I know this place is lovely in the spring, because going during this winter it was amazing! This palace was one of my main attractions on my Vienna list. I am so glad I came. I arrived around 9:30am and there was still a good amount of people already here. But like the website says peak hours at 11a-2p, and I definitely saw the difference. There was a little a Christmas market at the entry because of the winter season, which was nice to see. I bought my ticket online, so getting in was a breeze and the people that work here were friendly and helpful. There is a mandatory bag check for backpacks and large bags. You can take your camera with you, although there are certain piece you cannot take pictures of due to copyright. I should mention that they have an audio guide in different languages to explain most of the art pieces here, I personally didn't use it because I wanted the art to speak to me lol In the first building of the palace artwork was more traditional painting styles during the 1800s, with some pieces coming from the early 1900s. The second building of the palace had more modern art with an exhibit from a Bolivian artist which was very interesting. I spent so many hours here because there are so many pieces and things to learn about them. Also, so many nice photo opportunities! If you come to Vienna you have to make your way here, transportation was easy to navigate as well. read more

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A semi short walking distance from the Hauptbahnhof, I found myself dropping by to check out this royal palace. The grounds are massive and appeared to be very well taken care of and clean. I ventured around the palace to take a look at some of the beautiful design of the building. The back area with the fountains is very impressive, lots of cool stone work and garden layouts. Unfortunately I was short on time so I didn't get to explore inside or stay too long. If you enjoy castles or palaces, definitely stop by here and check it out. Just remember to stay off the grass. read more

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Good collection. Really enjoyed it. I do wish all of Klimt was in one country at least but Belvedere houses the largest collection in Vienna. Plan on spending a few hours here if you want to visit both houses. I recommended that you do. The gardens are beautiful to take a break and enjoy the surroundings. I got a $2 coupon from the red bus city tour, it cost 17€ for both houses. Look for coupons. I'm sure other tours offer them too. There's a cafe at the museum but it was completely packed when I tried to grab something. There is no "take out" option, sit down only. I'd say bring a snack and enjoy it at the garden. read more

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Jacob's Gist: The Belvedere houses some of the worlds most influential art (Klimt's "The Kiss") but the security guards here SUCK. ============== I'm a huge fan of museums. On my trip to Europe, I tried to visit as many as I could and take in as much art as I could possibly handle. While all of the museums were good, the Belvedere was probably my second favorite museum I visited. The wide array of world-renowned artists and beautiful gardens here make the museum a must visit. Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" is an incredible piece and the highlight of the Belvedere. This is one of the most famous masterpieces in the world and seeing a picture of it does not do the piece justice. In fact, I think seeing "The Kiss" in person should be on everyone's bucket list. With that said, the security here was ridiculous. I totally understand being protective of the priceless masterpieces in the gallery. Yet when security thinks they're all that and get mad at you for sitting on the main entrance stairs or call in back up because people are "too close" to a piece (we were at least 15 cm back from it), then it just makes going to the museum a hassle. The Belvedere is a world class museum and definitely needs to be visited so don't let the insane security scare you away. I just felt it needed to be addressed because it was so crazy. read more

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I know 3 star seems harsh for the Belvedere but I will explain Of course Gustav Klimt deserves alone 5 - 6 stars and to see "Judith "and the famous and magnificent" Kiss" in person is memorable but - the upper Belvedere where the paintings are exposed feels stuffy and hot ( nothing like the Albertina). -the explanations on the wall are very brief and do not go into any details ( maybe I should have bought the audio guides) - there does not seem to be an artistic and historic flow ( one jumps from Klimt and Shiele , another great Austrian painter to a small painting by Van Gogh and another by Manet and Monet - the lower Belvedere had an exhibit on flowers but I found uninspiring - some of the areas of the lower Belvedere were closed - the view of downtown Vienna from the upper part is great but the gardens were not well kept This review is 3.5 stars But again if you are in Vienna you have to go to see Klimt and Shiele regardless of the stars read more

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I didn't go in to the building so it's not fair for me to say the full review for this place but it is definitely worth walking through the area although the gardens can't beat Schlon Schlossberg. You can get in free. Its hard to get a panorama of this place so your first challenge you can try is to get it! The gardens are green grass with stone pathways and fountains. There's also a random snowman in the middle of the walk way so make sure you get a goofy pic with this guy. I think the most breathtaking part is when you go in between the two ends of the buildings. Large garden at the bottom of the hill with nice tall well planted trees running up and down the garden like a mini maze. Definitely very nice if you're warming up for Schlon. It's quieter here so you don't have as many tourists and can even bring a book to read in this area. Its alittle tricky to get into this place if you're walking as it's gated by thick concrete walls but keep walking and following the walls and you'll end up at one of the entrances to either end!! read more

