At Große Sperlgasse 24 in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt, the Vienna Crime Museum traces crime, policing and punishment from the Middle Ages to modern times. Its rooms bring together original objects connected with criminal cases, forensic exhibits, historical penal devices and large acrylic paintings depicting notorious crimes. An audio guide in several languages helps explain displays whose written labels are mostly in German. Allow more than an hour, and longer if you want to follow the cases in detail. Some crime-scene photographs are graphic, so this is not an easygoing museum stop for everyone.
A history of crime and justice in Vienna
The museum follows criminal history in Vienna from the Middle Ages to the present. Its subject is broader than individual crimes: exhibits also cover the judiciary and police, showing how the response to crime changed over time.
The historical material includes the medieval penal system and Vienna’s last public executions. As the displays move closer to the present, the cases and evidence take on a more modern character. The collection gives the city’s past a different focus from the usual accounts of its major landmarks.
Objects, cases and audio guidance
Original objects connected with the crimes on display sit alongside forensic material and photographs. Acrylic paintings illustrate some well-known cases. Large crime-scene images can be graphic, so consider that before bringing children or visiting if you would rather avoid disturbing material.
Most written descriptions are in German. An audio guide is available in several languages, including English, and provides more detail about the cases. It is a separate purchase, so ask about it at reception. The guide has numerous tracks; allow time to follow them as you move through the exhibits.
FAQ
How long do you need at the Vienna Crime Museum?
Plan for more than an hour. Visitors who listened to the audio guide and explored the cases in detail spent over two hours.
Is there an English audio guide?
Yes. An English audio guide is available at reception, but it costs extra. Most written exhibit information is in German.
Is the museum suitable for children?
The museum is listed as family-friendly, but some displays include graphic crime-scene photographs. Consider whether that material is suitable for the children in your group.
What can you see at the Vienna Crime Museum?
Exhibits cover crime, policing and the judiciary from medieval times to the present, including original objects linked to cases, forensic material and historical penal devices.
