Things to Do in Vienna in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Shoulder Season · Good Value
December Weather in Vienna
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
39°F (4°C)
High Temp
31°F (0°C)
Low Temp
1.8 inches (46 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Black ice forms overnight on cobblestones and shaded sidewalks, after light rain or sleet. Walk carefully in early morning.
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + The Christmas markets are the reason most people come, and they are spectacular, a sensory overload of mulled wine fumes, cinnamon-roasted almonds, and the damp-wood scent of fir garlands strung between Gothic facades. Worth it.
- + The cultural calendar hits its peak, with the Staatsoper and Musikverein offering daily concerts, and the chance to hear Mozart and Strauss in venues that haven't changed since they premiered. Pure Vienna.
- + The cold sharpens the city's beauty - the steam rising from manhole covers, the way the gold leaf on the Hofburg glows against a slate-gray sky, and the crisp, quiet mornings in the Volksgarten before the tour groups arrive. Dress warm.
- + You'll eat better. This is the season for heartier, traditional fare like Tafelspitz (boiled beef) at Plachutta or a steaming bowl of Frittatensuppe (pancake soup) in a wood-paneled Beisl, meals that make sense in this weather. Comfort food.
Considerations
- − Daylight is brutally short, with the sun setting around 4 PM. This gives you a narrow window for outdoor sightseeing and can make the afternoons feel claustrophobic if you haven't planned indoor activities. Plan ahead.
- − The 'warm and humid' forecast feels misleading. It's the damp cold that gets you, the kind that seeps through wool and makes your joints ache after an hour of standing at a Christkindlmarkt stall. The humidity just means the chill sticks to your skin. Pack thermals.
- − While not as packed as summer, the first two weeks of December see a noticeable increase in pre-Christmas tourists, creating queues at the Schönbrunn Palace and turning the Rathausplatz market into a slow-moving shuffle by 6 PM. Arrive early.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Vienna in December is a city of crisp, still air and early twilight, with the sky often holding the pale gray light of a winter afternoon. The temperature hovers just above freezing, and you will feel the cold, dry bite in the air as you walk, a sensation more pronounced than in the milder months of April or October. Locals move with purpose between the grand stone buildings, their breath visible in plumes, seeking the warmth of a coffee house or the glow of a shop window. This is not a month for large in parks. It is a time for turning inward, toward the city's profound interiors, its concert halls, museums, and historic wine taverns known as heurigen. While no specific festivals are verified for this period, the rhythm of Vienna in December is defined by the season itself. The pace feels contemplative compared to the tourist-thronged summer. You might see Viennese bundled in wool coats, their footsteps echoing on wet cobblestones after one of the month's occasional rainy days, perhaps stopping to admire the intricate facade of a Baroque church dusted with a morning frost. The sensory experience shifts from the floral scents of spring to the aroma of roasted chestnuts from a street vendor and the steady, comforting scent of old books and polished wood in the city's famed institutions. Planning a visit requires an understanding that the weather is variable; a day can dawn with clear, brittle sunshine and soften into a damp, misty evening, making layered clothing essential.
Amadeus Concerts at Ehrbarsaal - Viennas lesser-known place
entertainmentThe Amadeus Concerts at Ehrbarsaal offer an intimate musical encounter in a restored Art Nouveau hall, where the gilded stucco and crystal chandeliers seem to hold the sound of a string quartet within their curves. You will hear the precise, resonant notes of Mozart or Haydn in a space that feels both grand and personal, a world away from the vastness of the State Opera. The experience is often described as discovering a secret salon, where the music is not just performed but intimately shared.
This concert series provides a chamber music experience of exceptional clarity and warmth in one of Vienna's most acoustically refined small venues.
Insider tip: Arrive at least twenty minutes early to secure a seat with an unobstructed view of the intricate ceiling frescoes, which are best appreciated before the lights dim.
Private Tour to Wachau-Hallstatt-Salzburg
private_tourA Private Tour to Wachau-Hallstatt-Salzburg is a full-day journey through Austria's postcard landscapes, where you will see the Danube River winding past medieval towns and vineyards lying dormant under a December sky. The air inside the vehicle will feel welcome as you travel past frozen lakes and forests dusted with snow, with the possibility of stopping in Hallstatt to see its famous lakeside houses reflected in cold, still water. This tour transforms a long-distance itinerary into a smooth, personalized exploration.
It condenses three of Austria's most well-known regions into a single, privately guided day, offering flexibility and depth that group tours cannot match.
Insider tip: Request a stop at a specific viewpoint in the Wachau Valley, like the one near Spitz, for photographs of the Danube's gentle curves without the summer haze.
