Autumn in Vienna is peaceful. So much so that the multitude of season-specific activities that make it, probably, the busiest season of all, come naturally and at a leisurely pace.
While locals are busy getting their calendars full of the last sunshine rays, the first new wines, and that awesome concert/exhibition – visitors have the perfect opportunity to mingle unnoticed and enjoy. This is a local’s rundown of the best things to do in Austria’s capital in autumn. It stems from the author’s firm conviction that autumn in Vienna is a perfectly magical place to be!
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Autumn in Vienna – insider’s tips from Vienna, Book, and Travel
Towards the end of August, the sky above Vienna fades into distinct shades of blue, unseen in the peak of summer. It is then, before the first leaf turns yellow, that we locals know autumn is upon us. In the following days, chestnut trees begin their dance of ferruginous leaves and ripe fruit on the alleys, followed in closely by other trees acquiring golden patches in preparation for the final waltz. We join in, looking into all those magical activities one can do to enjoy autumn in Vienna.
For the connoisseurs, there’s a whole lot of season-specific activities that make autumn in Vienna a perfectly magical place to be. Arguably, this might indeed be the best time to visit Vienna.
Speaking of which, we recommend the month of September for those wishing to experience an Indian summer in Vienna. Some nice events like the wine wanderings take place early in the season.
For hardcore autumn in Vienna and foliage at its best, the second half of October is the best time. But prepare to endure some windy or colder days in the process!
An interesting fact is that the frequency of moving in/within/out of Vienna is the highest during the autumn months. If you need this kind of service and you don’t know German, don’t worry! The best moving companies in Vienna hide under the keyword ”Umzugsfirma Wien”.
As locals and residents of Vienna since 2008, we have a plethora of resources to support you in spending an amazing autumn in Vienna. Here are some of them:
Autumn in Vienna – check out these additional resources from Vienna, Book, and Travel
our full neighborhood guide on WHERE TO STAY IN VIENNA
our 3 DAYS IN VIENNA ITINERARY
our autumn in Vienna best kept secret – 1 SUNDAY IN VIENNA ITINERARY
our curated list of the BEST SIGHTSEEING TOURS OF VIENNA
Booklovers’ autumn in Vienna
Autumn in Vienna is a booklover’s dream, where the crisp air invites leisurely exploration of the city’s literary gems. For inspiration, check out our list of the best books set in/about Vienna.
Begin your day at Thalia on Landstrasse or Schottentor, where you can lose yourself among endless shelves of new releases and timeless classics. Afterward, take a stroll on the Ringstrasse to the unique Literature Museum, where Austria’s rich literary heritage comes to life, offering an inspiring pause in your bookish adventure.
For lunch, head to *phil*, a vibrant café and bookstore where you can enjoy a delicious meal amidst eclectic furnishings and second-hand books, blending the best of culinary and literary worlds. Once recharged, stroll to the Austrian National Library, a stunning Baroque marvel housing millions of volumes. The grandeur of its State Hall, with its frescoed ceilings and towering bookcases, is sure to impress any bibliophile.
Next, make your way to the charming Shakespeare and Company bookstore, a cozy hideaway for bookworms tucked into the heart of the city. Its well-curated selection of English-language books provides a perfect contrast to the grandiosity of the National Library.
As evening falls, head to *Pickwick’s* for drinks, where the warm, inviting atmosphere makes it the ideal spot to end your literary journey. Surrounded by books, music, and Viennese flair, it’s the perfect close to a day dedicated to reading and relaxation.
Choosing a coffee house to go with one’s book is no easy feat in Vienna, and for this we have prepared a guide to coffeehouses in Vienna (coming soon). But do not hesitate to go on reading in one of the city’s many parks, such as the Volksgarten, Burggarten, or Stadtpark!
Autumn in Vienna – museums
Autumn is the best season to visit Vienna if you want to immerse yourself in the city’s cultural scene and world-class museums. The majority of Viennese museums kick off the new season with special exhibitions, so it is always advisable to check out their websites beforehand.
Here is a rundown of the city’s most popular venues:
- the Albertina – famous graphical collection, very impressive temporary exhibitions, as well as a collection of Modern masterpieces from Monet to Picasso, all displayed in the setting of the staterooms of the Hofburg Palace
- Albertina Modern – Albertina’s younger sibling focusing on modern art
- the Kunsthistorischesmuseum (Art History Museum) -masterpieces by artists such as Bruegel, Rubens, and Titian. The museum’s magnificent architecture and vast collection span ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, as well as Renaissance and Baroque treasures.
