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When you decide to visit the beautiful country of Austria, you will undoubtedly make a stop in Vienna, the capital. Vienna is a beautiful city filled with music, museums, great food, and a lot of history.
It’s great almost anytime of year, but what’s the best time to visit Vienna? We’ll share everything you need to know about choosing the best time to visit Vienna and what you can expect during each season.
We’ll also talk about the worst time to visit the city and what you shouldn’t miss while you’re there! Keep reading to discover what Vienna has to offer during each season of the year.
Why You Should Visit Vienna
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Vienna, the capital of Austria, is a city filled with culture that anyone — young or old — can appreciate. You can take a tour of the city to learn about all the important places throughout history or go to one of the many museums to dive deeper into a specific topic.
Wander through the city on foot to take in the stunning architecture that surrounds you. Massive cathedrals, statues, and buildings done in classic styles are found all over the city.
One of the biggest draws of Vienna is its music. Mozart and Beethoven both had an influence on Vienna and the music you find here.
Whether you’re looking for a huge concert or something more intimate, you’ll find some amazing musical history and performances in Vienna. If you visit at the end of the year, the city is decorated with beautiful holiday decorations.
There are lots of festive Christmas markets you can visit! You’ll find plenty of similar events throughout the year that you can enjoy and participate in in Vienna! You have every reason to visit this city during your European trip.
Overall Best Time to Visit Vienna
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The best time to visit Vienna are the spring and fall shoulder seasons in April, May, September, and October.
During these times of year, the weather is really nice and mild. You’ll run into fewer tourists, so prices may be a bit cheaper than during the peak season. The weather in April and May is still quite warm, especially the closer to summer you visit.
In early April, the average high temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. By the end of May, you can see temperatures reach as high as 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In September and October, you can expect similar temperatures with highs around 60 degrees by the end of October. There are also fewer crowds in the spring and fall shoulder seasons compared to the summer.
Most people visit in the summer when the weather is the warmest in Europe and kids are off school, It might be easier for some adults to take off work during this time of year, too.
Fewer crowds in spring and fall means prices for flights and hotels tend to be cheaper since there isn’t as much demand. By visiting during these months, you’ll have good weather, not have to deal with as many people, and save some money compared to the peak season in the summer.
Cheapest Time to Visit Vienna
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The cheapest time to visit Vienna is November and January through March. The winter months (aside from December) see the lowest prices on flights and accommodations.
In November, January, February, and March, fewer people come to Vienna, which means prices are lower to try and draw tourists into the city.
You’ll have to deal with colder weather, but if you can handle it, you’ll be rewarded with much lower prices compared to the summer months. You’ll also find a lot more availability for hotels and tours since fewer people are visiting Vienna in the winter.
Sometimes attractions have limited hours or close completely during the holiday and winter seasons since fewer people are visiting the city.
Ensure everything you want to see and do is open before planning your visit in winter! December is the only winter month when it’s not cheap to visit Vienna. People arrive in droves to celebrate Christmas during the middle and end of the month.
Least Busy Time to Visit Vienna
Entrance to Kunst Haus Wien on September 30, 2015. The museum is in Vienna, designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser/vvoe/Shutterstock
The least busy time to visit Vienna is in the winter, specifically in January and February after the holiday rush is over.
After Christmas, things quiet down in Vienna and the weather is the worst it gets all year. After December, the holiday crowds leave Vienna. In January, the average high temperature only gets up to 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
That can be problematic if there’s a lot of snow. In February, temperatures go up slightly with a more bearable high of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can wait until March, you’ll have the best combination of low crowds and adequate temperatures with an average high of 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are looking to visit a lot of the indoor attractions in Vienna, like museums and art galleries, you may find that January and February are great times to visit Vienna.
Since the least number of people are visiting the city during this time, you should be able to save some money if you come now compared to other times of the year.
Worst Time to Visit Vienna
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The worst time to visit Vienna is in the summer from June to August when crowds are at their peak. This is when most people visit the city to enjoy the good weather.
The weather’s great, but that means tourists are out in full force. You’ll have to wait for attractions and restaurants, and some things, including hotels and tours, could sell out.
