Austria, Europe

Vienna in August

Many Viennese are away, some restaurants close for vacation, the big concert halls are quiet.

TradeoffsHot, highs near 79F (26C), little air conditioning

Schonbrunn Palace from the Neptune Fountain, Vienna — ViennaPhoto: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

August is a month of real tradeoffs in Vienna. Many Viennese are away, some restaurants close for vacation, the big concert halls are quiet.

Weather: Hot, highs near 79F (26C), little air conditioning
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What August is like in Vienna

August is hot, with highs near 79F (26C), and little air conditioning in older buildings. Many Viennese are away, some restaurants close for vacation, and the big concert halls are quiet. The Film Festival on Rathausplatz continues, and the palaces stay busy. Prices are high.

This month suits families who need summer travel and plan to spend afternoons at the Danube swimming areas. If music is the reason you want to come, go in September, when the opera reopens. Families should plan palace mornings, zoo visits, and swimming afternoons, and book a hotel with air conditioning, since heat is the real issue this month.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Vienna this month.

Outdoor film nights

The Rathausplatz Film Festival runs until late August with free screenings.

Swimming spots

The Old Danube is a local favorite for hot afternoons.

Schonbrunn Zoo

The oldest operating zoo in the world is a great family morning.

What to pack for August

Light clothes
Swimsuit
A small fan
Sunscreen

Our timing tip

Go to the palaces at opening and spend the hottest hours by the water.

Book Vienna for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Vienna
Opens a hotel search for Vienna in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Vienna
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Vienna
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Vienna for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Film Festival on Rathausplatz

Early July through late August

Free opera and concert films on a giant screen in front of City Hall, with food stalls. The best thing about summer Vienna.

Things to do in Vienna

Full guide

Schonbrunn Palace

Book a timed palace tour online and go at opening or late afternoon. The gardens and the Gloriette hill are free and best early.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Kunsthistorisches Museum

Bruegel room first, then the cafe under the dome. Thursday evenings run late in most seasons.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Belvedere

Klimt's The Kiss is in the Upper Belvedere. The first hour is the only calm hour in summer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Vienna State Opera

Standing-room tickets go on sale shortly before each performance; the season runs roughly September to June.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Hofburg and the Sisi Museum

The imperial apartments, the silver collection, and the Sisi Museum share one ticket. Pair it with the Spanish Riding School's morning exercise.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Climb the south tower stairs or take the lift up the north tower for the Pummerin bell and the tiled roof.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Hit Schonbrunn at opening or in the last ninety minutes. Tour buses arrive mid morning and leave by late afternoon.
Buy a Wiener Linien pass for 24 to 72 hours and stay outside the Ring in the 7th or 8th districts: calmer mornings, better neighborhood cafes, five minutes by tram.
Book Belvedere and Schonbrunn timed tickets online in summer and December. From January to March you can walk up.
For opera on a budget, line up for standing room rather than buying resale. It is how students and locals go.

Know before you go

The State Opera and the big concert halls take a summer break, roughly July and August. If music is the point, do not go in high summer.
Many museums close one day a week, often Monday; some, including the Kunsthistorisches, open daily in summer. Check before building a Monday itinerary.
Sundays are genuinely quiet: most shops close by law. Museums, cafes, and restaurants stay open.
Heuriger taverns keep seasonal and rotating opening days; some close in winter. Check a specific tavern's calendar before heading out to the vineyards.