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Originally designed as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, who apparently felt a standard palace simply wouldn't cut it, this lavish complex was built after Vienna stopped fending off Ottoman invasions and started flexing its imperial muscles in stone, stucco, and cascading fountains.

The Belvedere isn鈥檛 just one palace鈥攊t鈥檚 a full-on ensemble performance: Upper and Lower Belvedere, an Orangery for your fancy citrus needs, and palace stables fit for horses with noble bloodlines. All of it is wrapped in a park so meticulously designed, you鈥檇 think every hedge was hand-trimmed by a powdered wig.

Construction kicked off in 1712 with the Lower Belvedere, but things really got dramatic in 1717 when the Upper Belvedere was added鈥攂asically a Baroque ballroom with serious diplomatic swagger. Frescoes, gilded ceilings, and artwork by the who鈥檚 who of 18th-century painters helped Eugene throw parties that whispered, 鈥渆mpire鈥� with every flute of champagne.

After Prince Eugene passed in 1736, the place got a second act as a Habsburg hangout, hosting royal refugees escaping the French Revolution and later transforming into one of Europe鈥檚 earliest public museums, thanks to Maria Theresa and Joseph II.

Fast forward to the 20th century: the Belvedere went national after World War I, becoming the proud home of Austria鈥檚 classical and modern art collections. World War II wasn鈥檛 kind to it鈥攂ombings left their mark鈥攂ut meticulous restoration from 1945 through the '90s brought the glory back, detail by plastered detail.

Today, the Belvedere is a major world-class museum. Its galleries span centuries, from medieval devotionals to cutting-edge modernism. And yes, Gustav Klimt鈥檚 "The Kiss" lives here too, alongside his equally iconic "Judith." You鈥檒l also find a respectable crowd of French Impressionists and Biedermeier charmers holding court on the walls.

It's in equal measure for those who appreciate architecture, arts, or just seek to pretend they鈥檙e 18th-century nobility strolling through your summer garden... The Belvedere delivers all of this with a flourish. So go ahead鈥攚ander, gaze, and maybe channel your inner prince or princess.

Tip:
If you don鈥檛 enjoy queuing in the sun, grab your tickets online. And for the love of Baroque opulence, don鈥檛 skip the gardens鈥攖hose cascading fountains and smug statues have been waiting centuries for your admiration...

There was a time in the early 20th century where Vienna was the center of the world for culture 鈥� the age of Gustav Klimt and the Secessionist movement's cutting-edge art. This building represents that time, not only as a geographical location but also in its architecture and, no less notably, the "Beethoven Frieze", painted by Klimt in 1902 as a commentary on Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

Artists were seceding from the conventional art world, and while the only real painting inside is the famous frieze, the building itself, designed by architect Joseph Olbrich, contains a number of features acting as a unique statement of intent 鈥� from the the turtles that support massive plant pots on either side of the entrance to the great dome made from 2,500 gilt laurel leaves and 300+ berries, that the Viennese were quick to christen "the golden cabbage" (Olbrich wanted it to be seen as a dome of laurel, a subtle classical reference meant to celebrate the triumph of art).

Inside, the museum has a minimalist approach to portraying the exhibitions, which allows visitors to really focus on the art. The atmosphere is very calming and magical, encouraging to stop and quietly immerse yourself in the surroundings. Photos are allowed.

Why You Should Visit:
Interesting especially if you're a fan of Klimt, with the Beethoven Frieze as the biggest highlight 鈥� one of those pieces you'll never forget!
The building's fa莽ade is quite stunning as well and you can see many tourists stand across the busy main road taking pictures.

Tip:
The audio guide (DE/EN/FR/IT) is very useful here; much easier to sit and listen as you look at each section than having to read explanatory notes.

The afternoon is a good time to explore at least one of the museums in the MuseumsQuartier. The light, bright Leopold Museum is a good choice as its architecture is a masterpiece unto itself, with everything from incredibly crafted Wiener Werkstatt furniture to stunning murals inside.

But you're probably interested in Vienna's "turn of the century painting" 鈥� and, indeed, here is the largest collection of Egon Schiele and Richard Gerstl paintings in the world. Of course, there are numerous Klimts and Kokoschkas as well, and it's worth coming just to sit and stare at Klimt's "Death and Life" which shows the never-ending cycle of life and death and how mankind cannot worry over the end. The Klimt section also has an authentic reproduction of his studio's antechamber and an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of his long-time companion, lover and muse, Emilie Fl枚ge. All in all, there are more than five thousand exhibits.

In addition to being able to visit this grand exhibit of 19th- and 20th-century Austrian art, you may also want to stop by and visit the gift shop, where you can purchase replications of some of the great pieces exhibited. The building is also home to the fin-de-si猫cle-style Caf茅 Leopold, which is a well known night spot for people to come, have some coffee (or traditional Austrian food), and discuss history, art, and politics.

