10 Things to Do in Vienna in the Summer

There are many things to see and do in Vienna, but even more in summer, when the weather gives a break and the sun makes everything much more pleasant. It is the perfect season to spend the day in the parks, the markets and the banks of the Danube, but also to attend the most anticipated festivals of the year.

If you are planning to visit the capital of Austria, in this new article I am going to give you ten reasons why organizing your trip in summer is worthwhile. Do you want to know them? Take note!

Vienna is a city where all the arts have their place. With an enormous musical and artistic tradition, the capital is a reference for the whole of Europe. One of its greatest strengths is dance, and if you come to Vienna in summer you can enjoy a unique and unforgettable way because during the months of July and August takes place the famous ImPulsTanz, an annual dance festival where the best of this art is shown.

If you dare to come, you can not only attend concerts and performances of some of the most renowned dancers in the country, but you can also attend workshops and lectures organized by the masters of the trade. The festival is organized in different venues around the city, some of them outdoors. If you want to enjoy a beautiful classical dance or move your skeleton while enjoying the good weather, this festival will be one of your favorite events.

useful information

• Price: there is no general admission to the festival, but you buy tickets to the different events with prices that can vary between 10 € to 30 € approximately and depending on the year.
• Location: the festival has several locations around the city, such as Ghegastraße 1030, where the workshops are usually organized.
• Date: from early July to early August.

They say that the best way to listen to jazz is live, to be able to witness the improvised conversations of the instruments and the atmosphere it generates. If you are one of those who enjoy a good jazz concert, what better scene than attending the Jazz Fest Wien in the city of music?

Coinciding with the arrival of summer, Vienna organizes every year a festival dedicated to jazz music, although it also makes room for other emerging genres and even some musical legends of opera. For almost two weeks, all kinds of concerts are held throughout the city.

Each year it is organized by a different collective that tries to bring all the national and international novelties of the year. Music is a language understood by all and if you want to know Vienna in a different way I recommend you to visit one of these concerts and let yourself go.

Useful information

• Price: depending on the performance. Some are free and others range from 10 € to 30 €.
• Venue: the festival organizes concerts and workshops in different venues in Vienna that can change every year, so I recommend you to check the program of each edition.
• Date: from late June to mid-July.

One of the most anticipated events of the year in Vienna that brings together music, dance, theater and even acrobatic circus performances is the famous Kultursommer, a festival that takes place every year in summer and offers a huge cultural program for all ages. In its more than 1,000 performances, you can find from hip hop concerts to classical music, through all kinds of dance and theater performances and meet the most renowned artists and young emerging promises.

If you are coming to Vienna with children, this festival is also for them, as there are special programs organized for the youngsters to have a great time.

This festival usually lasts about a month and is the perfect opportunity for you to get to know Austrian culture and move to the rhythm of its music and its idle atmosphere. Are you going to miss it?

Useful information

• Price: this festival is free, you just have to book in advance on their official website.
• Place: there are up to 40 different locations so I recommend you check the program each year and note it on the map.
• Date: from the beginning of July to the end of August.

Being able to see Schoenbrunn Palace is a luxury that you can do at any time of the year, but I can assure you that in summer it has a privilege that already makes it worth coming on these dates. During one of the summer nights, in the palace gardens, a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic is organized completely free.

This event is usually held at the end of June to kick off the summer. The huge palace gardens are used to install a large stage that can expand the acoustics and hundreds of people come to hear live this impressive international orchestra.

As you might have guessed, everyone wants to attend, so, even if it's free, book your tickets early so you don't miss this unique Vienna summer event.

Useful information

• Price: free of charge.
• Place: in the gardens of Schoenbrunn Palace.
• Date: during one of the evenings in the last week of June.

What could be more appealing than taking a dip when the sun is shining? Swimming pools are one of the most popular places during the summer months but in Vienna there is a pool that gets all the attention every year because it is built on one of the banks of the Danube and besides being refreshing, it has incredible views of the city.

Every summer, the huge Badeschiff ship, stranded on the Danube, opens its pool to enjoy the good weather and only in the summer months a bar is set up so you can accompany your swim with a delicious drink. I can't think of a better plan after spending a morning of museums under the sun than going for a swim in this entertaining and curious pool in the middle of the city.

Useful information

• Price: about 7€ for general admission.
• Location: on the banks of the Danube at Donaukanal 1010.
• Date: the pool is open all year round but it is in the summer season that it is discovered.

When the good weather arrives, one of the most popular things to do is to spend time outdoors and take advantage of the nearby parks and nature reserves. Luckily, there are several parks to discover in Vienna during the summer months and they are ideal for a family picnic.