- Naturhistorischesmuseum (Natural History Museum) -impressive collections, from dinosaur skeletons and meteorites to rare minerals and prehistoric artifacts, including the famed Venus of Willendorf.
- the Museums Quarter – complex of modern art museums such as the Leopold Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Kunsthalle, as well as a lively meeting point with restaurants, cafés, and bars
- the Belvedere – imposing Baroque palace, hosting the world-famous Klimt collection, as well as noteworthy works of art from the Middle Ages, through the Baroque, to the Modern times
If you want to get a feeling for the variety of options available, the Long Night of the Museums at the beginning of October is usually a good place to start.
Autumn in Vienna – concerts
Vienna’s classical music tradition is renowned worldwide, making the city a hub for music lovers and scholars alike. As the birthplace and workplace of legendary composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and Schubert, Vienna has a rich musical heritage that is deeply ingrained in its culture. Key locations that define this tradition include the prestigious Vienna State Opera, where some of the most iconic operatic performances take place, and the Musikverein, home to the famed Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the renowned annual New Year’s Concert.
The Vienna Konzerthaus also serves as a significant venue for both classical and contemporary music performances. The newly renovated Theater an der Wien provides modern reinterpretations of opera classics, while St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn Palace often host concerts that reflect the city’s deep connection to classical music.
All major concert houses in Vienna open during autumn after the summer break, providing a varied repertoire and new stagings. It’s the perfect time to book a concert as part of your autumn in Vienna itinerary.
Musical lovers will not want to miss a performance at the Ronacher or the Raimund Theater, while jazz aficionados should check out what’s what at Porgy and Bess.
The good news – tickets for all types of performances can still be purchased from the websites of the providers. We are happy to help with that – just drop us a line or let us know in the comments below!
Theater lovers will not be disappointed either. Vienna’s English Theater always starts the season in force while the Burgtheater and collaborating locations across the city stage a large spectrum of plays, from Euripides to Ionesco.
Autumn in Vienna – films
One of the things I love about summer in Vienna is the multitude of outdoor cinema locations. As soon as September starts, however, all that moves inside so you need a good guide to navigate through the options. Be it the English language movie theaters such as Burgkino or Cinema Haydn, the Film Museum, or the international film festival Viennale – there’s something for every cinephile’s taste on offer. Make sure to keep your eyes open.
For die-hard Vienna fans, the Burgkino has regular screenings of The Third Man, which are a must if you haven’t seen the movie yet. Additionally, a visit to the Third Man Museum and/or participation in one of their Cold War Vienna tours is are great ways to learn about this facet of Viennese history.
Foodie’s autumn in Vienna
Autumn in Vienna – wine
Vienna is the only capital city with significant winemaking operations within its limits. The most famous of the winemaking neighborhoods on its outskirts is called Grinzing. You will find here countless wine taverns (called Heuriger) where you can taste the new wine (also called Heuriger), the wine that is in the making (Sturm – with a 4% alcohol concentration), or have a grape juice (Traubenmost) while enjoying a home-cooked dinner and live music. This is the most comprehensive guide to the Heuriger that we could find.
The Vienna Wine Hiking Days/Weekend, held every year, gives guests the opportunity to spend a day among vineyards sampling the products and talking to the producers. This is an event not to be missed for anyone who aims to enjoy autumn in Vienna to the maximum.
A similar event are the Sturmische Tage in Stammersdorf where the kellergasse (wine caves street) in Stammersdorf receives visitors with the new wine and a lot of good cheer.
Autumn in Vienna – special dishes
Autumn is by default Kurbis (pumpkin), Maroni (chestnuts), and Zwetschgen (plums) time in Austria. The country’s cuisine is seasonal for the delight of locals and visitors alike. While the signature Kurbiskernoel (pumpkin seed oil) is a great gourmet souvenir to take along, do not hesitate to taste anything with the word Kurbis in it while here – from soup to pastries. Except for the pumpkin spice lattes – I’d put the breaks on those in the capital of traditional coffee culture.
As long as that’s settled and you decide to listen to our advice and not wait in line at Sacher for the homonymous famous cake, we suggest you head off to one of the branches of K.u.K. Café-Konditorei L. Heiner or Kurkonditorei Oberlaa, the best providers of freshly made seasonal pastries in the city.
Autumn in Vienna – thematic festivals and day trips ideas
Wiener Wiesen Fest (click for link)
The local alternative to the Oktoberfest takes place in the Vienna Prater in front of the Giant Ferris Wheel. Traditional costumes, live music, beer, good food, and good cheer all await for you there! Mark your calendars!
