Vienna in Winter: A Cozy, Classic European Escape

Are you looking for the best things to do in Vienna in Winter? Then I got you covered!

Vienna is nothing short of a magical place during the wintertime. Christmas markets, horse carriages, and stunning fairy lights everywhere light up the city during the most wonderful time of the year.

Winter in Vienna, Austria, is a special season you do not want to miss. There are many amazing things you can not only do in Vienna in December, but also during the entire winter season.

It can be hard to find out about the most magical things to do with so many choices out there.

Luckily for you, I have lived the first 27 years of my life in Austria and know all the ins and outs of Vienna.

To make your trip to Vienna just perfect, I have created the ultimate Vienna in winter guide.

Let’s get to it.

Is Vienna in Winter Worth Visiting?

In my opinion, Vienna is the perfect destination year-round for a city trip.

But there is a certain charm to visiting Vienna in winter, with Christmas lights everywhere and with some luck even a bit of snow on the charming buildings from our Imperial history.

I enjoyed visiting the historic castles from Imperial times, strolling through the museums, and learning about Austria’s interesting history.

This is especially a great idea for visiting Austria in winter, because it can get quite cold if you stay outside too long.

If you are looking for something more glamorous to do in Vienna, keep in mind that the ball season in Vienna will also be in full swing at this time! What an amazing and special experience!

Another amazing thing about visiting Vienna in December is the Christmas markets all over town.

Things to Do in Vienna in Winter

1. Visit the Christmas Markets in Vienna

Vienna’s Christmas markets are famous all over the world.

Especially the big market with the ice skating rink in front of the Town Hall is spectacular. Christmas Markets are a must-do in Vienna in winter.

At the beginning of Advent, many different, smaller and bigger markets open up all over town. Small chalets sell hot mulled wine, traditional arts and crafts, and delicious typical Austrian street food.

2. Take a Horse Carriage Ride Through Vienna

Just like many years ago, the empress of Austria, Sisi, rode through the city on a horse carriage, you can also do that today.

The famous so-called Fiakers are an integral part of Vienna.

Taking the ride in winter is extra special because you can cuddle in a warm, fuzzy blanket with your loved one while driving through the city alongside the Christmas decorations.

We booked our ride with the Fiaker Paul company, and we absolutely loved it. We were picked up at noon on the Michaelerplatz, and on our 40-minute ride, we passed all major sights and Christmas markets.

3. Visit Schönbrunn Palace in Winter

Schönbrunn is one of the most famous palaces in Austria from the imperial times.

Our beloved Empress Sisi used this castle as her summer residence for many years. Nowadays, the palace is especially famous for being home to one of the biggest zoos in Europe.

You can also tour the castle itself and experience the grandeur of the imperial home.

A great thing to do during winter in Vienna is to walk behind Schönbrunn Castle in the Schönbrunn Gardens.

If you are a good walker, you can head up to the Gloriette and enjoy an amazing view over Vienna. In summer, the gardens are super crowded, so we preferred going in winter. The best thing is, this is totally free.

On your way out, make sure to stop by the cafe in the castle. They offer many traditional Austrian dishes, such as Apple Strudel and Kaiserschmarrn, in an authentic atmosphere.

5. Hofburg – Sisi Museum

One of my favorite museums in Vienna is the Sisi Museum in the Hofburg.

The Hofburg Museum owns a collection of personal belongings of the famous empress, as well as most of her jewelry.

You can tour the old apartments of the empress and learn so much about Austria’s history and the misunderstood empress.

Many of Sisi’s poems are displayed in the museum, and you can get a feel of what kind of person she used to be.

6. Explore the Spanish Riding School of Vienna

The Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) is dedicated to training the famous Austrian Lipizzaner horses in the art of classical dressage.

The performances, which are open to the public, are quite legendary.

It is also called the Ballet of Stallions because they put on performances of traditional Viennese music.

7. Saint Stephen’s Cathedral

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna.

