Belvedere Palace (Weimar)

Schloss Belvedere is a Baroque summer palace perched on a wooded hill about four kilometers south of central Weimar. Surrounded by an orangery, a Russian garden and a sprawling landscape park, it is part of the Classical Weimar UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of the best things to do in Weimar when you want fresh air, sweeping lawns and a glimpse of courtly life away from the busy old town.

Where it is and how to get there

Weimar lies in Thuringia, about 15 minutes by regional train from Erfurt, a major ICE hub with fast connections to Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. Regional trains are covered by the Deutschlandticket. From Weimar's center, the long, straight Belvederer Allee climbs to the palace: about an hour on foot or a pleasant bike ride. City bus line 1 runs toward Belvedere; check the current timetable. There is a parking lot at the palace for drivers.

A short history

Duke Ernst August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach built the palace between 1724 and 1748, with plans by court architect Gottfried Heinrich Krohne, taking inspiration from the Belvedere in Vienna. It began as a hunting lodge with a menagerie and served as the ducal family's summer seat until 1904. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, daughter of a Russian tsar, left a lasting mark: the Russian Garden west of the palace copies her childhood garden in St. Petersburg. The palace and park joined the UNESCO list in 1998.

What to see

• The palace itself, with domed pavilions and Baroque decorative arts
• An interactive park model in the west pavilion
• The orangery courtyard with its dolphin fountain
• The Russian Garden, a hedge theater from 1823 and a maze

The park covers about 43 hectares, so allow two to three hours if you want to see it all.

Tickets and opening hours

In the summer season the palace opens only on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the season ends on November 1; it is closed in winter. Admission is €8, €6 reduced and €3 for students aged 16 to 20, with free entry under 16. The park, the gardener's house and the orangery are free and the park is open year-round. Prices as of October 2026.

Is it worth visiting?

If you are spending a full day or more in Weimar, yes. Even when the palace is closed, the park is a lovely walk with views back toward the city, and the Café Belvedere (Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) makes a good stop. Combine it with the Park an der Ilm and Goethe's Garden House on the way back into town.