12 Things to do in Vienna in the Winter

Are you planning a winter vacation in Europe? And wondering which is the best city that offers a dreamy architecture, amazingly good food, romantic restaurants, cosy coffee houses and is famous for its Christmas markets? Well, you guessed it right – It’s Vienna!

With its traditional buildings, Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, fun winter sports, and close proximity to amazing ski resorts, Vienna is one of the most magical places to be during the winter months.

So, here’s our guide to everything you need to know about experiencing Vienna winter, an extensive list of things to do in Vienna in the winter, what to pack, information about the weather and one day trips you can take from Vienna.

Vienna Winter Weather

Now that you’ve decided to visit Vienna this Winter, let’s take a look at the essentials for a comfortable trip and the weather in Vienna during Winter.

Weather in December, January, and February.

Here’s the average temperatures for these months:

December – The average high is 3ºC, lows at 0ºC (37ºF / 32ºF).

January – This is the coldest month of the year with highs around 2ºC, lows at -4ºC (36ºF / 25ºF).

February – Highs around 4ºC, lows at -1ºC (39ºF / 30ºF).

Vienna enjoys a dry continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. From December to February are the coldest months where the temperature hardly exceeds 0°C. Day temperatures below zero are not uncommon. You can expect frequent snowfall during these months. The local authorities clear the roads and footpaths very quickly to ensure smooth travel for locals and tourists.

Still, there are plenty of activities you can do to enjoy the winter in Vienna. Furthermore, the city is less crowded as compared to summer. And there’s plenty of things to do in Vienna in the winter – outdoors and indoors.

Things to Do in Vienna in the Winter

Take a Tour of Vienna’s Magnificent Imperial Palaces:

If you’re a fan of history then take a tour to see how the Habsburg royals lived. There’s nothing like visiting the Schonbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, and the Belvedere Palace.

Admire world-class art against the backdrop of the history of the Habsburg dynasty. The Habsburgs ruled the Austro-Hungarian Empire for about 650 years. As winter sets in, all three palaces are decorated to the hilt for Christmas.

Schönbrunn Palace is the most famous attraction in Vienna – complete with a palace, huge gardens, and entertainment for hours.

Hofburg is one of the world’s biggest palace complexes and there are three parts you can visit – the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, and the Silver Collection.

Belvedere Palace is an opulent Baroque palace that also serves as Austria’s leading museums.

Please note: A few outdoor features at the palaces may be closed to the public during the winter.

Vienna’s World Class Museums

Vienna is home to a long list of museums that are a perfect getaway on a chilly windy winter day. The city is home to more than 100 museums, which include everything from world-renown collections to quirky exhibits.

If you’re visiting Vienna for the first time, you should definitely visit the two most important museums – Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Fine Arts) and Albertina.

The Belvedere Palace boasts one of the most important museums in Europe. A treasure trove of Baroque and Austrian art from the 19th and 20th centuries. The main highlight is a collection of Gustav Klimt paintings, including the world famous – ‘The Kiss’.

And if you’re a Beethoven fan then Vienna is full of Beethoven sites. Visit the Beethoven Museum on the city outskirts, it’s a tiny museum and is packed with loads of Beethoven trivia.

Attend A Christmas Concert

Vienna is the musical capital of the world. No other city in the world can boast about the most famous composers who have lived here such as Mozart, Beethoven, Antonio Vivaldi, Joseph Hayden, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss. As the Christmas season arrives, musical concerts take place all over Vienna. Here you’ll find some of the most classic works performed in beautiful concert venues.

Here are some good options for classical music lovers:

Mozart and Strauss at the Golden Hall
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Karlskirche
Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in the Hofburg Palace
Classic Ensemble at St. Peter’s Church
Experience an Opera at the Staatsoper
The Vienna Philharmonic

From performances at the world-famous Vienna State Opera to more casual church concerts, the concert options are endless.

Visit the Christmas Markets

Visiting Christmas markets is one of the key reasons tourists visit Vienna in December. So, if you’re visiting a Christmas market in Europe for the first time, you’re in for a real treat, as you’ll visit the world-famous Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz.

