The whole city is lit up in Christmas lights, the Advent markets smell of chestnuts and punch, couples skate on the ice rink in front of Rathausplatz and the occasional snowflake falls from the sky: welcome to Viennese winter! We love the city even in the fourth season and show you what you can do now in addition to the classic tourist attractions. It's best to grab a Vienna Welcome Card before your visit, as it gives you lots of discounts on admission, food and mobility in Vienna. 

Lainzer Tiergarten

The Lainzer Tiergarten is an idyllic spot on the western outskirts of Vienna and was once the hunting grounds of the Habsburgs. Wild flora and fauna await you on an impressive 2,450 hectare site alongside winding footpaths. Deer graze on extensive fenced meadows, while hares, weasels and squirrels frolic happily through the bushes. In the middle of this sprawling wilderness, Emperor Franz Joseph had the fairytale-like Hermesvilla built for Empress Sisi - supposedly in the hope of being able to keep his travelling wife in Vienna more often with the pretty property. We don't know whether he succeeded, but we are definitely mesmerised by the villa every time we visit. In winter, the Lainzer Tiergarten is particularly quiet and if you want to warm up in between, you will find all kinds of delicacies in the Hermesvilla refreshment centre.

Our tips for your visit: The best way to get here is to take public transport to the Nikolaitor and start your walk from there. But beware: the area closes at 5 pm in the winter months. And dogs are not allowed here to protect the wildlife.

Baking course in Vollpension

When the temperatures outside start to drop, it's time to heat things up inside - not just with radiators, but also in the oven. If your vanilla crescents fall apart on the baking tray every year and the rum balls roll around a little too cheerfully, you might want to consider taking a specialised course. And who better to learn how to make wholesome baked goods than grandma and grandpa? At the Vollpension baking academy, you can not only look forward to various courses on traditional Viennese pastries such as Sachertorte and apple strudel, but also workshops on Christmas biscuits. We highly recommend this fun winter activity - and with the Vienna Welcome Card you even get a 20 per cent discount on your booking.

Museums and exhibitions

Vienna is world-famous for its many museums, but some hidden gems are often overlooked. Especially in winter, it's fun to go on an indoor journey to bygone times or imaginative parallel worlds. In the Museum of Illusions, your senses are put to the test with optical illusions and soon you won't know which way is up and which way is down - literally. The newly opened immersive experience Ikono, where various interactive stations invite you to experiment and dream, is also particularly exciting. With the Vienna Welcome Card, you can also enjoy discounts there. If you are interested in history, the Museum of Military History offers impressive insights into Austrian military history off the beaten track. Fancy a bit of scurrility? Then head to the somewhat creepy but extremely interesting pathological-anatomical collection in the Narrenturm.

Burggasse 24

What screams winter cosiness more than a crackling fireplace? You'll find it at Café Burggasse 24, which also houses a wonderful second-hand shop. The ambience is almost too cosy to be true: vintage furniture, candlelight, lush plants and the fireplace make it so cosy that it's hard to say goodbye to the cold again. Culinary delights are also served from morning to night, including unusual breakfast combinations. We especially like to spend cold winter days at Burggasse 24 because it's really fun to browse through the second-hand items in the shop over a Melange and cake. 

Liechtenstein Garden Palace Advent Market

In the centre of the 9th district, the charming Liechtenstein Park enchants visitors with its small pond and ancient trees. The finely laid out footpaths with their light-coloured pebbles give the small park a particularly fine touch, and you can also linger for a while on the park benches. Due to its manageable size, it is not suitable for long walks: the park can be crossed within ten minutes. In winter, however, you can still take a longer visit, as there is a charming little Christmas market with a merry-go-round right in front of the majestic palace. Looking for more Christmas markets away from the hustle and bustle? In the 9th district, you will also find the enchanting Christmas village in the Old General Hospital. And the Christmas market in the beautiful Türkenschanzpark in the 18th district is particularly relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Austrian film productions

Who wants to waste time at the cinema when visiting a city? You might well ask - if it weren't for the many small arthouse cinemas that brighten up many a grey winter evening with an Austrian production. In addition to two cinema screens, TOP Kino also has a kitchen and bar, and on Sundays you can treat yourself to a breakfast film including brunch in the morning. The schikaneder cinema almost looks like a hip Berlin club when you enter and sometimes shows more extravagant productions. With its impressive large screen and 736 seats, it is the last large single-screen cinema in Vienna's city centre: the Gartenbaukino is the focal point of the annual Viennale and is probably the best-known arthouse cinema in Vienna. We think: Hardly any other activity is as cosy as going to the cinema in winter and you are guaranteed not to see any American blockbusters in the many other arthouse cinemas, but can really soak up the Viennese flair in the old auditoriums.

If you are travelling in Vienna in winter, a visit to the city's most beautiful Christmas markets is a must. And because you still get looked at like a UFO here and there in Austria if you want to order a meal without meat, we have collected restaurants with a vegetarian menu.