Summer in Vienna: Things to do & places to be

01

Sightseeing

From St Stephen's Cathedral to Schönbrunn, from Parliament to the Giant Ferris Wheel. The capital is home to world-class icons. Summer is the perfect time to admire them. Many of the world-famous buildings can be found in the historic city center of Vienna and are wonderful to discover in July or August on a leisurely stroll through the city.

Start at the Hotel Kaiserhof, marvel at the Karlskirche and stroll along the Ringstrasse towards Stephansplatz. On your way, you will come across architectural highlights, spanning monarchy and modernity.

02

Museums & exhibitions

Vienna's museums have always been inspiring. They are dedicated to both history and modernity, the sciences and fine arts, the city and its people. From the magnificent duo of the natural and art-historical museum on the Ring to the vibrant MuseumsQuartier and the Albertina.

Vienna's museum landscape is as diverse as the city's visitors. In addition to permanent exhibitions, Vienna's museum curators regularly introduce exciting new exhibitions to the city.

03

Music & festivals

In summer, Vienna is the venue for Europe's largest open-air festival. Every year, several hundred thousand visitors visit the Danube Island to experience national and international pop musicians, cabaret artists, sports and cultural events at the Danube Island Festival. The less commercial counterpart is the Popfest, which brings promising and established musicians to the stage on Karlsplatz in July.

For several weeks in May and June, the Vienna Festival takes theatre, opera and dance productions from Austria and around the world to Vienna.

And if you are looking for things to do in Vienna in July and August, we recommend the film festival on Rathausplatz, celebrating operas, operettas and concerts ranging from pop to jazz with open-air film screenings. Accompanied by a great Austrian and international cuisine, of course.

Additionally and all throughout summer, Vienna hosts Theatre in the Park, inviting well-known cabaret artists and musicians to an open-air stage next to the Belvedere.

04

Green Vienna

The capital, with its green parks and open spaces invites you to go for walks and enjoy the sun. Danube Island, Schönbrunn, Stadtpark and Volksgarten are just some of the spots that offer quiet, relaxing hours in Vienna. For a slow summer far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. They are also wonderful places to go for a morning jog.

The famous Vienna Central Cemetery, which was the subject of a hit song by Austropop legend Wolfgang Ambros in 1975, is an extraordinary highlight for visitors. Covering almost two and a half square kilometers, the cemetery is one of the largest in Europe. Around 330,000 graves take you back to the history of the city. Ludwig van Beethoven, Falco, Udo Jürgens, Arthur Schnitzler, Friedrich Torberg and Jochen Rindt, among others, rest here.

01

Markets

Vienna's markets offer culinary delights that go far beyond the country's borders. Not just for shopping, but also for savoring a breakfast or snack right then and there.

The Naschmarkt, which is just an eight-minute walk from Hotel Kaiserhof, is a hotspot that brings flavors from all over the world to Vienna. The Brunnenmarkt, Europe’s longest running permanent street market, is similarly international. It offers regional products as well as many Far Eastern specialties – earning the Brunnenmarkt its nickname “Orient around the corner”. In the Servitenviertel neighborhood, it is not only the market of the same name that is a culinary highlight. The neighborhood in the 9th district has many more indulgences to offer. The former flower market on Rochusplatz has now developed into one of Vienna's best quality food markets.

02

Restaurants & pubs

Vienna's pub culture is as rich as the city's history and as diverse as its population. Traditional cuisine is just as much at home in pubs as in award-winning restaurants.

Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz and Sachertorte are among the most famous dishes. You can enjoy these at Gasthaus Ubl or Gasthaus Wolf, for example, both just a few minutes from the Kaiserhof. In these pubs, the ambience and menu go hand in hand perfectly. Meanwhile, restaurants such as the 3-Michelin-star Steirereck and the iconic Plachutta rank among the city's fine-dining establishments.

You can also experience typical Vienna by stopping by a sausage stand, which can be found on many street corners. Enjoy an authentic snack on the go, for example after visiting a theatre or opera performance.

After all, Vienna is also an international metropolis where dishes from all over the world are served. The cuisines range from Italian to Japanese, from French to Oriental.

03

Under the sun

In summer, drinks taste best outdoors. Countless guest gardens – known locally as “Schanigarten“ – in the alleyways and the tranquil courtyards of the city are the places to be. Other favorite spots for that special summer feeling on your holiday in Vienna are, for example, the Strandbar Hermann and the Summerstage on the Danube Canal, the Vienna City Beach Club and the Wake Up on the New Danube.

Also an experience: the Heurigen, Austrians wine taverns, in the countryside on the outskirts of the city. Neustift, Nussdorf, Sievering and Grinzing are the best-known addresses for a sunny afternoon in the Heurigen with Viennese wine. And the excellent selection is as broad as the views.

04

Coffee house culture

Coffee has a long tradition in Vienna. So much so that UNESCO recognized the Viennese coffee house culture as an intangible cultural heritage in 2011. Its roots lie in the 17th century and its importance for the city can hardly be overestimated. Numerous establishments are closely linked to Vienna's art, literature and music scene. These traditional coffee houses still characterize the cityscape today with their charm and social significance.

The best-known establishments include Café Hawelka, sung about by Georg Danzer, Kaffee Alt Wien and Café Central, Imperial and Schwarzenberg, Sacher and Café Landtmann. The oldest coffee houses still in existence today include Café Frauenhuber (opened in 1824) and Café Demel (1786).

05

Ice cream bliss

Vienna is known for many things. However, Vienna as an ice cream city is still something of an insider tip. Yet ice cream has a long tradition in the capital. Ice-cream makers came to the city from Italy as early as the 19th century. The ice cream parlor on Schwedenplatz opened its doors in 1886 and still serves pure bliss in a scoop today. The name Tichy has also become an institution, opening its first parlor on Reumannplatz in the 1950s. Make sure to try the famous Eismarillenknödel – a delicious cold ode to the Austrian apricot dumpling – made from vanilla ice cream, an apricot filling and rolled in roasted hazelnuts.

Over 150 ice cream parlors provide refreshing treats in Vienna in summer and are a must in July and August. From classic Italian gelato to very modern creations that may surprise some.