Belvedere & Kunsthistorisches Museum

Vienna is one of the world's great art metropolises — and two houses stand out even in this abundance: the Upper Belvedere with Klimt's "The Kiss" and the Kunsthistorisches Museum with one of the richest collections of old masters in Europe.

★★★ Upper Belvedere

The baroque palace of Prince Eugene of Savoy (built 1714–1723) houses the Austrian Gallery — and thus the national treasure of Austrian art: Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" (1907/08). The gold-glowing painting is smaller than expected (180 × 180 cm), but its impact in the high baroque room is overwhelming. Also featured are Klimt's "Judith," Schiele's self-portraits, Kokoschka's expressionism, and Jacques-Louis David's "Napoleon Crossing the Alps."

After visiting the museum: be sure to walk through the Palace Garden — the baroque garden axis between Upper and Lower Belvedere with the reflecting pool is one of Vienna's most photogenic spots.

Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27. €18.50. Daily 9 am–6 pm, Fri until 9 pm. Audio guide €6.

★★★ Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM)

One of the most important art museums in the world, built in 1891 by Emperor Franz Joseph to unite the Habsburg collections. The painting gallery alone justifies a trip to Vienna: Bruegel's Hunters in the Snow (the most reproduced winter painting in art history), Vermeer's The Art of Painting, Raphael's Madonna in the Meadow, Caravaggio's Madonna of the Rosary, Velázquez's portraits of the Infantas, and one of the world's largest Rubens collections.

Not to be missed: the Egyptian-Oriental Collection (one of the five largest worldwide), the Kunstkammer with the famous Saliera by Benvenuto Cellini, and the magnificent staircase with Klimt's spandrel paintings.

Maria-Theresien-Platz. €21. Tue–Sun 10 am–6 pm, Thu until 9 pm. Closed Mon. Audio guide free (included in ticket).

★★ Lower Belvedere

While the Upper Belvedere showcases the stars, the Lower Belvedere offers changing special exhibitions of international caliber. The Orangery and the Marble Hall are architecturally spectacular. Often less crowded than its big brother above — and sometimes more rewarding.

Rennweg 6. €16 (combined ticket Upper + Lower Belvedere €25). Daily 10 am–6 pm.

★★ Natural History Museum (NHM)

Directly opposite the KHM on Maria-Theresien-Platz stands its twin: the Natural History Museum. Star is the Venus of Willendorf (29,500 years old, 11 cm small) — one of the oldest human representations ever. Also: dinosaur skeletons, the gemstone collection (including a 117 kg topaz), and since 2023 a new hall on the climate crisis.

Burgring 7. €16. Wed–Mon 9 am–6:30 pm, Wed until 9 pm, closed Tue.