How to Visit The State Hall of the Austrian National Library in Vienna
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You’ve probably seen stunning photos of the State Hall of the Austrian National Library floating around social media, but how do you go about visiting this attraction straight out of Beauty and the Beast?
I’ll admit, I initially planned just a quick 30-minute peek at this library while touring the nearby Hofburg Palace, but I ended up completely mesmerized by the State Hall’s soaring beauty.
Having walked through those towering 20-meter-high halls and stood beneath the elaborate dome frescoes depicting Emperor Charles VI’s “deification,” I can say this 18th-century architectural marvel surpasses all expectations.
Whether you’re a book lover dreaming of ogling 12+ million items in its collection or simply someone eager to experience what it’s like to step inside a fairy tale library, this guide will help you make the most of your visit to Austria‘s largest library.
I’ll walk you through everything from the four massive Venetian globes and ceiling paintings to practical tips about tickets and timing, so you can plan your visit, whether you have an hour or an entire afternoon to spend.
Is the Austrian National Library worth visiting?
Yes. The Austrian National Library’s State Hall is one of Vienna’s most beautiful attractions, featuring Baroque architecture, ceiling frescoes, Venetian globes, historic manuscripts, and one of Europe’s most impressive library interiors. Most visitors spend 45–60 minutes exploring the site.
History of the Austrian National Library
Vienna’s Austrian National Library began its life as an imperial library back in the Middle Ages.
Duke Albert III (1349–1395) ordered the migration of books from the Viennese vaults to the library. Crucially, he had the important works translated from Latin into German.
By 1722, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, had authorized the construction of the library’s permanent home in the Hofburg Imperial Palace.
Prince Eugene of Savoy gifted 15,000 volumes to the library, increasing its estimated value to 150,000 florins and making it more valuable than Prince Eugene’s Belvedere Palace (a top Vienna attraction consisting of two Baroque palaces and now housing an art museum), which cost 100,000 florins to build.
A total of about 200,000 books were housed at the Library in Vienna by this point.
It also acquired one of the largest collections of Martin Luther’s writings from the Reformation Era.
The Court Library, now the Austrian National Library, opened around 1735 and became the largest library in Austria.
Library Growth Timeline
- 1349–1395: Duke Albert III orders the founding migration of texts and translations
- 1722: Charles VI authorizes construction of a permanent home in the Hofburg
- ~1735: The Court Library opens, becoming the largest library in Austria
- Today: The library’s holdings span millions of items across the State Hall and four additional museums—the Literature Museum, Papyrus Museum, Globe Museum, and Esperanto Museum, plus the House of Austrian History
Importance Within Austria
Beyond its architectural fame, the Austrian National Library serves as Austria’s official legal deposit library. Publishers are required by law to send a copy of every work printed in the country to the library, including every doctoral dissertation approved by Austrian universities.
Kind of like how the Library of Congress has a copy of all books in Washington, D.C.
The library’s papyrus collection, the largest of its kind in the world, earned its own UNESCO Memory of the World inscription in 2001.
Is the Austrian National Library Worth Visiting?
Yes, the Austrian National Library is worth visiting, particularly if you’re combining it with the nearby Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum, as all three are within a few minutes’ walk in Vienna’s 1st district and are part of the same complex, making them easy to visit within the same day.
The State Hall alone, with its soaring proportions, elaborate dome frescoes, and four Venetian globes, is one of the most visually stunning interiors in Europe.
The 1457 Mainz Psalter on display makes the visit genuinely important beyond the architecture.
The State Hall takes under an hour to walk through, making it a realistic add-on rather than a full-day commitment.
The time I spent in the library was incredible, and that was long before my own author journey.
It’s an ornate wonder that you should add to your Vienna itinerary, particularly if you’re bookish or would like to feel like Disney’s Belle.
Non-bibliophiles may be less captivated than book lovers, but the sheer visual scale of the room impresses most visitors regardless of their interest in the collection.
What to See Inside the Austrian National Library
The State Hall
At nearly 80 meters (263 feet) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high, this Baroque hall is the reason most people compare it to the library from Beauty and the Beast.
Emperor Charles VI Statue
At the center of the hall stands a marble statue of Emperor Charles VI, depicted as “Hercules Musarum.”