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I don't usually like many museums but the Belvedere was such a treat! From the stunning grounds (reminded me a lot of a mini Versailles) to the contents of the museum, I thought it was a very informative and aesthetically pleasing experience. I bought tickets to the Upper Belvedere only, which you can easily spend 2 hours on. At first I bumbled around on my own, but then I noticed that there was an audio guide. The audio guide is a must have, as it does a great job not only explaining many of the art pieces but also the grounds/history of the Belvedere itself. This is a great option in Vienna-not to miss! read more

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I was here on a cold December day so the Gardens were not appealing; however, they look as if they would be fantastic in the spring. I came primarily to view the Gustav Klimt collection which must be the largest collection of his work anywhere and is not to be missed if you are in Vienna. I am a great fan of Art Noveau and this was definitely on my to do list. You have probably seen many of his works in print but the vivid colors just don't come through in the same way as they do when viewed in person. The rest of the collection apart from those of Klimt is okay but nothing particularly spectacular. There is one of the five versions of David's famous paintings of Napoleon Crossing the Alps on a rearing horse. As suggested by other reviewers it is a good idea to get tickets on line to avoid a long wait. Also as pointed out by others the elevators are slow so you will probably want to use the stairs. There is a nice gift shop with some nice Klimt oriented articles. read more

Beautiful gardens and the botanical next door free also. I loved this palace there was great art work inside and it has been kept up. The lines were not as long as the others. read more

This is a go to in Vienna, you must visit! The landscape of he palace is huge and it's beautiful just to walk around. The inside is elegant and the sculpture outside have an interesting stance to them. I highly recommend taking a walk around the garden, it's beautiful and peaceful. read more

Belvedere - Myself in next to a beautiful place! - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

Always an amazing museum! this time we went only to the Unterest or Lower Belfedere and saw the exhibit on female Austrian artists of the early 1900s. A truly fabulous, large and educational exhibit. Not to be missed!! read more

Must see if you are a fan of Klimt...this is where his Kiss painting hangs. Be ready for a crowd in that gallery but not too bad elsewhere. Pretty grounds too. I recommend going during the day as the nighttime did not lend to as nice of a view in my opinion. read more

I loved our visit to the Belvedere. Loved. When you enter, you can decide to visit the Upper Palace (permanent galleries), the Lower Palace (special exhibits and medieval art) or both. Because the cost difference to do both was small vs. the Upper palace only, we did both and I'm glad we did. Lower Palace - the special exhibit had to do with the Vienna Congress and the city during that time, which was interesting. There were portraits of the dignitaries, and small touches like notes from court composer Saleri. The exhibit ended with pictures of other famous conferences both historic and modern (think the Camp David Accord) which brought the story full circle. The medieval collection is fairly small and housed in the old stables (which was really neat). Mostly altarpieces and some statuary. The better pieces (Michel Pacher) are in the Upper Belvedere. Two tips on the lower palace: 1. Even if you aren't interested in the featured exhibit, you might want to pay the few extra $ to see the Gold and Marble rooms which are in the lower palace. 2. If you want to see the medieval rooms, time your visit carefully as they are only open from 10-12 daily. Upper Palace - this is what everyone comes to see! There are galleries full of Realism, Romanticism and of course, the famous Klimt room. I'll be honest, the Klimt room was my absolute favorite. The Kiss is luminous - no poster can do it justice. But don't neglect the other works - they're just as beautiful. As for other artists, they have some lovely works by Monet and Schiele. My favorite non-Klimt by far was a charming piece called "Caesar at the Rubicon" which was of a mastiff staring longingly over the table at a plate of sausage. Did he cross the Rubicon? Well, if Caesar is anything like my dog, yes - yes he did. On the ground floor of the upper palace are the other medieval rooms - they house several Michel Pacher masterpieces and a grand winged alterpiece. The entry hall featured a Jeff Koons statue of the Incredible Hulk, so the collection is quirky to say the least. As you're visiting the palace (both upper and lower) - take a moment to appreciate the rooms for themselves. Many of the rooms are absolutely lavish in décor - it was no surprise to me to find out the person who built this was originally French as there's a lot to remind one of Versailles. Finally (sorry for the long review): even if you don't pay to go into the museums, the gardens are free and worth a visit. They're laid out in the formal style with statues and fountains and all of the clipped topiaries a person could ask for. TL/DR: It's fabulous. Go. read more

