Best time to visit Vienna
Best month: May (Wiener Festwochen, gardens in bloom) or October (cooler autumn, lowest flight fares). Cheapest flights: January/February from around 70 euros return. Christmas markets: late November to 24 December. Avoid: Christmas holiday (19 Dec - 3 Jan 2027), New Year's Eve and July-August (heat 30-35 degrees, little air conditioning).
Vienna is worth visiting all year round, but choosing the right or wrong month can mean a difference of 200 euros on flights and 40 percent on hotels. May and October are the peak times: a pleasant climate, no extremes and lower rates than the summer peak. December is magical thanks to Europe's finest Christmas markets. Updated 9 September 2026.
✈️ Plan your trip to Vienna →Vienna welcomes over 17 million visitors each year, but the spread throughout the year is uneven. The top 3 busiest periods are the Christmas market weeks (November-December), the Easter weekend and the summer peak (July-August).
Travelling outside these peaks saves you considerably and lets you experience the city at its quietest. Also read the full Vienna travel guide and compare Vienna with Prague or our Vienna vs Prague comparison page.
At a glance: climate and travel tips by season
January and February
The cheapest months: Ryanair EIN-VIE return from around 58 euros, KLM/Austrian AMS-VIE from around 70 euros return. Hotels 30 to 40 percent cheaper than the summer peak. Temperatures: 1 to 4 degrees by day, down to -4 degrees at night.
Very few tourists, museums are quiet. Ideal for exploring the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Belvedere without queues. Tip: the Kunsthistorisches Museum is free on the first Sunday of each month.
May and early June
May is the best month for Vienna. The Schonbrunn and Belvedere gardens are in full bloom. The Wiener Festwochen (international music and theatre, all May) gives the city extra allure. Climate: 20 degrees average, rarely above 25 degrees. Terraces full but not yet summer crowds. Return prices: 120 to 200 euros. Book hotels 6 to 8 weeks in advance.
July and August
Highest temperatures (25 to 35 degrees) but also the most discomfort: historic hotels and museums have almost no air conditioning. Flights and hotels are 40 to 60 percent more expensive than in low season. One advantage: long evenings and many outdoor terraces. If you do go in summer: visit Schonbrunn early in the morning and spend afternoons at the Staatsoper or in a museum.
September and October
September is the finest late summer month: still 20 degrees average, autumn colours in the Wienerwald begin in October. October is the cheapest month for the AMS-VIE route (KLM and Austrian Airlines): return from around 90 to 140 euros.
Watch out for Dutch autumn school holidays: North 10 to 18 October, Central and South 17 to 25 October 2026. Slightly busier but not extreme. Wien Modern music festival runs in November.
November and December: Christmas markets
The Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz (late November to 24 December) is one of Europe's most beautiful Christmas markets: free entry, hundreds of stalls with Gluhwein (mulled wine, 4 to 5 euros) and handcrafted gifts. The Schonbrunner Christkindlmarkt and the Spittelberg Weihnachtsmarkt are also very atmospheric.
Downside: this is the most expensive season. Flights 50 to 80 percent more than low season, hotels fully booked or extremely expensive. The Christmas holiday (19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) is the absolute peak: book 3 to 4 months ahead or avoid. New Year's Eve (Silvesterpfad) draws hundreds of thousands of people: the busiest night of the year.
Flights from the Netherlands to Vienna
From Eindhoven: Ryanair flies from Eindhoven Airport (EIN) to Vienna Schwechat (VIE) in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. Frequency is limited to roughly 1 to 2 times per week. Return prices start at around 58 to 106 euros in low season. Always check the Ryanair website for Eindhoven route availability on your specific travel dates.
From Amsterdam Schiphol: KLM and Austrian Airlines fly multiple times daily from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Vienna in approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. October is the cheapest month for this route: return from around 90 to 140 euros.
In the summer peak (July-August) this rises to 150 to 280 euros. Always compare both airports: Ryanair from Eindhoven can be 30 to 50 percent cheaper than AMS-VIE on the same date.
Best month by goal: sunshine, price or events?
- Best month for sun and warmth July (max 25 degrees, 8 sunshine hours per day). Busiest and most expensive, but the longest days. Try early Schonbrunn visits and shady parks like the Wienerwald on a Heurigen walk.
- Best month for price and quiet visit October: lower flight prices from AMS, fewer tourists than the summer peak, autumn colour spectacle. January/February for the absolute lowest prices but grey weather.
- Best month for events May (Wiener Festwochen, all of May): international music and theatre productions, partly free outdoor programme. December (Christmas markets). February: Wiener Opernball (most expensive evening of the opera season, tickets from 350 euros, but watching from outside is free).
- Best month for families April and May: Ostermarkt (Easter market at Schonbrunn, free entry), Prater amusement park (free entry, attractions paid separately), Schonbrunn Zoo. September-October also good: lower temperatures, quieter museums.
- Best month for day trips May to September: day trips to Klosterneuburg (monastery, 30 minutes), Krems and the Wachau wine valley (train approx. 1 hour), Bratislava (train 1 hour, boat possible) and Salzburg (train 2 hours 30 minutes).
School holidays and crowds: when to avoid?
