Vienna · tour guide 2026

Gustav Klimt at Belvedere

The Kiss, Judith, portraits, gardens and late works: a clear journey through the most important collection of Klimt paintings in the world, without looking at the wrong museum.

See official tickets →
Upper Belvedere · photo Ralf Roletschek · CC BY 3.0
Upper BelvederePrinz-Eugen-Strasse 27
24 paintingsThe largest set in Klimt
The KissThe highlight of the route
1:30 a.m. to 2 a.mComfortable duration
Mandatory slotBook entry online
Why this museum?

A living Klimt, not a simple Kiss room

Belvedere owns 24 oil paintings by Gustav Klimt, the largest collection of the painter preserved in the same museum. The visit allows you to follow a complete trajectory: social portraits, decorative construction from the golden period, square landscapes of the Attersee, then freer faces and bodies from recent years.

The permanent presentation of the Upper Belvedere, Picture this! The Belvedere Collection from Cranach to Lassnig, places Klimt in the Vienna of 1900. We better understand his role in the Secession, but also the differences between his portraits, his landscapes and his paintings which remained unfinished.

Important: loans, restorations and rotations can modify the hanging. The Kiss remains the heart of the route, but check the presentation of the day if you come for a specific work.
24klimt oil paintings in the collection
1908year of presentation of the Kiss under its first title
40 minsofficial audio guide of 18 steps, available in French
3families of works to observe: portraits, gold, landscapes
Seven essential works

What to really watch

Don't just move from one title to another. In each painting, choose a guide detail: a golden rectangle, a fabric, a silence between two figures or the way the keys abolish depth.

1The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, 1908-1909
1908 -1909 · golden period

The Kiss

Gold almost reduces the couple to an icon, but the hands, feet and faces maintain a human presence. Compare the rectangles of the men's coat to the circles and flowers of the dress: two decorative languages unite without disappearing.

To see: the extreme edge of the flower bed, where the embrace seems suspended above the void.
2Judith I by Gustav Klimt, 1901
1901 · oil and gold leaf

Judith I

The golden frame designed by Georg Klimt participates in the work. Holofernes' frontal face, heavy eyelids and head cut off by the lower edge transform the biblical heroine into a sensual and sovereign apparition.

To see: the opposition between painted skin and almost abstract background.
3Portrait of Sonja Knips by Gustav Klimt
1897 -1898 · portrait

Sonja Knips

The pink dress occupies the space like a landscape. The framing, fan and reserve of the model already announce the way in which Klimt will bring psychological presence and decor into dialogue.

4Portrait of Fritza Riedler by Gustav Klimt, 1906
1906 · geometric portrait

Fritza Riedler

The armchair becomes mosaic architecture. Watch how the face remains calm while the garment and back gradually dissolve the body into the pattern.

5Poppy field by Gustav Klimt, 1907
1907 · square landscape

Poppy field

There is almost no sky or path left. The red touches circulate in a very dense green surface and make the landscape an optical carpet, as decorative as it is atmospheric.

6Alley in Schloss Kammer Park by Gustav Klimt, 1912
1912 · Attersee

Driveway in Schloss Kammer Park

The trunks converge like the ribs of a vault. Perspective exists, but repetition of touches transforms it into an enveloping experience rather than classical depth.

7Country garden with sunflowers by Gustav Klimt, 1906
1906 · garden

Country garden with sunflowers

The square fills to the edges. Sunflowers, phlox and foliage no longer describe an orderly garden: they produce an abundance where the eye circulates without a dominant vanishing point.

Recommended route

Four beats, without running

Rooms can evolve: follow the timeline and cartels rather than a fixed room number. This method remains valid even when a work temporarily changes place.

01

The portrait becomes a setting

Start with Sonja Knips then Fritza Riedler. Observe how the model remains readable while dress, seat and background gain autonomy.

02

Gold and icon

Switch to Judith I then Kiss. Compare metal foil, paint and patterns: gold is not just a luxury, it changes space.

03

The square landscape

In the gardens and views of the Attersee, look for the very high horizon, the absence of narration and the repetition of the keys.

04

Late works

Finish, if presented, with Johanna Staude, Amalie Zuckerkandl and Adam and Eve: freer color, frank contours, visible incompleteness.

60 minutesPortraits → Judith → The Kiss → a landscape.
90 minutesAdd the landscapes, late works and rooms of Vienne 1900.
2 hours and moreFollow the entire permanent route and take time to the palace.
Avoid confusion

Four famous Klimts who are not in theaters

Vienna concentrates several museums linked to Klimt. A successful day means not asking Belvedere what is elsewhere.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer INeue Galerie, New York - not at Belvedere.
Life and DeathLeopold Museum, Vienna.
Pallas AthenaWien Museum, Vienna.
The Beethoven FrieslandCollection of Belvedere, but permanent loan to the Vienna Secession.
Prepare the visit

Tickets, times, access and best time

Interior of the Upper Belvedere in Vienna

The palace is part of the experience

Before or after Klimt, look at the staircase, the perspectives and the openings onto the gardens. The Upper Belvedere is both a museum and a baroque palace: allow a margin rather than a minute departure.

Photo Joseolgon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Prices 2026

Upper Belvedere

  • Adult: €23
  • 65+ and students under 26: €19
  • Under 19: free
  • Combined Upper + Lower ticket: €32

Prices and conditions may change: always consult the official ticket office.

Access

Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27

  • Tram D: Schloss Belvedere
  • S-Bahn: Belvedere district
  • U1: Südtiroler Platz/Hauptbahnhof, then about 15 minutes on foot
Summer hours

9 a.m. - 7 p.m

From July 15 to August 31, 2026, Upper Belvedere announces a daily opening from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

To see the works

Avoid 11 a.m. - 2 p.m

The museum reports a large crowd around midday, especially on weekends and public holidays. Prefer the first slot or the end of the afternoon.

Slot only sets entry time. Once in the museum, the visit time is not limited until closing. Large bags, umbrellas and coats must be left in the free lockers.
Frequently asked questions

Visit Klimt in Belvedere

In which building is Le Baiser located?

In Upper Belvedere, the upper palace located Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27. Do not confuse it with Lower Belvedere.

How much time should you allow for the Klimts?

One hour is enough for major works. Allow 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours to integrate portraits, landscapes, late works and the context of Vienna 1900.

Can we enter without reservation?

The museum uses fixed slot tickets to the Upper Belvedere. Booking online avoids finding a full slot and allows you to go directly to the entrance.

Can we photograph The Kiss?

Personal photography is generally authorized according to museum regulations, but respect the instructions in the rooms, the absence of flash and the circulation of visitors.

Are all 24 of Klimt's paintings on display at the same time?

Not necessarily. The number designates the Belvedere collection. Loans, conservation and hanging choices can modify the visible selection.

Official sources accessed July 27, 2026: Upper Belvedere, ticket office, klimt collection, klimt Guide, audio guide, FAQs and visit regulations.

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