Vienna in winter – tips & activities

Unfortunately, first of all, bad news for all lovers of white flakes. Although Vienna sees snowfalls quite often, the snow rarely stays put. Temperatures in Vienna usually don’t fall below 0°C and so the snow that does fall melts very quickly. In recent years, there have only ever been a few days each winter, where the snow remained on the ground for significant periods of time. If you are lucky enough to visit Vienna on one of these days, you will be rewarded with a beautiful picture: historic buildings, parks and the streets of Vienna shine in a beautiful white splendour.

Almost all of Vienna's sights, museums and attractions are also open in winter, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year holidays. Schönbrunn Palace and most of the palace park including the Schönbrunn zoo can be visited, the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater rides daily and many traders offer their wares at the Naschmarkt year round. So winter doesn't get in the way of your sightseeing.

In Schönbrunn Palace Park, the maze, the Orangery Garden, the Crown Prince Garden and the viewing terrace of the Gloriette are closed. In bad weather conditions, the entire Glorietteberg may be closed. However, the park is still worth a visit in winter.

Most of the attractions in the Prater amusement park are closed in winter. The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel is generally open all year round, but maintenance work is preferably carried out in winter, so there may be temporary closures. Other rides are occasionally open. As a visit to the Prater is free of charge, a short walk through the deserted park is also worthwhile in winter.

If you are planning your stay in Vienna over the public holidays, it is worth checking the websites of the sights and museums to find out about closing days and special opening times.

The Christmas and New Year holidays are celebrated in a special way in Vienna. The festivities begin as early as mid-November with the opening of the Christmas markets. People come together to enjoy punch, food and crafts, stroll through the markets and buy a Christmas present or two. You can find popular markets here, in our blog post.

From 24.12-26.12 it is a little quieter in the city. The shops close earlier on the 24th and remain closed on the 25th and 26th of December. Many museums, attractions and restaurants also have special opening hours or have to be specially reserved.

The turn of the year is celebrated on 31 December. On this day too, shops close earlier and restaurants and bars offer special menus or events. A reservation is a must if you want to eat out in the evening.

The Vienna New Year's Eve Trail in the city centre and near the Prater opens its doors at 3 pm. There are stages with musical entertainment and food stalls. An extensive programme invites you to celebrate the New Year. In the city centre, you can watch the ‘Pummerin’, the bell of St. Stephen's Cathedral, strike live at midnight and then dance to the Danube Waltz. On January 1^st, the New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will be broadcast on a big screen.

Ice skating is a popular winter sport when the Viennese are not heading to the ski slopes in the provinces. Vienna has several ice-skating rinks, but three in particular should not be missed due to their historical importance or their impressive facilities.

• Vienna Ice Dream on Rathausplatz - You can get a taste of the Ice Dream at the Christmas Market, but the actual Ice Dream doesn't start until mid-January. In addition to several ice rinks, there are also small paths leading through the Rathauspark, an icy viewing platform and several catering stands.
• Vienna Ice Skating Club - The Vienna Ice Skating Club, the oldest ice-skating club in Vienna, operates an artificial ice rink near the Stadtpark. Here you can skate your laps in the open air or dance on the ice on Friday evenings at the ice disco.
• Engelmann - This artificial ice rink in the 17th district is special for two reasons. First of all, it is the oldest artificial ice rink in the world. The Engelmann family, who run it, developed the necessary technology and opened the first artificial ice rink in 1909. The ice rink is also on the roof of a supermarket, so you can skate between the rooftops of Vienna.

Most balls in Vienna take place in winter, the traditional ball season is the same as the carnival season, from 11.11 to Shrove Tuesday. However, most balls only take place after New Year's Eve. Balls are organised by various institutions, associations, clubs and educational establishments. The dress code at the big Viennese balls is very strict. Men wear tailcoats or dinner jackets and ladies wear a floor-length ball gown. The ball is opened by an opening committee, which appears in tails and white floor-length ball gowns and dances a waltz choreography. The opening is often extended with classical song and ballet interludes. After the opening, the dance floor is opened to all guests. The big Viennese balls then offer a wide variety of acts with different artists and musical styles. The partying, dancing and drinking goes on until the early hours of the morning.

Tickets for the big Viennese balls are expensive and hard to come by. If you want to attend, you should therefore keep an eye on the website of your favourite ball a few months to a year in advance. Our favourite balls are:

• Opera Ball - The most famous ball in Vienna, and probably the whole world, is the Vienna Opera Ball at the State Opera House. The opening is even broadcast on Austrian television and for many Viennese, dancing on the opening committee or attending the ball is a dream come true.
• Zuckerbäckerball - The Confectioner’s Ball is all about desserts, so in addition to lots of sweet prizes in the tombola or on the dance floor, there is also a competition between Viennese confectioners, where cakes are displayed according to a theme and awarded prizes by a jury.
• Kaffeesiederball - In addition to a varied music and dance programme, the Coffee Brewer’s Ball  naturally offers many coffee specialties and combines the tradition and modernity of Viennese coffee house culture.

After all the partying, sightseeing and public holidays in winter, you should relax and warm up a little or even be pampered with a massage. Where better to do this than in a thermal bath, spa or hammam. Vienna offers many different ways to relax.

• Therme Wien - Therme Wien is located on the outskirts of Vienna, but is well connected to public transport with the U1 underground station ‘Oberlaa’. Two large indoor and outdoor pools as well as several smaller pools with loungers, massage jets and waterfalls invite you to relax. The spa also has a sauna landscape, relaxation rooms, a restaurant and a massage parlour.
• Aux Gazelles Hammam - A wonderful place to relax and leave stress behind. Whether you just use the steam bath or book a full body treatment with exfoliation and foam cleansing, there is a wide range of relaxation options here. Facials and nail care are also on the treatment menu. Afterwards, you can enjoy a cup of tea in the tea room or a Moroccan-French dish in the adjoining restaurant. Online bookings are requested.
• Day Spa Sans Souci - You can also relax in the Day Spa at Hotel Sans Souci, which can also be used by non-hotel guests. In addition to two saunas and a steam bath, there is also an indoor pool and a fitness centre. Massages, treatments or an additional breakfast can also be booked. A reservation is required.
• Arany Spa Park Hyatt - Centrally located in the 1st district is the Arany Spa of the Park Hyatt Hotel, which is also open to non-hotel guests. Here, too, there are saunas, a steam bath, a relaxation room and an indoor pool to relax and unwind. The spa is located in the former vaults of a bank, which is why they offer gold-themed treatments. Spa days may be booked online on the spa's website.

Want to warm up between sightseeing stops with a cup of coffee, tea or a hot meal? Nowhere in Vienna is this better than in a traditional Viennese coffee house. 

• Café Landtmann - Café Landtmann is a traditional and chic place to warm up. The café was opened back in 1873 and has been frequented by numerous important personalities such as Sigmund Freud, Thomas Mann and Paul Hörbiger. The menu offers Viennese coffee specialties, tea, desserts, cakes and Austrian cuisine.
• Gerstner Palais Todesco - Another traditional Viennese coffee house in unique, impressive premises is the Gerstner K. u. K. Hofzuckerbäcker in Palais Todesco. The name Gerstner has been synonymous with exquisite and flavoursome desserts and food in general since imperial times. A visit to the impressive building and a taste of the cakes, slices and coffee drinks is well worthwhile. There are also main courses and breakfasts, so you can be catered for at any time of day. You often have to queue to get a seat, so a reservation is recommended.
• Vollpension - Vollpension in Johannesgasse is not only a cosy café with delicious desserts, but also a social project. Here, the so-called baking ‘grandmas’ and ‘grandpas’ prepare cakes, tarts, breakfasts and Buchteln, which can then be ordered in the café. The concept of the café is to protect pensioners from poverty and loneliness in old age. Together with their younger colleagues, they create a wonderful place to relax, enjoy and warm up.