11 Things to Do in Vienna in the Winter

If there is one time when Vienna has a special color, it is winter, when white covers the entire city. There are always activities to do in Vienna and in the coldest months of the year, although sometimes being in the street is complicated, there are very special events that you are sure you are looking forward to celebrate.

Christmas is the one that opens the season, but do not think that's all, because just after that come the balls and gala concerts, the Carnival and snow days in which to bring out your most active side or enjoy the cozy Viennese cafes. Whichever plan you choose, don't be afraid of the low temperatures, because you will feel the warmth of this city. Do you want to start organizing your trip to Vienna in winter?

A winter in Vienna is inconceivable without snow. Although you can see it covering the whole city, there is one place that becomes even more magical covered by a white blanket: Schoenbrunn Palace. It is one of Vienna' s finest palaces and served as a summer home for the Habsburgs. A stroll through the Schoenbrunn Gardens (free of charge) is also worthwhile, even if you are a bit chilly.

Did you know that Schoenbrunn was one of the palaces where Sisi spent most of her time? The figure of this empress will accompany your visit, during which you can see her personal belongings and crockery. To discover all the secrets of this place my recommendation is to book a guided tour inside Schoenbrunn Palace. You will not regret it, as there is so much to see.

Interesting facts

• When: during the whole winter
• Where: Schoenbrunn Palace
• Price: entrance to the gardens free of charge and to the Palace approximately 18€.

The sub-zero temperatures of the Viennese winter may be responsible for the fact that now is the season for balls, concerts and opera performances. It is clear that the music, and the warmth of an enclosed venue, help to cope better with the cold. If you have the chance, I recommend going to a classical music concert in Vienna during this time. They cost about 30€ and it will be like being transported back to the 19th century while enjoying your Mozart concert tickets in Vienna or other musicians.

Of all the shows taking place, you will probably want to get tickets for the Vienna New Year's Concert. But, if you feel like attending an accessible concert or ball, you can check out the program of the Vienna Musikverein and, of course, come dressed for the occasion.

Interesting facts

• When: January and February
• Where: Vienna State Opera and other venues in the city
• Price: approx. 30 euros

Rain (or even snow) is a frequent occurrence in the Vienna winter. There's nothing we can do to stop them, but we can take shelter from them. One of my favorite plans for this is to enter one of Vienna's best museums. Vienna is a city with a lot of history and culture, and one way to approach them is through its museums. It is complicated to visit them all, so I have made a selection of the ones I would not miss. If you want to visit several museums, my advice is to buy your Vienna Pass:

• Albertina Museum: you can't go to Vienna and leave without visiting the Albertina Museum, one of the most renowned in the city and in Europe. Its collections include paintings by painters such as Picasso, Renoir and Miro.
• Museum of Art History of Vienna: the fact that it is the most visited museum in Vienna is no coincidence; more than a million people visit it every year and all of them are amazed by the great collection that belonged to the Habsburgs. I recommend you to buy your tickets for the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Vienna Museum of Art History in advance.
• Karlsplatz Museum: Although it is not as big or as striking as the rest, I think it is the perfect place to learn about the history of the city. Through its rooms you will take a tour that will take you from prehistoric times to the nineteenth century.

Interesting facts

• When: throughout the winter
• Where: different locations depending on the museum
• Price: about 20€ each museum (possibility to buy the Vienna Pass for about 80€)

Some winter days in Vienna temperatures drop below 0°C, which makes walking or being outside impossible. However, this doesn't mean you have to give up part of your trip or stay in your hotel room. In fact, there is an alternative to escape the cold without missing the main attractions of the city: book tickets for a Vienna sightseeing bus.

The great advantage of these buses is that, unlike public transport, they make strategic stops at the most important places in Vienna, such as the Music House or the Opera House. You can go from one place to another and get off at the ones you are most interested in. If the weather is bad and you prefer not to make any stops, no problem, the bus is heated and has a guide.

Interesting facts

• When: all winter long
• Where: different stops all over the city
• Price: approximately 30€.

We know that the city of Vienna is attractive by itself but if your trip is several days you can take advantage of a day to make an excursion in its surroundings because you will be surprised! Its palaces, valleys, castles and its closest cities are worth visiting. Here is a selection of the best ones:

• Book your excursion to Wachau from Vienna: this is one of the most famous wine tourism sites in the area. The Wachau valleys and the villages in the area are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can taste local wines. If you want to extend your visit you also have the option to book an excursion to Wachau, Melk Abbey and the Danube valleys from Vienna, with the help of a local guide you will get to know the forests, castles and the amazing natural landscapes of the countryside and end your day aboard a cruise on the Danube.
• Book your excursion to Hallstatt from Vienna: with this professionally guided tour you will have a panoramic view of the Alps and get to know some of the most iconic places of the municipality.
• Book your excursion to Budapest from Vienna: a city that is definitely worth knowing in depth. You will visit some of its most emblematic places such as Heroes' Square, the Parliament, or the Fisherman's Bastion and the Church of St. Matthias with a guide; and you will also enjoy free time in the city to browse, take your pictures...
• Book your excursion to Bratislava from Vienna: you can visit the famous Michael's Gate, Maximilian's Fountain or St. Martin's Cathedral with a professional guide. In addition, you will have free time to buy souvenirs or have a coffee and, as a last activity, the excursion includes a panoramic cruise on the Danube River back to Vienna.

Interesting facts

• When: January and February
• Where: around the city
• Price: between 90€ and 135€.