This is one of the most beautiful and sacred churches in the world. You can take a guided tour and learn all about the history of the beautiful landmark.

Visiting St. Stephen’s Cathedral in winter is even more special because there is also a Christmas market right outside the church.

8. Take a Walking Tour Through the City Center

A guided walking tour through the city center is a great way to explore the fabulous buildings with some historical and cultural information.

Here are my favorite guided walking tours through Vienna:

• Vienna City Center Small-Group Walking Tour (2 hours 30 minutes) – 🤩 5/5 Stars (650 Reviews)
• Vienna’s Highlights – Food, Coffee and Market Walking Experience (6 hours) – 🤩 5/5 Stars ( 678 Reviews)
• Pastry & Dessert Food Tour Vienna (3 hours 30 minutes) – 🤩 5/5 Stars (151 Reviews)
• Vienna At First Glance – Private Walking Tour (3 hours) – 🤩 5/5 Stars (36 Reviews)

9. Take a Day Trip to Hallstatt

Hallstatt is one of the oldest villages in Europe and is always worth a visit.

It is located on the Hallstatt lake and nestled between stunning mountain ranges.

Hallstatt in summer is great – but Hallstatt in winter is especially beautiful. Christmas markets fill up the town square, and the snow-covered mountains create a stunning backdrop.

Hallstatt is about two hours’ driving away from Vienna. You can take an organized tour to Hallstatt and spend the day there, or see the entire Salzkammergut area.

Here are my favorite day trips to Hallstatt from Vienna:

• Private Day Tour of Hallstatt, Salzburg, and Stift Melk from Vienna – 🤩 5/5 Stars (51 Reviews)

• Hallstatt Day Trip From Vienna – 🤩 4,5/5 Stars (128 Reviews)

10. Visit a Concert

The yearly Neujahrskonzert (New Year’s Concert) is one of the most beloved traditions in Vienna in winter.

The classical music concert is given by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra on the morning of New Year’s Day.

They mainly play music from Austrian composers, such as Bach and Mozart. It is broadcast all over the world and has about 50 million viewers each year.

It is quite hard to get tickets to the New Year’s Concert due to the high demand. Make sure to join in the raffle between 02 February and 28 February for a chance to visit the concert in the coming year.

If you are not lucky enough to snatch a ticket to the New Year’s Concert, no need to worry. Throughout the Christmas period, there are many classical music concerts in St. Stephen’s Cathedral or in other historical settings:

• Mozart and Strauss at the Golden Hall
• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in Karlskirche
• Vienna Hofburg Orchestra in the Hofburg Palace
• Classic Ensemble Vienna in St. Peter’s Church
• The Vienna Philharmonic also plays concerts aside from the traditional New Year’s Concert. Make sure to check the schedule before your visit.

11. Go to a Fabulous Ball

The Vienna Ball Season is famous all over the world for its extravagance and class.

The highlight of the Vienna Ball Season each year is without a doubt the Vienna Opera Ball (Wiener Opernball).

The 5000 tickets to the Vienna Opera Ball are usually snatched up by international celebrities and high society.

Vienna dancing schools perform classical pieces, a polonaise with stunning debutantes, and lovely ballet interpretations.

Since it is very hard to get tickets for the Vienna Opera Ball, you might have to settle for a different ball throughout the winter in Vienna.

Luckily, many different professions and organizations have a yearly ball that you can attend.

Make sure to bring some fancy formal clothes if you want to attend a ball.

14. Get a Bird’s Eye View of Vienna

There are a couple of stunning spots in Vienna that offer an amazing view over the city and the hopefully snow-covered roofs.

One of the most famous viewpoints in Vienna is on top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. You can climb all of the 343 steps up to the top – but the view is worth it.

