Last – but only in chronological order – among the buildings on the Ringstrasse, the elegant boulevard that surrounds 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.
Created as a classical repertory theatre, timeless plays by Aeschylus, Shakespeare, Wilde, Ibsen and all the greats of theatre history are performed on its stage in front of an audience of over a thousand people.
To understand the importance of this theatre, it suffices to mention that every year 530 people work to ensure at least 20 new productions, all of the highest artistic and technical quality.
The National Theatre is interesting not only for its first-class programming, but also for its architecture: the magnificent façade has made it one of the stars of the Ringstrasse, but the interior is no less sumptuous, decorated with paintings by Klimt, statues and elegant chandeliers. Don’t miss the guided tour.
The origins of the National Theatre lie in the Teutsches Nationaltheater, the National Court Theatre founded by Emperor Joseph II in the second half of the 18th century.
The present building was constructed between 1874 and 1888 to plans by Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer and opened to the public on 14 October 1888.
During the Second World War it was severely damaged and it was only in 1955 that the theatre was able to return to its former glory, with a new state-of-the-art stage system.
The Austrian National Theatre is a top attraction in Vienna not only because of its historical importance and the high quality of the performances on offer, but also and above all because of the grandiose architecture of the building.
Foreign tourists who do not master German and therefore cannot attend the performances can console themselves, so to speak, by admiring the theatre’s magnificent halls and decorations, a fine example of 19th century Vienna interior design, during a guided tour.
The two staircases, with their walls decorated with paintings by the Klimt brothers and Franz Matsch, as well as the main foyer, are marvellous.
The stage of the Burgtheater is one of the largest in the world and makes use of computer technology considered to be one of the most advanced in Europe.
Already in the year of its opening, the Burgtheater could boast of a stage with innovative technology, which made it possible to stage even operas with particularly complex set designs and to carry out set changes very quickly.
This system was constantly modernised over the decades and in 1955 the stage was equipped with a system consisting of a rotating cylinder and four hydraulic lifts that is still considered revolutionary today.
Today it is possible to make a stage change in just 40 seconds!
A guided tour of the Burgtheater is the best way to discover and appreciate what makes this theatre so special, a unique mix of architecture, history, organisation and technology.
The guided tour, which lasts about 50 minutes, includes the famous staircase decorated with paintings by Gustav Klimt, his brother Ernst Klimt and Franz Matsch, the sculpture collection with busts of famous playwrights such as Hauptmann, Schnitzler and Raimund, and the painting collection with portraits of famous theatre actors.
The most interesting part of the visit, however, is the behind-the-scenes look at the technical secrets of putting on a successful play. You will also have access to the auditorium and stage, but only if there are no rehearsals or daytime performances scheduled, or if there are no special production requirements.
The Burgtheater is located in the centre of Vienna, along the famous Ringstrasse. You can get here by tram or underground (Herrengasse stop).
If you are here by car, be careful because parking spaces around the theatre are limited, but you can find parking spaces for a fee.
City Card allow you to save on public transport and / or on the entrances to the main tourist attractions.
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel