Vienna in winter feels purpose-built for the season. In fact, those cold winter days feel as though they suit the Austrian capital more than any other city in Europe.
As the days get shorter and the mercury drops further, Vienna comes alive while other cities appear to retreat into hibernation. As such, visitors are spoiled for things to see and do that feel purposefully aligned to the season.
Step into gilded museums and iconic opera houses layered with history. Take a break from the cold in one of the ornate coffee houses. Enjoy a cultural calendar packed with tours and matinee performances.
Outside, there are palace gardens, cozy Christmas markets that sparkle through the day, ice rinks curling around City Hall, and parks that look stunning under a sugar-dusting of frost. Check out the city’s Ferris Wheel for iconic views, before heading to historic spas to warm back up.
Winter Weather
Wiener Eistraum, Rathausplatz
When it comes to the weather in Vienna in winter, the first thing to do is to address the common misconception that it will be a snowy wonderland. While it’s true that the city does get the occasional dusting, it’s certainly not a defining feature of a winter visit.
Instead, you should expect crisp and cold days with temperatures ranging from just below freezing (around 30°F) to the low-to-mid 40s.
December is a little warmer, with January and February typically the coldest months. Early mornings can be particularly chilly, then temperatures creep up before dropping again after 3 pm.
On the wider avenues and around the Danube and the Danube Canal, it can feel a little colder due to the wind-chill factor. A bigger limiting factor during a winter visit is the limited daylight.
Altwiener Christkindlmarkt
As December draws near, the days get much shorter. Around the solstice (December 21), there are only about eight hours of usable daylight.
Thankfully, the city rises to the occasion, casting the gloom to one side with ease. Street lighting creates a warm glow, shop windows twinkle away, and Vienna’s Christmas markets and ice rinks shimmer through the day.
Dressing for the Cold
Vienna
They say there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing—and if you take that approach, you’ll be fine in Vienna in winter.
Layers will be your friend. Base layers, warmer mid-layers, and a wind/waterproof shell will all be handy. Take a big waterproof coat for colder days.
Pack thick socks, comfy walking shoes (there can be a lot of walking here), a hat, and gloves. Err on the side of smart-casual/business casual when it comes to dress, as you’re unlikely to need anything too formal. Even at the Vienna State Opera, you can get away with smart jeans and a shirt for men, and a casual dress or pants for women.
Winter City of Culture
Vienna State Opera
Winter in Vienna is peak culture season, and if you can’t find tickets to evening performances—or are just visiting for the day—you can still soak it all up. The Vienna State Opera opens its doors for guided daytime tours that offer a behind-the-scenes peek, and there are winter matinee performances, too.
The nearby Volksoper also offers occasional daytime matinees, while the city’s iconic concert halls are destinations in their own right. The Musikverein (home of the New Year’s Concert) offers building tours, and the Wiener Konzerthaus hosts matinee performances.
At the interactive Haus der Musik, you can “conduct” a virtual orchestra and explore how sound works—a great choice if the weather sends you scurrying indoors for the entire day.
Spanish Riding School stables
There’s also the famed Spanish Riding School, home to the magnificent Lipizzaner horses. See them train under the chandeliers of the Baroque Winter Riding School at Hofburg Palace, and tour the stables and tack rooms.
Coffeehouse Culture
Melange
Nothing says winter in Vienna quite like spending time in one of the city’s elegant coffeehouses. This isn’t the kind of grab-and-go culture you get at home, with your name hastily scrawled across a takeout cup.
In Vienna, the coffee experience is sophisticated. Expect marble tables, bentwood chairs, brass coat hooks, and waiters in black waistcoats.
Thaw out, read, write a postcard home, and watch the city through the steamy windows. Melange (think cappuccino’s Viennese cousin), Einspänner (strong coffee with whipped cream), Verlängerter (espresso plus hot water), Großer Brauner (with milk), and Kleiner Schwarzer (straight shot) are the main caffeinated drinks you’ll find.
Sachertorte
Even if you don’t like coffee, come for the excellent hot chocolate or the Austrian desserts that are even better. Sachertorte (apricot layer, chocolate glaze) is a must-eat, while Apfelstrudel (classic apple pastry) and Topfenstrudel (with quark/curd cheese) also make superb winter fuel.
Christmas Markets
Christkindlmarkt, Rathausplatz
For the ultimate winter-in-Vienna experience, visit from the end of November to the end of December and head straight to the Christmas markets—the city is packed with them.
If there’s one to rule them all, it’s the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz (the square in front of City Hall) with its huge tree, lovely stalls, and nearby ice skating.
Then there’s the courtyard market at the elegant Schönbrunn Palace (the summer residence of the Habsburg rulers), the artisan Spittelberg, plus Stephansplatz with its views of the cathedral. None of them will disappoint.
Glühwein
Things to shop for include handicrafts of glass, ceramics, woodwork, and felt; tree decorations to take home; woolens; and a whole range of fabulous Viennese food and drink.
Three dishes to try include Würstel sausages, Käsekrainer (also a sausage but with chunks of cheese inside), and Lebkuchen, the city’s iconic gingerbread. Wash it all down with a glass of steaming glühwein (mulled wine) or hot chocolate.