Christmas markets in Vienna are open from mid-November until Christmas and some of them even until New Year’s Eve. These markets will charm you with their traditional handcrafts, modern souvenirs, small wooden huts, colorful lights, sparkling decorations, Christmas music, and of course local delicious food.

The top three and the prettiest Christmas markets in Vienna are – Wiener Christkindlmarkt am Rathausplatz, Christkindlmarkt am Karlsplatz and Spittelberg Weihnachtsmarkt.

The foods you must try at the Christmas market are Glühwein (Hot wine), Maroni (Roasted chestnuts), Schaumrollen (Tube-shaped pastry), Langos, Lebkuchen (Gingerbread cookie), to name a few.

Go Ice Skating

This is one of the most sought-after winter activities in Vienna – enjoyed by both visitors and locals alike. You can choose from the modern indoor skating rinks or go skating before some stunning backdrops at the top outdoor ice rinks in Vienna.

In Winter, Rathausplatz, located at the front of Vienna City Hall, is transformed into a fabulous outdoor ice rink. The venue is lit up with beautiful lights during the night, and is an excellent place to enjoy ice skating.

There is another great place to go ice skating – Vienna Association of Ice Skaters, which spans 6,000 sq. m between the Vienna Concert Hall and the Vienna InterContinental Hotel near the Stadtpark.

Finally, even if you don’t fancy ice skating, you can always head to these venues to watch and grab some refreshments and snacks at the various booths.

Vienna’s Breweries and Craft Beer

Like a lot of other cities in the world, Vienna is also a city of breweries and despite the cold, you should try some local craft beers. After spending a day outdoors and visiting attractions, you can warm up by hitting a bar or taking a brewery tour.

The beers on the menu are ever changing and depends on where you visit. In Vienna, beer drinking during winter can be an interesting experience rather than your average evening of drinking. Spend an evening in different bars throughout the city, where friendly locals will teach you about local drinking customs and the best craft beers in the bar.

Recommended Tour: Vienna Private Austrian Beer Tasting Tour

Visit the St. Stephens’ Cathedral and Climb a Tower

In the heart of the city stands the St Stephen’s Cathedral. This glorious Romanesque-Gothic cathedral was built in the 12th century.

The cathedral with its multi-coloured roof is one of the most iconic buildings in the Vienna skyline. Visiting the cathedral can be split into four parts- the main Cathedral, the catacombs, and the two separate spires.

Climb up to the top with 343 steps and enjoy the views of the city centre of Vienna. Of course, if you’re going during the winter, be ready for some cold winds. But the reward you get after climbing all these steps is truly a gift.

Speaking of classical concerts, don’t miss the Advent concerts at the cathedral. Enjoy works by Wolfgang Mozart, Johann Bach, Franz Schubert, and Georg Friedrich Handel as well as traditional Austrian Christmas songs.

The Cathedral is open daily, although each part has varying opening hours to allow for worship time, so it is important to check before visiting.

Visit the Chocolate Museum in Vienna

A visit to the Chocolate Museum (Schokomuseum) is like a pilgrimage to worship the holy food of winter blues. It’s a great place to spend a few hours learning all about the world of chocolate while escaping the winter chill of Vienna.

During the tour you will learn about the long history of chocolate, its uses throughout the world, along with how it is produced on a large scale. You will also get the opportunity to taste a range of freshly made chocolates and see giant chocolate sculptures.

In addition, you can take part in a chocolate workshop where you can create your own chocolate bar, a perfect gift to complete your visit.

Watch a Show in the Spanish Riding School

This is quite a unique place – a gorgeous riding hall and stables right in the middle of the city centre. At the school, you’ll see exclusive Lipizzaner horses – a beautiful white stallion which originated from Slovenia but was bred for centuries by the Habsburgs. The best way to see the Lipizzaner is at the show, when the horses are in their element in the beautiful baroque Winter Riding School, which dates back to 1735.

