{"id":3308,"date":"2016-06-15T12:32:36","date_gmt":"2016-06-15T11:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?page_id=3308"},"modified":"2025-10-09T12:12:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T11:12:56","slug":"belvedere","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/belvedere\/","title":{"rendered":"Belvedere museum &amp; palaces"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/belvederesmall.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Belvedere from the gardens\" class=\"wp-image-13444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/belvederesmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/belvederesmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Belvedere museum has to be a highlight of any trip to Vienna with its priceless collection of art and home in a baroque palace duo. Oh, and is that one of the world&#8217;s most famous paintings on the wall?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Housed in two 18th-century palaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prestigious in-house art collection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>World-leading Klimt collection<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upper palace has Klimt&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/kiss\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1119\">The Kiss<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regular special art exhibitions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/belvedere-palace-tickets-l145892\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Belvedere\" rel=\"sponsored\">tickets for Belvedere<\/a>*<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/upper-belvedere-palace\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3521\">Upper Belvedere<\/a> &amp; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/lower-belvedere\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3384\">Lower Belvedere<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/belvedere-21\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12893\">Belvedere 21<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/vienna-museums\/\">Other (art) museums<\/a> in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/baroque\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"30588\">Baroque Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"it-s-all-about-eugene\">Say thanks to Eugene<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Belvedere Palace\" class=\"wp-image-13456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/DSC09093-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Front view of Upper Belvedere Palace)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you successfully tweak the noses of the Emperor&#8217;s enemies, you expect more than a thank you note and a bottle of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which is why the military commander and all-round national hero, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/prince-eugene-savoy\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"58031\">Prince Eugene of Savoy<\/a> (1663 &#8211; 1736), managed to accumulate enough wealth to construct two of Vienna&#8217;s most impressive buildings; his upper and lower Belvedere palaces sit at either end of a set of landscaped gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fast forward 300 years, and today&#8217;s Belvedere is a group containing both historical and modern buildings that double up as world-class art museums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"main-belvedere-palace-and-garden-complex\">Main palace and gardens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So what can you find at this storied location? The main Belvedere area features&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Upper Belvedere palace<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/upperbelvederesmall.jpg\" alt=\"Upper Belvedere entrance\" class=\"wp-image-13460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/upperbelvederesmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/upperbelvederesmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/upper-belvedere-palace\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3521\">Upper Belvedere<\/a> ceremonial palace has suitably-impressive interior architecture (don&#8217;t miss the Marble Hall) and permanent displays drawn from the prestigious Belvedere state art collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where to see all those paintings by Gustav Klimt (including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/kiss\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1119\">The Kiss<\/a>), as well as works by Egon Schiele and others of similar standing. The palace also hosts occasional special art exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lower Belvedere palace<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lowerbelvederesmall.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lowerbelvederesmall.jpg\" alt=\"Rear of Lower Belvedere\" class=\"wp-image-13647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lowerbelvederesmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/lowerbelvederesmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The more functional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/lower-belvedere\/\">Lower Belvedere<\/a> palace also has some lovely interiors of its own (functional does not mean plain in the baroque world) and forms the main venue for special art exhibitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lower Belvedere also includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/prunkstall-and-belvedere-medieval-collection\/\">Palace Stables<\/a>: now showcasing Belvedere&#8217;s medieval art<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/orangery\/\">Orangery<\/a>: now converted into more exhibition space<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/kammergarten-privy-garden\/\">Privy Garden<\/a>: small gardens adjoining the Orangery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Belvedere Gardens<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/belvederegardenssmall1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/belvederegardenssmall1.jpg\" alt=\"A daisy flower\" class=\"wp-image-60631\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/belvederegardenssmall1.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/belvederegardenssmall1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Palace owners don&#8217;t want to look out the window and see a car park and discarded supermarket trolleys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The landscaped <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/baroque-gardens\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3395\">Belvedere gardens<\/a> connect the upper and lower palaces and feature fountains, clipped hedges, flower beds, and similar. Like a (much) smaller version of Versaille.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"elsewhere\">Elsewhere<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Belvedere area and\/or institution also includes (or included) one or two other delights. