The Best Winter Things to Do in Vienna

Are you looking for fun in a magical winter wonderland?

Vienna is the right place for you :)

Here are some fun things to do during winter in Vienna.

1) Christmas Markets

Let's face it. When you are traveling to Europe in Winter, the best thing to see and do is definitely to visit Christmas Markets. There are numerous locations to find Christmas Markets in Vienna, e.g., in front of Maria Theresien Square, Belvedere Palace, and Rathaus. Christmas markets are a fantastic place to shop for souvenirs, drink some glückwein (hot red wine), and eat some Christmas cookies!

For more info on Christmas markets in Vienna, check out https://www.austria.info/en/things-to-do/skiing-and-winter/christmas-markets/vienna. 

2) Ice Skating in Rathausplatz

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I have never been able to embrace my inner Michelle Kwan until this rink.

This ice skating rink is HUMONGOUS at 8000 m (which for Americans means 86,111 sq feet).

It stands right in front of the town hall. Their prices are reasonable. They have snacks around the rink, and did I mention they play 90s music like Nsync and other throwback jams? ;) This rink was the highlight for me.

For more info about this rink, check out https://www.city-walks.info/Vienna/Ice-Skating.html.  

3) Walking Tour

When traveling, my favorite thing to do is to take a walking tour. Walking Tours are such eye-opening experiences as they provide history, the context of all the sights, and tips on how to navigate the city. Most of the time, you can find free Walking Tours and tip as much as you like to your tour guide. I truly enjoyed the Walking Tour from Good Vienna. They have a meeting point behind the big red bus, at Albertinaplatz 1, 1010 Wien. Note: This walking tour is quite long (around 3 - 4 hours), and it can get cold. Make sure to bring enough layers and warm drinks!!

For more information about their walking tours, check out: https://www.goodviennatours.eu/tours/freetour/

4) Opera Tickets

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Another fantastic place to visit is the Vienna State Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper).

Now, it is not the most impressive looking opera house I will admit (as it has more of a 1950's vibe on the inside).

However, this opera house is quite different than the rest as every night the show is different. You can experience different performances for your entire stay in Vienna. You can get standing tickets for cheap. If you don't know German well enough, they provide subtitles so you can follow along.

For a guide to get standing room tickets, check out: https://www.whereverwriter.com/standing-room-tickets-vienna-opera-house/

For more information about the Vienna Opera House, please visit https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/en/. 

5) Butterfly House

Another gem we discovered in Vienna is the Butterfly House. If you're looking for a hot place to escape the Austrian cold and hang out with some butterflies, this is definitely the place. There are a lot of tropical plants around, and who know,s maybe you'll be blessed with a butterfly landing on your head?

6) Kunst Haus Wein

This eccentric museum in Vienna is definitely worth a stop.

Translated to Art House Vienna, this museum was founded by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, one of the greatest Austrian artists. If his style looks familiar, he was inspired by the famous Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. The museum is quirky with uneven floors, trees growing out of windows, a small cafe at the bottom, and overall an eco-friendly building that inspires us all to do better for our planet.

For tickets or more info about the museum, please visit: https://www.kunsthauswien.com/en/ 

7) The Famous Clock in Vienna

Anchor Clock (Ankeruhr)

During my walking tour, we were shown this adorable clock. Now, the clock is not only special because it survived WWII, but it changes every hour to reveal portraits of some of the most famous Viennese in their history! Each figure can be seen at a different hour. You can see Joseph Haydn (composer), Charlemagne (emperor of the Holy Roman Empire), Maria Theresa (Habsburg monarch), etc If you go at noon, you can see all the characters appear all at once. Definitely worth seeing (if you are a dork like me) ;)

Day Excursion Option:

Schonbrunn Palace

Everyone loves a good palace, right? I know I do. If you go in the winter, you can find Christmas Markets (woo) and visit the zoo. To be honest, it is better if you do not visit in the Winter. All the plants and trees are dead, and pretty much all attractions are closed for the inevitable renovations before the summer. I included it here for those who are crazy enough to go in the winter (like me).

Here is a guide of what to see: https://www.visitingvienna.com/schonbrunn/10-things-2/

For more information about this palace, please visit https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/.