The Kunsthistorisches Museum with kids: route, games and tips
Quick answer
With kids, the KHM works as a 60–90 minute visit with simple missions: spot Bruegel's skaters, Arcimboldo's fruit faces and Cellini's golden salt cellar. Under 19s get in free, the café under the dome makes a good break, and the best time is 10am on a weekday.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
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A 75-minute route designed for kids
- 1
0:00 · Monumental staircase
The staircase: find Klimt
Challenge: look up and find the painted figures between the columns. How many characters can they see?
- 2
0:10 · Picture Gallery
Bruegel's Children's Games
Over 200 children play in a square. Challenge: find five games still played today.
- 3
0:25 · Picture Gallery
Hunters in the Snow: what are they doing?
Count the dogs, skaters and birds. Ask what temperature they think it is.
- 4
0:40 · Picture Gallery
The Tower of Babel: how many floors?
A huge tower full of tiny workers. A good painting for talking about construction.
- 5
0:55 · Picture Gallery
Arcimboldo's Seasons
Portraits made of fruit, flowers and vegetables. Ask them to guess which fruit forms each nose or ear.
- 6
1:05 · Kunstkammer
Cellini's Saliera
A golden salt cellar made for a king. Ask what they would keep in a piece like this.
Practical tips for families
- Bring ID for visitors under 19 to prove free entry.
- Take a mid-visit break at the café under the dome.
- The museum is big: choose one collection (Picture Gallery or Kunstkammer) and don't try to see everything.
- Explain before going in that works must not be touched or approached too closely.
- Before you go, let the kids pick 3 paintings on your phone; finding them turns the visit into a game.
- With the AnyArt app they can point at any painting and hear its story, handy for the endless "what's this one?".
Frequently asked questions
Do kids pay at the KHM?
No. Under 19s get in free and are registered at the entrance with ID.
What age is the museum good for?
From about 5–6 with a short visit and paintings full of detail, such as Bruegel's.
Are there family activities?
The museum runs family tours and workshops on specific dates; check the programme on the official site.
Is there a café?
Yes, under the dome. On Thursdays it stays open until 8:30pm.