Spring at the Belvedere

6 Things You Shouldn’t Miss

Collection

Tips

16.04.2026

2 min read

With the first spring blooms coloring the Belvedere’s Baroque gardens, one of the most beautiful times to visit has arrived. Temperatures are getting milder and the hours of sunshine are increasing – which means it’s high time to end hibernation and venture out into the world again.

Here are six good reasons why the Belvedere is the perfect destination for a spring day in Vienna.

Text

Lisa Ebner-Kollmann

Photos

Belvedere, Wien

1. Stroll through the Baroque gardens as spring begins

The Belvedere captivates not only with its art and architecture but is also surrounded by one of Vienna’s most beautiful Baroque gardens. With the first warm days, the palace park shows itself at its best: early bloomers add splashes of color, the greenery returns, and the Baroque axes open up the view to the horizon. An early morning stroll between the Upper and Lower Belvedere is now one of the most atmospheric walks in the city.

2. Enjoy the Canaletto view from the Upper Belvedere

Once you reach the top, take a moment to pause and enjoy: from the Upper Belvedere, the famous Canaletto view opens up across the gardens all the way to Vienna’s city center. This perspective has fascinated people since the 18th century, when the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto, known as Canaletto, immortalized the Viennese cityscape in his painting “Vienna, Viewed from the Belvedere.” The view has lost none of its impact to this day.

3. (Re)discover Klimt’s “The Kiss” – without the high-season crowds

Spring is the ideal time to visit the Upper Belvedere: before the large crowds arrive, the palace is particularly fun to explore. Gustav Klimt’s iconic work “The Kiss” can also be experienced in a comparatively quiet atmosphere. If you look closely, you’ll discover new details time and again.

Schlossansicht Oberes Belvedere mit grüner wiese und blühenden Blumen im Vordergrund

Photo: Eva Würdinger / Belvedere, Wien

Tip: For even more peace and quiet, it’s best to get up early and book one of the first time slots of the day.

Eine Schlossansicht mit gepflegter barocker Gartenanlage im Vordergrund

Photo: Johannes Stoll, Belvedere

4. Explore The Fantastic Palastics Garden Game with kids

If you’re traveling with the whole family, the Belvedere is the perfect place to be. How about an active break while enjoying some fresh air, for example?

With the augmented reality game The Fantastic Palastics, the palace park itself becomes a playground. The interactive virtual trail invites you to explore together, ask questions, and see the surroundings through a new lens.

5. Discover the Lower Belvedere as an exciting alternative

While more and more visitors are flocking to the Upper Belvedere, the Lower Belvedere offers a more relaxed atmosphere and often surprising exhibitions. Away from the major collection highlights, a different perspective on the collection and the history of the Belvedere opens up. Especially during the week, you can usually stroll through the exhibition rooms in more peace than at the Upper Belvedere.

Currently, the Lower Belvedere also offers the chance to catch a glimpse of nature indoors while getting to know a completely different side of the Biedermeier artist Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. In the exhibition “True to Nature” landscape painting takes center stage, with vividly colored scenes of the Vienna Woods and views of the Salzkammergut that inspire thoughts of your next day trip.

6. Experience a change of perspective at Belvedere 21

If you’re in the mood to broaden your horizon even further, head to Belvedere 21: here, contemporary art unfolds in a clear, modern exhibition space – a deliberate contrast to the Baroque ensemble and an invitation to expand your visit with new perspectives. Thought-provoking works addressing social and political themes invite reflection and spark engaging conversations.