Palaces & Grand Museums
Great Gallery, Schönbrunn Palace
When the cold starts to bite, make a beeline for the magnificent palaces and museums of Vienna. They are seemingly built for winter with their warm interiors, huge cloakrooms, and enough gilt, marble, and masterpieces to make you forget the cold.
Schönbrunn Palace—the Habsburgs’ former summer residence—is studded with ballrooms, stuccoed salons, and the famed Great Gallery. The grounds are also worth touring if you can stand the cold.
Hofburg Palace
Back in the center, the Hofburg complex offers another slice of Habsburg history, with its Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum, and Imperial Silver Collection.
Nearby, there’s the Kunsthistorisches Museum—a showstopper for art and history lovers—and the Naturhistorisches Museum, with its dinosaur skeletons, meteorites, and curiosities. The latter is a great choice for those with families.
For Austrian modernism, the two Belvedere palaces have some fabulous Baroque highlights and are also home to one of the city’s most iconic pieces of art, Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss.
Warming Spas & Wellness
Amalienbad Photo by Schwimmschule Steiner on Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
When the mercury dips in Vienna in winter, the city’s spa scene provides a perfect antidote to the biting cold.
Therme Wien, south of the city in the Oberlaa district, is the place to go. Get there on the U1 subway line to Oberlaa station for warm relaxation pools, massage jets, quiet zones with loungers, and a separate Sauna World experience with multiple saunas and steam rooms.
Elsewhere, the city’s indoor baths are winter gems. Amalienbad in the Favoriten district is famed for its soaring 1920s Art Deco main bathing hall. Jörgerbad, just northwest of the city center, is another historic option with swimming, saunas, and massage.
Get Your Skates On
Rathausplatz
Few things are more romantic during winter in Vienna than ice skating. Topping the list for sheer fairytale magic is the Wiener Eistraum on Rathausplatz, which transforms the plaza and some surrounding paths into rinks and ice trails.
It typically opens in November, ahead of the Christmas markets, and stays long after they close; you can usually skate into early March.
The Vienna Ice Skating Club (Wiener Eislauf-Verein) at Heumarkt is one of the oldest skating clubs in Europe. Its seasonal rink is located next to the Konzerthaus concert hall just outside the city center and is great for leisurely laps.
On very rare occasions, it can be cold enough for the Old Danube (Alte Donau)—an oxbow off the Danube—to freeze over, and you may see locals donning their skates and having fun on the ice.
This is done at their own risk and should only be attempted when authorities declare conditions safe. As such, it’s best left to the Viennese—although it’s fun to head down and watch.
Winter Walks & Easy Viewpoints
Old Town
When the weather is crisp, cold, and dry, walking around Vienna in winter is a great way to discover the city. Start with a stroll around Vienna’s Old Town along the Ringstraße, the city’s beautiful central boulevard that is home to many of the main sights and conveniently laid out in a loop.
Dip in and out of the Burggarten and Volksgarten parks, and take in the Rathauspark with its ice rink, seasonal Christmas market, and photo-friendly façades.
For riverside views, there’s also a nice walking stretch along the Danube Canal between Schwedenplatz and Urania. It has broad, easy paths, bridges for great pictures of the skyline, and some nice cafés.
Wiener Riesenrad
A third option is the car-free Hauptallee in Prater, a giant park and entertainment zone. There’s an amusement park here, and if you want to tick off a city icon, make a stop to ride the Giant Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad). It’s been turning since 1897 and offers incredible views over the city.
FAQs
Is Vienna worth visiting in winter?
Wiener Eistraum, Rathausplatz
A resounding yes. In fact, Vienna is totally suited to winter. There’s great culture, atmospheric coffeehouses, grand palaces and museums to explore, plus seasonal treats such as Austrian Christmas markets and ice-skating rinks.
How cold is Vienna in December?
Old Town
It’s chilly rather than arctic. You’ll get the occasional snowfall, but it’s mainly crisp and cold with lows just below freezing and highs in the 40s. Around the river and on the wider boulevards, it can feel colder thanks to the wind chill.
What should I pack?
Christmas market in Vienna
Layers are a must, as is a wind/waterproof shell and, potentially, your big coat. Throw in a hat, gloves, scarf, thick socks, and comfy walking shoes with good grip. A compact umbrella can help if there’s rain or sleet.
What are the best places to visit in Vienna in winter?
Schönbrunn Palace
The whole city is a joy, but if you want a must-see list, make sure to tick off the following places that Vienna is famous for: Schönbrunn Palace for imperial history, the Vienna State Opera for culture, the Spanish Riding School to be amazed by the horses, skating at Rathausplatz, and the Giant Ferris Wheel.
Throw in a Christmas market and one of the iconic coffeehouses, and you can comfortably say you’ve seen the icons.
Are Christmas markets open all winter in Vienna?
Christmas market in Vienna
No. Most markets run from late November until just before Christmas. After that, they wind down. Winter fun continues, though, mainly through the city’s ice skating rinks.
Vienna
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