The Belvedere’s working hours differ significantly between venues. Ignore that, and you’ll find yourself outside a still-closed Lower Belvedere at 9:30 in the morning.
Opening times for every venue
| Venue | Days | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Belvedere | Monday to Sunday | 9 am – 7 pm | No closing day |
| Lower Belvedere | Monday to Sunday | 10 am – 6 pm | Opens an hour later |
| Belvedere 21 | Tuesday to Sunday | 11 am – 6 pm | Thursday until 9 pm, closed Monday |
| Palace Garden | daily | from 6:30 am verify seasonal closing | Closes at dusk, season-dependent |
Hours per the official website belvedere.at. Summer months bring extended hours; individual venues may close briefly for installations.
The Lower Belvedere doesn’t open until 10 am, Belvedere 21 not until 11 am – and not at all on Mondays. If you want an early start, begin at the Upper Belvedere. Always.
Last admission and closing routine
Last admission is usually one hour before closing. In practice: enter the Upper Belvedere at 6 pm and you have a solid hour – but staff begin clearing the rooms 15 minutes before closing.
- Upper Belvedere – last admission around 6 pm.
- Lower Belvedere – last admission around 5 pm.
- Belvedere 21 – last admission around 5 pm, Thursdays around 8 pm.
- Museum shop and café close together with the building.
Allow at least 75 minutes for the permanent collection at the Upper Belvedere. A 30-minute “quick loop” only works if you go straight to the Klimt rooms and skip the rest.
Holidays and closure days
The Belvedere is among the few Viennese museums open on most public holidays – 24 and 25 December are the classic exceptions.
| Day | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | open confirm | Often shortened hours |
| Easter, Whitsun | open | Very busy – book early |
| 1 May | open confirm | Reduced public transport |
| 26 October (National Day) | open | Traditionally very crowded |
| 24 and 25 December | closed confirm | Standard closure days |
| 31 December | shortened confirm | Usually closes early |
Before a holiday visit, check the official site: special openings and short-notice room closures are announced there first.
When is it crowded, when empty?
Visitor flow follows a reliable pattern driven by coach and cruise groups. Two windows stay consistently pleasant.
| Time | Crowds in the building |
|---|---|
| 9:00–10:00 | Low. The best hour – go straight upstairs to Klimt. |
| 10:00–11:30 | Rising. First groups arrive. |
| 11:30–15:00 | High. Several rows in front of “The Kiss”. Avoid if you can. |
| 15:00–16:30 | Medium. Noticeably calmer. |
| 16:30 to close | Low. Second-best window, lovely garden light. |
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday are the calmest weekdays.
- Saturday and Sunday stay busy all day, especially 11 am to 3 pm.
- Monday shifts some traffic to the Upper Belvedere since Belvedere 21 is closed – and several other Vienna museums rest on Monday too.
- Rainy days push the crowds indoors and empty the garden.
The palace garden keeps its own hours
In early, out late – no ticket needed
The Baroque garden opens well before the museums and closes at dusk depending on the season. In high summer that means access late into the evening; in December only until mid-afternoon.
For photography this matters: the classic view of palace, pool and the silhouette of St. Stephen’s works best shortly after sunrise – when nobody is there but joggers.
Adjacent are the Alpine Garden and the University of Vienna’s Botanical Garden, both with their own shorter seasons. check Alpine Garden season and fees
How much time to plan
- Klimt only
- 45 minstraight to the 2nd floor
- Upper Belvedere in full
- 1.5–2 hrsall three floors
- Upper + garden
- 2.5–3 hrsrealistic with photo stops
- All three venues
- 5–6 hrsa full day with a break
- With a guided tour
- 2 hrsstandard tour length
- Café break
- 30 minin the palace or the Orangery
Best time to visit by season
| Period | Museum | Garden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–March | Pleasantly empty | Bare, clear views | Best for the collection |
| April–May | Filling up | Beds planted, blossom | Best overall package |
| June–August | Very busy | In full colour, hot | Go early or in the evening |
| September–October | Moderate | Autumn light, warm tones | Excellent choice |
| November–December | Quiet; Advent busier | Dark early | Plan a short garden window |
In July and August the museum extends its hours – late afternoon becomes the best part of the day, as the groups have already left.
Getting there and arrival timing
From Stephansplatz allow about 15 minutes’ ride plus a short walk. With a timed ticket, be at the entrance control ten minutes before your slot – not more, or you’ll wait outside.
- Take tram DIt runs from the Ring via Schwarzenbergplatz directly to “Schloss Belvedere”, two minutes from the Upper Belvedere’s main entrance.
- Or S-Bahn / trams 18 and OStop “Quartier Belvedere”, a five-minute walk. Convenient when arriving at the main station.
- Build in a bufferTen minutes before your slot is enough. Entry control is quick; the cloakroom sometimes isn’t.
- Fix the routeUpper Belvedere first, then downhill through the garden to the Lower Belvedere. Downhill beats uphill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Belvedere Palace opening hours?
The Upper Belvedere opens daily 9 am – 7 pm, the Lower Belvedere daily 10 am – 6 pm. Belvedere 21 opens Tuesday to Sunday 11 am – 6 pm, Thursdays until 9 pm. As of July 2026, per belvedere.at.
Is the Belvedere open on Mondays?
The Upper and Lower Belvedere are open on Mondays. Only Belvedere 21 closes on Mondays.
When is last admission at the Belvedere?
Usually one hour before closing – around 6 pm at the Upper Belvedere. Allow at least 75 minutes for the permanent collection.
When is the Belvedere least crowded?
In the first hour after opening (9–10 am) and after about 4:30 pm. The busiest stretch runs from 11:30 am to 3 pm, especially at weekends.
Does the Belvedere garden have separate opening hours?
Yes. The palace garden opens earlier than the museums and closes at dusk depending on the season. Entry is free.
Is the Belvedere open on public holidays?
On most Austrian holidays, yes – often with heavy crowds. 24 and 25 December are the typical closure days. Check belvedere.at for short-notice changes.
How long do you need for the Upper Belvedere?
One to two hours for all three floors. If you head straight for the Klimt collection, 45 minutes will do.