Know Before You Go: Visiting Vienna in Winter

Unless you’re against visiting cold places, winter is a great time to visit Vienna and see why it’s such a popular European destination. By going in winter, you not only get to experience the usual highlights of Vienna, from its palaces and museums to its coffeehouses, but you also have a whole bunch of special winter activities in Vienna available to you. The winter festive season brings out a more social and enchanting side of Vienna that’s not to be missed.

There are two ways to plan a trip to Vienna for its winter season. If you’re looking to experience the city’s Christmas markets and special light displays around Vienna’s historical center, the best time to visit Vienna in winter is the month of December. However, this is also one of the busiest times of year in Vienna for tourists. To avoid the crowds and just experience what the city is like in winter, February is an ideal time to be in Vienna, and it skips the coldest part of winter, January.

Nothing is stopping you from having a typical visit to Vienna on a winter trip. The best indoor activities in Vienna overlap with some of the city’s most popular attractions, such as visiting the royal apartments inside Schönbrunn Palace and bouncing between the many museums of the Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Of course, winter also offers other opportunities for visitors. Vienna’s Christmas markets are some of the most famous in Europe, with mulled wine and tasty treats in plentiful supply. And there are also special seasonal concerts you can attend over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Exploring Vienna in winter with a guide can supercharge your visit in many ways. A sightseeing tour can help you make the most of precious daylight on those short December days. Following a local foodie as they take you to different food spots can be a great way to keep moving and stay warm. But there are also special holiday tours that highlight various Vienna winter attractions, including Christmas market tours that help you experience this local custom on a deeper level and point out which snacks you really should try.

Several major holiday events in Vienna make the city’s winter calendar hectic. With its long lead-up, thanks to the activity at Christmas markets across the city, Christmas kicks off the festive season. New Year's Eve is just as boisterous as public concerts across Vienna entertain crowds before waltzing and fireworks help bring in the New Year.

In January, Vienna’s “ball season” kicks into overdrive. Over 400 balls are held across the city during winter, but January and early February are when many of the most impressive take place.

Did you know?: Vienna also has its own Carnival celebrations, known as Fasching, with krapfen (donuts) the treat of choice on Shrove Tuesday.

While many things run like clockwork in Vienna, the city’s Christmas markets are less predictable. That’s because the dates for the Christmas markets change yearly, and each market has its own operating dates. Generally, the first markets open by the second week of November, with the big Christmas market at the Rathaus usually the first domino to fall. Most markets operate until December 23, with a few exceptions, while some briefly return as New Year's Eve markets for December 31.

Not only is outdoor ice skating a common activity in the city, thanks to the weather in Vienna during winter, you can experience it in some unique spots around the city. Of course, there are regular rinks, such as the Wiener Eislauf-Verein by the Wiener Konzerthaus, where you can skate. But a far more memorable experience is skating at Vienna Ice World, the special rink in front of the Rathaus from January to March; or taking to the surface of the Alte Donau lake when it freezes over and is safe to do so.

As you might suspect, Vienna can get cold in winter; days where temperatures struggle to break past 32°F (0°C) aren’t uncommon. Coats, jackets, and gloves help with this, but the most useful packing tip for a winter trip to Vienna is to prepare to dress in layers. This approach gives you flexibility on warmer and colder days, but more importantly, makes it easier to get comfortable once you’re inside attractions and on public transport, as Vienna is fond of blasting the heating.

Insider tip: Winter fashion in Vienna is quite conservative in style and color palette. Wear black, grey, and navy, and you’re more likely to fit in.

Vienna has made progress over the years to improve accessibility across the city, especially for people using wheelchairs on public transport and at popular tourist attractions. However, Vienna still struggles with common winter problems such as snow and black ice, which can make streets and sidewalks difficult to navigate, even with the usually prompt city response. The crowds and lights at the city’s famous Christmas markets can also be challenging for travelers with sensory disabilities; visiting the main markets in the early afternoon or trying some of Vienna’s smaller markets instead may reduce the likelihood of overstimulation.

• Does it snow in Vienna in winter? Yes, it does snow during Vienna winters, although often for only a few days per season, so there’s no guarantee of snow for when you visit.
• Can I see snow at Christmas in Vienna? Because it generally doesn’t snow much in Vienna, and when it does, it's often just a small flurry, a white Christmas in Vienna is relatively rare.
• What's the coldest month in Vienna? January is typically the coldest month in Vienna, but there’s just as much chance of frigid days in February or December.
• Is Vienna colder than Prague? Vienna and Prague have very similar climates. While they may experience days with different temperatures, their monthly average highs and lows are very close.