Named after philanthropist and art collector Rudolf Leopold, the Leopold Museum holds around 5,200 works of art from the decorative arts to Austrian Expressionist paintings, and it’s one of the top museums in the city. The galleries can be crowded at peak times, so book tickets in advance or join a museum tour for an in-depth look into the history and significance of the museum’s highlights. You can also take in the museum on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, with the Flexi Pass, or with the MuseumsQuartier Duo ticket.
The Leopold Museum is located in MuseumsQuartier at Museumsplatz 1. Take tram lines #1, #2, or D to Dr-Karl-Renner-Ring, U-bahn line U2 to MuseumsQuartier, or U3 to Volkstheater.
The museum is open throughout the year but may be closed some days of the week. It is recommended to check the museum opening hours before visiting as these can vary depending on the time of year. As one of the top art collections in the city, the Leopold can be very crowded on weekends and holidays, so schedule your visit for a weekday morning.
The permanent exhibitions displayed around the vast atrium and open galleries include masterly silverware and ceramic decorative arts from the Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) of 1903–32; stylish Art Nouveau furniture designed by Koloman Moser; and some rather brutal portraits by Expressionist Oskar Kokoschka. The standout pieces in the collections are the portraits swathed in gilt and landscapes by Gustav Klimt—including his peerless Death and Life. Other highlights include the world’s most important collection of portraits and nudes by the enfant terrible of Austrian Expressionism—Egon Schiele—who was mentored by Rudolf Leopold throughout his career.
