Cookie Notice

The website uses cookies: They are necessary for functionality and processed for the anonymous analysis of website use. Cookies for analysis purposes are set only with your consent. You can revoke your consent at any time. You can find more information in our Privacy Statement.

Seite teilen

Experience Barrier-free

The Parliament for everyone

Parliament is the central place of every democracy. This is where the cooperation and governance of the democratically elected political representatives takes place.

The interests of all citizens are represented in Parliament.

In organizational terms, Parliament consists of two Chambers:

  • National Council
  • Federal Council

Parliament communicates information to the public about the tasks and activities of the National Council and the Federal Council, as well as knowledge about democracy and political action, via:

  • "Demokratikum - Experience Parliament" as a Visitor Center
  • Public Library
  • Reading room
  • Archive
  • Democracy Workshop
  • Guided tours


Services for the public were expanded through the renovation and reconstruction of the Parliament Building:

  • Café on the ground floor
  • Restaurant and Bistro on the 3rd floor
  • "Demokratikum – Experience Parliament” as a Visitor Center

“Demokratikum - Experience Parliament” as a Visitor Center

The Demokratikum is located on the ground floor, in the central area of the Parliament Building.

The tactile floor guidance system leads straight ahead from the middle of the entrance area to the scanner lanes.

After the security check you pass through a historic double door into a high-ceilinged room with large, square pillars. This is the Vestibule. The tactile floor guidance system changes here. Instead of the recessed lines in the floor, you walk along a 120 cm wide carpet.

After the Vestibule, you come to a transverse room. This is the Passage. There is a souvenir store on the right and a 3D hologram model of Parliament on the left. If you walk straight ahead, you will reach a set of seven steps. There is a 140 cm wide ramp on each side of the steps. These steps and ramps lead to the largest room in the Demokratikum, the so-called Agora. The tactile floor guidance leads you to the central Infodesk Agora in the middle of the room.

To the right of the Infodesk there is another multimedia room, the Forum, and to the left of the Infodesk is the auditorium.

You can find more information about the tours, exhibitions, and other activities on the Demokratikum website.

More than 20 media stations have been installed in the Demokratikum. Various topics on democracy, politics, and history are presented here in an interactive way.

All of the names of the media stations are labeled in German tactile lettering and braille. There is a tactile QR code in the top left corner. You can use the QR code to access all of the content of the media station with your smartphone and listen to it using a screen reader.

Library, reading room, and Archive

The historic Parliament Library is located on the ground floor. It is located in the central axis, at the back of the Parliament Building. You can find the Library on the tactile ground floor map at the tactile orientation stations.

The tactile floor guidelines lead you from the main entrance, straight ahead to the Infodesk They continue behind the Infodesk, through the middle of the Agora. At the end of the tactile floor guidelines, there are two steps leading down and a ramp on each side. If you go down these two steps, you will find yourself on the Library level. Continue straight ahead until you reach the Library. In the Library, red carpets provide tactile orientation on the main paths.

Immediately after entering the Library, on the left you will find a detailed tactile map of the Library and reading room. Above the legend is the symbol bar and the tactile QR code. If you scan the QR code with your smartphone, you can access the following information or languages:

  • Orientation guide for the Library
  • Information about accessibility services
  • Written text in German
  • Written text in English
  • Audio in German
  • Video in Austrian Sign Language
  • Easy Language (levels A1 and A2) and plain language (level B1) in German

Library Infodesk

The Library Infodesk is located on the left-hand side in the central aisle after the shelf with the orientation map. The Infodesk is wheelchair accessible and is equipped with an induction system.

Exhibition area

In the exhibition area, on the third shelf from the bottom, at a height of approximately 105 cm, you will find the shelf names in tactile lettering and in German braille.

There is a tactile QR code on the information box on left-hand side of the shelf below. Here you can access the most important information about the contents of this shelf with your smartphone and listen to it using a screen reader. The information box contains summaries of the shelf's contents in German, English, and German braille.

Reading room

The reading room is located on a higher level, which you can reach via seven steps or with a stair platform lift. You can use the stair platform lift with a Euro-Key or you can call our security center, and a member of staff will help you. You will find the telephone numbers of the security center on the stair platform lift.

There is a toilet next to the reading room, which is not completely barrier-free. A wheelchair-accessible toilet is located approximately 10 m further along the corridor. To reach the toilet, you need an authorization card for a corridor door. You can get this card at the Infodesk in the Library. On the card, there is a small map of where the toilet is located and for which door the card can be used.

Guided tours of Parliament

You can register individuals or a group for the guided tours. As a group, you can request an accessible tour, such as:

  • Tactile tour
  • Guided tour in Austrian Sign Language
  • Guided tour in German plain language

More information about guided tours.

More information about Accessible Guided Tours / PDF, 913 KB.

If you require further assistance (equipment such as a wheelchair, mobile hearing system with headphones or neckloop, portable folding stool, or a personal escort), please write to us at the following e-mail address:  inklusion@parlament.gv.at.

Art in Parliament

The newly renovated Parliament Building contains several art installations on the themes of democracy and politics. You can book an art tour for a specific date. Some art installations are located in publicly -accessible areas. They are marked on the tactile maps with a K in a round pictogram.

Each art installation has a plaque with the name of the artist and the name of the artwork in tactile lettering and German braille. More information about the artwork can be accessed via the tactile QR code in the top left-hand corner. You can download the information on your own cell phone and listen to it using a screen reader.

More information about Art in the Parliament.

Attending a National Council meeting or a Federal Council meeting as a visitor

National Council and Federal Council meetings are open to the public. To register and attend a meeting, you must first select the desired meeting from the list online.

Getting to the National Council Chamber

The gallery for visitors to the National Council Chamber is located on the 2nd floor. It is accessible without steps. You can access it from the Agora via the main staircase 1 and the elevator.
The tactile floor guidance system ends in the stairwell by the elevator.
When you get out of the elevator on the 2nd floor, turn left in the stairwell and go to the next door.
On meeting days, there are staff at the door who will be happy to explain the rest of the way there.
Detailed directions can be found on the tactile map of the 2nd floor in the Agora.
You can feel the routes or access them on your smartphone using a QR code.
Directions are available in the following languages:

  • Written text in German
  • Written text in English
  • Audio in German
  • Video in Austrian Sign Language
  • Easy Language (levels A1 and A2) and plain language (level B1) in German

There are 10 wheelchair-accessible spaces available. The gallery has a comprehensive induction system.

Barrier-free toilets are located at the end of the round corridor behind the plenary hall.

All information the The National Council.

Getting to the Federal Council Chamber

The Federal Council Chamber is located on the 1st floor and is accessible without steps.
The Federal Council Chamber is not freely accessible.
Security staff will accompany visitors into the Federal Council Chamber.
The seats for visitors in the Federal Council Chamber are located behind the plenary seats.
They are to the left and right of the entrance and there is only a small number available.
Due to the movable seating, the number of wheelchair spaces is flexible.

All information about The Federal Council.