This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna, including the two main palace buildings – the Upper and Lower – the stables complex, the Orangery, and the impressive gardens.
Additionally, there is a detailed description of the various museums within the Belvedere Palace complex, including information on the art exhibition in the Upper Belvedere Palace where “The Kiss,” the famous painting by Gustav Klimt, is located. There is also an option to book entrance tickets in advance for the exhibition featuring “The Kiss.”
The first part of the article will cover the entire complex, what is in each palace, what the palace gardens include, and more. Afterward, there is a detailed description of the art exhibitions and the various museums in and around the Belvedere Palace. Finally, there is essential information for your visit, including how to get there by public transport, opening hours, booking tickets in advance, and more.
Let’s start with an explanation of the palace and its parts:
Belvedere Palace
Belvedere Palace is located in the 3rd district of Vienna and is actually divided into two separate palaces: the Upper Palace and the Lower Palace. The two Belvedere palaces were built at the beginning of the 18th century, during a period when the city of Vienna was experiencing a boom in development and prosperity after several victories against the Ottoman Empire. The palaces were intended to be the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy and were built in the Baroque style by the famous architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt. Between the two palaces are lovely and well-kept gardens. Today, walking through the gardens is open to the public and is free of charge!
This is what the Belvedere complex and its gardens look like:
Important Buildings in the Belvedere Palace Complex
1. Upper Belvedere Palace (Oberes Belvedere)
The construction of this palace began in 1717 and lasted for 5 years until 1723. The ambitious project was completed quickly, but in the years following its completion, it became clear that the entrance hall (Sala Terrena) was poorly constructed, which led to a full year of renovations and repairs in 1732. Since then, the palace has not undergone significant changes and has been wonderfully preserved. The main purpose of this palace was to demonstrate the wealth and prestige of the royal house, and it was used to host representatives of states and important guests of the House of Habsburg. Towards the end of the 18th century, the palace was converted into the Imperial Gallery, and a variety of paintings were transferred to it from the Hofburg Palace and displayed to the general public. Today, the palace houses the largest collection of paintings by the famous artist Gustav Klimt, including the most famous painting – “The Kiss.” Click here to book entrance tickets in advance for the palace and the exhibition of Klimt’s paintings.
Main Rooms in the Upper Belvedere Palace:
- The Entrance Hall (Sala Terrena) – This part was initially built as a spacious hall, but after being in danger of collapsing in 1732, four supporting columns were added to hold up its vaulted ceiling. From the entrance hall, you can exit to the palace garden on one side, and on the other, it leads to the magnificent grand staircase.
- The Grand Staircase (Prunkstiege) – The original entrance to the palace was from its southern part, from which one reached the magnificent staircase that led to the main floor of the palace. In this part, the walls are decorated with impressive frescoes depicting the victory of Alexander the Great over Darius, King of Persia. In the past, the ceiling was covered with a large-scale painting, but due to construction problems with the roof, the painting was removed in the 19th century and replaced with the rose decoration that remains to this day.
- The Carlone Hall (Carlonesaal) – This beautifully painted hall is named after the artist and painter Carlo Innocenzo Carlone, who was responsible for the artworks that adorn it. He painted the impressive ceiling fresco depicting the triumph of the Roman goddess Aurora. The cool temperature maintained in it even throughout the summer provides a cool and pleasant place for visitors to the palace during the hot summer months.
- The Marble Hall (Marmorsaal) – This hall is the most impressive in the Upper Belvedere Palace. It is the first room you enter after climbing the stairs and is divided into two levels. The hall is decorated with wonderful paintings on its walls and ceiling, and its marble floor shines in a reddish-brown hue. After World War II, in 1955, this hall was used for the ceremony in which the Austrian State Treaty was signed, making Austria a sovereign state. Today, the impressive Marble Hall is open to visitors.
- The Palace Chapel (Schlosskapelle) – This room has been wonderfully preserved and is one of the most impressive rooms in the palace. The chapel has two levels. The lower level was where the palace staff would gather, while the upper level was reserved for the nobility. The room is built in an octagonal shape, and in all its corners, there are columns used for decoration. The large windows, the marble floor, and the decorated ceiling are reminiscent of the Marble Hall. In the altar area, there is a painting depicting the resurrection of Jesus. This painting was painted by Francesco Solimena, and its completion took about 10 years of work. In addition, there are two large-scale statues of Jesus’s apostles. Even today, a prayer service is held in the chapel every Sunday at 12:00 PM.
