A Night Dedicated to Culture

On Saturday, October 5, 2019, culture-loving night owls will once again get more than their money’s worth:  For the 20th time, the “ORF Long Night of Museums” invites visitors to revel the evening and night away in numerous art temples. Museums, galleries and other cultural locations throughout Austria open their doors to art and culture lovers from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

ORF Long Night of the Museums 2019 Sujet (c) ORF Design.

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The “ORF Long Night of Museums” has taken place since 2000, and it is enjoying ever-increasing popularity and a diverse selection of museums.  The comprehensive program and events complement the cultural experience. With only one ticket, this year on Saturday, October 5, 2019, between 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., you will have the opportunity to visit any number of participating museums. Around 700 museums, galleries and cultural institutions throughout Austria will open their doors in 2019.

In Vienna, 132 cultural locations are participating, making the decision of which ones to visit quite difficult. Be it the major museums such as the Kunsthistorisches or Naturhistorisches Museen (Art History or Natural History Museums), the Albertina or the top locations in the Museumsquartier or a wide variety of galleries, all the way to small, very special insider tips and newcomers, there is something suitable for every interest.

Highlights

Depending on your interests, time and mood, everyone has their own special highlights for the perfect night in the museum.

Here are my favorites this year:

The exhibition “Albrecht Dürer” in the Albertina is a “must see”. Many other visitors will probably think the same thing, so expect large crowds.

Afterwards, I plan to visit a contemporary of Albrecht Dürer: “Emperor Maximilian I. A Great Habsburg.”. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his death, he is the focus of a special exhibition in the State Hall of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library).

As a conclusion for my intense night at the museum, I will head to Belvedere. Here, a contrast program awaits visitors: In Upper Belvedere “Josef Ignaz Mildorfer. A Rebel of the Baroque.” is on display, while in Lower Belvedere visitors can dive into surrealism with the brand new exhibition “Wolfgang Paalen (1905-59)”.

Last but not least, a nostalgic ride with the “Lange-Nacht-Bim” street car. There is always time for short ride between museum visits.

Of course there are many more museums and collections worth visiting, but even a “Long Night of Museums” is never long enough. The booklet for the event offers countless suggestions for the one or the other museum visit at another time.

ORF Long Night of Museums (c) ORF, Hans Leitner

Special Art and Cultural Experiences for Children

The “ORF Long Night of Museums” once again offers a special experience for the youngest visitors: 58 museums in Vienna await the young visitors with additional child-friendly exhibits that present art and cultural events that are enjoyable and fun and encourage the children to participate. All the museums that have special children’s activities in their program can be easily identified in the booklets by looking for the “Kinderprogramm” (children’s program) icon. Kids can once again collect stamps in their booklets for each children’s program that they visit. If they visit three or more programs they can collect a small gift before midnight at the “Treffpunkt Museum” at Vienna’s Maria-Theresien-Platz (gifts can also be requested later by mail).

Tickets

The tickets (regular price EURO 15.00 per person) will be valid again this year for the shuttle buses that commute between the participating locations and as tickets in public transport in Vienna. Discounted tickets (EURO 12.00) are available for pupils, students, military personnel, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Children up to 12 years are free of charge.

Tickets and booklets are available in advance at all participating museums, online HERE or on the day of the event at the “Treffpunkt Museum” at the Maria-Theresien-Platz.

So – Let’s Go: Get your ticket and booklet, choose your museums, plan your route, get some extra sleep and then head out for your cultural experience with the ORF Long Night of the Museums 2019. Have fun!

TIP: If you want to use the ORF Long Night of Museums for a weekend trip to Vienna, you are in good hands at the centrally located Schick Hotels & Restaurants from which you can comfortably reach numerous cultural institutions by foot or public transport.

Data and image sources:  © ORF / Lange Nacht der Museen, ORF design Hans Leitner.