Summer at the Belvedere
6 Things to See and Do on Hot Days
When temperatures rise and Vienna basks in the summer sun, the Belvedere takes on a particularly relaxed atmosphere. Between shady garden areas, cool museum galleries, playful discoveries, and balmy summer evenings, it’s easy to spend an entire day here.
Here are six good reasons why a visit to the Belvedere is especially worthwhile in the summer.
Lisa Ebner-Kollmann
Belvedere, Wien
"Blooming Poppies", Gustav Klimt, 1907
Start the Day with Art and Breakfast
On summer days, it’s worth setting out early. Before the large crowds arrive, you can explore the state rooms and masterpieces of the Upper Belvedere at a leisurely pace. If you’d like to take it easy in the morning, simply stay a little longer afterward: The outdoor café at the Upper Belvedere invites you to enjoy a late breakfast or a coffee in the open air after your museum visit.
Tip: You must select a specific time slot for your visit – it’s worth booking online in advance to ensure that your preferred time is available.
Discover the Historic Boskette
Even in Prince Eugene’s day, summers in Vienna could get hot. Then as now, the so-called “Boskette” offered pleasant shade. The word comes from French and means “little grove.” In the lower part of the Belvedere Gardens, these garden spaces – enclosed by hornbeam hedges – have been preserved to this day. Hidden seating areas invite you to pause for a moment and experience the garden from a different perspective.
Enjoy Art in Pleasantly Cool Museum Galleries
When the midday heat sets in outside, the Belvedere’s exhibition galleries offer a welcome respite from the heat. It’s no coincidence that it remains pleasant here even on hot summer days: works of art require stable temperatures and humidity levels to be preserved over the long term. Visitors benefit from this as well. Whether it’s Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss”, masterpieces of Austrian art, or rotating exhibitions at the Lower Belvedere – summer is the ideal time to take time for art and escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment.
Explore the Sculpture Garden with Future Traces
At the Belvedere, enjoying art isn’t limited to the museum’s interior – in the Belvedere 21 Sculpture Garden, you can explore exhibits through an interactive adventure: With the smartphone game “Future Traces. Tracking down art”, you can discover sculptures, architecture, and the outdoor space in a whole new way. A character from the future guides you through the garden, drawing your attention to materials, forms, and stories, inviting you to take a closer look. The game can be played on-site using your own smartphone and is especially suitable for families, children, teens, and anyone who enjoys actively exploring art.
Discover Contemporary Art at Belvedere 21
Within the light-filled architecture of the former World’s Fair pavilion, you’ll encounter contemporary art – a deliberate contrast to the historic palace grounds. The space invites you to explore current themes, discover new perspectives, and add a contemporary dimension to your visit to the Belvedere.
Tip: In the summer of 2026, Belvedere 21 will serve as a two-level showcase for a selection of works added to the Belvedere Collection over the past decade. In the exhibition "Stellprobe", in a display designed by artist Heimo Zobernig, you’ll find works of medieval art alongside pieces by contemporary media artists. A unique opportunity to explore how the Belvedere's collection continues to evolve.
Winding Down the Summer Evening at the Belvedere
Sometimes the final hours of a visit are the best. If you’d like to linger a little longer after enjoying the art, gardens, and architecture, the Belvedere offers several options. Whether in the outdoor dining area of the Upper Belvedere or in the garden of the Lucy Bar at Belvedere 21 – both locations invite you to wind down the day in a relaxed atmosphere and reflect on the impressions of your visit.
Tip: The Baroque palace garden between the Upper and Lower Belvedere is open significantly longer than the museum itself during the summer months. Enjoy the tranquility in the morning or take a leisurely stroll through the park at the end of the day. It’s also a great option for runners who appreciate the palace garden as a backdrop.
There are many ways to experience summer at the Belvedere: on an early morning tour of the museum, in the shade of historic garden spaces, exploring the sculpture garden through play, or enjoying a drink on a balmy evening. If you take the time, you’ll discover not only art and architecture, but also the many little moments in between.