Absolutely stunning! I watched Woman in Gold with Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds before coming to the Belvedere, so I thought I was prepared. I was mistaken. I got my group to dedicate 3 hours to the Belvedere which I thought would be plenty of time. Again, I was mistaken. I wish I got here as soon as it opened and I might have been able to separate with the incredible paintings maybe a few minutes before they closed. The tickets are kind of expensive, but as Gustov Klimt is one of my favorite artists of all time, I had to see this gallery. When I stepped in front of The Kiss, my heart literally hurt in my chest and I knew I was seeing something very, very special. All the exhibits in the Belvedere fascinated me. But this might be personal biased. My husband and sister were incredibly bored while I was still on the second story (there are 3 levels of galleries...in the upper collection). I won't bore you with details, so I'll move on to what I wasn't expecting: The Belvedere isn't a fancy museum on the outside. It was a palace. This means that each and every room inside this palace is it's own work of art. No plain, white walls with accent lighting. No. Some rooms were their own murals, there was a two story chapel in one wing, each room had bas relief molding on the ceilings, and the woodwork and marble was a masterpiece in itself. As an art enthusiast, I was overwhelmed. I couldn't fathom and take in everything in just a few short hours, and I didn't even make it to the Belvedere Lower Collection where the famous portrait of Napoleon on a rearing horse was on exhibit! The gardens are low, but beautiful. As 6pm rolled around and the Belvedere had closed, locals began to show up in running gear to run the incline and get some good distance in. The grounds are very large, and there's plenty of room walk and run. It was beautiful and I'm so happy I got to go here! I definitely recommend it, even if it's for posterity's sake :) read more

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I just had to see the original Gustav Klimt "The Kiss." That was my first nudge to visit the Belvedere in Vienna. The second nudge was the ornate gardens that surround this lavishly traditional Viennese palace. I arrived early and spent an hour lollygagging in the gardens and people watching (prime people watching real estate). It's wild to imagine the money that once was....bedrooms as big as my little dollhouse of a casa, intricate ceiling paintings, and gardens that are more eloquently manicured than my face. Back to "The Kiss": stunning. So very, very beautiful. There's something about that moment when you see the original. To think, this is the actual painting in which Klimt poured his sweat and talent into. The room in which it's placed definitely builds up anticipation and with black walls and a location tucked away in the top corner of the building. The not so hot part of the Belvedere is that it will raid your wallet. It was somewhere around $25 to get in which can get pretty salty if you're planning on hitting up more than one museum during your visit. read more

Belvedere is a must for anyone passing through Vienna. It's actually not as large as it looks, so it could be done quickly or very slowly. If you're into Klimt and haven't had enough of him strolling the streets otherwise, here's where you can get your fix. Also, be sure to walk through the gardens, which are almost as impressive as the Schloß itself! read more

If you're looking to go to a museum in Vienna, this is the museum to go to. The architecture of this museum is amazing and so are the artifacts in there. To visit the Upper and Lower buildings of the Schloss Belvedere only takes about half the day, even if you go at a leisurely pace. If you're visiting this landmark, you must visit the inside AND outside of the museum. The view of Vienna from the building (especially Upper, I think) is amazing. read more

I hate to have to say this, but i feel I must be objective in relation to my experiences. This was the first castle I visited in Vienna, and I think it is the first castle I visited ever. Unfortunately, I must quote fellow Yelper "Stephen H." and say that this place was "Underwhelming." The castle/museum does have a good deal of elaborateness. There are high ceilings with lovely moulding, and the architecture/floor design is pleasantly simple. However, in terms of actual rooms, aside from the cathedral and waiting room, it was just a very pleasant art museum. Unless you are a history buff, I would say the guided tour is not worth it. Guided tour's focus is more on important works - those that are related to the House of Hapsburg, or the famous "The Kiss" Even with the guided tour, It is very possible to work your way through the entire [upper] Belvedere in half a day. It is also very neat that this museum carries unfinished paintings, something which i have never seen before, and is rather uncommon in museums. I did not have the opportunity to tour the lower Belvedere or the gardens. (although the gardens do seem to be very nice) read more

With so many art museums in Vienna, how does one choose which one/s to visit? The Belvedere combines the iconic masterpiece of Austria's own Gustav Klimt, The Kiss, the historic palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy, baroque gardens (that I wish were better kept) and a nice rotation of special exhibitions. Use the lockers in the basement for coats and bags instead of the cloak room. You'll get your euro back so it's free. Enter the Klimt exhibit from the reflecting pool/stairway side (not the garden side) so you'll see the Kiss on the far wall for dramatic impact. read more

