11 Marvelous Things to Do in Vienna in December: Winter in Vienna Guide

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Visiting Vienna in winter is one of the best decisions one can make. Not only is this the time when the city is at its most beautiful state, but it also offers so many things to do that you might even get a bit overwhelmed.

Well, put all your worries aside, because I have created this guide specifically about things to do in Vienna in December. The weather may be a bit cold, but these activities will surely make your heart and soul warm and full of Christmas spirit. So, let’s dive into it.

Where to stay in Vienna

Since moving out of Vienna, I got to go back a few times, and each time I was on the hunt for the best budget options for accommodation. During our last trip to Vienna we booked this place and it was the best we’ve stayed at so far. We usually book apartments, as hotels tend to be slightly more expensive, but it all depends on your preferences and your budget. I strongly recommend Vienna Stay Apartments, as the location was very good (just a few stops away from the city centre by tram), the apartment was clean and it was also very warm, especially considering we were visiting in winter.

The Best Things to do in Vienna in winter

1. Visit the Christmas Markets

Vienna Christmas market Rathaus

One of the most essential things people come to Vienna in December is because of the Christmas markets. European Christmas markets are known for their incredibly festive atmosphere, delicious local food and drinks and incomparable holiday spirit.

Vienna is a proud home to 17 (yes, you read that correctly) Christmas markets, scattered all around the city centre and beyond.

I have a full Vienna Christmas markets guide, covering every single one of them, so you can decide for yourself which one you’d like to put on your agenda for visiting Vienna.

Check out the Ultimate Vienna Christmas Market Guide here! 

2. Admire the gorgeous Christmas decorations

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5bFs_wJyTJ/

The local municipality doesn’t hold back when it comes to creating a holiday spirit. They go absolutely full out on the decorations, if you ask me. Most central streets are covered in wonderful ornaments, many trees are wrapped in fairy lights, and some buildings have their own special decorations as well. You can’t not appreciate the beauty of it, especially after the sun sets and you’re left with a glowing city in front of your eyes.

3. Enjoy a drink on the Christmas punch terraces

What’s better than sipping on a delicious drink while overlooking beautiful Vienna from above? The Christmas punch terraces make this possible and very accessible. The experience is usually accompanied by chill music, warm blankets and/or heating lamps.

There are a few places where you can go:

  • The Ritz-Carlton Vienna
    Schubertring 5-7, 1010
    November 15 – December 26, 2019
    Daily from 4.00 pm – 9.00 pm
  • Palais Coburg
    Coburgbastei 4, 1010
    November 22 – December 22, 2019
    Every Fr & Sa from 4.00 pm
  • Klyo Punch Terrace
    Uraniastraße 1, 1010
    November 15 – December 23, 2019
    Daily from 5.00 pm – 10.00 pm
  • Badeschiff (Punch Deck on the Pool Boat)
    Donaukanal (Schwedenplatz/Urania), 1010
    All winter long from November 13, 2019
    Mon-Sat from 4.00 pm – 10.00 pm, Sun from 2.00 pm – 8.00 pm
  • Hotel Lamee
    Rotenturmstraße 15, 1010
    November 15, 2019 – Mid of January 2020
    Mo-Fr 12.00 noon – 11.00 pm, Sa & Su 10.00 am – 11.00 pm
    Closed when raining/snowing

4. Go on a walking tour

Despite the cold-ish weather, walking tours are still operating and they are certainly the best way to get to know the city. You can either choose between free walking tours (where you tip at the end) or organised paid walking tours (usually in much smaller groups than the free ones).

Some of the most popular free tours in Vienna are:

  • PrimeTours: www.primetours.at
    Languages: German, English, Spanish
    Meeting point: Helmut-Zilk-Platz, look for the yellow umbrella
    When: Daily at 11:00 and 15:00 (English)
    Friday and Saturday at 9:30 (German)
    Evening tour Wednesday-Sunday 18:00 (English)
    Duration: 2 hours
  • Welcome Tour Vienna: www.welcometourvienna.at
    Language: English
    Meeting point: Helmut-Zilk-Platz
    When: Daily at 10:30 and 14:30 (English)
    Duration: 2 – 2.5 hours
  • Good Tours: www.goodviennatours.eu
    Language: German, English, Spanish
    Meeting Point: In Front of Albertina, Albertina platz 1, look for the green umbrella
    When: Daily
    10:00 (English and Spanish)
    14:00 (English and German)
    Duration: 2.5 hours

Free tours need to be booked online in advance!

For paid tours in smaller groups there is no registration needed. Just show up and pay on the spot. For more information visit this page.

5. Cosy up on the HOP-ON HOP-OFF Bus

An alternative, or even a supplement to the walking tours, are the big tourist buses. They drive around the city, reaching all major tourist attractions and providing information about them. They are also a great option when the weather is colder and you’d rather be sitting somewhere warm, but still getting to see and explore Vienna.

There are two companies you can choose from when it comes to the Hop On Hop Off buses in Vienna. They both offer very similar routes and prices, so you can check out both websites and decide for yourself:

Included in the Vienna Pass

 

6. Check out the amazing museums and exhibitions

Vienna is full of incredibly interesting and rich museums and there is something for absolutely everyone’s taste. I mean, we even have a Chocolate Museum!

Amongst the best and most popular ones are:
Art History Museum, Leopoldmuseum, Albertina and Belvedere for art.

