7 Things To Do in Vienna During Winter
Goodbye Christmas markets – hello winter months! Although it has already been cold for some time now most of Vienna’s locals and visitors have barely noticed. Simply spending time at our beautiful and festive Christmas markets made us feel warm and cozy and forget everything around us for a while, including the weather. Now that we all have arrived safely in the new year, we sadly won’t be able to enjoy our customary afterwork mulled wine... So how are we going to survive the rest of winter in Vienna? Here are our 7 favorite things we are going to do these cold winter days.
Spend the whole day at a Viennese coffeehouse.
Yes, this is totally something people in Vienna do! Either to reduce their heating bill or for the simple pleasure of people watching, the Viennese love to spend a lot of time at one of the cities many traditional coffeehouses. And who can blame them? Imagine reading a good book in a place where you can get fresh apple strudel and delicious coffee any minute you want! Even if you’re just looking for a quick stop to warm yourself up, try a Fiaker (a large espresso with a lot of sugar and a shot of rum or schnaps). Our favorites include Café Jelinek, Café Sperl or Café Engländer.
Get all hot and bothered by Klimt’s “Kiss”.
Let’s be honest: You came all the way to Vienna, you probably want to see more than just our coffeehouses. Lucky for you, there’s plenty more to discover, such as our countless museums with fascinating exhibitions. One can easily spend half of the day at Vienna’s Natural History Museum or learn a few new things about art at the Albertina. And what better way is there to warm up other than with Gustav Klimt’s “Kiss” at the Upper Belvedere?
Explore Austrian cuisine aside from schnitzel.
The great thing about Vienna not having a coast: we never even have to think about beach bodies. So, while others start to get in shape for summer, we love to spend our free time at our local “Beisl” (an authentic Austrian pub serving traditional, down-to-earth local food). As Vienna boasts an impressive variety of sweet and savory dishes, joining us on a food tour to find out what else is there apart from the famous Viennese Schnitzel is definitely an excellent idea (we say 100% objectively, of course).
Go ice skating next to historical buildings.
Forget indoor ice skating! In Vienna, you skate outside right next to the beautiful Rathaus or city hall as well as in the festively lit park in front of it. The Wiener Eistraum (Vienna Ice Dream) usually runs from January to March and is definitely a locals’ favorite - especially for couples and families! With online tickets, rentals and a free space for kids it’s a great experience for everyone. Go at dusk to get amazing pictures or during the day to have the rink (almost) to yourself. Psssst, our insider tip: if you come at 9:30 p.m. you can skate free for half an hour until the rink closes at 10.00pm!
Find out all about Beethoven in 2020.
Did you know? Famous composer Beethoven spent 35 years of his life in Vienna, and in 2020 he would have celebrated his 250th birthday. Why not experience Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio at the Vienna State Opera and at the Theater an der Wien (Beethoven himself worked at this theatre and even lived here!). If you want to learn more about his life, visit the Beethoven Museum based in one of Beethoven’s former residences. Have a look here to see what stars like Billy Joel and Hans Zimmer have to say about Vienna and Beethoven.
Waltz ourselves warm at a ball.
You probably have heard about the Vienna Opera Ball, but did you know that Vienna hosts over 450 balls every winter? So, while the freezing wind is blowing outside, you can dance, laugh and entertain yourself inside one of our countless beautiful palais. Why not dress up for a night and experience the magic of Imperial Vienna? Not to forget the best part: In Vienna, lively nights at the ball usually end with a visit to the sausage stand or over goulash in a coffeehouse. Some of this season’s highlights: https://www.austria.info/uk/things-to-do/cities-and-culture/traditions/ball-season
Walk empty streets & escape the crowds.
As busy as it gets during the summer, after Christmas Vienna is usually pretty empty. Because of the cold weather, a lot more locals switch from walking and riding their bikes to using public transportation. So bundle up, grab your coziest scarf, mittens and your warmest jacket and stroll around those almost empty cobblestoned alleys Vienna is known for. You might get lucky enough for it to snow, so you can get wonderful pictures!
