Belvedere is a beautiful palace located close to the central train station. Arriving in Vienna via train and with a little free time to spare to search what could be seen close by, the map showed us the Belvedere Palace. Even though time was of the essence, and we did not manage to go inside, we still highly recommend it for a waddle around.
It is a unique and stunning Baroque architectural complex with beautiful gardens behind the main palace and a rich history.
Accessibility
When you arrive in Vienna via train, the palace is at a waddling distance of 1 km (about 0.6 miles) from the central train station. It will take you up to 15 minutes of waddling to get there.
You can also take any public transportation Vienna offers to get to the palace. However, as it is not as far, we recommend waddling there.
If you have time to spear in Vienna, definitely go to Belvedere.
A little bit of history
The Belvedere Palace was built during a period of extensive construction in Vienna. It was in the 18th century that the Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy commissioned the renowned Baroque architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to build a summer residence. Unfortunately, as Prince Eugene died, he left no direct heirs, so his niece Princess Victoria was chosen as the heir to the estate. However, after she moved to the palace, she soon let it be known that she had no intentions of staying in Belvedere and would auction it. The palace was sold to Maria Theresa, the daughter of Charles VI.
Now the palace is used as a gallery with many masterpieces. For example, you can find the works of Gustav Klimt inside. The palace has its restoration and conservation department, which dedicates its time to repair and preservation.
For a more detailed history, visit their site, Belvedere.
Waddling the Belvedere complex
Before entering the beautiful complex, a beautiful gate greets you. The main gate is closed, but the ones on the sides are open to enter the complex. It has a certain magic to it already at the entrance.
The lions standing on top of the gate are showing the crest of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Both lions look very fierce.
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As you waddle on, notice the vast “lake,” whose calm water reflects the palace beautifully. It looks even more beautiful during the evening with the lights.
The entire palace complex with its gardens is situated on a shallow slope and has a length of about 1 km (about 0.6 miles). It’s quite a lot of waddling for a small penguin, but manageable.
As you get closer, its rich history draws you. Honestly, we didn’t know where to look first.
The statues around the palace and in the gardens are marvelous.
Getting to the back of the palace and the central gardens will take the breath out of you. As a small penguin, I imagine all the waddling I have to do, but its beauty makes you speechless. They have a Versailles feel to them and were the first thing to start on when construction began in 1700.
The gardens are free to enter and are open early on from 6:30 or 7:00 am. We saw a lot of runners taking the opportunity to work out a little in the morning and tried it ourselves the next day. It certainly gives the run something special.
Keep in mind the closing hours of the gardens. They close between 5:30 and 9:00 pm, depending on the season. For more information, visit their site, Belvedere.
The Belvedere Palace from the back is as magnificent as it is from the front. Waddling around it and in the gardens will take you back in time.
Is the Belvedere Vienna free?
The gardens cost nothing to view and have been open to the public since 1780. However, if you want to visit the inside, you must buy your ticket.
They offer various choices.
- Skip-the-Line Tickets to Upper or Lower Belvedere Palace
- COMBO Upper and Lower Belvedere Palace Tickets
- Skip the line Ticket to The Lower Belvedere Palace
- Belvedere Museum of Contemporary Art
- Combo: Belvedere Palace + Belvedere 21: Museum of Contemporary Art
The prices start from 8.90 €, and the best way to buy tickets is online here.
Why Visit Belvedere Palace?
- It features the world’s largest collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, which also includes The Kiss and Judith.
- It is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- It’s for you if you love history.
- It houses art collections dating back to the Middle ages.
And even if you don’t like art or history, the inside is marvelous to waddle around.
