Did Beethoven live in Vienna? In fact, Beethoven spent almost two thirds of his life in Austria's capital. While Mozart spent just 10 years in Wien, Beethoven lived in the capital of music for 35 years. Becoming Viennese by choice, Beethoven's nationality was actually German.
Ludwig van Beethoven’s time in Vienna was a defining period not just for the composer himself, but for the broader world of Western classical music. Vienna was one of the cultural capitals of Europe at the time. Consequently, Beethoven thrived in this atmosphere of musical innovation and patronage, while also pushing the boundaries of classical music in ways that would shape the future of composition.
In 1792, Beethoven arrived in Vienna as a 22-year old, having left his hometown of Bonn (now in Germany). Vienna was a vibrant city under the Habsburg monarchy, and it was in this environment that Beethoven would come to prominence. This period was marked by the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras, and Beethoven was in a prime position to take advantage of the cultural climate of the time.
While in Vienna, Beethoven lived and worked at a couple of places scattered across the city. You can either put together your own schedule or join a music history expert on a private guided Beethoven tour.
Are There Beethoven Concerts in Vienna?
Each New Year’s Eve, the Wiener Konzerthaus hosts the annual Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 concert. The Wiener Symphoniker and the Wiener Singakademie traditionally perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony at the turn of the year. For the upcoming 2025-2026 season, Andrés Orozco-Estrada will conduct the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in performances of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.
In the summer Beethoven music forms part of the Wiener Klassik Festival, a relatively new but exciting addition to Vienna's classical music scene. From July 25 to August 16, 2025, the Minoritenkirche in Vienna will transform into the center of classical music. The Wiener Klassikfestival presents outstanding concerts featuring works by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Brahms, and many more—performed by internationally renowned musicians and orchestras
Throughout the year the concerts in the Minorite Church usually include well known works of Beethoven.
1. Beethoven Haus Vienna
Beethoven in Vienna. Whereas there is more than one Beethoven residence in Vienna, the Pasqualatihaus is the most well known. Located on an upper level just behind a city wall bastion, his top floor apartment boasted five rooms and a grand view of the University of Vienna. It was here that he worked on top compositions like his only full opera Fidelio and piano hit For Elise. For a restless tenant like Beethoven, who moved constantly and rented several flats at the same time, keeping the Pasqualatihaus for 11 years meant commitment.
Inside, the Beethoven exhibition limits itself to a few paintings, drawings, and original music sheets, amidst a piano and some audio stations for listening to Beethoven music. As many other small historic attractions, Beethoven's flat is only accessible via a narrow staircase.
Address: Mölker Bastei 8, 1010 Vienna
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday and public holiday: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm; 24th and 31st December 10.00 am to 1.00 pm; closed on 1st January, 1st May, 25th December and all public holidays falling on a Monday;
2. Eroica Haus in Döbling
Beethoven in Vienna. In the green leafy outskirts of Döbling you will find another famous Beethoven residence: the Eroica House. The house itself is one of the typical suburban townhouses, with thick walls, almost square windows and a courtyard.
There, Beethoven created his monumental Eroica symphony, first dedicated to Napoleon, as well as the Waldstein sonata and a 'triple concert' for violin, cello and piano. As with the exhibtion at Pasqualatihaus, don't expect too much. In any case, Beethoven fans should pass by, for example during the Beethoven Vistas And Wine Walk. You will definitely get an impression of the site that must have inspired Beethoven to compose revolutionary pieces.
Address: Döblinger Hauptstrasse 92, 1190 Vienna
Opening Times: temporarily closed
3. Beethoven Frieze
Beethoven in Vienna. 'If I drew Beethoven's 9th Symphony what would it look like?' Art Nouveau genius Gustav Klimt responded at the turn of the 19th century with a monumental wall painting. Covering three walls and 34 meters, the Beethoven frieze uses mythological and allegorical creatures to visualise the human desire for happiness over the hostile powers of disease, death and lust. In particular, I love how Klimt visualises Beethoven's line 'this kiss to the whole world' in the symphony's final choir piece 'Ode to Joy' - see for yourself!
Address: Vienna Secession, Friedrichstrasse 12, 1010 Vienna
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
4. Beethoven Museum Vienna
Beethoven in Vienna. Definitely Vienna's best permanent Beethoven exhibition hides just where Beethoven once hid: in a baker's house in the leafy outskirts of Döbling's Heiligenstadt area. Since Heiligenstadt was well known for its healing springs Beethoven's physician recommended for him to relieve his bad hearing there.
