Everything you need to know about visiting Vienna in January

January in Vienna is a magical time to explore this historic city, offering a winter escape with smaller crowds and plenty of festive charm. From elegant balls in grand venues like Hofburg Palace to ice skating at the Viennese Ice Dream, winter in Vienna is full of cultural events and classic Viennese experiences.

When the winter chill sets in, you can sip coffee in historic cafés, enjoy world-class performances at the Musikverein, and explore Vienna's top attractions like the Belvedere Palace Museum without the peak season crowds. Check out this ultimate guide to what to do in Vienna in January.

Why go to Vienna in January?

The city is quieter and less crowded

January falls firmly in Vienna’s low season, meaning fewer tourist crowds at major attractions, shorter lines at museums, and more room to breathe in the city’s cozy coffeehouses. It’s a great time for a European winter vacation without the December holiday rush.

Vienna transforms into a winter wonderland when it snows

While snow isn’t guaranteed in Vienna in January, it’s not uncommon. When it does fall, the city transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Picture a dusting of white snow over the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace, icicles hanging from the gothic spires of St Stephen’s Cathedral, and skaters gliding across the ice outside Vienna City Hall as snowflakes fall from the sky.

January is the best time to visit traditional coffeehouses

There’s no better way to end a guided walking tour of historic Vienna in winter than by cozying up with a melange (espresso with steamed milk and foam) and a slice of sachertorte (chocolate-glazed chocolate cake with apricot jam filling) in an opulent Viennese coffeehouse. Think velvet booths, chandeliers, and romantic lighting — the perfect escape on a crisp winter afternoon.

January is the peak cultural season in Vienna

Despite it being low tourist season, January in Vienna is peak culture season, packed with classical concerts, opera performances, and elegant Viennese balls. The world-famous Vienna Philharmonic's New Year’s Concert kicks things off, while venues like the Musikverein and Vienna State Opera offer diverse cultural programs throughout the month. It’s also Vienna’s ball season, with both locals and visitors throwing on their gowns and tuxedos to waltz the night away in opulent palace halls.

What’s the weather like in Vienna in January?

Vienna weather in January is bitingly cold and crisp. The sun rises around 7:30 AM and sets around 4:50 PM by the end of the month, giving you 9.5 daylight hours to sightsee and enjoy the wintry outdoors. Pack thick winter sweaters and bundle up, as the temperatures often sink below freezing at night.

• Average day temperature: 37F (3C)
• Average night temperature: 28F (-2C)
• Average days of snow: 5
• Average days of sun: 10

Top things to do in Vienna in January

1. Skate your heart out at the Viennese Ice Dream

From mid-January, Vienna’s central Rathausplatz is transformed into one of Europe’s largest open-air ice skating rinks, known as the Viennese Ice Dream, or Wiener Eistraum. The huge rink covers over 10,000 m², with four interconnected skating areas, trails winding through the Rathauspark, and the dazzling new SKY RINK platform, an elevated ice terrace with unmatched views over the magical winter scene and the Vienna City Hall.

During the day, there’s a dedicated beginners' area for kids to practise skating. After 5:00 PM, this is transformed into a series of curling areas. On a cold January evening in Vienna, nothing beats wrapping up warm and gliding through the rink’s twinkling lights while music from live DJs drifts through the air.

Address

Rathausplatz, 1010 Wien, Austria

Opening hours

Ice rink open daily 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

2. Waltz the night away at a Viennese Ball

January is the peak of Vienna's renowned ball season, with hundreds of grand balls held across the city over winter. For one of the most unique things to do in Vienna in January, don your finest tailcoat or sparkling floor-length gown and satin gloves, and waltz the night away at one of the city’s most opulent venues.

January highlights include the Confectioners’ Ball at Hofburg Palace, the Vienna Philharmonic Ball at the Musikverein, and the Wiener Opernball at the Vienna State Opera, famous for being “the most beautiful ballroom in the world.”

Enjoy the extravagant fanfare and courtly 18th-century traditions, including live orchestra music, the debutants' arrival, and dances like the Viennese waltz, polkas, and midnight quadrilles. If you don’t know how to waltz, take a dance class in Vienna to master the steps before stepping onto the dancefloor to the call of “Alles Walzer!” (“Everyone waltz!”).

3. Warm up with coffee in Vienna’s historic cafes

Drinking coffee in Vienna isn’t just a daily habit. It’s an important part of the city’s cultural identity and heritage. In fact, Viennese coffeehouse culture is so significant that it’s been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Slowly sipping a melange or espresso in one of the city’s grand historic cafés is a must for coffee lovers.

End a chilly winter walking tour by dipping into the warm, rich ambiance of a luxury cafe in the city center. You haven’t had a fancier einspänner (strong espresso with whipped cream) than in the iconic Café Central, where you’ll find locals socializing in timeless Thonet chairs and velvet booths, surrounded by gothic revival columns, elegant arches, and warm bronze chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceilings.

Address

Café Central, Herrengasse 14, 1010 Wien

Opening hours

Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM–10:00 PM

Sunday, 10:00 AM–10:00 PM

4. Catch a classical concert at the Musikverein

For one of the best evening activities in Vienna in winter, get dressed up, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy a classical concert at the Musikverein. The Wiener Musikverein is one of the world’s top concert halls, known for its unbeatable acoustics and its stunning Golden Hall. Home to the Vienna Philharmonic, the venue hosts performances of works by Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and other classical greats.

The New Year’s Concert on January 1 is the season’s crown jewel, but the venue also has a packed program of Viennese classics throughout the month. Booking tickets in advance is essential, especially for the most popular performances.

Address

Musikvereinspl. 1, 1010 Wien

Opening hours

Venue open daily for tours, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM

Performance times vary but tend to start around 7:30/8:00 PM

5. Visit the Belvedere Museum

Escape the January chill and step into the grand marble halls of the Belvedere Palace Museum, home to one of the most impressive collections of art in all of Europe. Here you can explore masterpieces such as the “The Kiss” by famous Austrian artist Gustav Klimt, Van Gogh’s “The Plain at Auvers,” and Jacques-Louis David’s “Napoleon at the Great St. Bernard Pass.”

In winter, the grand Baroque palace looks especially magical under a sprinkling of snow. After exploring the Upper Belvedere, brace the cold and head out to the French-style gardens for views over Vienna, including landmarks like the opulent Vienna State Opera and St. Stephen’s Cathedral’s soaring 448-foot (136.7-meter) spire.

Address

Prinz-Eugen-Straße 27, 1030 Wien

Opening hours

Open daily, 9:00 AM–7:00 PM

6. Take a day trip to Semmering for skiing

For snow lovers, one of the top things to do in January is to take a day trip from Vienna to the sprawling ski resort in Semmering. Located in the heart of the Viennese Alps, Semmering Pass is the perfect alpine adventure, with miles of slopes for every level of skier.

The popular Zauberberg ski resort has something for everyone, from a dedicated family run to a toboggan run and a lively après-ski scene with the umbrella bar at the Liechtensteinhaus and the ZauberBAR doubling as a disco. Zauberberg is also famous for its night skiing, where you’ll find yourself gliding dreamily down floodlit slopes under a sea of stars.

Address

2680, Austria