Vienna's busiest periods coincide with European school holidays. For Dutch travellers the following dates apply in 2026-2027:
- Dutch autumn holiday: North region 10 to 18 October 2026, Central and South regions 17 to 25 October 2026. Vienna slightly busier than normal but certainly not a peak.
- Dutch Christmas holiday: 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (all of the Netherlands). This is the most expensive period by far: flights and hotels up to 80 percent more expensive. Book well in advance or avoid.
- Also avoid: New Year's Eve (Silvesterpfad, 31 December) and the first week of January (Neujahrskonzert tourists). Easter week draws extra visitors but is less extreme than in Rome or Paris.
Month-by-month overview: price, crowds and climate
Indicative overview of return prices from the Netherlands (Eindhoven or Amsterdam) to Vienna, typical crowds and climate. Prices are indicative when booked 6 to 10 weeks in advance, economy class.
| Month | Return price | Crowds | Climate (max/min) | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | from 70-110 euros | Low | 1 / -4 degrees | Cheapest, quiet, cold |
| February | from 80-120 euros | Low | 4 / -2 degrees | Cheap, Opernball atmosphere |
| March | 100-160 euros | Low-moderate | 9 / 1 degrees | Spring arriving |
| April | 110-180 euros | Moderate | 15 / 5 degrees | Easter market, city in bloom |
| May | 120-200 euros | Moderate | 20 / 9 degrees | Best overall month |
| June | 130-220 euros | High | 22 / 12 degrees | Sunny, afternoon showers |
| July | 150-280 euros | Very high | 25 / 14 degrees | Hottest, busiest, little a/c |
| August | 140-260 euros | Very high | 24 / 14 degrees | Hot, busy |
| September | 120-200 euros | High-moderate | 20 / 11 degrees | Beautiful late summer |
| October | from 90-140 euros | Moderate | 14 / 6 degrees | Cheapest from AMS, autumn |
| November | 100-160 euros | Moderate (Christmas market) | 7 / 2 degrees | Christmas markets begin |
| December | 140-300 euros | High (Christmas holiday: extreme) | 3 / -2 degrees | Magical but expensive |
Conclusion: The cheapest time to fly to Vienna from Eindhoven is January and February (Ryanair from around 58-80 euros return, KLM/Austrian from around 70-110 euros). Those wanting the best climate at reasonable prices choose May (120-200 euros) or October (90-140 euros). December is magical but expect to pay double the low season price.
More Vienna and Austria guides
Everything you need for a trip to Vienna:
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Frequently asked questions about the best time to visit Vienna
When is the best time to visit Vienna?
May is the single best month: the Wiener Festwochen festival (all of May) fills the city with music and theatre, the Schonbrunn gardens are in full bloom, and the climate is pleasantly warm at 20 degrees average. October is the best autumn month: 14 degrees average, autumn colours in the Wienerwald, fewer tourists than the summer peak and the lowest flight fares from Amsterdam. December is magical thanks to the Christkindlmarkt in front of the Rathaus, one of Europe's finest Christmas markets.
When are the Christmas markets in Vienna?
Vienna's Christmas markets open in late November and close on 24 December. The largest and most famous is the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz (early November to 24 December). The Schonbrunner Christkindlmarkt (mid-November to 26 December), the Spittelberg Weihnachtsmarkt (most romantic atmosphere) and the Christmas market on Karlsplatz are also excellent. Entry is free. Book hotels early: December is the most expensive and busiest month.
Can I fly direct from Eindhoven to Vienna?
Yes. Ryanair flies from Eindhoven Airport (EIN) to Vienna Schwechat (VIE) in approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. Frequency is limited to roughly 1 to 2 times per week. From Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), KLM and Austrian Airlines fly to Vienna multiple times daily in about 1 hour 50 minutes. Always compare both airports: the Ryanair flight from Eindhoven can be 30 to 50 percent cheaper than the AMS-VIE route on the same date.
When is Vienna cheapest to visit?
January and February are the cheapest months: return tickets from the Netherlands start at around 70 to 110 euros (Ryanair EIN-VIE from around 58 euros return). October is the cheapest month for the AMS-VIE route (KLM and Austrian Airlines), with return prices starting at around 90 to 140 euros. Avoid the Christmas holiday period (19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027): flights and hotels are 40 to 60 percent more expensive.
Which weeks should I avoid in Vienna?
Avoid the Christmas holiday (19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027) if you want cheap prices: hotel rates double and flights are scarce. New Year's Eve (Silvesterpfad) is the busiest night of the year with hundreds of thousands of people on the streets and extremely high prices. July and August are the hottest months (25 to 35 degrees) with little air conditioning in historic hotels. The Dutch autumn school holiday (North: 10 to 18 October, Central and South: 17 to 25 October 2026) makes Vienna slightly busier but not extreme.
What free attractions are there in Vienna?
Vienna offers surprisingly many free attractions: the Burggarten and Stadtpark (with the golden Johann Strauss statue) are free. The Naschmarkt (delicatessen market, Saturday flea market) is free to browse. Schonbrunn: the palace gardens are free (only the palace itself costs an entrance fee). The Kunsthistorisches Museum (normally 21 euros) is free on the first Sunday of each month. The Nationalbibliothek Prunksaal (one of the world's most beautiful libraries, normally 10 euros). Entering the nave of St Stephen's Cathedral (Stephansdom) is free; the tower and catacombs are paid.