If you don’t feel like walking, you still have options:

• Take the Ferris Wheel in the Vienna Prater (go around sunset time for a stunning view)
• Make a dinner reservation at 57 Restaurant in Melia Vienna
• Go up the Donauturm (Danube Tower)
• Hike up the Leopoldsberg
• Have a cocktail at the 25 Hours Hotel Rooftop Bar

My favorite one of these Viewpoints is the Ferris Wheel. It is one of the oldest Ferris Wheels in the world; it was built back in 1897.

You can book a normal ticket or reserve a special gondola just for you and your loved one. You can even make reservations for a full-blown Viennese gourmet meal in one of the gondolas.

15. Participate in Austrian Christmas Traditions

Austria has a wide variety of Christmas traditions that are heavily celebrated all over the country.

There are small differences in the Christmas traditions between the different states of Austria, but the main idea is the same.

Some of my favorite things to do in Austria at Christmas are:

• Drinking hot mulled wine (Glühwein) at the Christmas markets
• Lighting a candle on the Advent wreath every Sunday before Christmas
• Opening a door every day on the Advent calendar for the 24 days before Christmas
• Go to Christmas mass on Christmas Eve (24th of December)
• Baking traditional Austrian Christmas cookies
• Austria does not believe in Santa Claus (we have the Christkind, which is a baby angel)
• Decorate the Christmas Tree with beautiful ornaments

Best Christmas Markets in Vienna

Each and every Christmas market in Vienna has a unique charm to it.

They are usually quite close together, set up on different squares and cute little spots. You can visit multiple Christmas markets after each other.

Some of the markets are big and commercialized (like the one on Town Hall Square), while others are small and intimate.

Find below my favorite Christmas Markets in Vienna.

Christmas Market on the Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square)

The Rathausplatz in Vienna is one of the most important and impressive squares in all of Vienna.

The size, the design, and the architecture are quite stunning. During Christmas time, the Rathausplatz is home to the biggest Christmas market in Vienna, Austria.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Vienna in December. You can even go ice skating on the big rink in front of the Town Hall. The entrance to the Christmas market is free; however, you need to pay for special activities.

• How to get there: U-Bahn Line 1 (Rathausplatz) or Line 2 (Parlament)

Altwiener Christkindlmarkt am Freyung

The Freyung Christkindlmarkt is one of the oldest Christmas markets in Vienna. It actually dates back to 1772.

This is one of the more authentic and traditional Christmas Markets in Vienna. It is definitely worth a visit.

You can find chalets with lots of arts and crafts, traditional Viennese snacks, and drinks on the market. There are also some philanthropic chalets that support good causes.

The market is open daily from 10:00 am until 09:00 pm

• How to get there: U-Bahn U3 Station Herrengasse and U2 Station Schottentor

Weihnachtsmarkt at the Maria Theresienplatz

The Christmas Market on the Maria Theresien Platz is very special in many ways.

The market is set up in front of the two most famous Viennese Museums: The Kunsthistorisches Museum and the Naturhistorisches Museum.

These two buildings are quite special; they were built in exact symmetry with each other.

You can find lots of chalets offering all the typical Christmas market goods at this market.

• How to get there: U-Bahn U3 Station Volkstheater

Schönbrunn Christmas Market

As mentioned earlier, the Schönbrunn Palace hosts a Christmas Market as well each year.

The chalets are set up right in front of the castle, creating a beautiful atmosphere.

It is one of the bigger Christmas markets in Vienna, but it is still very charming. A huge tree in the middle of the square creates a festive atmosphere.

Make sure to come with an empty stomach, there are so many delicious snack huts at this Christmas market.

• How to get there: U-Bahn U4 Station Schönbrunn

Weihnachtsmarkt Stephansplatz

This beautiful Christmas market is located at the base of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

The market is not huge, but very beautiful. And the majestic church in the background is doing the rest.

Keep in mind that this is one of the busiest Christmas Markets in Vienna.

TIP: If you head over from here to the Shopping Street Am Graben, you can see some beautiful Christmas decorations.

• How to get there: U-Bahn U1 and U3 Station Stephansplatz