The Viennese love the cold and the snow, so they don't hesitate to take out their sleds, skates or skis and look for places to use them. They often go to the city's own parks to do so, so you can join them and take the opportunity to get to know Vienna in a unique and entertaining way.

• Ice skating at Ice World Vienna: in this park located in front of the City Hall you will not only skate on ice in a single enclosure, but you can also take one of the icy streets that go into the park.
• In Wiener Eistraum: in the rink attached to this place you can enjoy curling matches. This sport consists of "sweeping" the ice to help a plate glide across it and reach a specific area.
• Skiing in the city of Vienna: in Vienna this is possible when the cross-country ski trails are set up on the banks of the Danube. It has to snow a lot for this to happen, but it is a unique experience.
• Hohe Wand Wiese: these 400-meter slopes may be small, but the good thing is that they are very close to the city (in the Wienerwald forest).

Interesting facts

• When: all winter long
• Where: Wiener Eistraum (ice skating) and Hohe Wand-Wiese (skiing)
• Price: free access (skate rental €2.5 and ski rental €15/day)

One of the celebrations that undoubtedly marks the winter is Christmas. The good thing is that the Austrian capital extends the festivities from early November to late December so there are many plans to do during Christmas in Vienna. Its Christmas markets are super famous and you will find from Viennese sweets to beautiful handicrafts to take home as souvenirs.

These markets are spread throughout the city, but certainly one of the best known and attracts more visitors is the Rathaus Markt, which is installed in the area in front of the Vienna City Hall. However, you don't have to go to a Christmas market to feel Christmas. My advice, especially if you are overwhelmed by the large crowds that form, is to walk around the city when it starts to get dark and the lights illuminate everything.

Interesting facts

• When: December
• Where: all over the city
• Price: free access

During the months of January and February Vienna celebrates its Carnival. You may find it a very early date to do so, but it is very common in Germanic countries. The name it receives is Fasching and, although the exact dates vary from year to year. Several traditional events are organized, so it is the perfect occasion to get to know part of the city's culture.

Being a Carnival, be prepared to see people dressed up in costumes on the streets, especially on the final day, Faschingsdienstag. Locals bring out their most garish, original and colorful costumes, which in the old days were used to honor and thank the gods. And we cannot forget the Faschingskrapfen, donuts filled with apricot jam that are mainly eaten around this time.

Interesting facts

• When: January and February
• Where: all over the city, especially in the Währing and Döbling districts.
• Price: free access

Is there a better way to warm up than a hot coffee and a freshly brewed sweet? I don't think so, and the Viennese seem to think so too, because one of their favorite wintertime plans is to spend the afternoon in the city's majestic cafés. Coffee and the famous Sacher Cake, or any other dessert, are joined by imperial décor and live music. In fact, there is a word to describe this atmosphere: "gemütlichkeit", which could be translated as "cozy".

You can't miss a piece of Sacher Cake, the famous chocolate cake, or Apfelstrudel, which combines baked apple with a rich dough based on flour and butter.

Interesting facts

• When: throughout the winter
• Where: all over the city
• Price: free admission (consumption 5 € approximately)

When you walk around Vienna in winter you will smell chestnuts. Don't be surprised, it is very common that in the colder months the Maroni are sold, undoubtedly the best way to warm hands and stomachs. Each cone (with about 6-9 chestnuts) costs 3€/4€ approximately.

It is estimated that there are about 200 stalls throughout the city selling roasted chestnuts, so you will find it hard to resist buying a few. The tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, as this fruit was part of the Austrian diet. Nowadays they are consumed in winter, especially during the month of December and, if I have to give you a piece of advice, buy those that you see that have been roasted over charcoal instead of gas, they are tastier!

Interesting facts

• When: all winter long
• Where: there are stalls all over the city
• Price: about 3€-4€ per portion

If seeing Vienna in winter from the street is already fascinating, with the snow covering it completely, imagine what it's like from the heights. The good thing is that you don't need to imagine it, you can see it from the top of the south tower of St Stephens Cathedral. The views are incredible, but the photos are even better. To go up, you will have to pay a specific entrance fee (about 6€).

Stephansdom is located in the center of Vienna, right on Stephansplatz. It is known for its Tile Roof, which consists of more than 250,000 tiles. You can enter the interior for free or pay to see its vaults and artwork in more detail. However, for me the really interesting thing is to climb its south tower, whose height of 65 meters gives an incredible panoramic view over Vienna.

Interesting facts

• When: all winter long
• Where: St Stephens Cathedral
• Price: about 6€ (to climb the tower)

I am sorry to tell you that if you travel to Vienna in winter, you are going to be cold. Temperatures usually drop below 0º, although you will be able to enjoy the snow and the fairytale-like appearance it gives to the city. To avoid freezing, my recommendation is to take advantage of the central hours of the day, when the sun is at its peak, for visits to open places.

The good thing is that the cold and precipitation attract fewer people, especially during the month of January in Vienna, so you can tour the city without crowds. This also means that hotel and flight prices are cheaper.

When packing for your trip to Vienna, my advice is to pack the warmest clothes in your closet: coats, sweaters, gloves, scarf, hat... If you don't have one, buy a thermal T-shirt, as they are usually the solution for the coldest days.

As it is quite likely to snow, remember to bring shoes that are not only comfortable, but also waterproof.

Have you already prepared everything? Write down the events you don't want to miss and try to go to as many as you can, you won't regret it!