Upper and Lower Baroque palaces built for Prince Eugene of Savoy, housing the world's largest Klimt collection including The Kiss. The architecture alone justifies the visit — then you encounter Klimt and Schiele.
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Insider Intel
Start at the Lower Belvedere (less crowded, excellent temporary exhibitions), walk the formal gardens, then ascend to the Upper Belvedere for the permanent collection. The Klimt rooms are chronological — watch his evolution from academic painting to the golden phase. Schiele's work in the adjacent rooms provides the counterpoint.
Morning on a weekday before tour groups arrive. Book tickets online to skip the entrance queue. The gardens are free and worth visiting separately at sunset when the Upper Belvedere is lit dramatically.
Completed in 1723, designed by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. The Klimt collection includes The Kiss, Judith, and the best survey of his golden period anywhere. The palace was where Austria signed the State Treaty in 1955, regaining independence after WWII. The reflecting pools were designed for Prince Eugene to admire his palace from the lower gardens. Audio guide is worth it for the Klimt context — understanding fin-de-siècle Vienna changes how you see the work.