Private tour of historical Vienna with Jan
culturalThe Private tour of historical Vienna with Jan has a scholarly yet engaging walk through the city's layers, from Roman foundations to Habsburg grandeur. You will feel the uneven cobblestones of the old town underfoot and see the sun, low in the winter sky, catch the gold leaf on the Anker Clock. Your guide provides context that turns monuments into narratives, making the history of Vienna tangible.
This tour delivers a personalized and intellectually rich overview of Vienna's evolution, tailored to your interests and pace.
Insider tip: Ask your guide to point out the subtle bullet marks on certain buildings, a sobering detail from the 20th century often missed by passing glances.
Vienna Woods Wine Tour - Wines, Vines & Good Times!
foodThe Vienna Woods Wine Tour invites you to taste the region's wines in the cozy confines of traditional heurigen, where you will smell the scent of wood smoke from a stove and taste crisp, dry white wines like Gemischter Satz. The landscape you drive through is one of bare, twisted vines and quiet villages, a stark and beautiful contrast to the green bustle of the season in May or June.
It focuses on the convivial, rustic wine tavern culture of the Vienna Woods, offering a genuine taste of local life just beyond the city limits.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, warm shoes, as some visits may include a short walk through a vineyard to understand the terroir, even in its dormant winter state.
Private World War II Walking Tour in Vienna
walking_tourThe Private World War II Walking Tour in Vienna navigates the city's complex 20th-century history at street level, visiting sites like the monumental Flak Towers that loom over the parks. You will hear stories of resilience and conflict while feeling the imposing, cold concrete of these structures under your hand, a tangible reminder of a different era in Vienna.
It provides a focused, sobering, and expertly contextualized examination of Vienna's role and experience during the Second World War.
Insider tip: Bring a notebook. The density of information and specific addresses mentioned are worth recording for later reflection.
Taste and Tour Small Organic Wineries with a Winemaker
guided_experienceTaste and Tour Small Organic Wineries with a Winemaker takes you into the cellars and tasting rooms of producers committed to natural methods, where you might smell the earthy scent of fermenting grapes and taste unfiltered wines with a distinctive, lively character. The conversation with the vintner provides an authentic insight into the challenges and philosophies of Austrian winemaking.
This experience offers unprecedented access to the minds and cellars of boutique organic winemakers, far from the standard tourist path.
Insider tip: Inquire about the previous year's harvest; December is a time when winemakers are evaluating their young wines, and you may get a preview of unreleased bottles.
Where to Stay in Vienna in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
★★★★★
Luxury
Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna – A Leading Hotel of the World
From $440 / night
Check Prices on Trip.com →
December Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid November through December 24th
Vienna Christmas Markets (Wiener Christkindlmärkte)
This isn't one event but a constellation of over twenty markets that define the city from mid-November through Christmas Eve. Each has a different character: the Rathausplatz is the dazzling, crowded epicenter. The Spittelberg is the artsy, charming alternative. The one at Schönbrunn Palace has the imperial backdrop. The experience is multisensory: the sizzle of sausages, the sticky-sweet scent of candied peanuts (Erdäpfelpuffer), the feel of a hot ceramic mug of Glühwein in your gloved hands, and the sound of choir songs mixing with the chatter of a dozen languages.
December 31st
New Year's Eve Concert (Silvesterkonzert) at the Musikverein
The ultimate Viennese farewell to the year. Locals skip the televised New Year's Day concert and book the Silvesterkonzert on December 31st instead. Strauss and Mozart fill the golden Großer Saal with waltzing joy. It's a splurge, yes, but the room crackles with formality and champagne anticipation. The concert finishes minutes before midnight, releasing tailcoats and gowns into the cold to ring in the new year. Worth every euro.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Vienna Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The best Christkindlmarkt isn't advertised. Students and locals head to the Altes AKH, the old hospital campus. Smaller, cheaper, relaxed, with craft beers beside the mulled wine.
For a warm, quiet escape, slip into the Austrian National Library reading room inside the Hofburg. Baroque, heated, often empty. Ultimate indoor sanctuary.
Skip the Rathausplatz for Christmas souvenirs. Prices target tourists. For authentic ornaments, try the year-round shop at Schönbrunn or the tiny boutiques in Spittelberg during the market.
Want Lipizzaner stallions without the gala price? Book a morning training session at the Spanish Riding School. Same moves, lower cost, fascinatingly casual.
Avoid These Mistakes
Trying to cram every Christmas market into one evening. Choose two, maximum. The point is lingering, not collecting mug deposits. After two, the Glühwein blurs and your feet freeze.
Underestimating closing times. Museums and shops shut by 5 PM in winter. Short daylight shrinks your sightseeing window. Schedule indoor activities for late afternoon.
Eating only at market stalls. Sausages and pastries are fine, but you'll miss Vienna's depth. Reserve at a classic Beisl like Gasthaus Pfudl or Zu den 3 Hacken for a warming, historic meal.
Explore More Activities in Vienna
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Vienna.
See All Vienna Tours on Viator