Vienna's most colorful architectural landmark is in your home district of Leopoldstadt - just 15 minutes on foot or a quick tram ride from your apartment.
The Hundertwasserhaus is one of Vienna's most visited and most photographed buildings - a riot of color, irregular shapes, and living greenery that challenges every convention of urban architecture. Designed by the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser and architect Joseph Krawina, the building was completed in 1985 as a municipal housing project for the City of Vienna. It remains a fully occupied residential building with 52 apartments, and while visitors cannot enter the private areas, the exterior alone is a revelation.
The building's facade is a patchwork of bright colors - blue, yellow, red, white, and terracotta - with no two windows identical in size or placement. Undulating floors, tree tenants (trees growing from inside apartments with branches extending through windows), rooftop gardens, and mosaic-covered columns all reflect Hundertwasser's philosophy that "the straight line is godless and immoral." The ground level features ceramic tile columns, uneven flooring, and organic forms that make walking through the building's exterior arcade feel like entering a fairytale.
Across the street, the Hundertwasser Village (a small shopping complex in the same artistic style) sells Hundertwasser-themed souvenirs, prints, and books. But the more substantial artistic experience is at the KunstHausWien (Hundertwasser Museum), located just 300 meters away on Untere Weissgerberstrasse. This former Thonet furniture factory was redesigned by Hundertwasser and now houses the world's only permanent Hundertwasser exhibition, alongside rotating contemporary art shows. The museum's cafe, with its plant-covered courtyard, is one of the most charming spots in the 3rd district.
The Hundertwasserhaus sits at the border of Vienna's 3rd district (Landstrasse) and the 2nd district (Leopoldstadt), in a neighborhood that has transformed dramatically in recent years. The streets around Lowengasse and Kegelgasse, where the building stands, have attracted independent galleries, design shops, and specialty cafes drawn by the creative energy of the Hundertwasser legacy. The area feels distinctly different from the imperial grandeur of the 1st district - more artistic, more contemporary, and more affordable.
Old Vienna Apartments at Herminengasse 12 places you in the same Leopoldstadt district as the Hundertwasserhaus, meaning you can visit this landmark as a local rather than a tourist making a special pilgrimage. A 15-minute walk through the pleasant residential streets of the 2nd district brings you there, or you can take tram line 1 from Schwedenplatz (an 8-minute walk from the apartment, or one U4 stop from Schottenring). The Hundertwasserhaus is also conveniently paired with other nearby attractions: the Prater amusement park and the Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) are just 10 minutes further east, and the Danube Canal promenade connects everything in a pleasant walking route.
Visiting the Hundertwasserhaus early in the morning - before the tour buses arrive around 10 AM - is the best strategy, and staying nearby in Leopoldstadt makes this easy. You can walk over at 8 AM, enjoy the building in peace, grab breakfast at one of the local cafes, and then continue to the KunstHausWien when it opens at 10 AM.
On foot (approximately 15 minutes): From Herminengasse, walk east along Kleine Pfarrgasse to Taborstrasse, then continue south on Grosse Mohrengasse. Cross Praterstrasse and continue south through Leopoldsgasse toward the Danube Canal. Cross the canal at Rotundenbrucke or walk along the canal to Radetzkybrucke, then head south on Lowengasse. The Hundertwasserhaus is at the corner of Lowengasse and Kegelgasse. This route takes you through authentic Leopoldstadt neighborhood streets with local shops and bakeries.
By tram (approximately 12 minutes): Walk to Schwedenplatz (8 minutes walk or take U4 one stop from Schottenring to Schwedenplatz). From Schwedenplatz, take tram 1 direction Stefan-Fadinger-Platz and ride to the Hetzgasse stop (about 4 minutes). Walk 2 minutes east on Lowengasse to reach the Hundertwasserhaus. Alternatively, from Schwedenplatz take tram O direction Praterstern, exit at Radetzkyplatz, and walk 5 minutes south.
By U-Bahn and walk: Take U4 from Schottenring direction Hutteldorf, exit at Landstrasser Hauptstrasse (Wien Mitte). From the station exit, walk north on Invalidenstrasse and then east on Lowengasse - about 10 minutes total walking from the station. This route is useful if you want to combine the visit with shopping at Wien Mitte - The Mall.
Timing your visit: The Hundertwasserhaus is an exterior attraction (you cannot enter the residential building), so there are no opening hours to worry about. However, the experience differs dramatically based on when you visit. Early morning (before 9 AM) offers empty streets and perfect soft light for photography. By mid-morning, tour buses line up on Kegelgasse, and the area fills with large groups. Late afternoon (after 4 PM) is another good window, when most tours have departed and the western-facing facades catch warm light.
KunstHausWien: This museum deserves at least 90 minutes. The permanent Hundertwasser collection on the upper floors traces the artist's evolution from paintings to architectural models, environmental activism, and philosophy. The rotating exhibitions on the ground floor often feature excellent contemporary photography. Admission is around €12 for adults, with reduced rates for students. The museum cafe courtyard is a hidden gem - lush with plants and far quieter than the tourist crowds around the house itself.
Photography advice: The best overall exterior photo of the Hundertwasserhaus is taken from the corner of Kegelgasse and Lowengasse, where you can capture the full colorful facade. For detail shots of the ceramic columns and mosaic work, walk through the ground-level arcade on the Kegelgasse side. The tree tenants growing from the upper floors are most visible and photogenic in summer when fully leafed. In winter, the building's colors stand out dramatically against grey skies.
Combine with the Prater: The Hundertwasserhaus is perfectly positioned for a combined visit with the Prater. After exploring the house and KunstHausWien, walk north along the Danube Canal (about 15 minutes) or take tram O from Radetzkyplatz to Praterstern. You arrive at the Riesenrad and the Wurstelprater amusement park, which opens in the afternoon and runs into the evening.
Neighborhood eating: The area between the Hundertwasserhaus and the Danube Canal has several excellent restaurants. Gasthaus Wild on Radetzkyplatz serves updated Viennese classics in a stylish setting. Cafe Ansari on Praterstrasse is known for its Middle Eastern-influenced brunch menu. For quick, affordable food, the bakeries and kebab shops along Taborstrasse and Praterstrasse offer good options for eating on the go.
The Hundertwasser toilet: One of Vienna's quirkiest attractions is the Hundertwasser-designed public toilet at the nearby Hundertwasser Village shopping area. Free to use, it features the artist's signature irregular floors, colorful tiles, and plant elements - making it possibly the most artistically significant public restroom in Europe.
| Destination | Distance | How to Get There |
|---|---|---|
| Hundertwasserhaus | 1.3 km | 15 min walk through Leopoldstadt |
| KunstHausWien | 1.1 km | 13 min walk |
| Hundertwasser Village | 1.3 km | 15 min walk |
| Schottenring Metro (U2/U4) | 150 m | 1 min walk |
| Danube Canal | 300 m | 4 min walk |
| Prater / Riesenrad | 2.0 km | U2 to Praterstern (5 min ride) |
| Schwedenplatz | 700 m | 8 min walk or U4 (1 stop) |
| Radetzkyplatz | 1.0 km | 12 min walk |
| Wien Mitte / Landstrasse | 1.5 km | U4 from Schottenring (5 min ride) |
| Praterstrasse | 600 m | 7 min walk |
Live in the same district as Vienna's most colorful building. Fully equipped apartments in a historic Leopoldstadt building from €45/night.
Check Availability & Book