One of the world's great art museums is just a tram ride or scenic walk away. See Klimt, Schiele, and Baroque splendor, then return to your comfortable apartment in Leopoldstadt. From €45/night.
The Belvedere is actually two palaces - the Upper and Lower Belvedere - connected by one of the finest Baroque gardens in Europe. Built between 1714 and 1723 as the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the brilliant military commander who saved Vienna from the Ottoman siege, the complex was designed by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt and represents the pinnacle of Austrian Baroque architecture.
Today, the Upper Belvedere houses the most important collection of Austrian art spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its undisputed star is Gustav Klimt's The Kiss (1907-08), one of the most recognizable paintings in the world. The gold-leaf-adorned canvas shows a couple embracing on a flowered cliff edge and draws crowds from every corner of the globe. The museum also holds Klimt's Judith, several major works by Egon Schiele (including Death and the Maiden), paintings by Oskar Kokoschka, and an outstanding collection of French Impressionists including Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh.
The Lower Belvedere hosts rotating special exhibitions in the Orangery and the former palace stables. The Baroque garden between the two palaces is free to enter and features terraced lawns, fountains with sculpted sphinxes, and a reflecting pool that perfectly mirrors the Upper Belvedere facade. On a clear day, the view from the Upper Belvedere terrace extends across the garden, over the rooftops of the 3rd district, and to St. Stephen's Cathedral in the distance.
The palace grounds also include the Belvedere 21, a museum of contemporary art housed in a striking glass-and-steel pavilion designed by Karl Schwanzer (originally the Austrian Pavilion at Expo 1958 in Brussels). It's an excellent complement to the historical collections in the main palaces.
The area immediately surrounding the Belvedere is largely residential and lacks the dining and nightlife options that visitors often want. The 3rd district (Landstrasse) has some restaurants, but it's quiet in the evenings. Staying at Old Vienna Apartments in the 2nd district puts you in a much more vibrant neighborhood, with easy transit connections to the Belvedere and every other major attraction.
Art lovers planning multiple museum visits will especially appreciate the central location. From Herminengasse 12, you can reach not only the Belvedere but also the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Albertina, the Leopold Museum, and the mumok - all within 15-25 minutes by public transit. The apartment becomes your comfortable home base between gallery visits, with a fully equipped kitchen for preparing meals and saving on Vienna's restaurant prices.
Walk 2 minutes to the Schottenring tram stop on the Ringstrasse. Board Tram D towards Absberggasse. Ride approximately 8 stops to Schloss Belvedere (or the stop "Quartier Belvedere" for the main entrance). The tram follows the Ring boulevard past the Borse (Stock Exchange), the University, Rathaus (City Hall), and Parliament before turning south. It's one of Vienna's most scenic tram routes.
Cross the Danube Canal via the Schwedenbrucke and walk south through the 1st district. Pass through Stadtpark - Vienna's most famous public park, home to the golden Johann Strauss statue - and continue south along Rennweg or Landstrasser Hauptstrasse. The Upper Belvedere entrance is on Prinz-Eugen-Strasse. This walk takes you through some of Vienna's most elegant neighborhoods and is especially pleasant on warm days.
Take the U4 from Schottenring towards Hutteldorf to Karlsplatz (4 stops). From Karlsplatz, walk south along Wiedner Hauptstrasse and then Prinz-Eugen-Strasse to the Upper Belvedere - about 12 minutes on foot. Alternatively, from Karlsplatz you can transfer to the U1 towards Oberlaa and ride to Sudtiroler Platz-Hauptbahnhof, which is right next to the Belvedere gardens.
Steirereck (Am Heumarkt 2A, Stadtpark): Regularly ranked among the best restaurants in the world, Steirereck sits in the Stadtpark, between our apartment and the Belvedere. Chef Heinz Reitbauer's modern Austrian cuisine is exceptional. Book well in advance. The more casual Meierei downstairs is easier to get into.
Cafe Schwarzenberg (Karntner Ring 17): One of Vienna's grand traditional coffeehouses on the Ringstrasse, roughly halfway between our apartment and the Belvedere. Excellent Sachertorte and a classic Viennese atmosphere with newspaper racks and marble tables.
Salm Brau (Rennweg 8): A microbrewery restaurant directly next to the Lower Belvedere entrance. Brews its own lager, wheat beer, and seasonal specials on site. The Schnitzel and beer combination here is outstanding and reasonably priced.
Cafe Goldegg (Argentinierstrasse 49): A neighborhood coffeehouse near the Belvedere that locals love. Less crowded than the tourist-heavy cafes in the 1st district, with good breakfasts and a relaxed atmosphere.
| Destination | Distance | Walking | Public Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Belvedere | 2.5 km | 25-30 min | 20 min (Tram D) |
| Lower Belvedere | 2.2 km | 25 min | 18 min (Tram D) |
| Schottenring Metro (U2/U4) | 100 m | 1 min | - |
| Stadtpark (en route) | 1.2 km | 15 min | 5 min (U4, 2 stops) |
| Vienna Hauptbahnhof | 3.0 km | 35 min | 15 min (Tram D or U1) |
Fully equipped apartments from €45/night. Easy tram and metro access to Klimt, Schiele, and Baroque grandeur.
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