Belvedere - Gardens - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

Very enjoyable Art Mueseum. The guides where detailed in their knowledge and loved questions. The art was breath taking. Vienna has so much to offer - really enjoyd the time here. read more

Belvedere - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

A mid-April visit to Belvedere Museum and Palace made for a pleasant afternoon. It was too early in the year to see the gardens in their glory -- the fountains did not have water, yet -- but we found the Upper & Lower Belvedere museum collections and architecture to be more than enough to occupy a few enjoyable hours (after getting through the not so well managed ticket line). Lower Belvedere's Marble Hall (Marmorsaal) was particularly memorable -- the ceiling, the walls, the reliefs, the original Donnerbrunnen fountain statues, and light streaming in from the windows could be overwhelming if one attempts to take it all in at once, but spending a few minutes had us appreciating all the interesting works presented in that one, wonderful room. read more

Belvedere - The central statue from the Donnerbrunnen, located in Lower Belvedere's Marble Hall. - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

the outside of the museum is beautiful! Its free to walk around the outside, and look at the gardens. I paid 11e for a student ticket to the 'upper' part of the museum, which is the normal part of the museum. It's relatively easily laid out, with 3 floors and 6 exhibits, you can go through the whole museum in less than 2 hours, but there's a lot of great pieces! The view from the windows is great too! read more

Belvedere - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

The Upper Belvedere is a great collection of art in a beautiful palace, but not so much that you are exhausted. We were there less than two hours and saw everything. The line to see Klimt's "Kiss" was long, but moved along and each room had so much to look at. read more

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Another impressive palatial residence in Vienna that is a must see. It's more of a museum but it's elegant and more. There is also a beautiful garden adjacent to the palace. read more

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I came to see The Kiss by Gustav Klimt and found much more to enjoy. The gardens are beautiful, the upper palace which has the kiss is a work of art itself. I saw beautiful pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Manet, as well as other periods. I especially enjoyed the medieval art area wiith gorgeous alter panels and i admired the presentation in particular. Inspiring rooms. They have a pretty cafe with a nice selection of light meals, desserts and drinks. Of course, I bought many Klimt souvenirs in the beautiful gift shop. I gained instant entry with the Vienna pass so I avoided the ticket lines. Bathrooms are busy here though so don't wait too long or go before you come. There is a cafe across the street too by the hop bus stop. read more

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Buy your tickets for the Upper and Lower Belvedere. The architecture is beautiful, and the gardens are probably more beautiful in summer than winter, but I must say that the real draw is The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. The place has a good collection of art pieces and Klimts, but man oh man. To see The Kiss in person is pretty surreal. No photography of The Kiss is allowed, but they have a replica piece you can take a selfie with, in way better lighting. The Kiss is housed in a dark room with other Klimt pieces like Judith. Toilets are clean here. read more

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If i have to pick one castle or a museum to visit in the Vienna, I would pick the Belvedere with no hesitation. Just to come see the original painting of "the kiss" from Klimt made it all worth the trip. The Gustav Klimt gallery is located in the lower Belvedere. And the kiss painting have never left this palace. It show case about 10 to 15 painting of his in this gallery with alot of other austrian painters work in this 3 story musem. Not only you can have art appreciation time there but also to see the inner architect of the palace and walk within. The exterior of the palace are free to wonder around. That included a landscape of garden, a huge fountain ( that is frozen at the time of my visit) and some art sculpture from the old and the new. The old - are the sculpture be part of the Belvedere, while the new are part of the exhibition of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. So if you want to just wonder from the outside, it's still a very nice place to visit. However, each exhibit are required to pay. And I think there are about 4 parts to it. So if you want to see all of it, you will have to pay 4 entrance fee for each part. For me, I only did the lower Belvedere. In the month of my visit , in december, there was a Christmas market outside of the Belvedere as well. It was nice to have some hot drinks and food walking outside of the castle especially in the cold. P.s.unlike other art gallery or museum, not only they not allow flash light, but there is no/ zero photography allow in the gallery. So just immerse in it at the moment. read more

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I was so happy to see the Gustav Klimt exhibit here after learning about him from the movie The Lady in Gold. This museum really lived up to my expectations, loved how they didn't allow photography inside and was a beautiful place to walk around on a nice sunny day. read more

A lovely palace in the heart of Vienna, nestled beside the botanical gardens which is in itself a delight. The architecture definitely speaks of grandeur both inside and out, although I have yet to compare it with the Schonbrunn Palace. The exhibits houses various paintings and sculptures and even some contemporary artworks in the Lower Belvedere and we were lucky enough as well to have been there when Lawrence Alma-Tadema's works were also showcased. And in the end of that exhibit, a side by side projection of movies that drew inspiration from his works and the works upon which they were based on was presented. Definitely a must see for both tourists and locals (depending on which exhibit is on at the time). read more