If you want to get away from the classic baroque and stately parks in the center of Vienna, I recommend that you take advantage of the good weather to go to the famous Laizer nature reserve, just an hour from the center of Vienna.

From the Wien Liesing Bahnhof, buses leave from the Wien Liesing Bahnhof station, leaving you at the gates of the park. This place was a former hunting ground and today you can see deer in the wild, especially in the warmer months. You can get a basket of food to take away from a local food store or bring some sandwiches and enjoy a day outdoors.

If you prefer, you can also check out some other day trips near Vienna to make the most of the good weather.

Useful information

• Price: admission is free, you just have to pay for the bus to get there, which can cost around €3.
• Location: the reserve is at Lainzer Tor, Hermesstraße 1130.
• Date: open all year round but worth a day trip in the summer months.

The public markets are one of the biggest attractions for people who come to know Vienna as they are a very authentic sample of the Austrian essence, the products they consume and the way they live. Sometimes you learn more about a city by watching its inhabitants buying fruit at the markets than by going to a history museum.

However, although it is quite common to see markets scattered around the city several times a week, it is in summer when they manage to attract the crowds. While the rest of the year only locals come to buy basic supplies, in the warmer months food stalls are usually set up, and traders offer tastings to attract the curious. Undoubtedly a unique culinary experience, authentic and very appropriate to eat something outdoors while you continue your walk.

There are several markets that are most crowded in summer but the two most famous are the Naschmarkt and Karmelitermarkt.

Useful information

• Price: access to the markets is free and depends on what you consume and what you spend.
• Location: the Naschmarkt market is near the Kettenbrückengasse subway station and the Karmelitermarkt market is near the Taborstraße subway station.
• Date: both markets are open in the mornings from Monday to Saturday but it is in the summer months when the street food stalls are set up.

Can you think of a better plan than taking a boat ride on one of the most famous rivers in Europe? Vienna is divided by this imposing river and there is an area of its tributary that has become one of the most popular leisure areas of the whole city. Called the Alte Donau, this area has food shops, wooden walkways where you can stroll and a small river port from where boats usually leave for a one or two hour ride.

During the summer months it is ideal to do this type of activities since the days are longer and the temperature is very pleasant to enjoy the crossing. In addition, when you finish, you can stay in the area having a drink and taking advantage of the coolness of the water. You also have the option of renting a boat yourself.

Useful information

• Price: approximately between 15 € and 25 €.
• Location: in the area of Alte Donau there are several points from where the boats leave.
• Date: it is an activity that is recommended during the summer months to enjoy the high temperatures.

If you've come to Vienna for 3 days or 4 days and want to take advantage of the nice weather and clear summer skies to see the city from the heights, I can't think of a better place to do it than from the top of the Kahlenberg, a hill north of the city that boasts a panoramic view of Vienna. If you like hiking and want to enjoy some nice weather, grab your backpack and go spend the day on this famous hill.

To get there, just take bus number 38A, which will drop you off next to the parking lot from where you can start climbing. This route is suitable for everyone and I assure you that when you arrive you will be impressed to see the city from the top in miniature.

Useful information

• Price: it is free, you only have to pay the 3€ approximately for the bus.
• Location: it is the Kahlenberg hill, located north of the city of Vienna.
• Date: it is best to go from June onwards, when temperatures are warm and pleasant and rainfall is almost non-existent.

Ideally, you should be able to come to Vienna with enough time to see all of its attractions without rushing. However, it is true that sometimes due to a vacation it is difficult to get the days off and you can only make a short summer getaway to Vienna. For these cases, don't worry; there is a comfortable and quick way to see the city in just an hour and a half.

Tourist buses offer daily tours of the most important areas of the city so you can see the must-see sights without having to walk too far.

This is certainly an ideal plan if you come in summer and the high temperatures start to bother you. The best part? You can go to the top floor which is uncovered or, if you can't tolerate the heat, go downstairs where you can enjoy the air conditioning while a guide tells you interesting facts about the places you pass by.

Useful information

• Price: about 30€ for a 1 hour and a half tour.
• Location: there are several companies but all usually depart from the center of Vienna.
• Date: these buses operate all year round but are ideal to escape the summer heat for a few hours.

The summer months are the months when you can get the most out of the Austrian capital but, therefore, they are the most crowded with tourists. If you are determined to visit Vienna between June and September, you should be aware that there will be many tourists like you, so I recommend you to book as much as you can in advance.

Even so, within the summer months, the month of August in Vienna is when most people tend to conglomerate in the city. However, it is always a good option to go in July or September. It will still be crowded, but there are no long lines in the city center.

Have I convinced you to come to Vienna in summer? Then don't think twice and book your vacation to get to know Austria's beautiful capital in its best season.