Austrian National Library State Hall

Prunksaal (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek)

An 80-metre Baroque hall of leather books under a frescoed dome

⚠ Closed Mondays Oct–May

Hours

Oct–May Tue–Sun 9am–6pm, Thu to 9pm, closed Mondays (open Mondays in Dec 2026). June–Sept daily (official)

Tickets

Adults €12, reduced €10, under-19s free (official). At the Josefsplatz desk or the official online shop

Address

On Josefsplatz inside the Hofburg; entrance in the wing beside the Joseph II equestrian statue

Up the stairs and through the door, an almost 80-metre hall opens up, leather-bound books climbing to the ceiling on both sides and a painted dome in the middle. Emperor Charles VI built it as the court library in the 18th century, and his statue stands at the centre. Photos are allowed, and shots of it regularly turn up in lists of the world's most beautiful libraries. Thirty minutes is enough, but an hour goes easily if you follow the frescoes with the audio guide.