The Dome Frescoes
Painted between 1726 and 1730, the ceiling frescoes depict the apotheosis—literally the “deification”—of Emperor Charles VI. Look closely, and you’ll spot the god Apollo, Hercules, and various symbols of the House of Habsburg worked into the central dome.
The Venetian Globes
Four Venetian globes, each about 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter, sit within the State Hall—two terrestrial and two celestial.
The 1457 Mainz Psalter
On display is the 1457 Mainz Psalter, listed on UNESCO’s World Document Heritage register as the oldest example of printed text with multi-colored ornamentation. It was also the first book to feature a printed publication date, two type sizes, and decorative initials. Only ten copies survive worldwide, and this is the only complete version of the more extensive edition.
Rare Manuscripts
The library’s oldest book is a 1368 Gospel book crafted by Johannes von Troppau, a canon from Brno, commissioned by Duke Albert III of Austria. Written in gold lettering with intricate illustrations, it’s considered the foundational text of the entire collection.
Hidden Passages
Keep an eye out while you wander: library employees are known to occasionally slip through concealed passages hidden behind certain bookcases. I never spotted a hidden passage myself—if you do, report back in the comments!
What it’s Like Visiting the State Hall of the Austrian National Library
After touring the Sisi Museum, I headed over to the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in German), which is just a short 4-minute walk away.
We were cranking through our days in Vienna, so I only visited the State Hall of the Austrian National Library, which took less than an hour to walk through.
We skipped the other museums mentioned above.
It is one of the most gorgeous libraries I’ve ever been to; only the Abbey Library of Saint Gall in Switzerland really matches it in my eyes.
Though not as ornate, the monastic library at the Augustine Hotel in Prague is also worth a mention, as it’s hidden away within the hotel, in addition to the scholarly library of the Folger in DC.
It’s as if the Beauty and the Beast library has come alive!
That’s the sensation you’ll have when visiting (#sorrynotsorry about the joke below; I always think of it anytime the word ‘baroque’ is said).
It features an elaborate dome, several frescoes, and four Venetian globes.
Do take the time to look up at the “deification” of Emperor Charles VI and try to spot the god Apollo, Hercules, and symbols of the House of Habsburg.
Between this and the statue, talk about believing in your god-given right to rule!
Today, the Austrian National Library in Vienna is one of the world’s major libraries.
With collections dating back to the 14th century and a total of 2.5 million books, that’s not a surprise.
Not only is the architecture of the State Hall of the Austrian National Library itself fantastic, but the special collections displayed within include historical prints, maps, papyri, portraits, and more!
I was thrilled to see the 1457 Mainz Psalter, listed on the UNESCO World Document Heritage list, which is the oldest surviving example of printed text with multi-colored ornamentation.
It was also the first book to feature a printed date of publication, two type sizes, and decorative initials.
The initials, illuminated letters, and ornaments were created using metal shapes that would be taken apart and reassembled. These shapes were inked and inserted into the printing of the black text pages.
Amazingly, only ten copies have survived, with the Austrian National Library copy being the only complete version of the more extensive edition.
How Much Does the Austrian National Library Cost?
There was no entrance fee for me since I had the Vienna Pass (a tourist card for the city, which I highly recommend for the savings, as it covered most of the attractions I wanted to see in Austria’s capital).
Without the Vienna Pass, it is 12 euros for adults, and 5 more for a guided tour.
I didn’t take a guided tour because it’s only available every Thursday at 6 pm and every Sunday at 3 pm, in German. Or on very select dates in English.
Alternatively, you can get an audio guide for an additional €3.
However, there were enough plaques around, in German and English, to inform my mother and me.
**Prices last verified April 2026
How Long Does It Take to Visit the Austrian National Library?
Visiting the State Hall took under an hour.
However, if you’re a bibliophile, BookToker, Bookstagrammer, or a loveable bookworm, you may want to allot more time to see the other library museums, some of which are covered by the Vienna Pass.
Getting Here
Nestled in the heart of Vienna’s 1st district (also known as the Innere Stadt, which is the historical, cultural, and political core of the Austrian capital), the Austrian National Library is conveniently accessible by several modes of transport.
The library is just a short hop from the U-Bahn stations of Karlsplatz and Stephansplatz, both of which will get you close.
Prefer surface transport? The tram lines 1, 2, 71, and D will drop you nearly at the library’s doorstep (Kärntnerring Oper).
