10 Things to Do in Vienna in February

Treating yourself to a getaway to the Austrian capital in February is extremely appealing, since, as in the rest of the year, there are plenty of things to see and do in Vienna.

From Vienna' s majestic palaces to its impressive historic center to the Carnival season, the Austrian capital offers plenty of festivities throughout the city, as well as all the romance required to celebrate Valentine's Day in style.

This is one of the most interesting places in Vienna, so don't miss the opportunity to tour this amazing palace and its gardens. On a guided tour of Schoenbrunn Palace you will be thoroughly introduced to the history of the palace and its famous inhabitants.

The Ceremonial Hall is especially ostentatious, but the Franz Joseph and Maria Theresa's chambers are also very charming. In addition, you should not miss the baroque gardens.

During your visit to Schoenbrunn Palace you will be able to see the formidable snowy forests that surround the palace, as well as the views from the Gloriette, really beautiful with all the fountains and icy lakes.

The cultural agenda in February is quite wide and for all tastes, you can go from classical music concerts to great operas, through plays and other types of shows.

Many travelers like you come every year to Vienna to appreciate in all its splendor the musical magic of authors as outstanding as Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn and others, as this city is the world capital of classical music. The best places I recommend you to enjoy great classical music concerts are:

• The Musikverein
• The Konzerthaus.
• The Vienna State Opera
• The Vienna People's Opera

Because of the cold winter in Vienna, the best attractions in February are mainly indoors. One of the most famous is the Spanish Riding School.

You will surely appreciate the revival of all the grandeur of centuries past when you watch the training of the old Italian Lipizzaner horses while listening to classical Viennese music.

Not only can you visit the stables, but you can also watch the horses being trained or enjoy one of the scheduled shows. To round off this day of Viennese tradition, a delicious slice of the famous Sacher cake awaits you in the cafeteria.

Useful information

• Location: Michaelerplatz 1
• Price: a guided tour for adults costs about 18 €, while students pay only 14 €.
• Recommendation: it is one of the activities included in the Vienna Pass so if you want to attend, in addition to other events, I invite you to purchase it.
• Schedule: there are usually guided tours at 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, but it is advisable to check beforehand.

If you find yourself in Vienna on Valentine's Day, be sure to visit the distinctive Danube Tower. This is a very narrow tower, located on the Danube island, with a viewing platform about 150 meters high.

Imagine dining in the restaurant located at the top of this tower, where there is also a cafeteria and a terrace-viewpoint, which is constantly rotating almost imperceptibly, thanks to which you can get a full 360-degree panoramic view of the whole city.

In case you are uncomfortable with heights, you can opt for a great dinner while taking a night cruise on the Danube, admiring the lights of Vienna from the river.

If you happen to be in Vienna on February 21, take advantage of the great opportunity to participate in free lectures and guided tours of Vienna by professionally licensed tour guides.

This excellent idea by all Austrian tour guides is motivated by the celebration of the International Tour Guide Day.

As a bonus, a completely different theme is chosen each year.

If you have ever dreamed of waltzing in a Viennese ballroom, this is your big chance, because February is famous for being totally influenced by the old tradition of dances and music.

The different halls and salons throughout the city open their doors to give you dance galas that will make you transport you to the nineteenth century, these being the most famous:

• The City Hall Salon, the most traditional to attend.
• The Johann Strauss Ball, in the famous "Kursalon Wien", where this great composer performed.
• The National Opera to be present at the famous Vienna Opera Ball, which is the most glamorous ball in Europe. You must go on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday.

And if you are a beginner

If you don't know how to dance, you can find everywhere many offers of dance instructors, who in just one hour will teach you the basic steps of the waltz.

February is the month of Carnival, during which you can be part of the huge crowds participating in the various costume parties, dances, processions and parades that take place all over the city. But keep in mind that the Carnival season ends on Ash Wednesday.

Also, throughout the month of February you can enjoy the traditional Viennese Carnival doughnuts, called "Faschingskrapfen", generously filled with apricot jam or custard and sprinkled with powdered sugar. You can find them in any bakery in town, they are really delicious!

February is a great winter month to head to Vienna's Ice World, located in the heart of the city center in front of the capital's radiant City Hall.

Even if you're not passionate about ice skating or don't think an ice rink is appealing, you're sure to have a great time at the Vienna Ice Dream, which, although it starts in January, reaches its peak throughout February, offering an amazing outdoor ice skating experience.

You can't miss the gigantic two-level ice rink that, by ingeniously taking advantage of the route defined by the existing paths in the park in front of City Hall, turns them into real ice routes. In addition, you can enjoy other smaller attached rinks, where every afternoon various competitions are held.

Useful information

• Location: Rathausplatz.
• Price: a voucher for four hours of skating for adults costs about 8 €, while children pay about 6 €. It is also possible to rent skates.
• Hours: between 10:00 and 22:00.

Get ready to listen to dozens of accordion geniuses, both fully established and new promises, who are annually invited to this festival so that all spectators can celebrate their virtuosity.

This accordion music festival (Akkordeon), with the best of classical, jazz and European folk music, takes place from the second half of February to the second half of March, once a year.

These concerts are held all over the city, on more than fifteen different stages. I recommend that you book your hotel in advance, as traditionally during the festival dates many tourists come to Vienna.

If you are feeling very cold, the most tempting and delicious option is to indulge in Vienna's coffee and cake culture.

There is no greater pleasure than to walk into a coffee shop and take the chill off with a coffee as popular as Viennese coffee, piping hot and topped with whipped cream. You can accompany it with a rich classic dish, such as apple strudel or the famous Sacher Cake - simply delicious! Among the most popular coffee shops are:

• Hawelka, which has its own personality.
• Café Central, where you can participate in discussions with writers and artists.
• Landtmann, where you will be surrounded by luxury to please your most exquisite tastes.

This historic city has a world-famous architecture and a rich history in the arts, besides being on the banks of the mighty Danube.

February is ideal for touring the old city of Vienna with tranquility, because there is a smaller influx of people. In this month there is the Semesterferien, where all schools in Vienna go on vacation for 10 days, so many Viennese leave the city, allowing visitors to enjoy it more calmly.

Being a winter month, February is cold in Vienna, although it is somewhat milder than in January. The average minimum temperature you will encounter is in the order of -1 degree Celsius, with the maximum temperature being around 4-5 degrees Celsius.

Therefore, if you plan to spend time in outdoor activities, it is highly recommended that you wear very warm and windproof clothing, especially for evening activities.

Over the course of the entire month, you will possibly experience some light rain or snow showers on about seven days. During February the sun appears over the horizon at 7 am, setting at 5:20 pm.