10 Things to Do in Vienna in September
Planning to visit the iconic city of Vienna? September is an ideal month! You'll find great autumn weather and better prices than in high season.
Vienna in Autumn | ©Roman aka MarioP
There is always plenty to see and do in Vienna, but of all the times of the year to visit, you will be particularly impressed by the month of September.
The Viennese autumn offers activities as varied as cocktail parties and beer festivals, events to discover the products of the Austrian countryside, sporting events, visits to historic buildings, children's choir, street art, vineyard tours, bicycle tours and even roller coasters. Let's go for a ride!
1. A must: the Vienna Boys' Choir is back in September
Here are some of the typical daytime things to do. You can't miss the show of the legendary Vienna Boys' Choir. The show is performed every Sunday morning and only takes a break during the summer months, so in September they come back refreshed!
The little singers of Vienna are between 9 and 14 years old and are divided into four choirs that give 300 concerts a year all over the world dazzling half a million spectators.
A visit to the Wiener Hofburgkapelle (St. Joseph's Chapel of the Vienna Hofburg) in the Imperial Palace is one of the best plans for a warm Sunday morning to enjoy the performances of these little ones.
Practical information
- Where: Hofburg, Schweizerhof (St. Joseph's Chapel of the Hofburg) or Am Augartenspitz (concert hall of the Children's Choir)
- Price: from about €12 to over €100, depending on location
- When and when: Sundays around 9:00 a.m.
2. Walk through Prater Park in autumn
A must-see in Vienna is the huge Prater Park, one of the largest green areas in the city. It stretches from the center to the Danube harbors and is a place of recreation for the Viennese, chosen for sports and picnics. It has many hiking and biking trails to enjoy the autumn weather.
However, the most sought-after attraction is at one end of the park and is where the roller coaster, the giant Wiener Riesenrad Ferris wheel for which you can book tickets in advance, the water rides and the carousels are located. The last thing to see in the Prater is the soccer stadium and the campus building of the University of Economics which surround the Prater and are two modern architectural marvels.
3. A dinner cruise on the Danube
The visit to the Prater can culminate in front of the Danube River, perhaps with a walk or a dinner cruise on the Danube in Vienna.
Boat tours are available all year round, but September is a good time thanks to its unbeatable weather. You will enjoy the panoramic view of the city from the river, the artificial beaches and the views of its castles and historic buildings.
4. Monuments and historical buildings free for all ages
Monument Day is commemorated in Austria and also in other European countries with the idea that the public values and engages with the national heritage.
It is a special day on which several historic buildings open their doors free of charge for visitors offering a tour of the cultural heritage of the city. It is a good opportunity to book a guided tour of Vienna.
It is also very attractive to visit buildings that are not usually accessible to everyone, for example: The Academy of Visual Arts, the Biedermeier collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Gustav Klimt's villa, the halls of the Burgtheater, among others.
5. Street art in autumn: magicians, dancers, acrobats and much more
With the warm weather still settling in the city the Vienna Buskers Festival represents street art in Karlsplatz park, in front of the imposing baroque Karlskirche church.
The spirit of the festival is solidarity, as the shows are free of charge thus keeping the soul of street art. Magic, acrobatics, music, dance and puppets are part of the program of this festival that is a pleasure for the senses. You will also find several food and drink stalls for a perfect day in Vienna.
To close the tour you can plan a visit to the baroque church of Karlskirche, an architectural marvel built after the plague epidemic in 1700 and if you are interested in art, I recommend booking a guided tour of the Vienna Museum of Art History. You won't regret it!
6. If you didn't visit the opera, were you really in Vienna?
The city considered the center of classical music and opera worldwide reopens its stages after the summer, as locals return after the summer break and the concert schedule begins its formal activity.
Consider yourself lucky if you are in Vienna in September as it is an excellent time to experience the opera in one of Vienna' s theaters without the crowds of tourists and with tickets at a very good price.
