MuseumsQuartier (MQ)
The MuseumsQuartier is a 60,000 m² cultural complex in the former imperial stables — a brilliant blend of Baroque architecture and contemporary design. The museums are world-class, but the MQ is more than culture: It is Vienna's urban living room. In the courtyard, the famous Enzis (colorful designer furniture) invite Viennese and tourists to sit in the sun, read, drink, and enjoy the atmosphere.
The Three Major Museums
- Leopold Museum: The world's largest collection of Egon Schiele (over 40 oil paintings!) plus significant works by Gustav Klimt, Oskar Kokoschka, and the Wiener Werkstätte. Schiele's "Houses by the Sea" and "Dead City" are disturbingly beautiful. Admission: €15.
- mumok (Museum of Modern Art): Austria's largest museum for contemporary art — from Pop Art (Warhol, Lichtenstein) to Viennese Actionism to current installations. The building itself (a dark basalt cube) is a statement. Admission: €14.
- Kunsthalle Wien: Temporary exhibitions of contemporary art — no permanent collection, but always current, often provocative shows. Admission: €9.
Court & Enzis
The courtyard of the MQ is Vienna's answer to an Italian piazza: In summer, hundreds of people sit in the colorful Enzis (in different colors depending on the season), drink spritzers (white wine spritzers) from the surrounding bars, and enjoy the evening. In winter, the courtyard becomes an ice rink. Access to the courtyard is free — a perfect place to arrive in Vienna.
