Best Time to Visit Vienna

Summertime in Vienna may sound dreamy, however this is also the most tourist-crowded season. If you wish to avoid long lines at the historic landmarks, make sure to travel in spring, April or May, or in early autumn, September or October. If you find yourself in Vienna in November or March, be prepared for some rain, or even snow. Talking about snow, if you are fascinated by the Christmas Markets, their season starts at mind-November and lasts until Christmas Day

Big Events and Holidays

If you hit a period when a big event is taking place in Vienna, the city may be more crowded. Such events include the Carnival and Opera Ball in February, Classical Music concert festivals happening in March or the OsterKlang Festival around Easter. Additionally, starting from July, the Austrian school holidays start, so if you consider visiting in the summer months, opt for June rather than July.

Transportation Options

Once you arrive at the Vienna airport, there are plenty of options you can use to get to the center. You can use the airport bus or the airport shuttle, or if you are traveling as a group of 4 people, it is better to call a taxi company and have a cheaper, shorter and more pleasant ride. Additionally, you can always use the train option, however this transportation will require you to change trains to get to the city center. Same goes for getting around the city once you start your adventure. You can walk through the inner ring of the city center in the First District, and if your feet start to hurt, you can always use their punctually organized public transport.

Bars and Restaurants

Vienna has one of the classiest places to eat, but be sure to make a reservation on time. Whenever planning on a restaurant visit, you can make a reservation online or just ask your hotel’s reception desk to make this for you. When ordering, rest assured that the portions are pretty large and there are no kids’ menus, so be open to share.

Only few restaurants don’t accept credit cards, so it is always a good idea to have some cash in hand. In terms of tipping, at some places is fine to leave few coins on the table, however leaving 10% is the recommended amount. And once you are done with the tasty meal, you can always hit the vibrant nightlife. After having a classy dinner, we recommend visiting some of the hottest jazz clubs, since Vienna is pretty famous for the jazz music quality.

Coffee Culture

Vienna is widely known for its coffee culture. There are some pretty awesome places where you can relax with a coffee in your hand and watch the world go by. Since it tends to be crowded, make sure to do this ritual every day before 12pm, or perhaps check if you can reserve a table.

Dress Well and Show Respect

Being the center of the culture in whole Europe, Vienna’s residents are accustomed to being well-dressed and groomed even if it means going to the store. As a tourist, you are not expected to walk around in a tuxedo, but you may get frowned upon if you show up at a restaurant in shorts, a dirty t-shirt or in flip-flops. If you plan to attend the Opera, make sure to pack something elegant since such evenings are treated as gala. Jeans, pants and skirts are just fine for a day stroll though

Wi-Fi and Outlets

Depending on where you are coming from, make sure to have a standard EU adapter/converter when traveling to Vienna, since they use 230 V electrical outlets. In case you have forgotten, you can always buy one there, just ask at the reception desk. There’s free Wi Fi in nearly all of the hotels, cafes, museums and restaurants so you can be online when you need to. At times there may be some limitations, however this is rare. So use this information wisely, and don’t waste any money on getting any international data plan.

Communicating with the Locals

If you find yourself lost during your daily adventures, just ask for help from the passers-by. People are pleasant and they’ll happily help you. Additionally, English is widely spoken, in most cases enough to talk to a resident. For the more enthusiastic travelers, we recommend learning a handful of German words and use them. You may get couple of smiles too.

Plan your Shopping in Advance

Vienna’s stores and supermarkets are all closed on Sunday. The same goes for many restaurants and bars, so if you are arriving on a Saturday, make sure to buy what you need in advance. If possible, avoid arriving on a Sunday, since your holiday may have a rough start.

Reserve your Tickets Online

You can find tickets for most of Vienna’s attractions and museums online. By booking them this way, you’ll skip much of the lines, you’ll know at what time to show up at the entrance and even save some money. It is a pretty recommended strategy if you wish to spend a relaxed holiday with no time wasting.

Seeing Vienna is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have, so be wise and plan your activities accordingly. Make sure to plan you airport transfers, book your hotel and entrance tickets in advance, and enjoy the uplifting spirit of the city.

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