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For the Viennese, death seems to be an extension of life and funerals are done in style. In this small Undertakers’ Museum all kinds of funereal objects are on view. One of the less respectful items is the 18th-century “re-usable coffin” – its hinged bottom meant that the corpse could be dropped into the grave, leaving the coffin ready for the next customer.

The horse-drawn carriages known as Fiaker are now largely used by tourists, but they were once the taxis of the city. Photos and models document the history of this Viennese institution.

This museum seeks to shed light on Vienna’s darker side and presents the city’s most sensational crimes from the Middle Ages to the present. You will find gruesome exhibits here, such as the mummified heads of executed criminals and grisly murder weapons. The museum also details the development of Austria’s legal system.

A museum devoted to the distilled Austrian drink, Schnaps. The historic distillery dates back to the 1870s but is still used today to produce drinks such as the “Schönbrunn Gold” liquor, made of herb and orange distillates. You can look around the old cauldrons and the office with original furniture – but don’t miss the tasting after the tour.

Located in one of Vienna’s oldest houses, this museum is dedicated to timepieces of all ages and shapes. Items include an astronomical clock from 1769 whose hands take 20,904 years to do a full turn.

The Josephinum houses a unique collection of anatomical wax models that were commissioned by Emperor Joseph II for the training of apprentice surgeons. The medical models were manufactured by Felice Fontana in Florence between 1784–8 and transported on donkeys over mountain passes to Austria. Many medical themes are covered here, but the wax models are the largest collection of its kind in the world (see p98).

The round “Narrenturm” building, the 18th-century psychiatric ward of the former General Hospital, houses a morbid collection of medical horrors. Begun in 1796 to document pathological changes and malformations of humans, the exhibits include human and animal bones as well as body parts preserved in formaldehyde. You will definitely need strong nerves here.

This private collection revolves around dolls and toys from the last two centuries, and is as interesting for adults as it is for children. The museum exhibits 600 dolls made of wood, wax and porcelain, as well as various teddy bears, string puppets, dolls’ houses and toy trains.

Lovers of the Big Top will find plenty to smile about here. The small collection is not only devoted to circus life but also to the art of entertainment and has props, fancy costumes, historic programmes and colourful circus posters on display. Exhibits also tell the history of famous clowns.

Another private collection, this one centres around coffee, the favourite drink of the Viennese. In the little showroom various coffee machines from the past 200 years are on display, together with grinders, samovars and coffeepots. You can also learn about the different ways to roast the beans.