Belvedere Palace Gardens in Vienna | Free Entry & Map

Belvedere Palace Gardens are between the Upper and Lower Belvedere in Vienna. The main Baroque gardens are free to enter and feature fountains, statues, terraces, and views of both palaces. This is a nice place for a look around if sightseeing in Vienna on a budget.

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These are some of the most popular palaces in Vienna for tourists to visit. I visited on my own, as the gardens are not dog-friendly; thus, Henry had a break and rested in our dog-friendly accommodation. Many tours of Vienna include the palace. You can find lots of these on the GetYourGuide website.

Belvedere Palace Gardens Map and Entrances

There are various boards with site maps at the site to help you find your way around. These naturally include visual representations of the attraction’s rules.

Upper and Lower Belvedere

Upper Belvedere Palace

The Upper Belvedere, a Baroque palace, has an interior gallery that spans 800 years of art history. Its collection has art by famous artists, including Klimt, Schiele, Funke, Messerschmidt and van Gogh. The palace was built between 1717 and 1723, and it was used for state functions and formal receptions.

You can mooch around the sides of the building for free and take in the fabulous architecture and details. The front is special, with some cool statues near the entrance.

Lower Belvedere Palace

The Lower Belvedere is not as grand as the Upper Belvedere and also contains an art exhibition. This one covers the periods of art from the palace. Completed in 1716, it is also pretty special to see.

The Entrance Gates

On a visit to the Belvedere Palace and gardens, the first thing you might see is the entrance gates. These are pretty and made of iron. The standout feature is the lion statues crowned on either side of the main gate. These also show the crest of Prince Eugene of Savoy, the palace’s first owner.

Reflection Pond at Upper Belvedere (Große Bassin)

At the front entrance, you can see Große Bassin. This is a lovely, large pond surrounded by flower beds, and it’s photogenic.

Fountains, Statues and Garden Features

Cascade Fountain – Kaskadenbrunnen

The main fountain in the main garden is the cascade fountain, also known as Kaskadenbrunnen. From the bottom of the fountain, you get some splendid views of the Upper Belvedere Palace. The steps of the cascade are beautiful, with 5 tiers for the water to flow. There are some Baroque statues on the edges.

Above the fountain are some beautiful pools that supply water to the feature. The upper pool of the cascade fountain has a lovely centrepiece statue and fantastic views down the gardens to the Lower Belvedere.

At the bottom of Kaskadenbrunnen is the lower pool, which I assume has a pump that sends water back to the top pond. Overall, a fantastic point of interest when exploring the gardens for free. And as a bonus, the views from both sides are wonderful.

Muschelbrunnen – The Shell Fountain

One of many pretty fountains in the garden is Muschelbrunnen. Muschelbrunnen is the lower fountain of the centrepiece fountains in the gardens.

It translates to the shell fountain because tritons hold a shell-filled basin in the middle of the water. It’s a chilled place to sit and enjoy the water flowing during the warmer months.

You can see the fountain from above and below, and, in true Baroque style, there are many statues on the balustrade.

Brunnen Pfirsichgarten: The Peach Fountain

The gardens have many fountains, including Brunnen Pfirsichgarten, also known as the Peach Fountain. It’s called that because it’s in the palace’s peach garden. Brunnen Pfirsichgarten was nice to see and seemed to be a quieter part of the gardens. There are some little artworks nearby, and the flowerpots were in full bloom.

Site of Prince Eugene’s Former Menagerie

Another pleasant part of the garden to visit for free is the menagerie and its fountain. The fountain is beautiful to see, and as a bonus, there’s lots of art nearby. This area used to be Prince Eugen’s semicircular zoo.

Statues of The Months on Steps in Garden

One of the eye-catching features of the gardens was the steps with statues of allegorical figures representing each month. The statues were pretty cool. Johann and Franz Muller created these figures in 1852.

You can find these on the west side of the garden, about halfway down. These were great to see; however, I had to seek out my birth month.

Temporary Outdoor Art During My Visit

In the gardens in front of the Upper Belvedere Palace, there is some interesting modern art. There are many pieces to see, each with an information board.

There was also some interesting garden art on the lawns near the lower palace. The big spider piqued my interest.

Botanical Garden Access

As a bonus, a gate from the garden leads to the university botanical garden, which is fascinating. Beautiful gardens, impressive architecture, and it’s free. What’s not to like?

The Botanical Garden was established in 1754 under Empress Maria Theresa. However, now it is part of the University of Vienna. The expansive grounds include open spaces and greenhouses. These gardens contain thousands of species. This includes medicinal plants, which were the original purpose of the gardens.

When the flowers are in bloom, it’s pretty spectacular and a scenic place to find a quiet bench and recharge the batteries. Also, there are water plants in little pools in the botanical gardens.

The Paid Parts & Guided Tours

There are various city tour options that include a visit to the Belvedere Palace. Some are dedicated tours, and others are general sightseeing tours of the city. Many of these options are included in the Vienna Pass. You can find various options on the GetYourGuide website.

At the Lower Belvedere, there are art exhibitions from all periods at the former residential palace of Prince Eugene and at the Orangery. There are also artworks from the Middle Ages in the Palace Stables. At the Upper Belvedere, you can pay to visit the art museum, which features works by some of the world’s historic greats. Thus, the palaces are an art lover’s dream. You can find out visitor information on their website.

Visitor Information

Some information to help your visit run smoothly.

Travel Information

The best way to reach the Belvedere Palace Gardens is by tram, as tram lines D, 71, 18, or O pass very close to the palace. The nearest underground station is Südtiroler Platz, which is a bit of a walk to the entrance.

Finally, Wien Quartier Belvedere Bahnhof is near the entrance for overground trains. I walked to the palace twice, once from Vienna Hauptbahnhof and once from Stadtpark. Both were pleasant walks.

Are The Gardens Dog Friendly?

Dogs are not permitted in the Belvedere Palace Gardens, so Henry stayed at our pet-friendly accommodation.

What About Refreshments?

You are welcome to bring your own food or drink; however, there is a cafe here. Schlosscafé im Oberen Belvedere is a nice place with outdoor seating next to the palace. Just outside the palace are various cafes, bars, and places to have lunch.

Are the Gardens Worth Visiting?

I really enjoyed my visit to the Belvedere Palace Gardens in Vienna, as they are stunning. The architecture of the two palaces added to the experience; a highlight was the garden’s details and features.

Overall, I had a brilliant afternoon exploring without going inside the palaces. I’d say this is a top place to visit if you are sightseeing in Vienna. This is one of many gardens to visit in the city.