Know Before You Go: Visiting Vienna in Winter
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Winter is a magical time to visit Vienna, with its baroque palaces and parks dusted with snow and UNESCO World Heritage–listed monuments glittering with Christmas lights. Here are a few tips for braving the cold and visiting the charming Austrian capital in winter.
Wrap Up
Temperatures can fall as low as 30°F (-1°C) in the coldest month of January and snow is a possibility, so make sure you pack accordingly—and don’t forget a warm hat, thick socks, and gloves. Easy-to-remove layers are the most convenient choice, as most indoor attractions and cafés are fully heated.
Make the Most of Low Season
Although it can get busy in the run-up to Christmas, visiting Vienna in late January or February means far fewer crowds. The time you’ll save standing in lines can be spent fitting more into your trip. This time of year also brings lower prices on flights, accommodations, and tours. For the best value, consider investing in a Vienna Card or take a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Get in the Festive Spirit
Celebrate the holidays by exploring Vienna’s lively Christmas markets, where you can warm your hands on a steaming cup of glühwein (mulled wine) while browsing for gifts against the fairytale backdrops of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Belvedere Palace, and Rathausplatz. Once you’ve done your holiday shopping, admire the illuminations on a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city, or try out your skating skills on the gigantic open-air ice rink in front of Vienna City Hall.
Cozy Up Indoors
As the days get colder, Vienna’s legendary coffeehouses make great escapes from the cold, and there are endless choices dotted around the streets and squares of the Ringstrasse. Try the renowned Café Central, favored haunt of Leon Trotsky, or Café Mozart, where Graham Greene preferred to get his caffeine fix. Or why not dine in style with a dinner date at Schönbrunn Palace, a classical concert at Kursalon Vienna, or a Christmas Eve banquet at the magnificent Weikersdorf Castle?
Tours & Activities (8)
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$111.95 USD
Schönbrunn Palace Evening: Palace Tour, Dinner and Concert
- Soak up Austrian culture and cuisine with this package including an audio tour, 3-course dinner and a classical concert at Schönbrunn Palace. Begin by exploring the palace’s ornate staterooms and guest apartments with an audio guide. Then, settle into a delicious, candlelit dinner of local cuisine at the Ehrenhof restaurant, adjacent to the palace. Top off the evening with a concert at the Orangery Schonbrunn, where you’ll enjoy live classical works from Mozart and Strauss.
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$98.99 USD
Kursalon Vienna: Johann Strauss and Mozart Concert Including 4-Course Dinner
- Soak up Austrian music and cuisine with a gourmet dinner and 2-hour concert at the Kursalon Vienna. Begin your evening with four courses of authentic fare at the Restaurant Johann inside the stunning Kursalon Vienna concert hall. After dinner, make your way to your seat in Lanner Hall for a performance of classical masterpieces from Mozart and Strauss, accompanied by ballet dancers and opera singers. Upgrade your ticket to include front-row seating and a sparkling glass of wine.
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$93.09 USD
Schonbrunn Palace Evening: Dinner and Concert
- Experience an evening of Viennese culture with a 4-hour dinner and concert at the Schonbrunn Palace. Begin at the nearby Café Restaurant Residenz for an elegant, 3-course dinner by candlelight. Afterward, head inside the Orangery Schonbrunn to hear the Schonbrunn Palace Orchestra play works from Mozart and Strauss. Soak up classical melodies in the stunning Baroque palace, once home to the imperial family and now one of the most renowned music venues in the world. Upgrade to a VIP ticket to enjoy sparkling wine at intermission.
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$69.53 USD
Vienna Pass Including Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket
- Book your Vienna Pass before you travel and save sightseeing time when you’re out and about in the Austrian capital. With a range of durations from one to six days, the pass gives you entry to some 60 attractions within your chosen time scale. Select your pass online, then plan out your visit to include sights such as the Giant Ferris Wheel and Schönbrunn Palace. Even better: You can use an included hop-on hop-off bus to get around town.
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$289.55 USD
Romantic Vienna Combo: Vienna Card, Horse and Carriage Tour, Belvedere Palace and Candlelight Dinner
- Get swept up in the romance of the Austrian capital with this comprehensive sightseeing package. Tour through Vienna on a horse-drawn carriage, passing top attractions like the Ringstrasse, Vienna State Opera and St Stephen’s Cathedral. Then dine by candlelight with a 3-course meal at a lovely restaurant. Your package also includes a 2-hour guided walking tour of the city, a 72-hour Vienna Card and admission to Belvedere Palace to see Gustav Klimt’s famous painting ‘The Kiss.’
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$30.64 USD
Vienna Small-Group Christmas Market Walking Tour
- See Vienna at its most enchanting on a 2.5-hour, small-group winter walking tour of the city, with time to explore the bustling Christmas markets, too. Learn about Vienna’s imperial history and rich culture as you pass churches, palaces, and landmarks lit up for the holidays with garlands of sparkling lights.
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$66.62 USD
Vienna Coffee-Tasting Experience at Café Museum and the Augarten Porcelain Factory
- Discover Vienna’s coffee culture with this tasting experience at the Augarten Palace and Café Museum. Sample different coffees and desserts at the Café Museum, a coffeehouse over a century old and formerly frequented by Gustav Klimt. Then, enjoy a tasting at the Augarten Palace, topped off with a tour of the prominent Augarten Porcelain Factory. This Vienna experience can be enjoyed over the course of two days (consecutive or non-consecutive) and includes a coffee poster for you to bring home.
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$172.05 USD
Musical Vienna Combo: Vienna Card, Mozart Concert, House of Music and Waltz Dance Lesson
- Discover Vienna’s musical heritage with this combo package, including a Strauss and Mozart classical concert, a Waltz dance lesson and entrance to the House of Music museum. This package also includes a 72-hour Vienna Card, offering discounts to the city’s top attractions and free public transportation, as well as a 2-hour walking tour past the famous Ringstrasse, Belvedere Palace and more.
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