Vienna in Winter – 25 magical things to do in winter in Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a beautiful city to visit, especially during the winter months! Living in Austria, I have visited Vienna countless times – in all seasons. But Vienna in winter, with its Christmas markets, snow-covered baroque architecture, and fairy lights that illuminate the city, is an experience you don’t want to miss.

There are many amazing things to do in Vienna in winter, from enjoying festive Christmas traditions to indulging in Austrian delicacies or visiting the most famous sights without crowds.

Below, I share with you everything you need to know to plan your perfect winter vacation in Vienna and I tell you which experiences will make your stay even more special.

In a hurry? Book your must-dos in Vienna in winter:

These are the absolute best things to do in Vienna in winter:

Christmas Market Tour
Guided walking tour
Schonbrunn Palace guided tour
St. Stephen’s Cathedral concert
Vienna Ferris Wheel

Why visit Vienna in winter

Vienna is a popular tourist destination all year round. But when the temperatures drop, fairy lights and Christmas decorations fill the city with a unique festive atmosphere. Visiting the traditional Christmas markets is one of the top things to do in Vienna at Christmas and is popular with tourists and locals alike. Plus, seeing the city and its baroque architecture covered with fresh snow is a truly magical experience.

Visiting in winter generally brings fewer crowds, which means you won’t need to queue at popular attractions and you can enjoy the historic city center in a more peaceful atmosphere. You’ll also find better deals and more affordable prices for your stay during this time of the year.

On top, there are certain things you can only experience in winter, like the traditional Austrian winter sport Eisstock or the Viennese Ice Dream.

Where to stay in Vienna in winter

If you’re planning a city trip to Vienna in winter, I recommend staying in Innere Stadt (first district). It’s surrounded by the famous Ringstrasse and home to many of Vienna’s stunning baroque buildings and popular attractions. 

Plus, if you’re in Vienna for Christmas, the Innere Stadt is beautifully decorated and illuminated with fairy lights, creating a festive Christmas atmosphere.

25 amazing things to do in Vienna in winter

Enjoy the festive atmosphere at Vienna’s Christmas Markets

Visiting Vienna’s famous Christmas markets is one of the best things to do in Vienna in December. The big Christmas Market at Rathausplatz next to the ice rink is the most famous of all, but you can find various Christmas markets all over town. 

Small wooden huts decorated with twinkling lights sell traditional mulled wine and local treats as well as handcrafted souvenirs and tree decorations. 

I recommend you visit more than one Christmas market in Vienna since they all have their unique vibe and atmosphere. If you’re unsure where to start, take this Christmas Market Tour and your guide will bring you to the best markets with delicious treats.

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Christmas Market Tour

Escape Winter in the Imperial Butterfly House

The Butterfly House is a dedicated room in the Palm House in Burggarten that features a tropical landscape with beautiful water elements, warm temperatures, and is home to a huge variety of freely flying, colorful butterflies. It is the perfect escape from bad weather or when you need a break from winter. 

With a bit of luck, one of the butterflies might even land on your hand, so make sure to bring your camera! It’s best to pre-book your ticket to avoid queueing as it can get quite busy.

Book your adventure:
Butterfly House tickets

Visit Schönbrunn Palace

The Schönbrunn Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Austria’s most famous sights. The Habsburg rulers used to spend their summers in this stunning baroque building.

When visiting Schönbrunn Palace, make sure to plan enough time to explore the spacious gardens, especially in winter when it gets dark early. The gardens surrounding the palace are beautifully sculpted and are my favorite part of Schönbrunn Palace. Take a walk up to the Gloriette, you will be rewarded with an amazing view over Vienna. 

You can maximize your time by taking this guided tour including skip-the-line access to the Palace.

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Schonbrunn Palace guided tour

Wrap up and take a walking tour through the city center

The best way to explore Vienna’s old town and learn more about its rich history is by joining this guided walking tour On this tour, you will see all the most important sights and learn about Vienna’s imperial history. 

If you prefer to venture off the beaten path, you can discover a different side of Vienna on a walking tour of Vienna’s hidden sights.

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Guided walking tour
Vienna’s hidden sights walking tour

Explore masterpieces at Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace opened in 1781 as the world’s first public museum and has been the most famous museum in Vienna ever since. Today you can find an impressive art collection including masterpieces by van Gogh and the famous “Kiss” by Gustav Klimt. 