Suffering physically and mentally as a deaf composer and musician, Beethoven increasingly isolated himself while continuing to write the most breathtaking music.
At the museum, the two most outstanding installations for me were a rack of 18th-century oil paintings depicting Viennese landscapes: whenever you pulled out one of them a different section of Beethoven's magical Pastorale symphony would start to play!
The other was a bone resonator device, similar to what Beethoven himself used to help his hearing. Beethoven used a wooden staff that he held against the piano housing while placing the other end of it between his teeth, using the bone conduction system to hear. Equally heartbreaking was it to read his famous Heiligenstadt testament, where he fully revealed the extent of his suffering.
Address: Probusgasse 6, 1190 Vienna
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday and public holiday: 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm; 24th and 31st December 10.00 am to 1.00 pm; closed on 1st January, 1st May, 25th December and all public holidays falling on a Monday;
5. Beethoven In Vienna: Insider Tips
Beethoven in Vienna. Dine at lovely restaurant Ludwig Van at another of Beethoven's former rental apartments, in Laimgrubengasse 22 in the sixth district. Among other works, he composed parts of his famous 9th Symphony there, as well as the Missa Solemnis.
Just a few hundred meters from the Beethoven Museum, visit Mayer am Pfarrplatz (photo), a charming wine tavern and restaurant, where Beethoven lived for a short time. This is also the drop off point of the lovely Beethoven Vistas And Wine Walk.
If you are generally interested in classical music, visit the House of Music, a fun interactive museum that also hosts a room just dedicated to Beethoven.
6. Beethoven Monument
Beethoven in Vienna. Half turning away, a wild mane supporting defiant looks, the long flowing coat covering the inner genius: Not far from Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna's Beethoven memorial revives the top composer, just as he really was. In fact, a prominent Beethoven fan made the statue possible: Composer Franz Liszt donated the proceeds of his last public concerts to fill the memorial fund's gap.
More than 50 years after his death, the bronze Beethoven statue was erected and now sits at Beethoven square, surrounding by bronze genii and little angels.
Address: Beethovenplatz, 1010 Vienna
7. Beethoven in Mödling
Beethoven in Vienna. Because he loved nature Beethoven spent many summers in the Vienna Woods, in the towns of Mödling and Baden bei Wien. Probably the key local pilgrimage site for Beethoven fans is the Hafner Haus in Mödling. Just before you enter the historic pedestrian area, the Renaissance building hosts a small exhibition in the three-room-flat that Beethoven used during the summer of 1819, and likely 1818. The courtyard boats beautiful arcades and two gothic bays.
Apart from the pianoforte sonata Beethoven also worked on the Missa Solemnis there. Though not displaying much original furniture you get a good impression of Beethoven's time there.
Address: Hauptstrasse 79, 2340 Mödling
Opening Times: Monday morning, or upon request (call +43 (0)2236 24 159)
Insider Tip: Although the Beethoven Hiking Path is 71 km in total, get a flavour of it by walking along Steinbruchweg in the Vienna Woods (best with a tour guide).
8. Beethoven in Baden bei Wien
Beethoven in Vienna. During the summers of 1821 and 1822 Beethoven stayed in Baden, when his health was declining, and he sought the quiet of the countryside to rest and compose. The house in Baden served as a retreat for Beethoven, where he worked on some of his later compositions.
Most spectacularly, Beethoven's summer residence in Baden in the Vienna Woods transforms Beethoven's 9th symphony into a multimedia experience: On the ground floor, four giant screens pull off the symphony's fourth movement: the first screen shows a line moving across the musical score as the music continues; the second displays the musical instruments while the third shows the orchestra in action. Finally, the fourth screen provides relevant information about the piece. The upper floors display more about the composer's everyday life.
Address: Rathausgasse 10, 2500 Baden
Opening Times: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays: 10.00 am to 6.00 pm; on 24th and 31st December open from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.
9. Beethoven Grave Site
Beethoven in Vienna. When Beethoven died in Heiligenstadt in 1826 Vienna mourned. Schools closed and about 20,000 people attended his funeral at the local cemetery in Währing. More than 60 years later, his remains were transferred to a grave of honor at the Central Cemetery in Vienna.
There, located on a little square, you can see a replica of his original tombstone in Währing (see photo), along with a Mozart memorial and Schubert's grave.
Location: Central Cemetery Vienna, group 32 A (between Gate 2 and the cemetery church)
