Museum of Illusions Vienna
Museum of Illusions Vienna
INTERACTIVE LEARNING
Museum of Illusions Vienna
You can’t believe your eyes at the Museum of Illusions in Vienna! Be it in the upside-down room or with your head on a platter! Even the tilted room or the vortex tunnel have it all!
Fun for the whole family – especially when you look at the photos afterwards! So don’t forget to charge your camera!
Opening hours:
Monday – Friday, 10.00 – 18.00 hrs
Saturday, Sunday & public holidays, 10.00 – 19.00
My Rating:
The positives:
Appearances really are deceptive :-) Because there is more to see than meets the eye!
The negatives:
It was very cramped! It would be better if the number of visitors per hour was lower so that the optical illusions could be given the right attention.
Tip:
Visit the museum one hour before closing time, when there are the fewest visitors! And: take your time!
Last Modified: 07.08.2024 | Céline & Susi
MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONEN Vienna
Tickets
The details
at a glance
WHAT IS THERE
TO SEE?
There is a lot to see – really a lot, actually! That’s why you should take your time to visit the Museum of Illusions in Vienna. Many visitors think that a quick “rush through” to take a few funny photos would be enough, but then you miss many important details, such as the 3D pictures on the walls or the wooden puzzles.
From the outside, the museum doesn’t really stand out (is that the first optical illusion? 🙂 ). A small sign reading “Museum of Illusions” is the only indication of this.
But as soon as you enter the exhibition rooms, the fun begins. On the walls of the first corridor, there are pictures on the left and right that change depending on where you look at them. Even here, you have to be careful not to get dizzy 😉
In addition to the optical illusions on the walls, there are always explanatory panels so that you can actually understand why our brain sees something different from what it actually is. There are also showrooms – let’s call them “illusion rooms” – that can be used for interaction. For example, there is a tunnel (vortex tunnel) in which the environment rotates and visitors feel as if they themselves are shaking.
In another room, everything is upside-down, in one the proportions change and in yet another it looks as if you are standing on high pillars rather than a flat floor.
For the illusion to work, a photo has to be taken. This is because most “illusion rooms” only work when viewed from the outside (i.e. via the photo). It is therefore best to visit the museum with at least three people. That way, two people can interact with the attraction and the third person can take the photo. However, if you are there alone, the museum staff will help you take photos.
There are also blue markings on the floor to indicate where you should take the photo from in order to achieve the desired effect/optical illusion.
The eyes are challenged, the brain is stimulated to think, and the whole body is set in motion. The different tasks, whether it’s just being asked to look at a picture for 30 seconds, require the visitors to concentrate, but are great fun!
It was also exciting to see that the museum is actually suitable for almost all age groups and that it is an experience even if you understand the trick (the function of the optical illusion)!
CONCLUSION
There is a lot to see, a lot to do and a lot to photograph, but unfortunately, it is very cramped. If the rooms were larger and the maximum number of visitors was lower (even with an extra charge!), I would rate the visit with 5 stars. Nevertheless, I would strongly recommend a visit with friends or family – preferably in the late afternoon!
As I have already visited the Museum of Illusions in Rome, so I was already familiar with most of the pictures/rooms/attractions! But, this time I wasn’t there alone and so experienced how fun a visit can be for two!
Anne has also visited the Museum of Illusions in Paris – she also gives it 4 stars! And Céline tried the one in Madrid – text to come – but loved it, too!
Yours Susi
Official website of the Museum of Illusions in Vienna (DE): museumderillusionen.at
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich 2023 – 2024
With the support of Susanne Vukan.
With permission of the Museum of Illusions.