2. Lower Belvedere Palace (Unteres Belvedere)
The Lower Palace was built before the Upper Palace. Its construction began in 1712 and was completed in 1716. The entrance to this building was through the main gate near Rennweg, which led to the central courtyard. The original entrance led directly to the central Marble Hall. The Lower Belvedere Palace was mainly used for residential purposes, but some of Prince Eugene’s collections were also stored there.
Main Rooms in the Lower Belvedere Palace:
- The Marble Hall (Marmorsaal) – This hall was mainly used for hosting official ceremonies for important guests. The hall is divided into two levels. Its walls were built in a style reminiscent of triumphal arches and are decorated with various ornaments alluding to the military victories of Prince Eugene. The impressive ceiling painting is the work of the artist Martino Altomonte and depicts the story of Apollo in the sun chariot.
- The Marble Gallery (Marmorgalerie) – This area of the palace was probably designed to be the exhibition space for three marble statues of women from the Roman period. The three statues are known as the “Herculaneum Women,” and they were displayed in this room. In 1736, the statues of the women were sold to the Dresden government, and in their place, three other statues were installed, specially sculpted at the prince’s request. The walls and ceiling in this room are covered with impressive paintings depicting Eugene’s military victories.
- The Hall of Grotesques (Groteskensaal) – Decorating the entrance hall and garden pavilions with grotesque illustrations was very popular at the beginning of the 18th century. In this part of the palace, there are several unique paintings by the artist Jonas Drentwett. Most of these paintings have been preserved in their original form, except for the parts of the painting that were on the wall opposite the gardens, which were damaged in the bombings that Vienna suffered in 1945.
- The Gold Cabinet (Goldkabinett) – During the reign of Maria Theresa, the room was converted into the Gold Cabinet (or the Room of Mirrors and Porcelain). Some of the decorations in this room were taken from another palace that Eugene owned on Himmelpfortgasse street in the city itself. It is estimated that the redesign of the room was completed in 1765.
3. The Orangery
The Orangery initially served as a winter garden that could be heated during the cold winter months. In the summer season, the roof and the southern wall of the Orangery were removed to avoid having to move the fruit trees out of the greenhouse. Special structures of this type, designed for heating sensitive plants in winter, were common in Italy and Germany as early as the 16th century, but assembling and disassembling them each season was an arduous task. The Orangery building at the Belvedere was built in an innovative and sophisticated way that made the task of disassembling and reassembling the roof of the building much simpler.
4. The Palace Stables (Prunkstall)
The stables building once housed the prince’s horses, but today it is used for a display of art objects from the Gothic period. The collection on display includes about 150 items, most of which are shown to the general public. The exhibits include objects from the Romanesque period, paintings and sculptures from the Gothic period, and even an altar structure whose construction was influenced by Renaissance ideas.
5. The Impressive Palace Gardens
The gardens in the Belvedere complex are a wonderful and rare example of historical French-style gardens designed with Baroque influence. In the area in front of the Upper Belvedere Palace, there is a pool in which the palace building is wonderfully reflected. On the other side of the complex, closer to the city center and Rennweg, is the events courtyard bordering the Lower Belvedere Palace building.
- The Privy Garden (Kammergarten) – Located to the right of the Lower Palace and continues to the Orangery in the northern part of the complex. This was the prince’s private garden, reserved for him and his close associates only.
- The Alpine Garden (Alpengarten) – This garden is the oldest of its kind in all of Europe and contains rare alpine plants. The plant collection was first displayed at Schönbrunn Palace at the beginning of the 19th century, until it was moved to the Belvedere Palace gardens where it is displayed to visitors. This garden has a variety of special plants, such as 100 Japanese bonsai trees.
Essential Information for Visiting the Palace Gardens:
Opening Hours:
- From April 1st to October 31st – The garden opens at 6:30 AM.
- From November 1st to March 31st – The garden opens at 7:00 AM.
Closing Hours:
- October to February: 5:30 PM
- April: 7:00 PM
- May – July: 9:00 PM
- August – September: 8:00 PM
- October: 7:00 PM
- November: 5:30 PM
Map of the Belvedere Palaces Complex
The Art Exhibitions at the Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace complex is not only an architectural gem in the heart of Vienna but also a cultural and artistic center that includes several different art exhibitions scattered throughout the complex. Of course, if you just want to look at the impressive palace buildings, you can enter the garden grounds for free and enjoy the stunning structures. For those interested in art, the galleries in the Belvedere Palace are a must! The palace houses the largest collection of paintings by the famous artist Gustav Klimt, including the most famous painting, “The Kiss.” Click here to book entrance tickets in advance for the palace and the exhibition (especially recommended during the tourist season in summer and winter).
