Best for
Theatre and architecture fans, Klimt enthusiasts
Time needed
50–60 minutes for a tour
Worth it?
Yes for a tour — genuinely grand interior with an early Klimt connection
Skip if
You don't speak German and aren't interested in a daytime architectural tour
About Burgtheater
The Burgtheater traces its founding to 1741 under Empress Maria Theresa, though the building visitors see today — a grand Ringstrasse-era structure by Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer — opened in 1888. It's widely regarded as one of the most important German-language theatres in the world, a rank it has held for well over a century, staging classic and contemporary drama for a demanding Viennese audience.
The building's grand staircases are decorated with ceiling paintings by a group of artists that included a young Gustav Klimt, working here before the Vienna Secession made him famous — one of several Vienna buildings, alongside the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where his early academic work can still be seen in its original setting.
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Guided daytime tours let visitors see the auditorium, staircases and Klimt paintings without attending a performance, though for German speakers (or those comfortable following surtitles or context from synopsis), an evening at the Burgtheater remains one of Vienna's great cultural experiences.
What to See: Highlights
- 1One of the German-speaking world's most prestigious theatres
- 2Ceiling paintings by a young Gustav Klimt on the grand staircases
- 3Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer's Ringstrasse-era architecture
- 4Guided daytime tours without needing a performance ticket
- 5Directly opposite the Rathaus on the Ringstrasse
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Insider Tips
Take a guided tour if you don't speak German but still want to see the interior and Klimt paintings
Combine with the Rathaus and Volksgarten, both immediately nearby
No advance booking needed for individual guests on tour days — arrive 20 minutes early
Evening performances require German fluency or comfort with the material beforehand
The exterior alone, opposite the Rathaus, makes a great Ringstrasse photo stop
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Getting There
Universitätsring 2, 1010 Wien
Open in Google Maps →- 1U-Bahn U2 to Rathaus, directly outside on the Ringstrasse. Tram 1, 2, D, 71 to Rathausplatz/Burgtheater.
Where to stay
Hotels in Vienna
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see Klimt's early ceiling paintings in their original context
- You appreciate grand 19th-century theatre architecture
- You're walking the Ringstrasse near the Rathaus
- You speak German and want to attend a world-class theatre performance
Skip if...
- You don't speak German and aren't interested in a tour-only visit
- Theatre history isn't of particular interest
- You're very tight on time along the Ringstrasse
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Vienna
Vienna City Hall (Rathaus)
A vast neo-Gothic town hall on the Ringstrasse, its square hosting Vienna's Christmas market, summer film festival and ice-skating rink through the year — free guided tours three days a week.
Austrian Parliament Building
A Greek-revival temple to democracy on the Ringstrasse, guarded by a monumental Athena fountain — free guided tours through the recently renovated interior.
Volksgarten
A formal 19th-century rose garden between the Hofburg and the Ringstrasse — the Theseus Temple, a monument to Empress Elisabeth, and one of the most fragrant free stops in central Vienna.