Last – but only in chronological order – among the buildings on the Ringstrasse, the elegant boulevard surrounding the centre of Vienna, the Austrian National Theatre (Burgtheater in German) is the most important theatre in the German-speaking countries and one of the city’s most famous tourist attractions.
Built between 1874 and 1888 according to plans by architects Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer, the current building is the last of the grand palaces on the Ringstraße. The theatre can seat over 1,200 spectators and boasts one of the largest and most technologically advanced stages in Europe, with a 12-metre wide stage portal and a main stage 28.5 metres wide and 23 metres deep.
During World War II, on 12 March 1945, the Burgtheater was almost completely destroyed by an air raid and further damaged by fire the following month. Reconstruction, completed between 1953 and 1955, returned the theatre to its original appearance, fortunately preserving Gustav Klimt ‘s extraordinary frescoes that decorate the side staircases, created together with his brother Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch in 1887.
Today, the Burgtheater employs around 530 people who work to ensure at least 20 new productions per year, all of the highest artistic and technical level. On its prestigious stage, timeless works by Aeschylus, Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Henrik Ibsen and all the great masters of world drama are performed, keeping alive the tradition of classical repertory theatre that has made this temple of Viennese culture famous.
The Burgtheater’s most precious artistic treasure is the frescoes by Gustav Klimt that decorate the two monumental side staircases. Created in 1887 when Klimt was only 25 years old, these ceiling paintings represent some of the artist’s earliest important work, executed in collaboration with his brother Ernst and his friend Franz Matsch, before Klimt developed the golden style that would make him famous.
The right-hand staircase presents scenes from the history of dramatic theatre, with performances ranging from the Greek origins with Thespis, considered to be the first actor in history, to the performances at the Comédie-Française with Molière performing ‘The Imaginary Sick Man’. The paintings are executed in the historicist style typical of late 19th-century Vienna, with meticulous attention to detail in the costumes and sets of each era.
The left staircase depicts the history of popular theatre, with a sublime painting by Klimt showing a dance scene from the time of the Roman Empire. This fresco is particularly significant because it anticipates the turn that Klimt’s work would take towards more decorative and symbolic forms. The preparatory sketches on cardboard for these frescoes have been preserved and can still be admired today, especially before the performances.
The staircase, once reserved exclusively for the imperial court, is now accessible during guided tours and offers a spectacular view of the Ringstraße and Vienna City Hall, which stands directly in front of the theatre. The main foyer, also richly decorated, is a fine example of 19th century Vienna interior design.
The stage of the Burgtheater is considered one of the largest and most technologically advanced in the world. Its technology was already innovative at the time of its inauguration in 1888, making it possible to stage plays with complex set designs and to perform scene changes very quickly. Over the decades, the system was constantly modernised to remain state-of-the-art.
During the 1955 reconstruction after the war damage, a revolutionary system was installed that is still in use today: a turntable consisting of a 15-metre high rotating cylinder with a diameter of 21 metres and four hydraulic lifts of 12×4 metres each. This technology makes it possible to completely change the scenery in just 40 seconds, enabling smooth and spectacular stage transitions.
The main stage reaches a height of 28 metres and uses a computerised system considered among the most advanced in Europe. During guided tours, when there are no rehearsals or daytime performances in progress, visitors can enter the stage and discover the technical secrets of staging a successful theatre production, observing at first hand the mechanisms that enable the magic of theatre.
For tourists who do not speak German and therefore cannot attend performances in the original language, the Burgtheater offers guided tours that allow visitors to admire the theatre’s magnificent halls and decorations. Tickets for the guided tours are distributed 20 minutes before the start at the main entrance in the ticket hall.
Tours take place on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays at 11 a.m., with exceptions for Christmas Eve and Good Friday. The duration is about 50 minutes and the tours are conducted mainly in German, but written summaries are available in English, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian and Japanese. On selected days, tours are organised directly in English, which can be checked on the official website.
For those who understand enough German to follow the performances, tickets for the plays are available through the online ticket office or at the theatre.
Guided tours of the Burgtheater are held on specific days and times of the week. During the winter months, tours are available on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays at 4pm and on Sundays and holidays at 11am. During the summer months, times may vary and it is recommended to consult the official website for up-to-date information.
The theatre service centre is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for information, reservations and ticket sales. The physical ticket office for buying tickets for guided tours opens 30 minutes before each tour, although it is strongly recommended to buy online in advance to guarantee your place.
Approximately 50-60 minutes is recommended to visit the Burgtheater in its entirety via a guided tour. This is enough time to admire the staircase with the Klimt frescoes, the main foyer, the historic halls and, when possible, the auditorium and stage.
The Burgtheater is located at Universitätsring 2 in the heart of Vienna’s 1st district, directly on the famous Ringstraße opposite City Hall. The nearest underground station is Schottentor on the U2 line (purple), from which the theatre is about a 5-minute walk away via a short scenic walk.
Alternatively, Herrengasse station on the U3 line (orange) is also within walking distance of the theatre. Tram lines 1, D and 71 stop at the Burgtheater/Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring station right in front of the main entrance, making this the most convenient way to reach the theatre from the city centre.
Bus line 1A stops at the Dr.-Karl-Renner-Ring/Burgtheater station, offering a further public transport option. The Burgtheater’s central location on the Ringstraße makes it easy to combine with visits to other attractions such as the Hofburg Palace (a 10-minute walk away), the Art History Museum (5 minutes away) or the Volksgarten with its beautiful roses.
The Burgtheater is located at Universitätsring 2 in Vienna's 1st district, directly on the Ringstraße opposite the City Hall.
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