In the summer, you can expect temperatures as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of summer. It’s not as high as many popular destinations in Europe, but still hot if you’re walking around outside all day.
When you add in the big crowds that come to Vienna in the summer, you will likely be spending a lot of time waiting outside to get into attractions and walking through crowded streets and squares.
If you have to visit in the summer, just be prepared for all the people and try booking your activities as far in advance as you can, which could save you some time waiting in lines.
You’ll also see the highest prices for hotels and flights during the summer months, which might make planning your trip difficult if you’re on a budget.
Demand is high, so the best flights, hotels, and activities are going to book up. Book ahead of time to ensure you don’t miss out if you must go to Vienna during summer!
Things to Consider
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What else should you know to plan the perfect Vienna vacation? Here are some things to consider during your trip to Vienna.
How Long Do You Want to Stay in Vienna?
How long do you want to stay in Vienna? We recommend you stay for at least 3-4 days to get a good feel for the city and make sure you hit all the top sites.
If you can stay for a week, you can dig deeper into the history of the city and see more than just the main sites. You’d even have time to venture out of the city center and take a day trip or see more neighborhoods.
Pack Properly for the Season
Make sure you pack and dress appropriately for the weather in Vienna. If you’re visiting in winter, you’ll need to pack layers and heavier clothes than you do in the summertime. For summer, bring dresses or shorts and short sleeve t-shirts.
In winter, a heavy jacket with a layer or two of sweaters underneath will keep you plenty warm. For spring and fall, you will need to check the weather, but typically a mix of warm and cold clothes will prepare you for whatever weather you have in Vienna.
What Sights Do You Want to See?
Think about what you want to see in Vienna, which might help you decide what time of year you want to visit. If you’re considering mostly indoor activities like shows and museums, you can visit any time of year, and winter would be a good time to do so.
If you want to do outdoor activities, then spring, summer, or fall will be best. Maybe you want to visit to see the famous Christmas markets and decorations, in which case you should visit during December.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Here are some frequently asked questions and answers on when to visit Vienna! Check them out to learn more about planning your trip at the best time of year.
How many days in Vienna is enough?
You should spend at least 3 full days in Vienna to get a good feel for the city and everything it has to offer.
You can easily spend much more time there - even a week or two - and have plenty to do and see since the city is so big.
What's the best month to visit Austria?
The best month to visit Austria is in May, when the weather is nice but all the summer crowds have not arrived yet.
You'll find a similar situation in September, which is also a good month to visit Vienna. April and October are other good months to visit if you want lower crowds or slightly cooler weather.
What's the rainiest month in Vienna, Austria?
The rainiest month in Vienna is June, with an average rainfall of over three inches. It's not a very rainy city so you shouldn’t have many days where you need to deal with an umbrella or a rain jacket.
Is Vienna worth visiting?
Vienna is undoubtedly worth visiting. Anyone can find fun things to do here!
More than 17 million people visit the city every year, which proves that the city is well worth visiting. Over 13 million people visit from outside of Austria each year, so it draws in people from all over the world.
Can you speak English in Vienna?
You should be able to get around well in Vienna speaking English, although the official language is German.
Most people in Vienna speak English, so you can get directions, order food, and communicate with locals if you don’t speak German.
Is Vienna a walkable city?
Vienna is easily walkable if you're staying near the main attractions and city center. Get a transit pass if you don’t want to walk as much or if you're going places outside the main city center.
Is there a hop-on, hop-off in Vienna?
Vienna has a hop-on hop-off bus, which is a great alternative to walking or taking transit if you want to see the most popular attractions in the city.
You can buy a pass for the bus for one day or multiple days, depending on how long you stay in Vienna.
So, What’s the Best Time to Visit Vienna?
The best time to visit Vienna is during the spring and fall shoulder seasons, which includes April, May, September, and October. Mild weather, moderate pricing, and good availability make these months absolutely ideal.
If you visit in the summer or during the holiday season, you will have to face big crowds and accommodations, and tours might be booked up.
Still, the warm summer months and festive holiday season can be good times to come if you know what to expect!
Knowing the best time to visit Vienna is really just the first step. Take some time to research the city and find out what attractions you want to see and do so you can choose the perfect time of year for your trip!