Book this guided tour to discover the famous art collection and the stories behind the individual art pieces. After visiting the gallery, make sure to take a stroll in the gardens surrounding the Belvedere, they are said to be Europe’s most beautiful Baroque gardens and one of my highlights of Vienna.

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Belvedere palace guided tour

Enjoy a concert at St. Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is located in the heart of the city and, with its Gothic architecture, is a well-known landmark of Vienna. This cathedral is stunning and worth a visit all year round. For a small fee, you can climb the 343 steps of the south tower for the best views over the city. 

Make sure to attend a classical concert in the cathedral. You can also find a cozy Christmas market right in front.

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St. Stephen’s Cathedral concert

See an opera at the Vienna State Opera

The Vienna State Opera is one of the leading opera houses in the world and offers beautiful ballet and spectacular opera performances almost daily. Seeing a performance at the Vienna State Opera is one of the best things to do in Vienna in winter in the evening. 

I saw Swan Lake and loved not only the performance but also the atmosphere you get in this beautiful, historic building. Although there is no official dress code in the Vienna State Opera, I’d recommend bringing formal clothing for your visit.

Learn about Mozart’s life in Vienna at the Mozart House

Visiting the Mozart House in Vienna is a must-do experience in Vienna. This museum is dedicated to the life of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Vienna. 

While Mozart was born and raised in Salzburg, many of his most famous works were composed during his time in the capital. The museum lets you explore Mozart’s apartment and learn more about his persona and how he composed his music. Plus, you get insights into the classical music scene in Vienna at the time of Mozart.

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Tickets for Mozarthaus Vienna with Audio Guide

Visit the Albertina Museum

Visit the Albertina Museum to explore the historic rooms where the Habsburg family used to live and enjoy the permanent exhibition Monet to Picasso. It includes paintings and drawings by Monet, Degas, Goncharova, Chagall, and Kokoschka. There are also several temporary exhibits that change often and include works by old masters and contemporary artists alike.

The museum’s most famous painting is “Young Hare” by Albrecht Dürer, but unfortunately, it is only displayed during special exhibitions as it is very fragile, so make sure to plan accordingly if you’d like to see it. 

Visiting the Albertina Museum is a great thing to do when winter brings freezing temperatures. Make sure to buy your ticket online to save time and avoid waiting in line.

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Albertina Museum tickets

Learn how to cook Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel

No matter what the season, a trip to Vienna is not complete without a traditional Wiener Schnitzel and Apfelstrudel. Even better, take this hands-on cooking class and learn the secrets of preparing the perfect Schnitzel and authentic apple strudel.

It’s a fun class led by a local chef that allows you to bring the beloved Austrian comfort food into your home kitchen.

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Schnitzel and apple strudel cooking class

Take a ride on Vienna’s Ferris Wheel

The iconic Ferris Wheel is a special landmark of Vienna that is situated in Prater, a popular recreation area. Opened in 1897, it is the oldest Ferris Wheel of its type that is still in operation worldwide. 

Take a ride on Vienna’s Ferris Wheel to enjoy the breathtaking views over Vienna. My favorite time to go for a ride is in winter after dark, when Christmas lights give a unique atmosphere to the city. 

Don’t worry about cold temperatures or wind, the wagons of the Ferris Wheel are fully closed and shield you from the winter weather.

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Vienna Ferris Wheel ride

Visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna

The Spanish Riding School is famous for training Lipizzaner horses in classical dressage following Renaissance traditions. Only the best horses of Austria’s breeding stables are chosen for the Spanish Riding School and these horses are trained from a young age. 

Make sure to attend a performance at Winter Riding School at Hofburg to see impressive jumps and maneuvers. I found the show very impressive and highly recommend visiting.

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Performance Of The Lipizzans At Spanish Riding School

Indulge in Austrian delicacies at Naschmarkt

Naschmarkt is Vienna’s famous open-air market where small stands sell all sorts of meat, fish, cheese, wine, produce, and even pastries. The literal translation of the German word Naschmarkt means “snacking market” and that’s what it is, a market fool of food. 

Naschmarkt is the perfect place to take a food tour and try the traditional dishes and tasty Austrian delicacies. 

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Naschmarkt food tour

Try the Austrian winter sport Eisstock

Eisstock is a game similar to curling where you let stocks glide over an ice surface. The goal of the game is to make the sticks of your team stop as close as possible to a small wooden cube placed on the other side of the ice surface. It’s a really fun winter sport originating from rural Austria and you should give it a go when visiting Vienna in winter. 

