See spectacular crowns, priceless jewels, and the other lavish imperial baubles that make up the two dazzling collections (the Secular Treasury and the Ecclesiastical Treasury) that fill more than 20 halls in the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) during a private or small-group museum tour. Alternatively, visit independently with a pre-booked ticket to avoid having to wait in line. You can also take in the museum collection with the Flexi Pass, or admire the palace from the outside on Hapsburg-themed walking and e-bike tours of Austria’s capital city.
The Imperial Treasury of Vienna (Kaiserliche Schatzkammer) is part of the Hofburg complex, located in the heart of the city. Take metro line U3 to the Volkstheater station or tram line D to the Burgring/Kunsthistorisches Museum stop.
The Imperial Treasury is open daily except for Tuesdays. As one of the top attractions in the city, the collection can be very crowded on weekends and holidays; visit on weekday mornings to marvel at the treasures in relative peace.
The highlight of the Secular Treasury is the behemoth imperial crown, a gemstone-embellished piece dating back to 962. Other items of note include a 2,680-carat Colombian emerald, one of the world’s largest sapphires, a golden rose, a narwhal’s tusk once mistaken for a unicorn horn, and an ornate bowl which some believe to be the holy grail. The Ecclesiastical Treasury claims among its relics what is believed to be fragments of Jesus’s cross, a thorn from his crown, and a swatch of the tablecloth used at the Last Supper.
