Beethoven Pasqualatihaus

The Beethoven Pasqualatihaus is a mainstay of music- and Beethoven-themed tours of Vienna. Named after its 18th-century owner, Baron Pasqualati, it twice served as Beethoven’s home between 1804 and 1814. A fourth-floor apartment in the townhouse where the musical prodigy wrote several symphonies and his opera Fidelio has now been transformed into a Beethoven museum. The eclectic collection mixes original documents and objects once belonging to Beethoven with replicas and copies to create an overview of the composer’s life.

• Along with the Beethoven-related exhibits, the museum offers inspiring views from the windows over the rooftops of Vienna, so bring a camera.
• Signage and information inside the museum are in German and English.
• Purchase a combination ticket to visit six apartments in Vienna that have belonged to a number of musicians, including Beethoven, Strauss, Schubert, and Haydn.
• The fourth-floor museum has no elevator and is not accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

Beethoven Pasqualatihaus is set in Vienna’s Old Town, a short walk from the city’s top sights. Alternatively, take the U-Bahn metro line U2 to the Schottentor stop, then walk just a few minutes to the museum. If you plan to drive, be aware that parking is tricky in this area of the city.

The museum is closed on Mondays and on a handful of religious and bank holidays; check the museum website for updated opening hours. From 1pm to 2pm, the museum closes for a lunch break, so be sure to time your visit for the morning or afternoon to avoid disappointment.

Beethoven lived in Vienna for 35 years, so it comes as no surprise that the city is thick in sights and memorials dedicated to one of history’s most famous composers. In addition to two museums (Beethoven Pasqualatihaus and the Beethoven Museum), fans of classical music can admire his statue that sits in Beethoven Square (Beethovenplatz) and learn more about his life and work at the House of Music (Haus der Musik). Visitors can also see where his major symphonies were first performed at the Theatermuseum and Theater an der Wien, and pay their respects at his tomb at the Vienna Central Cemetery (Wiener Zentralfriedhof).