Vienna offers various tracks, you can play Eisstock at Eisstock-Bahn Alte Donau or the Christmas market Ottakring.

Experience traditional Austrian coffee culture

Warm up in one of Vienna’s historic coffee houses and experience the traditional Austrian coffee culture. Have a Wiener Melange, the Austrian version of a cappuccino, and indulge in the world-famous Sacher Torte, a spongy chocolate cake filled with apricot marmalade and covered in dark chocolate glaze. If you’re a chocolate fan like me, be prepared to find a new favorite cake in Sacher Torte.

Go Ice Skating at Viennese Ice Dream

Ice skating at the Viennese Ice Dream is a must-do in Vienna in winter. From January to March Rathausplatz transforms into a huge ice rink. But this is not your everyday ice rink. 

The Vienna Ice Dream features four large rinks with various paths connecting them and even offers a viewing platform on a second floor. You can also access food and drink stalls right from the ice rink, allowing you to take a quick break without getting out of your skates.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve and Dance the Traditional Waltz

If you spend New Year’s Eve in Vienna, celebrate like the locals do and head to the city center for the New Year’s Eve Trail. Along this trail through the historic center, you will find food stalls selling mulled wine and tasty treats, concerts of all kinds, and a cheerful atmosphere. 

Make sure to arrive at Graben before midnight and take a free crash course in waltz dancing to be prepared for what’s coming next.

At the stroke of midnight, the famous bell Pummerin in St. Stephen’s Cathedral rings in the New Year and thousands of people in the streets begin to dance to the famous Viennese Waltz while fireworks light up the sky.

If you’re not in Vienna over New Year’s Eve but still want to dance some waltz make sure to attend one of the Viennese balls hosted throughout the year where you get to dress up and feel like royalty.

Explore Empress Sissi’s life at Hofburg

Empress Elisabeth, mostly known as Sissi, is an important and beloved figure in Austrian history. During her reign, she used to live at Hofburg, an impressive building in the heart of Vienna that houses the Sissi Museum today. 

Here you will gain insights into the life of Sissi, learn about her routines, and see some of her personal belongings and precious dresses.

Take a stroll at Augarten

Augarten is the oldest public garden in Vienna and with 52 hectares a beloved recreation area for locals and tourists alike. When there is snow in Vienna, this garden is my favorite spot to escape the busy city. 

Strolling along the park’s tree-lined avenues while soaking in the crisp air and winter atmosphere is one of my favorite things to do in Vienna in January. If you plan a visit to the garden, keep in mind that it closes at 5.30 pm during winter months.

Experience the angelic voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir

The Vienna Boys’ Choir, known as Wiener Sängerknaben, dates back to the 14th century and used to be an integral part of the emperor’s musical entertainment. Today, the Vienna Boys’ Choir is famous all over the world and gives around 300 performances a year. 

You can hear them sing at Mass at Hofburg Chapel or at a dedicated concert. If you spend Christmas time in Vienna you might even experience the Boy’s Choir during one of their many performances at Christmas celebrations all over the city.

Take a romantic carriage ride

Experience the romance of winter in Vienna by taking a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city center. Don’t worry about the winter temperatures, you’ll get a cozy blanket to keep you warm during your ride.

Starting at St. Stephan’s Cathedral the carriage will take you along the famous boulevard Ringstrasse where you can discover Vienna’s historic buildings and beautiful baroque architecture. 

Try Kaiserschmarrn at Demel

Visit the historic pastry shop Demel, which is well-known for its tasty Kaiserschmarrn. This famous Austrian dessert is a fluffy, shredded pancake that is traditionally served hot with powdered sugar and stewed plums. 

According to legends, Kaiserschmarrn was the emperor’s favorite dish. Today it is a popular dessert in Austrian cuisine and a must when visiting Vienna in Winter.

Take a photo tour of Vienna at night

Join this photo tour which will take you to beautifully illuminated, iconic buildings and hidden gems of Vienna at night and help you capture that perfect shot with your camera or smartphone. The Christmas time with its festive lights and decorations makes this tour especially charming, as you can catch this special atmosphere in your pictures.

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Vienna at night photo tour

Explore Vienna’s shopping streets

Take a shopping tour in Vienna’s historic shopping streets Kärntnerstrasse and Graben. These streets offer a huge variety of popular stores and traditional restaurants. They are lined with beautiful baroque and Renaissance-era buildings, making your shopping experience truly special. 

