerse yourself in enchanting performances within one of Vienna’s most historic venues, perfectly capturing the holiday spirit.
Schönbrunn Palace Concerts
The regal Schönbrunn Palace has its own symphony orchestra performing in the Orangery, where Mozart himself showed of his early genius. Expect a traditional Viennese repertoire including arias from Mozart’s operas as well as some of Strauss’s polkas and waltzes.
Further Insight: If you’re headed to Schönbrunn for an evening concert, consider booking our Schönbrunn Palace & Gardens tour in the afternoon ahead of your concert. Our expert guide will lead you through the High Baroque complex and gardens renovated under Maria Theresa into an ostentations symbol of Austri’as imperial power. You’ll gain a new appreciation of the venue’s historical context right in time for the evening’s performance.
University of Music & Performing Arts in Vienna
If you’re looking for a classical music concert that’s a little off the beaten path, consider checking out one of the performances at the University of Music & Performing Arts. You’ll see the up and coming generation of talented musicians before they strike it big for a fraction of the price of regular classical music concerts in the city. Many of their events are even free of charge. Check out their event calendar for the latest performance dates.
Music Museums in Vienna
In addition to enjoying music performances in Vienna, you’ll find no shortage of museums to explore music history through interactive exhibits, historical documents, and even places where the famous composers lived and worked.
Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensions
Only recently opened in November 2024 in preparation for Strauss’s 200th birthday year, the Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensons is a fully immersive Art & Tech museum celebrating the world-renowned “waltz king.” Uniquely structured into seven acts and using innovative technology, visitors to the museum walk through Strauss’s life over the course of a 75-minute experience. Tickets are timed, so be sure to get yours in advance and be one of the first to experience this unique and fascinating exhibition.
Haus der Musik
Haus der Musik it not your ordinary museum with exhibits but has four floors of interactive exhibitions in which you can follow in the footsteps of famous composers, interact with sound in ways you didn’t know possible, and even have the opportunity to become a conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic yourself through virtual reality. Try to do a good job because if your virtual conducting is faulty, the great musicians actually stand up and hurl complaints at you! It’s great for the whole family and located right in the city center making an easy stop on your trip.
Further Insight: Looking for more family friendly activities in Vienna? Check out our Vienna for the Family blog post or consider booking our Vienna for Children tour!
Haydnhaus
The Haydnhaus was the final residence of world-renowned composer Joseph Haydn, now a museum dedicated to his legacy. Here he composed some of his most famous works including the oratorios “The Creation” and “The Seasons”. Also included in the exhibition are instruments originally used by him.
Mozarthaus Vienna
Mozarthaus Vienna presents the life and work of the musical genius Wolfgang Amadéus Mozart, with particular emphasis on his Vienna years from 1781 to 1791, in a unique setting in the heart of Vienna, close to St Stephen’s Cathedral. Nowhere else did he compose more music than at this apartment. Visitors can see not only the historical apartment, but also an extensive presentation of major works by the composer and of the times in which he lived. Mozarthaus also offers many concerts and events throughout the year.
Beethoven Museum
Formerly one of Beethoven’s residences in Vienna, this museum shows the life and works of the composer through documents, objects, and musical examples. Some of Beethoven’s most important works were composed in this apartment including the first sketches of “Eroica” and the “Tempest Sonata.” The exhibition also covers Beethoven’s youth, his complex social circles, and musical legacy.
House of Strauss
As the last remaining original venue where all four Strauss musical geniuses performed, the House of Strauss is a treat for any classical music fan. Follow in the footsteps of the Strauss family through interactive exhibits and a short multimedia show, while also enjoying the on-site restaurant as well as an offering of concerts.
Schubert Geburtshaus
Franz Schubert was a native Viennese composer who spent his whole life in the city. Today, his birthplace in Vienna houses a museum dedicated to the life and works of the composer. The exhibition includes documents, audio recordings, and paintings related to Schubert’s biography, social circles, and musical achievements. Also on display are the composer’s iconic glasses that gave him his signature look.
Arnold Schönberg Center
Dedicated to the life and works of the innovative composer and painter, the Arnold Schönberg Center houses an exhibition of Schönberg’s works as well as an archive for researchers and the public alike. The goal of the center is to increase understanding of Schönberg’s contributions to music and art. They also hold many concerts, events, and lectures throughout the year.
Kunsthistorisches Museum – Musical Instrument Collection
Inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum, you’ll find the Collection of Historical Musical Instruments, home to the most important collection of baroque and renaissance instruments worldwide. Additionally, you’ll encounter a number of instruments played by famous composers and musicians including pianos thrummed by Liszt, Mahler, Mozart, and Clara Schumann.
Further Insight: Visits to the Collection of Historical Musical Instruments is included in the overall ticket price to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. While you’re seeing the instruments, why not explore the rest of the exhibits? If you’d like a guide to help you discover the stories behind the art, contact us at info@insightcities.com and one of our art historian guides can lead you through the museum.
Composer Monuments in Vienna
As the City of Music, can we be surprised that Vienna is dotted with numerous monuments honoring the composers who made the city famous, including Mozart, Beethoven, Strauss, Brahms, Schubert, and more! Below we’ve created a map for you of the best musical memorials in the city. You can view the full interactive map to plan your visit on Google Maps.
A majority of the composer monuments are located within the delightful Stadtpark, which houses statues of important Viennese figures alongside the composers. Elsewhere, you’ll discover Mozart’s statue in Burggarten, Brahms’s monument near Karlskirche, and Beethoven’s statue just outside of Stadtpark.
If you have any questions about your upcoming trip to Vienna or neighboring capital cities in Central Europe, please reach out to us at info@insightcities.com or check out our other Vienna blog posts. We’re happy to help you arrange your classical music-filled adventure in Vienna with curated tours and experiences, customized just for you.