If you have always been wondering what life is like for deaf people, at the Hands Up museum in Vienna, you get firsthand experience on sign language and the barriers — and benefits — that might come with it. This revealing and fun exhibition close to the city center is where your adventure into a different way of using your hands begins – unless you’re a natural with sign language. Bring your friends for deaf-style karaoke!

You can walk through the museum independently; everything is written in German and English, but I highly recommend taking a tour (at no extra cost)! The exhibition guides are all deaf and therefore able to give you authentic insights into what the world is like when you hear nothing – worry not, they can perfectly communicate with you. How? Well, you will have to go there yourself to understand.

At the new location, cross the backyard to the far left corner to find the entrance. I bet the signs leading you to the exhibition room will get better with time. Additional opening hours during the week after 4 pm and on Saturdays are available on request. The HANDS UP team is on the road, promoting inclusion, awareness, and diversity. Thus, the exhibition is closed on selected days – find all the dates on their website.

It’s a very interactive and fun experience. If your stay in Vienna is short, I recommend visiting Hands Up because it is the only of its kind in the world – so far!