The most important venues to enjoy the opera are the Staatsoper, which is state-owned and has the best price-quality ratio, the Volksoper and the Theatre an der Wien. But you can also book tickets for classical music concerts at St. Anna's Church or enjoy a unique moment by buying tickets for a Mozart and Strauss concert in Vienna.
7. No match for the Oktoberfest: the Vienna Beer Festival
If you love to enjoy a frothy beer, you can't miss it! In mid-September, the most important beer festival in the world is held (and it's on a par with the Germans), the WienerBierfest (Vienna Beer Festival).
Austria is one of the most beer-loving countries in the world. Every town, city and district has small craft breweries that produce year after year new varieties for the local public and Vienna stands out with more than 40 craft breweries.
To get to this spectacular celebration you must go to the Am Hof square in the historic center of the city. With free admission, there are live shows by regional artists and musicians, traditional Viennese food stalls, and lots of enthusiastic people eager to enjoy a typical Alpine beer festival. Regional dances and traditional costumes provide the perfect color and atmosphere for tasting the most original beers.
Practical information
- Where: Am Hof square
- Price: only the beers you drink
- When and hours: mid-September, from Monday to Saturday it is open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, while on Sundays it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
8. Harvest Festival: a bit of the countryside in the middle of the city
If you are looking for a bit of nature and country atmosphere to compensate, I have an excellent proposal. The Harvest Festival is held in the middle of the city, a festival of flavors and textures! It is a two-day event that takes place at the beginning of September. The peasants and farmers take the opportunity to give thanks to Mother Earth for the harvest of the season and teach visitors a little of the daily tasks of the countryside.
In the colorful festival fruits, vegetables and vegetables are displayed, but you can also taste delicacies such as cheeses, sweets, sauces and beverages. The space is filled with tents and stalls set up for eating and drinking. It is an excellent opportunity to get to know the characteristics of different areas of the country without leaving Vienna!
Also, if you travel with children to Vienna they will have fun guaranteed. In this festival there are games and contests with prizes so that the little ones can learn about the tasks of the countryside while having fun.
Practical information
- Where: Augarten Park
- Price: free
- When: around September 10
9. Get moving! Enjoy the Vienna Night Marathon
It's not just about eating and drinking, you'll also find time to burn calories! Never thought of attending a night race? If you visit Vienna in September, you'll have the chance. The Vienna Night Run offers you the chance to run through one of the city's most beautiful circuits.
The distance to be covered is just 5 km, so it is considered a route suitable for anyone who is up for it, as the main aim of this event is to have fun. The route consists of a grand tour along Vienna's Ringstrasse, starting from the Universitätsring near the Main University of Vienna.
10. Signature cocktails and dancing in an old factory
If you're looking for things to do at night in Vienna, this is the event you can't miss. For the past few years, the Liquid Market has been held in Vienna at the beginning of September, a must-attend event if you enjoy cocktails.
It is a festival of cocktail novelties that takes place in the exceptional building of the former Wiener Werkshallen factory, which has ample indoor and outdoor spaces. Excellent bars from all over the world come together to present the latest in signature cocktails, along with food stalls and top DJs, making this event a treat for the senses.
Practical information
- Where: Haidequerstraße 1-3
- Price: depends on the days you want to attend.
- When and hours: first days of September, between 14.00 and 22:00 hours
11. Walking through vineyards in autumn: the Wine Walking Day
Can you imagine taking a route through a vineyard and closing the walk with a tasting of tapas and wine? This popular activity is possible every year only in September in the surroundings of the eclectic city of Vienna.
Some of the most important vineyards of the city (which has 700 hectares of vineyards) open their doors to the public to show their procedures and especially their plantations. There are several tours of different extensions to choose from. In each of them, the accesses are very simple and accessible, so it is an activity suitable for all types of public.
To end a perfect day, the surrounding bars offer delicious Viennese wine (and also tasty grape juices if alcohol is not your thing).