How to celebrate an epic Easter in Vienna.

As Vienna awakens from its winter slumber, spring brings fresh air and color into the city, and Easter ushers in a season of celebration and tradition. Charming Easter markets such as Schonbrunn Palace burst with hand-painted eggs and the scents of Osterpinzen, a classic Austrian Easter bread. The Albertina hosts fascinating Easter-themed exhibits and the gardens at St. Stephen’s Cathedral are filled with vibrant cherry blossoms. Throughout the city, festive Easter markets and special Easter concerts create a magical atmosphere. Here’s how to spend Easter in Vienna for a celebration full of fun activities.

Everything you need to know about Easter in Vienna

Easter traditions: Easter Markets, painted eggs, and springtime concerts
Best free Easter activity: Schonbrunn Palace Easter Market
Key Easter dates: April 13th, April 18th, April 20th, April 21st
Seasonal foods to try: Spargel and Oserpinzen

1. Visit a royal Easter market

Explore Vienna’s iconic Schonbrunn Palace as it transforms into an Easter wonderland where the gardens are decorated with cheerful bunnies, and children make colorful Easter crafts. Visit one of the stalls selling ornately painted eggs, run by decades-old family businesses, or grab a steaming bowl of kasespatzle, Austria’s answer to Mac ‘n Cheese. Sip on a local beer while enjoying performances by local artists, all in the shadow of a stunning royal palace.

Insider tip

Schonbrunn Palace’s Easter market is the largest, but don’t forget to check out other markets in the city, like the Altwiener Ostermarkt in the Old Town.

Address

Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47, 1130 Wien.

Opening hours

The market is open 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 PM on weekends. Check Schonbrunn’s event page for exact dates.

2. Attend an Easter Concert at the Vienna Symphony

One of the best things to do in Vienna at Easter is attend the annual Easter concert put on by the Vienna Symphony at the Wiener Musikverein Concert Hall to celebrate the joy of the spring season. Vienna’s best classical music performers gather in a gold-gilded concert hall to play pieces from world-renowned composers like Johannes Brahms and Carl Orff.

Insider tip

Most shows at the Symphony do not have a strict dress code, but it’s generally expected that you wear semi-formal clothing, avoiding jeans or athletic shoes. If you miss a show date, you can still enter the concert hall and tour the grand building outside of performance hours.

Address

Musikvereinspl. 1, 1010 Wien.

Opening hours

Check the Symphony website for an updated event schedule.

3. Experience the spargel craze

Spring in Vienna doesn’t just mean the welcoming of warmer weather, but the long-awaited start of the spargel season. Spargel is a specific variety of white asparagus that you can only get in the spring, and during this time, restaurants in Vienna create spargel-centered seasonal menus, serving this tasty veggie with butter, lemon, and prosciutto, or in soups.

Insider tip

Most restaurants advertise their spargel dishes with banners in the window. Take a walk around the city to find Viennese dishes that sound the most delicious to you, but avoid tourist spots as those restaurants are generally pricier and not as authentic.

4. Explore seasonal museum exhibits

During Easter in Vienna, the city’s most famous museums put on special exhibitions to celebrate the season. The exhibits change each year, and in the past, The Albertina has displayed rarely seen sketches by artists like da Vinci and Durer, while the Belvedere Museum has shown the intriguing process behind the creation of some of the world’s most famous works of art.

Insider tip

Book your tickets online to avoid waiting in the long ticket queues at the museums.

Address

The Albertina: Albertinapl. 1, 1010 Wien.
The Belvedere Museum: Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien.

Opening hours

The Albertina: Open Saturday to Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Open Wednesday and Friday until 9:00 PM.
The Belvedere Museum: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

5. Photograph blooming flowers at Vienna’s prettiest parks

Vienna is renowned for being one of the greenest cities in the world, with over half the city dedicated to parks and green spaces. Each spring, these parks come to life in a burst of colors as pink cherry blossoms bloom and red, purple, and white tulips line the pathways. There is no better way to spend spring in Vienna than grabbing a book and an osterpinzen, a traditional Easter pastry flavored with anise and lemon, and relaxing in the park.

Insider tip

Vienna has many parks, but some of the prettiest to explore are Stadtpark and Volksgarten.

Address

Stadtpark: Parkring 1, 1010 Wien.
Volksgarten: Volksgarten, 1010 Wien.

Opening hours

Stadtpark: Open 24 hours daily.
Volksgarten: Open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

6. Take an Easter-themed cruise down the Danube

Taking a cruise down the Danube River is a great way to relax while enjoying the waterfront views of Vienna’s best attractions and springtime flowers. During the Easter season, many cruise operators adjust their offerings to provide seasonal menus or spring-themed live music, making it a fun way to celebrate the holiday.

Insider tip

Cherry blossom season in Vienna runs from the end of March to the end of April. Keep your eye out for cherry blossoms during your cruise.

Easter in Vienna: FAQs

Are there any activities for kids in Vienna during Easter?

Most Easter markets provide fun activities for kids in Vienna, such as themed Easter crafts workshops. There is no official schedule for these workshops, so it’s best to just head over to the market and see what activities are going on..

Are shops closed in Vienna during Easter?

The only formal public holiday is Easter Monday, when all the shops in Vienna are usually closed, except for a few shops in the main tourist centers. Outside of this public holiday, expect store hours to remain unchanged. Many of Vienna’s best museums remain open during the holiday with only slightly modified hours.

Are there any churches with Easter celebrations in Vienna?

During the Easter holidays, many of Vienna’s biggest churches, like St. Stephen’s Cathedral, hold Easter concerts and services that are open to the public.

Is Easter a good time to go to Vienna?

April in Vienna is typically sunny with mild weather, making it a good time to visit the city. The mornings and evenings can be chilly, so pack layers to accommodate any temperature drops.

Is Vienna crowded during Easter?

Vienna has become a popular place for Austrians and visitors from neighboring countries to visit on a city break over the Easter holiday weekend, but in general, spring is one of the least crowded times to visit. It’s the perfect time of year for those looking for affordable hotel prices, decent weather, and shorter lines at attractions.