Tip:
One point of humour 鈥� look out for the diagram of Schiele's final studio, complete with on-site skittle alley.

Fuel up with a cup of coffee or tea and head to one of the world-class museums along the Ring. The Kunsthistorisches Museum's galleries house vast collections of fine art and antiquities, based largely on those accumulated over the centuries by generations of Habsburg monarchs. Lavishly decorated interiors, ornate cupolas and sweeping Neo-Classical stairways create a fitting setting for the treasures housed here, with many of the works on display 鈥� particularly the Old Masters (Bruegel, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Titian, etc.) 鈥� being considered among the most spectacular in the world. Not only that, but the museum is among the most visitor-friendly you're likely to visit, with comfortable sofas available in most exhibition rooms and long closing hours on Thursdays.

The galleries occupy the top three floors (although the uppermost is not nearly as extensive), with an entrance hall, shop and cloakroom below. The ground floor contains ancient objects on one side 鈥� starting with the age of the Pharaohs in Egypt, then proceeding through ancient Greece and Rome while touching on other cultures along the way 鈥� which are joined by rare Renaissance and Baroque treasures collected by and/or made for the Hapsburg monarchs on the other side. The quality and quantity of the material presented is simply astounding, but items are generally labeled simply in German, so you'll want to spring for the audio guide (available in English) to get a more detailed commentary on highlighted objects. The second gallery floor (or "1" level) houses the Picture Gallery, which is again a huge collection of just plain amazing works by every famous artist from the 17th through the 19th centuries. The top floor (or "2" level) only houses a coin and medal gallery along with what are listed as the "Vermeyen Cartoons" 鈥� a series of impressive life-sized tapestries that portray Charles V's Tunis campaign of 1535.

The museum's grand central staircase is adorned with murals by the Klimt brothers and others, which depict the history of art from ancient Egypt to Florence. Gustav Klimt's especially ornate gilded frescoes are probably his best works, although they are illustrative, which in the critical art world loses you points (indeed, they were criticized for being "too erotic"). Diagrams point out which mural was painted by which artist, and sometimes a viewing scope is provided for visitors to see them up close.

Tip:
An adult ticket entitles you to a one-time pass to the museum, as well as, the Neue Burg located at Heldenplatz, which has amazing collections of imperial armoury, historic musical instruments, etc. 鈥� well worth a visit.

If you鈥檙e an art lover roaming Vienna with stars in your eyes and time to spare鈥攕top right there. You鈥檝e just found your holy grail: the Albertina. Housed in the largest residential palace of the ever-fancy Habsburgs, this museum is the heavyweight champ of graphic art. We鈥檙e talking over 65,000 watercolors and drawings, 70,000 photographs, and a stack of priceless prints that would make even da Vinci blush鈥攁nd yes, he鈥檚 in the collection too, alongside Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, and the rest of the Renaissance dream team.

But wait, it鈥檚 not all parchment and powdered wigs. The Batliner Collection brings you straight into the bold world of modernism. Here, Monet, Degas, C茅zanne, and Picasso throw a visual party with their impressionist pals, while Fauvism, Br眉cke, Cubism, and Surrealism crash the scene. It鈥檚 the perfect wild counterpoint to the orderly elegance of the Art History Museum鈥攖hink of it as Vienna鈥檚 more rebellious cousin.

If Klimt or Schiele makes your heart flutter鈥攚ell, good news. The Albertina鈥檚 got them too, in all their golden, tormented glory.

And speaking of atmosphere, recent renovations gave the place back its shine, from regal fa莽ades to a grand central courtyard. When you鈥檙e ready for a break from art-staring, the onsite DO & CO caf茅 offers delicious distractions鈥攃offee, desserts, light meals, and unbeatable views over Vienna鈥檚 historic center. Don鈥檛 skip the nearby Burggarten either for a breezy pause among the greenery. And yes, there鈥檚 a gift shop on your way out鈥攂ooks, souvenirs, and Vienna-themed treasures to prove to your friends that you have excellent taste.

So, the answer to 鈥淲hy swing by?鈥� here is very simple. Because it鈥檚 stunning. Because the collection is world-class. Because you can skip the lines with an online ticket and feel like a VIP. And because the top-floor balcony is the ultimate selfie spot鈥擵ienna鈥檚 historic skyline included.

Hot tip:
Block out at least 2.5 hours鈥攜ou鈥檒l need it. And if you want the full experience, grab the audio guide. It鈥檚 not just informative鈥攊t鈥檚 your witty, well-read companion through centuries of genius.

Now go, and let the masters blow your mind...