MAK Vienna

Contemporary and applied arts

David from Vienna

""MAK" in Vienna houses contemporary and applied arts. I truly believe it's a sanctuary for the city's artists. Protip: visit on Tuesday..."

Whether it's to visit an exhibition or for a class, the MAK has plenty to offer. A museum-cum-arts college, this famous building has been a feature of inner-ring architecture since the 19th century. The museum was first conceived in 1863, with plans based on the South Kensington Museum (which is now the V&A) in London. This is something I find remarkable about Viennese architecture: only a handful of buildings, such as the WUK on Währinger Straße, are red-brick in the Northern European style; the majority of Viennese buildings tend to be stuccoed in that familiar off-white and extravagantly ornamented, especially along the Ringstraße.

It is not the only reason I like the exterior of the MAK. First opened to the public in 1871, it was expanded in the early twentieth century, then partially rebuilt in the '40s after damage sustained in the war. During the '80s and '90s the whole interior underwent restoration and was designed in order to reconfigure the exhibition space.

Surprisingly for a Viennese art museum, if you visit the MAK on a Tuesday, admission fees are waived. And, as I briefly mentioned in the introduction, this is no mere museum: MAK is a sanctuary for applied artists. There are many opportunities to study or even take evening courses here - Aktzeichnen (life-drawing) for example. This class is very popular! Also, offers for furniture, Wohngemeinschaften (flatshares) and the like are pinned up regularly in the student space. The vibe is, thankfully, in no way stuffy or elitist.

Art & culture

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Vienna Spotter David

About me My name is David. I'm a British expat living in Vienna since 2011. I originally only intended to stay in Vienna for a year or two, tops, but frankly, the city has a habit of getting under your skin, so I've never felt the need to move on. I've always worked in fields with people and lately I've taken up a job as a social worker. It's a great city to live in when you want to explore human nature. Other than that, my main hobby is cycling. I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to two wheels. I know every nook and cranny of the city by now, having cycled all ov...

About this spot

Stubernring 5

Adult admission:

€

7.90

Website

1711360

Oct 5, 2025

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