Strolling along the historic streets illuminated by fairy lights while window shopping is one of my favorite things to do in Vienna in winter.

Take a day trip from Vienna

Vienna is a great base to take a day trip from thanks to its proximity to neighboring countries and its excellent connection to other cities within Austria. 

There are many great day trip options from the idyllic lakeside village Hallstatt to the famous Mozart city Salzburg, or the Hungarian capital Budapest known for its spas.

Winter holidays and events in Vienna

24th of December
Christmas Eve (Heiliger Abend)
Shops and attractions close earlier on this day. Dinner reservations are essential.

25th of December
Christmas Day (Christtag)
Expect shops to be closed, restaurants and tours might function in a limited fashion. Christmas lunch reservations are essential.

31st December
New Year’s Eve (Silvester)
Shops and attractions close earlier on this day. Dinner reservations are essential.

1st of January
New Year’s Day (Neujahrstag)
Expect shops to be closed, restaurants and tours might function in a limited fashion.

6th of January
The Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige)
Expect shops to be closed, restaurants and tours might function in a limited fashion.

14th of February
Valentine’s Day (Valentienstag)
Shop and tour opening times are not affected. Dinner reservations are essential.

School holidays
Children in Austria enjoy their school holidays from Christmas to the Epiphany (with exact dates varying each year). Since neighboring countries share similar holidays, you can expect more tourists in the city during this period.

Carnival (Fasching)
Dates vary each year, usually in February or early March.

Vienna’s winter temperature and weather

Winter in Vienna officially lasts from late December till late March and is relatively cold and dry with average temperatures at about freezing point. Winter sees less rain than the rest of the year, but snow is common in winter in Vienna. January is typically the coldest month of the year with average temperatures of 1.1 °C (34 °F).

Does it snow in Vienna?

You can expect snow in winter in Vienna. However, the capital does not get as much snow as other regions in Austria. If you’d like to experience the city covered in snow, the best time to visit Vienna is in January and February. 

December in Vienna is often slightly too warm for snow, especially in the city center. March, on the other hand, brings spring temperatures to the capital and barely sees snow. 

How many days in Vienna in winter?

You should plan at least three days for your winter getaway in Vienna. Since days are shorter in winter, this will give you enough time to see the most important sights, visit traditional Christmas markets, and try the delicious Austrian cuisine. Keep in mind that some attractions and museums might close earlier during the winter months.

Getting to Vienna

Vienna is easy to reach as it is well-connected with the rest of Austria and the world.

By air: Vienna International Airport is located 18 km southeast of the city center and is the largest and busiest airport in Austria. It offers connections to various international destinations. Book this train ride to the city center for a smooth and hassle-free ride from the airport. 

You can also fly to Bratislava Airport in Slovakia, which is located just 60 km from Vienna. Take this private transfer to get from Bratislava Airport to Vienna’s city center.

By bus: If you’re traveling from within Austria or the neighboring countries, taking a bus to Vienna is a budget-friendly option. The bus terminal is located in the city center and is well-connected with most European cities.

By car: Getting to Vienna by car is pretty straightforward. From within Austria, most major highways take you to the city. On top, Vienna’s road network is well-connected to Bratislava, Budapest, and the Czech Republic. Keep in mind that you need the vignette to use Austrian highways.

By train: Austria offers an excellent railway network that connects Vienna to various major destinations within Austria and neighboring countries. The main train station is situated to the west of the city center and is easily accessible via public buses and subway. I mostly travel by train to Vienna, it’s affordable and super convenient.

Getting around Vienna

Vienna offers excellent public transport including buses, trains, trams, and subways, making it very easy to explore the different corners of the city. Many of the popular attractions are located in Vienna’s city center or along the Ringstrasse and are within walking distance of each other.

This hop-on hop-off bus tour is a great way to explore Vienna and its main sights, especially on those cold winter days.

Planning a trip to Vienna?

Vienna is a must-visit city filled with historic architecture, rich culture, and classical music scene. The city’s imperial palaces, famous art galleries, and lively neighborhoods offer a unique blend of past and present.

Austria offers diverse experiences, from rich culture, stunning landscapes, and historic cities like Vienna and Salzburg, to outdoor activities like skiing and hiking in the Alps. For insights on must-visit attractions and tips to make the most of your experience in this wonderful country make sure to check all my articles on Austria!