Performances last about an hour and a half and feature several horses, from young horses demonstrating basic gaits to experienced stallions demonstrating dressage moves in beautifully coordinated mirror images called ‘pas de deux’. Finally, the most interesting is School Jump. Here the horses perform spectacular jumps and are truly incredible. Alternatively, you can choose a morning exercise tour, which also shows both the riders and the horses at their finest.

Finally, you can also go for a private walking tour of the Spanish Riding School, which shows you both the winter and summer riding halls, the Stallburg Arcade, and the stables of the Lipizzaner.

Take a Day Trip from Vienna.

If you have an extra day or two to spend, it’s best to take a day trip from Vienna. There are two places we recommend – Salzburg and Hallstatt. Both of these day trips are beautiful in winter, especially if you happen to see them covered in snow.

Salzburg – This historic city has a small city centre that’s enough to explore in a day. It’s famous for being the location of ‘The Sound of Music’ and its main attraction is a fortress, from where you can view the whole city.

Hallstatt – This is one of the oldest and prettiest villages in all of Europe. Although it’s a small village with about 1,000 people there are a lot of things to do here. The view of the village from the lake alone has made it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Find and Ski Down a Mountain near Vienna

There aren’t any top-notch ski resorts near Vienna, but there are a few options for skiing down hills not far from the city. The most popular are Hohe-Wand-Wiese (more suitable for families and beginners) and in Semmering (about 100 km from Vienna, accessible by road). And even if you aren’t a skier, tobogganing is also a fun alternative.

Celebrate New Year’s in Vienna

One of the most exciting things to do in Vienna in the winter is to experience New Year’s Eve and the fun that comes with it.

Vienna has it all – from more classical concerts and traditional festivities such as balls to partying in nightclubs with locals followed by setting off fireworks in the streets.

The celebrations go on until the early hours and fireworks can be seen for the next two days. It’s truly magical to welcome the New Year in this winter wonderland.

Tips to Visit Vienna During Winter

So, here are some things you should know before making a Vienna winter visit.

Christmas is the main festival in Austria, so if you arrive on Christmas Eve, expect Vienna to be mostly shut down, with empty streets and closed Christmas markets.
Most restaurants are closed from Christmas to New Years. So, check before you go or plan to eat at the Christmas markets.
Shops remain closed on Sundays all year round. A few larger stores are open in the mornings. But they all close between Christmas and New Year’s.
Most attractions have shorter opening hours in the winter and often close at sunset. So, check winter hours before visiting.
Although Vienna is fairly walkable, it’s best to book private guided tours with Rosotravel and visit attractions with an expert guide. Pickup and drop by car are included in these guided tours.
Never buy tickets to musicals or other attractions on the street. These are either scams or overpriced tickets. It’s best to book your tickets to musical concerts or attractions in advance with Rosotravel.
Finally, you must note that winter can be an expensive time to visit Vienna – from upcharge hotel rooms to pricey food and drink at the markets.
Days are short, which means you will have less time to explore during daylight (although the evenings are best spent at the Christmas markets, anyway).

What to Pack for Vienna Winter

Vienna is situated relatively in the southern part of Europe; hence its weather is more clear than other cities in Europe. That said, rain and snow are both common during the winter, so you should be prepared for both. It’s best to dress up in layers as it can get pretty cold. Warm and waterproof clothing is a must.

Make sure you pack:

Shoes that can handle wet conditions.
Appropriate thick socks
Scarf, knit hat, and gloves
Layers – thermal leggings, a long-sleeved shirt, a mid-sized sweater and winter coat will be enough.

You won’t need a parka, unless you want to keep yourself extra cosy. After spending a few hours outside you’ll be finally entering a museum, cafe or any place that is heated and will warm you up. So, make sure you are able to take off those extra layers as needed, or else you’re likely to roast in any place you enter.

Finally, one last, but certainly not the least for a wonderful Vienna winter experience.

Every winter, usually from the last week of November to mid-February, the Winter Circus makes a guest appearance at Vienna’s Prater – Kaiserwiese. Bring back the joys of childhood and dive deep into the circus world in a heated circus tent.

We wish you a lot of fun with our list of things to do in Vienna in the winter and also have a wonderful Christmas time!