Winter in Vienna

Walking through the snow-covered parks of Vienna and strolling along the Ringstrasse past magnificent buildings in light snowfall? Unfortunately, the reality in Vienna has been a little different for the last few years. Snowfall does occur on several days in winter, but it is rare for the snow to stay on the ground. Temperatures are often above 0°C and the falling snow melts almost immediately. But if you are lucky and visit Vienna during one of these rare snow days, a magical atmosphere awaits you.

If you are unlucky but don't want to miss out on your snow adventure in Austria, we can recommend a number of snowy day trips.

Semmering

When the Viennese head to the slopes on the weekends to ski, toboggan or snowboard, many are drawn to the Semmering. This mountain pass is only an hour from Vienna and is also easily accessible by public transport. The cable cars on the Hirschenkogel, one of the peaks of the Semmering, are open from mid-December to mid-March, depending on the snow situation. 14 kilometers of slopes, 13 of which are also illuminated at night, are available here, as well as a 3 km long toboggan run. If the weather is temporarily too warm for snowfall, several snowmaking systems are available to guarantee snow fun in the winter months.

Hallstatt

Hallstatt, this picturesque little village on the edge of Lake Hallstatt is surrounded by mountains in the Salzkammergut. In the cold winter months, the place is often covered in a thin layer of snow. Take a day trip to this historic village with Vienna Sightseeing Tours. After a bus ride of several hours towards the Salzkammergut, you can look forward to a panoramic tour through the snow-covered Salzkammergut, then on to the village of Hallstatt, which you explore on foot. A visit to the famous ossuary is included in the winter months.

In addition to Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte and boiled beef, Vienna also has some culinary highlights in store in winter. It is hard to imagine the Viennese cityscape without „Maroni“ (chestnut) roasters in winter, and this has been the case since the middle of the 18th century. In small wooden stands, they roast chestnuts on iron stoves, and sell them in addition to fried potatoes and „Kartoffelpuffer“ (potato pancakes). The fried potatoes are only eaten with salt and the potato pancakes usually with salt and garlic.

After Christmas, the carnival season begins in Vienna and with it the time for carnival Krapfen. In Austria, Krapfen are sweet yeast dough pastries with apricot jam filling. During the carnival season, these can be bought in large quantities in every supermarket and bakery. While the original "Krapfen" without any additional designation always has to be filled with apricot jam, other types have become mainstays in recent years, such as the Krapfen with vanilla filling. Due to the popularity of the pastry, it is now available almost all year round.

Your winter visit to Vienna is not blessed with snowfall, but you really want to see St. Stephen's Cathedral or the Ferris wheel in the snow? In the Vienna Snow Globe Factory, your wishes will come true. Erwin Perzy I. invented the first snow globe around 1900 and shortly afterwards founded his factory, which is still in existence today in the 4th generation. Each snow globe is lovingly handcrafted and custom-made items are also possible. The shop and the small museum are open Monday to Thursday mornings. Opening times may vary during the holidays. In the museum you can learn a lot about the history of the snow globe and the Perzy family and see unique snow globes. Afterwards you can purchase your handmade unique piece in the shop.

Almost all sights, museums and attractions in Vienna are also open to visitors in winter, with exceptions on the Christmas and New Year holidays. For example, you can visit Schönbrunn Palace and most of the palace park, the Ferris wheel in the Prater turns daily, and many traders also offer their wares at the Naschmarkt. Winter is therefore no obstacle to varied sightseeing.

In Schönbrunn Palace Park, the maze, the Orangery Garden, the Crown Prince Garden and the Gloriette viewing terrace remain closed. In adverse weather conditions, the Gloriette Hill may be closed. Nevertheless, the park is worth a visit even in the cold season. Everyone is sure to get warm when climbing up the Gloriette.

Most of the attractions in the Prater amusement park are closed during the winter months. However, some rides are occasionally open. The Vienna Ferris Wheel remains in operation all year round, but maintenance work is carried out primarily in winter, which is why temporary closures may occur.

If you are planning your trip to Vienna over the holidays, it is advisable to visit the websites of the attractions and museums in advance to find out about closing days and special opening times.

The Viennese coffee house culture is a unique cultural heritage that is known far beyond the borders of Austria. It combines enjoyment, conviviality and inspiration in a distinctive atmosphere. There is nowhere better in Vienna to relax and warm up after an extensive sightseeing tour. Here are three suggestions for quaint, long-established coffee houses.

Café Prückel

Café Prückel on Stubenring has existed under various names and with various owners since 1903. In 1955 the interior of the café was redesigned and has retained its 1950s charm since then, despite renovations. Homemade pastries, typical coffee house dishes and of course the eponymous coffee specialties invite you to enjoy and linger. There is also a cabaret stage in the basement.

Café Hawelka

Café Hawelka in Dorotheergasse in Vienna is already in its third generation of ownership. Not far from Stephansplatz is this cult café, which was already sung about by Georg Danzer. He was also a regular here, as were Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Hans Moser and Udo Jürgens. Falco also celebrated his 30th birthday here. The café can therefore look back on a long history in the circle of many well-known personalities. In addition to coffee from the company's own roastery, the "Buchteln" made according to the family recipe are particularly recommended, which are served daily from 8 p.m.

Café Schwarzenberg

Café Schwarzenberg is considered to be one of the oldest coffee houses on the Ringstrasse. Its predecessor, the Café Hochleitner, was already built in 1861 at a different location, before moving to its current location in 1863 and being renamed Café Schwarzenberg in 1902. The café impresses with its unique, historical interior. Some of the furniture is still original from the late 19th century, while the interior design dates back to the interwar period. The coffee house serves pastries, coffee and traditional Viennese cuisine. On selected dates you can also listen to a jazz trio or other musical performances here.