Vienna Coffee Festival (click for link)
Although not strictly season-related, the Vienna Coffee Festival has become a staple of Viennese autumn in the past years. This annual celebration of coffee culture brings together coffee enthusiasts, roasters, baristas, and industry professionals from around the world. The festival features tastings, workshops, competitions, and showcases of cutting-edge coffee technology and innovations.
If you’d like to read more on the topic of coffee, check out our article on the best books about coffee.
Vienna Design Week (click for link)
Austria’s largest design festival, held annually in autumn, showcases innovative projects across various disciplines, from product design to architecture and social design. The festival transforms locations across the city into creative spaces, with exhibitions, workshops, and installations that highlight both local and international talent. Each year, Vienna Design Week selects a district as a focus area, inviting visitors to explore hidden urban gems while discovering new perspectives on design.
Pumpkin Festival am Himmel (click for link)
This festival dedicated to Styrian pumpkin farmers has become a fixed point in the calendar of Viennese. The venue offers panoramic views over the entire city and is also a popular starting point or conclusion for beautiful autumn hikes through the Biosphere Reserve Wienerwald. For the sake of completeness, we have added this festival to the list, although we find it way too crowded for our taste. After the first time we went there, it was a clear never again for us.
An amazing playground is located near the venue, but stand clear of the Oktogon restaurant on the premises. It is by far the worst restaurant we ever experienced in Vienna.
Genussmeile (click for link)
An alternative/addition to the Vienna Wine Hiking Days (see above) – 80 winegrowing enterprises from the Vienna Woods region offer their products for sampling under the motto Hike, Taste, Enjoy! This is happening along the 1st Vienna water line hiking path between Mödling and Bad Vöslau, usually during two consecutive weekends in September.
Pumpkin Farms around Vienna
Around Vienna, pumpkin farms like Franzlbauer, Asperhofen, and Wunderlich offer a delightful mix of vibrant displays and seasonal treats, perfect for an autumn outing. These farms feature creative pumpkin installations and cozy setups that make for charming Instagram moments, capturing the festive spirit of fall. Beyond the visual appeal, they are dedicated to bio-certified products, offering a range of fresh pumpkins, and organic goods, from pumpkin soup to pumpkin seed bread, or even pumpkin donuts.
Kastanienfest and Apfelkulinarium at Burg Forchtenstein
Although about a 1-hour drive from Vienna, Burg Forchtenstein has become a traditional autumn destination for us. The Kastanienfest (Chestnut Festival) and Apfel Kulinarium (Apple Culinary Festival) celebrate the region’s rich harvest traditions. Set against the scenic backdrop of Forchtenstein Castle, these festivals offer a feast for the senses with stalls brimming with chestnut-inspired treats, fresh apples, cider, and locally crafted delicacies.
The Kastanienfest showcases everything from roasted chestnuts to chestnut-based desserts, including the world’s longest chestnut strudel. The castle itself offers a themed guided tour for children on the days of the festival, sending them in search of the golden chestnut.
The Apfel Kulinarium invites visitors to explore the flavors of Burgenland’s apples through juices, jams, and warm pastries.
Autumn in Vienna – the most Instagramable places
We’re admittedly conflicted about Instagram’s hold on us, especially since we’re as guilty as anyone of sharing Vienna’s most picturesque spots. In autumn, though, it’s hard to resist—the city’s beauty practically begs to be captured! From the golden avenues of the Prater Hauptallee and the vineyards of Kahlenberg, to the charming corners of Schönbrunn Palace, the Belvedere gardens, the Stadtpark, or Setagaya park, Vienna’s fall colors are a photographer’s dream. But here’s a challenge: leave the camera at home, wander through these places without the lens, and let yourself soak up Vienna’s seasonal magic unfiltered.
When does autumn in Vienna end?
As surprising as that might sound, there is an exact time point when autumn in Vienna ends. For us, as for many other Viennese, that is on 11.11 at 11.11 (11th of November at 11.11 o’clock). This exact time officially marks the beginning of the ball season in Vienna and is celebrated in the main square in front of St Stephen’s cathedral with public waltzing.
It is in preparation for the upcoming ball season that all Viennese dance schools also open their doors in autumn with new course offers. For those just passing by for a short time, most schools do provide afternoon waltz crash courses. Drop us a line if you’d like to try that out, we’ll find something suitable for you!
The same week when ball season begins, Christmas markets also open their doors and restaurants start serving traditional St Martin Goose dinners. It’s another magical time in Vienna, the transition towards December and the full-blown Christmas cheer.
It’s time for the next amazing season in Vienna!