The Best Time to Visit Austria

With green valleys of wildflowers, clear views of the Alps, and much more, summers in Austria boast of dazzling sights all around, while the winters bring abundant snowfall and of course, the ski season. A perfect holiday destination for the entire year, the best time of the year to go to Austria should be chosen based on your plans and preferences.

When Should You Visit Austria?

Austria is a four-season destination where you can enjoy an amazing vacation during any month of the year. However, you must have some idea of the kind of holiday you want to enjoy, whether you want to be at one with nature or if you are looking for outdoor activities, like hiking, trekking, swimming, etc. The best time of the year to visit Austria will depend completely on your plans and itinerary.

• Spring in Austria
• Summers in Austria
• Autumn in Austria
• Winters in Austria
• The Best Time to Go to Austria for the Music Festivals
• The Best Time to Go to Austria for Smaller Crowds
• The Best Time of the Year to Go to Austria for Good Weather
• The Best Time to Go to Austria for Its Popular Destinations

Spring in Austria

Austria experiences a short spring season that barely lasts for two months – April and May. This may not be the best season to visit Austria for those who wish to explore the country, as it can get rather cold during spring, with temperatures around 10-15 degrees Celsius in the cities and even lower in the mountains. However, the spring season can be the best time to go to Austria for outdoor aficionados, as it is a good time to head to the mountains to picnic at lakesides and explore the mountain communities. Your Austria tour itinerary for spring can cover the Lienz Dolomites, the Long Törlweg climb, the Steiermark Frühling festival (April), and the major cultural festival, Donaukanaltreiben (May), which is held along the Danube Canal.

Summers in Austria

The summer season, lasting from June to August, is the high season and is generally considered to be the best season to visit Austria. During the summers, temperatures typically range around low to mid-20 degrees Celsius, the skies stay blue, and the air is permeated with the smell of blooming knolls. As summer is the best time of the year to visit Austria, you can expect to see huge numbers of tourists everywhere. Summer also has a lot of daylight, as well as crisp, fresh nights, perfect for exploring the towns on foot. The summer season also brings amazing opportunities to photograph the Austrian Alps, given the magnificent permeability. This is the swimming season in Austria, perfect for visiting mountain lakes, trekking across the Dolomites and the Alps, enjoying walking holidays, and doing much more.

Autumn in Austria

The autumn season in Austria starts in September and lasts till November, bringing a crisp but not too cold weather with it. Temperatures are similar to those during the spring season, but while spring may be unpredictable and a bit stormy, autumn tends to be drier, with clear skies. Autumn is the best season to visit Austria if you want to enjoy the splendid hues of brown and golden yellow through the UNESCO Cultural Landscape, the Wachau Wine Region of Austria. This is also the best time to visit Salzkammergut, where the conifers, beech, maple, birch, and oak trees turn into shades of red, yellow, green, gold and orange. This is also the best time of the year to go to Austria to enjoy the Glühmos or warm apple cider and to enjoy the amazing, hearty seasonal cuisine of the country.

Winters in Austria

Winters start in November, which, more than an autumn month, is a pre-winter month, and lasts up until March. Winters are the best time to go to Austria for a skiing holiday, as the country is considered to be one of the top skiing destinations in Europe. If you are planning to stick to urban areas and cities in Austria, winter is a great time to get deals on accommodation. Austria experiences plenty of snowfall due to its proximity to the Alps. Towards the months of January and February, the Alps become a playground for those who want to enjoy winter sports. Winter is the best season to visit Austria if you are looking for lower prices and sparse crowds.

The Best Time to Go to Austria for the Music Festivals

Austria hosts a number of music festivals throughout the year. However, you can choose the best month to visit Austria based on the festival that you want to attend. The Salzburg Festival, for instance, transforms the entire city into a stage throughout July and August, which is also when the Lehár Festival takes place in Bad Ischl and is the largest operetta festival in the country. The Wiener Fest Wochen, also called Vienna Festival Weeks, is held in May and June. The summers also have the Bregenz FestSpiele on the waters of Lake Constance. Visiting in July and August will allow you to attend the Carinthian Summer Music Festival, while you can attend the Donau Festival in April at Krems. You can look into some other music festivals and what they entail to finalise the best month to visit Austria.

The Best Time to Go to Austria for Smaller Crowds

The best time of the year to visit Austria for smaller crowds is during the shoulder months of April, early May, September, and October. The main cities tend to be at their busiest from May to September. However, the crowds are not so much of a big deal in Vienna, as compared to other cities, which you will be able to notice especially while museum hopping. The Kunshistorisches Museum, the Belvedere, or the Albertina in Vienna are quite less hectic to explore or overcrowded when compared to other cultural institutions in Austria.

The Best Time of the Year to Go to Austria for Good Weather

The definition of ‘good weather’ is quite subjective in Austria, as it depends on what you plan to do once there. For those interested in winter sports, like skiing, or in exploring the street markets, the best time of the year to travel to Austria will be during the winter season. For those who prefer the warm weather, the best time of the year to go to Austria will be from June to August. The summers are also good for outdoor pools, visiting tourist spots like Prater Park, and biking and hiking in the mountains. If you plan to exclusively visit the cities, the best time to visit Austria will be during the spring or autumn season, when the heat is bearable.

The Best Time to Go to Austria for Its Popular Destinations

If you plan to head to one of the popular cities of Austria, you must choose the best time to go to Austria based on your destinations.

• The Best Time to Visit Vienna: Vienna can be visited throughout the year. However, unless you have a specific reason to plan a summer trip, autumn or spring is the best time to visit Vienna to avoid the high season. Austrian balls where you dance the waltz are held from November to February.
• The Best Time to Visit Salzburg: The best time of the year to travel to Austria to visit Salzburg is pre-winter. During the late summer, September is considered to be the best month to visit Austria for Salzburg’s blossoms and greenery.
• The Best Time to Visit Hallstatt: Though visited throughout the year, the best time of the year to go to Austria to explore Hallstatt without huge crowds and long queues is from March to May.
• The Best Time to Visit the Austria Alps: While the entire winter season is great for winter sports in the Alps, December is generally known for exorbitant costs, making January the best month to visit Austria for skiing and other winter activities.

Austria has a lot of experiences to offer, so you don’t have to worry about when you book your trip to the country. However, putting in some research into what you want to do in Austria can go a long way in helping you plan the perfect vacation.