For those driving, there are parking facilities in the vicinity, but be prepared, as downtown Vienna can be bustling.
Or, you can do as I did and take the Hop-on Hop-off bus, which is included in the Vienna Pass.
Once you arrive at Heldenplatz, look for the archway leading to the Franz Joseph Square, and you’ll find the entrance to this literary travel marvel.
FAQs
Can you go inside the Austrian National Library?
Yes, you can enter the Austrian National Library in Vienna and explore the magnificent State Hall.
Visitors are welcome to walk through the hall, admire the four Venetian globes—each approximately 1 meter in diameter, two terrestrial and two celestial—and photograph the elaborate ceiling frescoes created between 1726 and 1730 depicting the apotheosis of Emperor Charles VI.
You cannot handle the books in the collection, but you can view items on display, including the 1457 Mainz Psalter, listed on UNESCO’s World Document Heritage register as the oldest example of printed text with multi-colored ornamentation.
Guided tours are available on Thursdays at 6 pm and Sundays at 3 pm (primarily in German, with select English dates) for an additional €5.
An audio guide is also available for €3.
What is the oldest book in the Austrian National Library?
The oldest book in the Austrian National Library is a Gospel book from 1368, crafted by Johannes von Troppau, a canon from Brno, and commissioned by Duke Albert III of Austria.
Written in gold lettering with intricate illustrations, it is considered the library’s foundational text and reflects Duke Albert III’s significant role in building the imperial collection as he ordered books transferred from Viennese vaults and had important works translated from Latin into German during his reign from 1349 to 1395.
The library’s most historically significant printed item is the 1457 Mainz Psalter, listed on UNESCO’s World Document Heritage register.
It is the oldest example of printed text with multi-colored ornamentation and was also the first book to include a printed publication date, two type sizes, and decorative initials.
Only ten copies of the Psalter survived worldwide; the Austrian National Library holds the only complete version of the more extensive edition.
Is the Austrian National Library free?
The Austrian National Library is not free to visit, but several options significantly reduce the cost.
Standard adult admission to the State Hall is €12, with an optional guided tour for an additional €5 (Thursdays at 6 pm and Sundays at 3 pm, primarily in German) or an audio guide for €3.
Children enter for free.
The Vienna Pass covers free admission to the State Hall and some of the library’s associated museums, making it worthwhile if you’re visiting multiple attractions across Vienna.
Additional free or discounted admission applies to students under 27, military and civilian service members, members of the Association of the Friends of the Austrian National Library, and ICOM members.
The library sits adjacent to the Hofburg Palace complex, so combining visits on the same day—Sisi Museum, Imperial Apartments, and the State Hall—makes efficient use of travel time and reduces the per-attraction cost of the Vienna Pass.
Can you take photos inside the Austrian National Library?
Yes, you can take photos inside the Austrian National Library’s State Hall.
Visitors are welcome to walk through and photograph the elaborate ceiling frescoes, Venetian globes, and the central statue of Emperor Charles VI.
You cannot, however, handle or touch the books and manuscripts on display.
Is the Austrian National Library included in the Vienna Pass?
Yes, the Vienna Pass covers free admission to the State Hall, along with some of the library’s associated museums.
Without the pass, standard adult admission is €12, with an optional audio guide for €3 or a guided tour for an additional €5.
What is the most famous item in the Austrian National Library?
The most famous item is the 1457 Mainz Psalter, listed on UNESCO’s World Document Heritage register.
It’s the oldest surviving example of printed text with multi-colored ornamentation, and the Austrian National Library holds the only complete copy of its more extensive edition—only ten copies survive worldwide.
Related Vienna Travel Guides
- Guide to the Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum in Vienna
- Austrian National Library: Live a Bookworm’s Dream in Vienna
- How Many Days in Vienna? A Simple Guide for First-timers
- How to Spend 2 Days in Vienna: Budget Itinerary + Map
- Is Vienna Worth Visiting? 13 Things to Consider Before Traveling
- Helpful Guide to “Is the Vienna Pass Worth It?”
- Hofburg Palace vs Schonbrunn Palace: Which Imperial Experience is Better?
- 37 Things to Do in Vienna: Exploring Austria’s Capital Affordably
- Where to Stay in Vienna: My Favorite Areas + Best Budget Hotels
- How to Spend 3 Days in Vienna: My Budget-Savvy Itinerary
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