The WestLicht Center for Photography’s collection goes from the dawn of photography to today’s hard-hitting, edgy contemporary images. See Vienna’s largest collection of historic cameras, ranging from daguerreotypes produced in the 1840s—the world’s first commercial camera—to KGB spy cameras and a Hasselblad that went into space with the Apollo missions. As well as hosting temporary exhibitions that have featured big names such Ansel Adams and Henri Cartier-Bresson, the museum also participates in the annual World Press Photo celebrating award-winning photojournalism.
Along with a stylish café and bar, the WestLicht also has a shop selling images shot by contemporary photographers and photography books.
There are a number of camera shops and galleries on the same street as the WestLicht Center for Photography, so take some time to explore the area.
The informational signage in the camera section of the museum is in both German and English.
The industrial-style open-plan space is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
The WestLicht Center for Photography is on the western reaches of the city’s Old Town. Take the subway to the nearby Burggasse-Stadthalle stop on the U6 line or the Zieglergasse stop on the U3 line, a short walk away. There are also city bus and tram routes that stop close by.
The center is open daily from mid-morning to early evening, and stays open a couple of hours later until mid-evening on Thursdays. Visit in the evening to stretch your sightseeing time in Vienna and experience the neighborhood’s bohemian vibe come sundown.
Vienna is a dream destination for photography enthusiasts, thanks to a wide variety of photography museums and collections to explore. In addition to the WestLicht Center for Photography (and its partner gallery Ostlicht on the opposite side of the city), the landmark Albertina art museum holds Austria’s largest and most important collection of art photographs, while the Bank Austria Kunstforum displays works by some of the top photographers of the past century.
