Upper Belvedere, Lower Belvedere, Belvedere 21 and the gardens: what is worth your time, what is free, and how to plan a visit.
Most people come to the Belvedere for Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss. That is a good reason to go, but it helps to know that the Belvedere is three museums, not one. The Upper Belvedere has the permanent collection and the famous painting; the Lower Belvedere focuses on changing exhibitions and Prince Eugene’s former rooms; Belvedere 21 is devoted to contemporary art. You can also walk through the palace gardens without buying a ticket.
A palace born from victory
Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build the Belvedere as a summer residence in the early 18th century. The Lower Belvedere was his home; the Upper Belvedere was designed for ceremony and display. The terraced garden between them made the whole estate part of the show.
After Eugene’s death, Maria Theresa acquired the complex and used the Upper Belvedere to display imperial art. It became one of the world’s first public museums. The building later played another role in Austrian history: the Austrian State Treaty was signed in its Marble Hall on 15 May 1955. You can still visit that hall as part of the museum.
Upper Belvedere: Klimt and much more
The Upper Belvedere is the one to choose if you have time for only one building. Its permanent exhibition runs through Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Kiss is the star, but do not stop there: look for Egon Schiele, Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller and works shown alongside international artists such as Monet and van Gogh. The Marble Hall and grand staircase also deserve a pause.
Lower Belvedere: exhibitions inside Eugene’s former home
The Lower Belvedere is smaller and has a different purpose. Its programme changes with temporary exhibitions, so check what is on before deciding whether to add it to your ticket. The building itself gives you a closer look at Prince Eugene’s residential palace, including the Hall of Grotesques and the Gold Cabinet. The Gold Cabinet was restored in 2024–25 and is worth seeing for its mirrors, gilded panels and dense decorative detail.
If the current exhibition does not interest you, there is no need to buy a second museum ticket just to complete the pair. You can still see the palace from the free gardens.
Belvedere 21: the third museum people often miss
Belvedere 21 is a modern pavilion near the south end of the complex, built for contemporary Austrian and international art. It is not another Baroque palace, and that is exactly why it makes an interesting contrast. The programme also includes film and music. Check the current exhibitions first: this is the best choice if you want to see what artists are doing now rather than another room of historical paintings.
The gardens are free
You do not need a museum ticket to walk through the main palace gardens. The three terraces connect the Upper and Lower Belvedere, with formal planting, fountains and a good view back towards the Upper palace. The reflecting pond is on the south side of the Upper Belvedere. A garden walk is a perfectly sensible Belvedere visit in its own right if you are short on time or do not want to pay for a museum.
Garden hours change by month. In September they are open from 6:30 am to 8 pm; from November through February, 7 am to 5:30 pm. Check the official garden hours before an early or late visit. Dogs are not allowed in the palace gardens.
Tickets, hours and how long to allow
These are the standard adult prices shown by the official Belvedere ticket shop on 15 September 2026. Belvedere uses date-specific prices, so check the price for your chosen day before paying.
| Ticket | Adult price | Museum hours | Time to allow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Belvedere | €23 | Daily, 9 am–6 pm | About 2 hours |
| Lower Belvedere | €20 | Daily, 10 am–6 pm | About 1–1½ hours |
| Belvedere 21 | €12 | Tue–Sun, 11 am–6 pm; Thu until 9 pm | About 1–1½ hours |
| 2-in-1 day ticket: Upper + Lower | €32 | Both venues on the same day | About 3–4 hours, plus garden walk |
| 3-in-1 day ticket: all three | €34 | All venues on the same day | Most of a day |
Children and young people under 19 enter the museums free. A timed entry slot is required for Upper and Lower Belvedere; for Belvedere 21 you choose the day. Combination tickets use an Upper Belvedere time slot, while you can visit the other included locations before or after it on the same day. An online ticket lets you go directly to the entrance instead of waiting at the ticket desk. The gardens do not require a ticket.
Book Upper Belvedere and focus on the collection. Add a short walk around the reflecting pond if you have time.
Use the 2-in-1 ticket if the Lower Belvedere exhibition appeals to you. Walk through the gardens between the palaces.
The 3-in-1 ticket costs just €2 more than the 2-in-1 ticket at the displayed standard price. Leave enough time for Belvedere 21.
Walk the palace gardens, see both façades and visit the reflecting pond. Museum interiors need a ticket.
Getting to the Belvedere
For the Upper Belvedere, use the entrance at Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Vienna. Tram D stops at Schloss Belvedere, close to the palace. From Wien Hauptbahnhof, the U1 stop Südtiroler Platz/Hauptbahnhof is followed by a walk of about 15 minutes. Tram 18 or O and local trains stop at Quartier Belvedere, useful for approaching from the south.
For the Lower Belvedere, use Rennweg 6, 1030 Vienna. Belvedere 21 is at Arsenalstraße 1. If you are coming from the city centre, tram D is usually simpler than walking from an unspecified “centre”: Vienna’s centre is large, and your starting point matters. If you drive, Belvedere lists discounted parking for up to six hours at the BIP garages at Palais Schwarzenberg and Schwarzenbergplatz; check the official visitor page for the current conditions.
Is the Belvedere worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want to see The Kiss in person. The Upper Belvedere has enough art and architecture to fill a proper museum visit. The other two venues depend more on your interests and their current exhibitions. We would plan around the Upper Belvedere first, then decide whether to add Lower Belvedere or Belvedere 21. Even without a ticket, the gardens give you one of Vienna’s best palace walks.