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/belvedere-21\/\">Belvedere 21<\/a>: a museum of contemporary art a little further south of the palace complex. The modern building hosts a series of special exhibitions through the year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/alpine-gardens\/\">Alpine Gardens<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/botanical-garden\/\">University Botanical Garden<\/a>: not officially part of Belvedere, but both border the grounds of the main complex<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/winterpalais\/\">Winter Palace<\/a>: Eugene&#8217;s &#8220;little&#8221; place in the centre of town. Now part of the Federal Ministry of Finance, so closed to visitors, unfortunately.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"product\" data-content-ids=\"974613,1025105\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_Belvedere\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visitor-tips-for-belvedere\">Ticket and visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the individual links above for location-specific visitor and ticket tips from me, but some general advice for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The main gardens cost nothing to look around, but you need a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/belvedere-palace-tickets-l145892\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Belvedere\" rel=\"sponsored\">timeslot ticket<\/a>* to enter either of the two palaces or Belvedere 21 and see the architecture and art inside<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The permanent exhibition featuring the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/gustav-klimt-belvedere\/\">Klimt paintings<\/a> and other highlights of the Belvedere art collection is in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/upper-belvedere-palace\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3521\">upper palace<\/a>. So this is the one you normally give priority to<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/lower-belvedere\/#exhibitions\">special exhibitions at Lower Belvedere<\/a>, though, for some temporary treats that might catch your eye. I&#8217;m a big fan of their exhibitions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/klimtpigment5.jpg\" alt=\"View of portrait paintings\" class=\"wp-image-80553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/klimtpigment5.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/klimtpigment5-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(2025&#8217;s Pigment &amp; Pixel exhibition at Lower Belvedere took a deep dive into Klimt&#8217;s materials and methods; press photo by and \u00a9 Johannes Stoll \/ Belvedere, Vienna)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you&#8217;re not sure where to focus, here are my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/10-things\/\">should-do suggestions<\/a> involving photo opps, character busts, Napoleon and more<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both palaces (and Belvedere 21) have ticket counters and shop areas. Expect more Klimt souvenirs than you can shake a paintbrush at<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Note that the on-site ticket office at Upper Belvedere is not at the entrance but in an outbuilding slightly to the west of the palace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In many parts of the main complex, look for a board in German and English describing the decor and, perhaps, the history of the room or area you&#8217;re standing in, together with a relevant picture from the early 18th century<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A chap called Salomon Kleiner produced a series of copper engravings of the interior and exterior of Belvedere in the 1730s, so we have a pictorial record of what the original palaces and gardens looked like.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"330\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/upperbelvedere1730.jpg\" alt=\"A 1730 drawing of an anteroom at Upper Belvedere\" class=\"wp-image-64417\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/upperbelvedere1730.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/upperbelvedere1730-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(An anteroom at Upper Belvedere drawn by Salomon Kleiner around 1730; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 106965; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Be warned that with the turnover of exhibitions, one or two areas may be closed temporarily for set up<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Belvedere is also a dynamic, contemporary institution, so paintings can move as displays get reorganised, new acquisitions come in, or items go on loan for exhibitions elsewhere. Though I can&#8217;t see <em>The Kiss<\/em> ever leaving&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit in November and December to experience the utterly delightful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/belvedere\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"862\">Christmas Market<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Prince Eugene also owned the lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/mapsgeography\/schloss-hof\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"18384\">Schloss Hof<\/a> palace and estate. The location can be a challenge to reach for visitors to Vienna, though: over an hour&#8217;s drive away out in the country<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And, if you want to complete your Eugene bingo card, he has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/prince-eugene-monument\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"41885\">huge equestrian statue<\/a> on Heldenplatz square in the centre of town<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-get-to-belvedere\">How to get to Belvedere<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Ah, there&#8217;s a whole <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/gettingthere3\/\">page of advice<\/a> for that. But it&#8217;s quite central and just a short tram ride or walk from the old town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Prinz Eugen-Stra\u00dfe 27, 1030 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.belvedere.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1ksawXWFMVD9bljA48Gi7_VvWSfI\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Belvedere museum has to be a highlight of any trip to Vienna with its priceless collection of art and home in a baroque palace duo. Oh, and is that one of the world&#8217;s most famous paintings on the wall? Say thanks to Eugene (Front view of Upper Belvedere Palace) When you successfully tweak the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13444,"parent":1682,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-3308","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3308"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86366,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3308\/revisions\/86366"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}