Belvedere Palace & Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ in Vienna: Tickets, Hours, and the Best Visit Plan

Seeing Belvedere Palace & Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’ is one of the most “Vienna” experiences you can have: a Baroque palace, formal gardens, and Austria’s most famous painting in the same visit. The trick is planning around time slots and choosing the right ticket so you spend your time with art—not in lines.

What “Belvedere Palace” actually means ✅

Belvedere is not one building. It’s a small museum “campus” with multiple locations:

• 🏛️ Upper Belvedere: the iconic palace + the main art highlights (including Klimt). Open daily 9 am–6 pm (with seasonal extended hours on listed dates).
• 🏛️ Lower Belvedere: changing exhibitions + Orangery/Palace Stables spaces. Open daily 10 am–6 pm.
• 🌿 Belvedere Gardens: the terrace gardens between Upper and Lower Belvedere. Free admission, with seasonal opening hours.
• 🖼️ Belvedere 21: contemporary art (optional add-on).

If your main goal is Klimt’s “The Kiss”, you want Upper Belvedere.

Where to see Klimt’s “The Kiss” 📍

Klimt’s painting is listed in Belvedere’s own collection database as “Der Kuss (Liebespaar)” (The Kiss / Lovers), completed in 1909, 180 × 180 cm, with extensive use of gold leaf and other materials.

Belvedere also highlights that Upper Belvedere’s collection includes Klimt masterpieces—this is the correct venue for “The Kiss.”

What to expect in the gallery:

• 👀 It’s a “magnet” artwork: the room can feel crowded.
• ⏱️ You’ll want to arrive early in your visit so you see it before fatigue sets in.
• ✅ Your ticket is for the museum entry (not a reserved “private” moment at the painting), so your best strategy is timing + smart flow.

Tickets and prices 💳 (official)

Key rule: time slots are required

Belvedere states that time slots are required at all venues.

Most useful tickets (official ticket shop)

Discounts / free entry (important):
Belvedere lists children and youth under 19: €0.00 (for the standard admission tickets shown on the official “Visit” page).

Buy online tip: Belvedere explicitly recommends purchasing tickets online to avoid waiting at the ticket office.

Hours / operating times ⏱️ (official)

Upper Belvedere (where “The Kiss” is)

• Daily: 9 am – 6 pm
• Extended hours: 9 am – 7 pm on selected date ranges (e.g., 30 Mar–12 Apr 2026; 15 Jul–31 Aug 2026; plus holiday period dates listed on the site).

Lower Belvedere

• Daily: 10 am – 6 pm

Belvedere Gardens (between the palaces)

• Seasonal opening hours (varies by month)
• Admission free

How to get there 🚋 🚆 🚇

Upper Belvedere (Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27)

Official public-transport options include:

• 🚋 Tram D → stop “Schloss Belvedere”
• 🚆 Train & S-Bahn + tram 18 or O → stop “Quartier Belvedere”
• 🚇 U1 → “Südtiroler Platz / Hauptbahnhof”, then ~15-minute walk

Lower Belvedere (Rennweg 6)

Official public-transport options include:

• 🚋 Tram 71 → stop “Unteres Belvedere”
• 🚋 Tram D → stop “Gußhaustraße”

Simple strategy: If you’re focused on Belvedere Palace & Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’, go straight to Upper Belvedere first, then walk down through the gardens to Lower Belvedere if you have time (and the weather is good). 🌿

Tickets / access flow that actually works ✅

Plan A: “I only care about The Kiss + best hits” (90–120 min)

1. 🎫 Book Upper Belvedere time slot (earlier = better)
2. 🏛️ Enter and go straight to the major rooms/collection highlights
3. 🌿 Finish with a quick garden terrace walk (free) for photos and decompression

Plan B: “I want the full Belvedere day” (3–4 hours)

1. 🎫 Book 2-in-1 Day Ticket (Upper + Lower)
2. 🏛️ Upper Belvedere first (The Kiss + core collection)
3. 🌿 Walk the garden terraces (free)
4. 🏛️ Lower Belvedere for exhibitions
   Reminder: the official note says the time slot you select is for Upper Belvedere; the other locations are visited the same day around that slot.

Plan C: “It’s raining / cold / windy” (2–3 hours, indoor-heavy)

• Prioritize Upper Belvedere.
• Add Lower Belvedere only if you love temporary exhibitions enough to justify a second indoor block.

Tips / common mistakes ✅ ⚠️

Do this ✅

• ✅ Treat your time slot like a flight boarding time. Build buffer for transport + coat check.
• ✅ Buy online (Belvedere itself recommends it).
• ✅ Use the gardens as a “reset” between palaces—free and genuinely beautiful.

Avoid this ⚠️

• ⚠️ Assuming you can just walk in at any time—time slots are required.
• ⚠️ Trying to do Upper + Lower + 21 in a tight window. If you don’t have a full day, pick Upper + gardens.
• ⚠️ Breaking photo rules. Belvedere allows private, non-commercial photos without flash, tripods, or selfie-sticks, except where photography is explicitly prohibited.
• ⚠️ Bringing pets into the gardens. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the Palace Gardens.

FAQ ❓

Do I need a special ticket just to see “The Kiss”?
You need Upper Belvedere admission (where the painting is displayed in the collection).

Are the Belvedere Gardens free?
Yes—Belvedere’s official gardens page lists admission free (with seasonal opening hours).

What are Upper Belvedere opening hours?
Daily 9 am–6 pm, with specific extended-hour date ranges listed on the official site.

Do I need to book a time slot?
Yes—Belvedere states time slots are required at all venues.

Can I take photos inside?
Belvedere allows private, non-commercial photography without flash, tripods, or selfie-sticks, except in areas/exhibits marked “no photography.”

What’s the easiest tram stop for Upper Belvedere?
Officially: Tram D → “Schloss Belvedere.”

What’s the easiest tram stop for Lower Belvedere?
Officially: Tram 71 → “Unteres Belvedere.”

Conclusion

If your priority is Belvedere Palace & Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’, the winning formula is simple: book an Upper Belvedere time slot, go early, see “The Kiss” while your energy is high, then take the free garden terraces as your “Vienna pause.” Add Lower Belvedere only if you have time for exhibitions—or buy the 2-in-1 day ticket if you want the full classic Belvedere experience.