Best time to visit
Best Time to Visit Vienna
A former imperial capital of grand palaces, coffee house culture, and a long classical music tradition. As the former seat of the Habsburg Empire, its scale and grandeur reflect centuries as one of Europe's most powerful courts.
Best time to visit: April to June or September to October, or December for the Christmas markets.
Local tip: Sit down at a traditional Viennese coffee house (Café Central, Café Sacher) rather than grabbing coffee to go — it's a genuine part of the culture, not just a tourist stop.
Getting around: Vienna's trams, U-Bahn, and buses are efficient and well-integrated, and the historic centre itself is compact enough to walk between major sights.
Good to know: Viennese coffee house culture is UNESCO-recognised as intangible cultural heritage — lingering over one drink for hours with a newspaper is the actual local custom, not a tourist affectation.
What to plan your trip around
- Schönbrunn Palace
The former summer residence of the Habsburgs, with extensive formal gardens.
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
The Gothic cathedral at the heart of the old town, with a distinctive tiled roof.
- Belvedere Palace
A Baroque palace complex housing Gustav Klimt's The Kiss among its art collection.
- Hofburg Palace
The Habsburgs' former winter residence, now housing several museums and the Spanish Riding School.
Vienna weather by month
Vienna weather by month
Average temperatures and rainfall Vienna gets in each month (2011–2020). Tap a month for the full breakdown.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C | -3°C | 42 mm | 89% |
| February | 5°C | -3°C | 39 mm | 85% |
| March | 10°C | 0°C | 35 mm | 78% |
| April | 16°C | 5°C | 39 mm | 71% |
| May | 19°C | 9°C | 97 mm | 71% |
| June | 24°C | 13°C | 85 mm | 66% |
| July | 27°C | 15°C | 89 mm | 63% |
| August | 27°C | 15°C | 76 mm | 63% |
| September | 21°C | 11°C | 80 mm | 70% |
| October | 15°C | 6°C | 62 mm | 80% |
| November | 9°C | 2°C | 42 mm | 88% |
| December | 4°C | -2°C | 40 mm | 89% |
Vienna through the year
January · 3° / -3°C · 42 mm
- Expect more cloud than at any other time of year.
- Mornings start cold: the average low is -3°C, and frost is common.
April · 16° / 5°C · 39 mm
- Seasonally, April counts as mid-spring in Vienna.
- Good walking weather for combining St. Stephen's Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace in one day.
July · 27° / 15°C · 89 mm
- In Vienna, July is mid-summer.
- Only one month is warmer in Vienna than July.
October · 15° / 6°C · 62 mm
- In Vienna, October is mid-autumn.
- Temperatures are falling — expect highs around 6°C lower by November.
The best time to visit Vienna is April, August and October, when average highs are 15–27°C and rainfall is around 59 mm a month.
At a glance
When to go to Vienna, season by season
December – February
Cold4° / -3°C · 40 mm
Cool to cold days. Fine for museums and city breaks, less so for the beach.
March – May
Good15° / 4°C · 57 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
June – August
Good26° / 15°C · 83 mm
Comfortable weather overall, with fewer visitors than peak season.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit Vienna?
- For pleasant, fairly dry weather, go to Vienna in April, August and October. Average highs are then 15–27°C.
- Why is April a good time to visit Vienna?
- In April, Vienna averages 16°C by day and 5°C at night, with about 39 mm of rain and 59% cloud cover: warm enough to be outdoors without the peak heat or the wettest weather.
- What is the warmest month in Vienna?
- August is the warmest month in Vienna, with average highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C.
- What is the coldest month in Vienna?
- January is the coldest month in Vienna: average highs of 3°C, dropping to -3°C at night.
- When does it rain the most in Vienna?
- May is the wettest month in Vienna with about 97 mm of rain. The driest is March, with around 35 mm.
- When is the worst time to visit Vienna?
- January is the least pleasant month in Vienna, with average highs of just 3°C. It's still fine for museums and fewer crowds.
- Is the shoulder season a good time to visit Vienna?
- Yes. September sits just outside the best months for Vienna, with average highs of 21°C and about 80 mm of rain a month. Weather-wise, it is a good alternative to the peak months.
- How can I check the weather in Vienna before I travel?
- Compare the live forecast for Vienna from three independent weather services on WeatherCompare. When they agree, the forecast is more reliable.
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Best time to visit Vienna. WeatherCompare, 2026 (climate averages: NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020). https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/austria/vienna
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/guides/best-time-to-visit/austria/vienna">Best time to visit Vienna</a> (WeatherCompare)
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