If Salzburg is Austria’s cultural core, Vienna is Austria’s modern city center. Lined with cafes, parks and wine bars, Vienna is an alluring metropolis to first-time Austria travelers. Vienna is home to nearly two million people, but the millions of travelers who book flights to Vienna every year have made this city one of the most popular European destinations.
Vienna is a great destination spot for any type of traveler. Rated one of the most romantic cities in Europe, a flight to Vienna is sure to soothe matters of the heart. Scholars will enjoy Vienna’s history with a stroll down medieval alleyways and a walk through some Austria’s famous castles. First time travelers can find cheap flights to Vienna and spend time lounging in sidewalk cafes or taking part in open-air festivals. No matter your reason for visiting Vienna, you’re sure to find something exciting to do.
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Vienna has four seasons with cold winters and warm summers. Precipitation is light with only nine or so days of rain or snow a month. November through February are the coldest months with temperatures dropping to the low 20s in January and December. Summer is from Easter to mid-October and can be quite hot and sticky. July and August are the warmest months with temperatures reaching the upper 70s. The fohn, a warm wind from Italy over the Alps, is known for making tempers flare.
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Peak Season:
Vienna’s high season is April through October -- July and August are the peak months and when Vienna flights and accommodations are usually at their highest. The winter sports season is also busy, and many Austrians visit the city for the Christmas, New Year, and Easter holidays. Advance reservations are a must for flights to Vienna and hotel rooms during the peak seasons.
The weather in June and September make them perfect months for visiting, but they are still quite crowded.
Off Season:
In late spring to early summer and late fall to early winter, the weather is still pleasant enough for travel, and there is less demand for restaurant tables and hotel accommodations. Cheap flights to Vienna and discount hotel rooms can be found during the off season.
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Local trains and buses leave regularly for Vienna. There is also a City Airport Train, which provides a fast and direct service to the centrally located City Air Terminal that is connected to the underground, bus and tram networks. Taxis are also available.
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Vienna’s subway, tram, and bus system (Wiener Verkehrsbetriebe) is the best way to get around the city, whether you are visiting the historic center or the Vienna Woods. Tickets are cheaper to buy in advance at a Tabak-Trafiks (tobacconist kiosk or store). Varieties of discount tickets allow unlimited rides within a specific period and discounts at some attractions.
With more than 150 miles of bicycle paths, cycling is the mode of transport of many Viennese in summer. Bikes are easy to rent and are allowed on some U-Bahn cars during certain weekday hours for a reduced fee. Weekends in July and August bikes ride for free.
Fiakers, horse-drawn carriages, are a classic form of touring. The length of the ride and the fare are negotiated in advance. Taxis can be hailed, picked up at a stand, or called, but calling incurs a surcharge.
The efficiency of the public transportation system makes driving unnecessary in Vienna. Driving requires navigating the city’s congestion and one-way streets, and parking is very limited. If you do rent a car, there is an extra charge for renting it at the airport rather than in the city. Honking a car horn is forbidden in the city limits.
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- The spectacular imperial Schonbrunn Palace is one of the city’s major tourist draws.The palace has 1,441 rooms and was built between 1696 and 1712. The plan was to build a palace to rival Versailles, but Austria’s pockets were not as deep as France’s. The complex includes sets of faux Roman ruins, an Orangerie, a zoo and a maze. It is UNESCO listed.
- Hofburg, the Imperial Palace, winter residence, as opposed to the Schonbrunn Palace, which was the summer residence, boasts top museum collections, the offices of the Austrian president, an international convention center, the hall in which the Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School perform and the chapel where the world-famous Vienna Boys' Choir sings mass on Sundays and holy days.
- The trained and beautifully groomed, white Lipizzan stallions are considered the oldest classic horse race in Europe. They perform on Sunday mornings, tourists can also watch them rehearsing in the mornings (Tuesdays to Saturday).
- The Naschmarkt is a charming area with cafés and small shops outside the Ring. There is a flea market there on Saturday mornings.
- St Stephen's Cathedral is where Mozart, Vienna’s most famous resident, married in 1782 and, sadly, had his funeral mass just nine years later, in 1791.
- Domgasse 5 is the only one of Mozart’s apartments that still exists. He lived here between 1784 and 1787. In 2006 it opened as Mozarthaus Vienna: a new center devoted to the life and works of Mozart including the historical apartment. There is also a café, museum shop and event area.
- Karlskirche, (St Charles’ Church), is one of the most outstanding Baroque churches north of the Alps.
- Vienna has many beautiful parks including the Türkenschanzpark, one of the biggest parks and known for its botanical plants, Stadtpark and Volksgarten. The Belvederegarten is outstanding; they are the grounds of the baroque Belvedere palace.
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