The Belvedere area counts as a hotspot among Vienna’s recommended sightseeing areas. But what should you focus on among all that art, horticulture, and history? Here my suggestions…
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At Upper Belvedere palace
1. The Kiss!
(Photo courtesy of and © Belvedere, Wien. Reproduced with permission under the terms of Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0.)
OK, let’s get this one out of the way. You wouldn’t visit the Louvre and not see the Mona Lisa. So don’t visit Belvedere and then ignore Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.
This is a truly world-famous and iconic painting, hanging without fuss on one wall in the permanent exhibition area at Upper Belvedere.
You might find one or two other people taking a look with you, given The Kiss ranks as Vienna’s most important artwork (it often appears near the top of global rankings, too).
2. Seek out the character heads
(Character head by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt. Photo courtesy of and © Belvedere, Wien. Reproduced with permission under the terms of Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0.)
A lot of Belvedere’s art makes a lasting impression. None, perhaps, more so than the busts by Franz Xaver Messerschmidt: a series of studies of weird and wonderful expressions that often seem strangely avant garde.
Created in the 18th century, Messerschmidt’s creations would not look out of place in London’s Tate Modern or New York’s MoMA.
Belvedere owns sixteen of the character head busts, though not all may be on display at any one time. On my last visit, twelve of them formed their own display area on the first floor of Upper Belvedere.
3. See Napoleon
(Photo courtesy of and © Belvedere, Wien. Reproduced with permission under the terms of Creative Commons License CC BY-SA 4.0.)
The Kiss is not the only iconic painting at Upper Belvedere.
The most famous image of Napoleon Bonaparte has the Emperor astride a rearing horse as he crosses the Alps, bicorne hat firmly in place, arm stretched out in authority hoping nobody notices the entirely unsuitable winter clothing.
Jacques Louis David painted five such portraits, and one normally hangs in Upper Belvedere.
The Kiss gets the glory, but take time to view all the permanent displays at this upper palace.
The innocent little piece of art sitting in one corner might be a Van Gogh. Or a Schiele. Or a Rodin. To name but a few of the world-famous artists featured there.
4. Slip around the Belvedere lake
Most people focus on the Upper Belvedere interiors and art, along with the gardens leading down to Lower Belvedere palace.
But go around to the front of Upper Belvedere (the opposite side to the public entrance). Then walk out beyond the small lake and look back.
This is where to take probably the best photo of the palace and one of the best photos in Vienna.
Ideally, wait until twilight to get the palace all lit up and a background of nighttime blue.
If you can, go when the Belvedere Christmas market opens. The view across to the market and palace at dusk looks like something out of a fairytale.
Elsewhere at Belvedere
5. Look down (and up)
(Upper Belvedere interior: the marble hall © Lukas Schaller / Belvedere, Wien)
Upper Belvedere boasts some impressive interior design, particularly the Marble Room on the first floor. Pop up to the second floor for views down into that same room, allowing you a different perspective on the illusionist paintings and marbled delights.
Many of the rooms within both Belvedere palaces have been refurbished as modern museum galleries.
Some rooms, however, remain pretty much as they were (you’ll notice these from the innumerable frescoes, reliefs, statues, paintings and other such designs venerating the life of the not-so-modest Prince Eugene).
Be sure to look up even when in the modern galleries, because the ceilings often remain in their original state.
6. Go to the back of the privy garden
A ticket to the Lower Belvedere palace also allows you into the privy garden, a nice little Baroque garden that provides some respite from any crowds and often features landscaped spring and summer blooms.
Walk to the very back and then look around you; not a sign of anything modern in sight.
The view transports you back into the time of Prince Eugene (albeit without the humongous wigs and poor sanitation).
You get a similar effect by looking out the windows of the Belvedere Orangerie, if you position yourself correctly in the windowed corridor.
7. Walk back to the city centre
When you’re done with Belvedere, walk down to the lower palace and return to the city centre on foot.
This route takes you past the huge Red Army monument and the giant Hochstrahlbrunnen fountain, which are otherwise slightly off the usual tourist walking routes.
Do this at the end of the day in summer and the fountain lights up in different colours.
And after all that, it’s time to reward yourself with coffee and cake.