Natural History Museum, Weltmuseum for some history about the world;

Hofburg, Sisi Museum, Schönbrunn Palace for history about the Austrian empire and Princess Sisi

And much more… !

7. Go ice skating

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuWm5tcg9EU/

What better time to go ice skating than in the winter season.. especially in Vienna. The most popular (and certainly the most beautiful) place to go ice skating is in front of the City Hall. The square transforms in a magical ice rink with fairy lights all around it, as well as different paths, curling around the trees, making it an exciting experience.

There are, of course, other ice rinks in Vienna, so if you want to avoid all the crowds, then head to Erste Bank Arena or Wiener Eislaufverein.

8. See a classical concert

What a better time to see a concert than while being in Vienna in December? I mean, the weather outside is already quite cold, and nothing beats sitting in a stunning old concert hall and listening to pure art.

Vienna is famous for its classical music concerts, especially since it is named the capital of music and it’s the place where Beethoven and Mozart used to live for some time in their lives. There are quite a few places which house classical concerts in Vienna, such as the Opera State House and Musikverein.

Tip: I would not recommend buying tickets from someone in the streets. Many well-dressed people will try to persuade you into buying a concert ticket from them – these are usually cheaply bought tickets with bad seats, which they are trying to sell for a higher price. Always go to the venue and purchase from there directly!

9. Take a day trip

If you have more time on your hands, I would definitely suggest taking a day trip to some other places around Vienna. A stunning destination, especially during winter, is Hallstatt – a tiny mountain village, located 3,5 hours from Vienna by car.

Another very preferred destination is Salzburg. The fourth largest city in Austria is also the birthplace of Mozart, and it attracts more and more visitors every year. Due to many factors like culture, history, heritage and attractions, Salzburg has been named ‘the most inspiring city’ of Austria. If you had to choose one more place to visit apart from Vienna,  this would most definitely be my recommendation.

Another very popular day trip from Vienna is the neighbouring capital of Slovakia – Bratislava. The city is located only about an hour away from Vienna and it’s a lovely city, which can easily be discovered in just one day. The city center is rather compact, but it still has this European charm to it.

10. Try local food

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg6GJmwA4py/

Wiener Schnitzel, Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarrn, Apfelstrudel and the list goes on.. Austria is home to some delicious food that you never knew has been missing in your life. Have breakfast at Hotel Sacher where you can try the special Sacher cake, prepared by the original recipe, and go to Figlmüller for dinner to try some of the best schnitzel in town. All the snacks and sweet treats you can taste at the Christmas Markets, which are always happening in Vienna in December. Naschmarkt, the biggest local food market, is another great place to taste different specialities.

11. Treat yourself to a day at the Therme

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5DHGJ1A9nd/

What better time to enjoy a nice relaxing day at the thermal spa than during the cold December in Vienna? Therme Wien is a large complex of many indoor and outdoor pools, as well as sauna, massage rooms etc.

The thermal baths are very easily reached by metro line U1 – the metro station Oberlaa drops you off right in front of Therme Wien.

How to get around Vienna?

Vienna is a big city, and even though the city centre is very walkable, you will most definitely have to use public transport to get around. Especially considering that some important tourist attractions are quite outside the city centre, like Schönbrunn palace and Belvedere palace for example.

The city’s main tourist card is the Vienna City Card and it gives you unlimited use of all public transport for a maximum of 72 hours, as well as discounts for museums. You can check prices here.

There are, however, a few other city cards to take into consideration. I have summed up every single one of them in this blog post, including descriptions, benefits, drawbacks and personal opinion on who are the cards most suitable for.

Final thoughts

In my personal opinion, Vienna is one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. But in December it gets even better. I feel like this is the most beautiful state you could see it in. So don’t dwell on it too much, pack your bags and off to Vienna!

Thank you for reading the whole article! If you find my work helpful, it would mean the world to me if you took some time to read this.

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Book your accommodation through Booking.com – the most trustworthy and widely used website in Europe and beyond.


Book a car for your trip – I use DiscoverCars for most of my travels.


Book any travel experience such as day trips, excursion, travel cards, museum tickets and more from Get Your Guide.


Do you want to learn more about Vienna? You may also enjoy:

11 Magical Things to Do in Vienna in January

Experiencing a Vienna Ball – How Can You Actually Attend One? My Tips

2 Days in Vienna – The Perfect Vienna Itinerary!

25 Free Things to do in Vienna, Austria

The Vienna Cards Explained! Which one to choose – Vienna City Card or Vienna Pass?

Vienna to Bratislava Day Trip – How to Spend One Day in Bratislava, Slovakia

Vienna Insider Tips – What to know before visiting?

Where to Find the Best Schnitzel in Vienna – Tips + Prices!

Explore Vienna on a Budget

21 Incredibly Instagrammable Places in Vienna, Austria

Ultimate Vienna Christmas Markets Guide – Full List

Where to go Ice Skating in Vienna – Ice Rinks in Vienna, Austria (Full List + Tips!)


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Lyubomira Doncheva
Lyubomira Doncheva

Lyubomira is the creator and author behind Bulgarian On The Go. With a background in journalism and experience in the field of tourism and marketing, her mission is to show travellers many beautiful places they might have never thought of visiting or even knew existed.

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- This article contains affiliate links. For every purchase made through one of these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you! -        


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