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My last review for this visit to Vienna, it has to be Belvedere! This Baroque treasure does not fit in just "museum" category. It is so much more than that! Belvedere complex is vast, you can spend almost whole day here... The French gardens that connect the palaces are classic, with numerous statues, flower beds and alleyways. Sphinxes are guarding the side alleys in silence, and Muses looking at the world passing by... Walking gravel paths, enjoying the fountains and water basins, touching perfectly trimmed hedges, I can only compare this to Versailles. Formal and magnificent. Both Upper and Lower Belvedere Palaces are elaborate in architectural detailing and truly represent Baroque style. The entrance, the stairways, the statues and art... The art collection displayed here is incredible - from Klimt to Gerstl to Schiele and more... I am in awe. Don't forget to visit Orangery and old Stables for temporary/traveling exhibits! Belvedere is a jewel. Beautiful and timeless. read more

If you're in Vienna, this is a must see in my opinion. The grounds are beautiful and you can see the gorgeous designs in the grass from the windows once you're inside. The art inside is breathtaking and there's a lot of it! read more

Another beautiful place to visit in Vienna. A big Garden to walk around and the upper Belvedere houses permanent collections of arts including Monet, Klimt, Renoir and others read more

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How wonderful to step of the congested, loud Rennweg into the peaceful, beautiful gardens of the unteres Belvedere. This is a great place to have a snack on a bench or take a quick mini-hike up and around the palace grounds. There's a great view at the top, too! read more

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I loved this museum so much I could spend a whole day here! The garden area was beautiful even in the Fall without the flowers blooming and I could only imagine what it would look like in the Springs and Summers. Heaven! The Kiss is so beautiful in person! A must visit in Vienna read more

Visited October2015.. this museum is beautiful. It's very well kept, and the art is all breathtaking. It's a 22euro ticket for upper+lower Belvedere, but well worth it. Of course, Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" is amazing, but I didn't know it was a huge piece! Definitely sat there for a few minutes just to take in all of that beauty. His "Death and Life" painting was also something else. read more

Belvedere - Castles Near Me - Vienna, 9

Belvedere museum/palace is awesome. They have great exhibits available to see. We went for the first time today, the garden was absolutely amazing, the waterfalls were beautiful and the museum was absolutely amazing! If your in Wien, Belvedere should definitely be on your list read more

Oh gosh these palaces are so super pretty. I don't know how much it costs to go inside but you can walk around the grounds for free. We loved! It's really pretty and awesome so if you are nearby go and check it out. read more

Rushing rushing rushing so we only had time to visit the Upper Belvedere. It's mesmerizing to see Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" with your own eyes; it is quite a large painting; his use and mixing of bright palette and shimmering golds is simply genius. The grounds are beautiful, with spectacular fountains and sculptures and hedges. If you only have time to see 3 museums in Vienna, make this one of them. read more

What is the Belvedere? A palace? A museum? A garden? Well, today is your lucky day: it's all three! We came to Belvedere because one of my travel companions was a massive Gustav Klimt fan. This was actually the last stop on our Viennese adventure, and we were determined to squeeze in as much of Belvedere as we could before catching our bus out of the city. We only bought tickets to visit the Upper Belvedere Palace, due to budgetary constraints. The Upper Palace houses all the Klimt exhibits. The Kiss gets a wall of its own, as it should--seriously, you can gape in awe for fifteen minutes and still chance upon new details every few seconds. You also have other notable artists such as Monet featured here. Behind the palace are some lovely gardens. There are statues, twisty walking paths, stone gargoyles on watch, thirsty fountains, and colourful flowers. All in all, a lovely area to wander around and soak in the fact that you're strolling through palace grounds, and the cherry on top for our visit to Belvedere. read more

After stepping foot through the gates of this amazing palace, I came to the conclusion that the French really need to step up their game. Everything about the gardens, the buildings, the fountains and pools, and the views of Vienna are all some of the best examples of how to do Baroque right. There seems to be an innate understanding of how to keep it toned down in when appropriate and let the Baroque decorative style explode when it needs to. The current curators of the art galleries really understand how to play with the natural light, such and important part of Baroque architecture, to highlight and illuminate the wonderful collection they have on display. While I only spent part of a day there, I feel like I could easily spend a week wandering the grounds and galleries and still feel like there was more to see. It is definitely a reason to head back to Vienna. read more