The museum pays homage to the classic British-American film noir The Third Man, which was shot in Vienna and became a global hit, known for its lead performances by Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, and Orson Welles, as well as its score by Anton Karas. The museum’s collection includes more than 3,000 pieces of vintage memorabilia and other objects related to the film and the historical period in which it was set. Visitors can admire posters, screenplays, and vintage filmmaking equipment, as well as the original zither that Karas played for the film, and stark black-and-white images depicting life in a divided Austria during the Cold War.
Set a short walk from Vienna’s opera house and other top sights in the city’s old town, the museum can easily be paired with a sightseeing tour of the city.
The museum is a private collection, and the owners offer group guided visits on Saturday afternoons and private guided visits by appointment.
There is a free downloadable audio guide included in the price of admission, to explore the collection at your own pace.
Information about the displays and historical reflections and explanations are translated into English.
There are two steps at the museum entrance and stairs between the internal rooms, so the museum is not wheelchair accessible.
The Third Man Museum is located next to Naschmarket, just southwest of the Innere Stadt, and is a short walk from Vienna’s Opera House, Karlskirche, and other important sights. Alternatively, take the metro line U4 to the Kettenbrückengasse stop to reach the museum from across the city.
As a private collection, the museum keeps somewhat quirky hours. It is generally open to the public on Saturday afternoons, but the owners will open any day of the week for private tours and group visits booked in advance. The collection is entirely indoors, making it a great stop on a rainy day.
The Third Man was set in post-war Vienna and many of its most famous scenes were shot on location around the city. You can still visit quite a few of these almost 80 years later, including the Riesenrad Ferris wheel in Prater Park. Other landmarks captured in the film include the Strauss Memorial, the Beethoven statue, Schönbrunn Palace, Upper Belvedere Palace, and Hoher Markt Square.