Exhibitions in the Upper Belvedere Palace – The Famous “The Kiss”
“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt is the most famous Austrian painting, depicting a loving couple embracing, surrounded by a carpet of colorful flowers. The painting dates to the beginning of the 20th century (1907 and 1908). In this painting, Klimt uses a new and unique technique in which he combines gold leaf with oil and copper paints.
This is a permanent exhibition in the gallery. Click here to book entrance tickets in advance for the palace and the exhibition.
Exhibitions in the Lower Belvedere Palace
“City of Women” – An exhibition of artworks by female artists from the years 1900 to 1938. The exhibition will run until May 19th.
6. Belvedere 21
This museum is located in a modern building adjacent to the palaces and displays contemporary and modern art. The museum opened in 1962 and focused on artworks in the spirit of the 20th century, hence its name, 20er Haus. The museum quickly became an important artistic center, but in 2001, the contents of the building were transferred to the MuseumsQuartier and displayed under another museum called Mumok. For about 10 years, the building stood empty, until its reopening in 2011 as the Museum of the 21st Century, or by its new name, 21er Haus. At the beginning of 2018, the museum’s name was changed to Belvedere 21, and it continues to serve as a center for the display of modern and contemporary art.
- Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (on Wednesdays and Fridays, entry is possible until 9:00 PM).
- Address: Quartier Belvedere, Arsenalstraße 1
Essential Information for Visiting the Belvedere Palaces Complex
Costs, tickets, easy ways to get there by public transport, opening hours, and more!
It is worth noting that the Belvedere Palace and its exhibitions attract many travelers, and especially during the summer season, there are long queues at the entrance. If there are many visitors, you may be asked to wait outside until it is possible to enter the exhibition rooms in the palace.
The busiest time is between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It is recommended not to arrive at these times if you want to avoid unnecessary waiting.
Upper Belvedere Palace:
- Opening Hours: Every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Online Ticket Costs: Adult – €17.50, Child (under 19) – free, Seniors and Students (up to 26) – €14.10. For the full price list, visit the palace website. Click here to book entrance tickets in advance for the palace and its various exhibitions.
- Address: Prinz Eugen-Straße 27
- How to get there? You can reach the Upper Belvedere Palace by underground, tram, or bus.
- Underground: Take the red line U1 to the Südtirolerplatz station (main train station). From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk. [Map]
- Tram: Line D to the Schloss Belvedere station.
- Bus: Line 69A to the Quartier Belvedere station.
Lower Belvedere Palace, Orangery, and Palace Stables
- Opening Hours: Every day from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
- Please note: Entrance to the stables is only possible until 12:00 PM.
- Entrance Costs: Adult – €13.90, Child (under 19) – free, Seniors and Students (up to 26) – €10.90. For the full price list, visit the palace website.
- Address: Rennweg 6
- How to get there? You can reach the Lower Belvedere Palace by tram.
- Tram:
- Line 71 to the Unteres Belvedere station.
- Lines 2, D to the Schwarzenbergplatz station. From there, it’s a few minutes’ walk.
- Tram:
Belvedere 21
- Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM (on Thursdays, entry is possible until 9:00 PM).
- Entrance Costs: Adult – €8.90, Child (under 19) – free, Seniors and Students (up to 26) – €6.90. For the full price list, visit the palace website.
- Address: Quartier Belvedere, Arsenalstraße 1
- How to get there? You can reach the Belvedere 21 museum by underground, tram, or bus.
- Underground: Take the red line U1 to the Südtirolerplatz station (main train station). From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk. [Map]
- Tram: Line D to the Quartier Belvedere station.
- Bus: Line 69A to the Quartier Belvedere station.
Combined Tickets for the Belvedere Palaces Complex
- Klimt Ticket (allows entry to the Upper and Lower Palace)
- Belvedere Ticket (allows entry to the Upper and Lower Palace and the Belvedere 21 museum)
- For the full price list, visit the palace website.
Additional Information
- Official Website
- Phone: +43 1 79557-0
- Email: info@belvedere.at
- Map:
