Vienna, Christmas illuminations, Am Graben

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5 winter highlights

1. Time for art

Painting by Marc Chagall, The Great Circus, 1970
© ALBERTINA, Wien – Sammlung Batliner © Bildrecht, Wien 2024

In winter, a visit to a museum is the ideal way to spend part of a day in Vienna. World-class collections and exhibitions can be admired in the city’s more than 100 museums. Our top tip this winter: the Chagall exhibition at the Albertina (until February 9, 2025). Around 100 works spanning all the creative periods of the great master of the Russian avant-garde will be on display here. 

2. New Johann Strauss Museum

Room at the Johann Strauss Musuem - New Dimensions with installations of light and music.
© Philipp Lipiarski

In anticipation of the 200th birthday of the Waltz King Johann Strauss, which will be celebrated in 2025, Vienna has been given a new museum: the Johann Strauss Museum – New Dimensions presents his life in an immersive exhibition. It takes things to a whole new technical level. You have certainly never seen the Waltz King like this before.

3. Skate onto the ice

 Ice-skating in front of City Hall
© Stadt Wien Markting GmbH/Christian Jobst

The Ice World on Rathausplatz offers ice skating fun for all ages in the heart of the city. There is already an ice skating rink on Rathausplatz as part of the Viennese Christmas Market. Visitors can glide across a 3,000 m² ice rink bathed in atmospheric lighting (until January 6, 2025, 10 am – 10 pm every day). After a short period of remodeling, the facility will reopen on January 23, 2025 with an even larger ice rink. 10,000 m² of mirror-like ice, romantic snowy trails through the Rathauspark, an accessible viewing terrace and, of course, culinary delights will guarantee unforgettable winter fun in Vienna.

4. Warm up in a coffee house

Coffee house Eiles
© Café Eiles/Larra Hensel

After some ice skating, it’s time to warm up in a coffee house. Nowhere in Vienna is it cozier than in a Viennese coffee house. In winter in particular, however, people often line up outside the doors of coffee houses in the city center. This is why we recommend seeking out the coffee houses located around the city center. Take Café Eiles, for example, a really nice traditional coffee house in the 8th district, which has been given a new lease of life after a makeover – both visually and from a culinary perspective.

5. Evenings in a rooftop bar

Rooftop bar with views of Vienna
© Bernhard Buzin

We round off a perfect winter’s day in Vienna in a rooftop bar. Vienna now has its first year-round rooftop bar in the form of the Lamée Rooftop Bar. Here, you can look out over the city, illuminated by its winter lights, with a cocktail (or even a hot cocktail) in your hand and the roof of St. Stephen’s Cathedral within your grasp. A special roof structure offers protection from the wind and weather.

Albertina

Albertinaplatz 1
1010 Vienna
  • Vienna City Card

    • Benefits of the Vienna City Card: -10%

      Additional information on the offer:

      Standard ticket price: 19,90€ / Savings: 2€ off the daily valid sales price at the museum cash desk (special offers excluded)

  • Opening times

    • Mo, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Tu, 10:00 - 18:00
    • We, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Th, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Fr, 10:00 - 21:00
    • Sa, 10:00 - 18:00
    • Su, 10:00 - 18:00
    • on holidays, 10:00 - 18:00
  • Accessibility

    • Main entrance
      • no steps (Double swinging doors 190 cm wide)
    • Elevator available
      • Door 150 cm wide
    • Further information
      • Seeing eye dogs allowed
      • Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
    • Special offers for people with disabilities

      Wheelchair rental (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Guided tours in sign language available (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Guided tours for blind people available as well as for people with slight to moderate dementia and their escorts (prior arrangement necessary: Tel. +43 1 534 83–540). Please inform Art Mediation department about wheelchair uses in advance. Reduced admission for persons with special needs

    • Comments

      Access to all exhibition rooms, to the restaurant / café and to the Shop: no steps. All rooms are wheelchair-accessible.

      Wheelchair-accessible restrooms on levels 1 and -1, restroom on level 1: door width: 90 cm, room dimensions: 180 x 110 cm.

Johann Strauss Museum - New Dimensions

Friedrichstraße 7
1010 Vienna

Vienna Ice World

Rathausplatz
1010 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • middle of January to the beginning of March
    • daily, 10:00 - 22:00

Café Eiles

Josefstädter Straße 2
1080 Vienna
  • Opening times

    • Mo - Fr, 07:00 - 00:00
    • Sa - Su, 08:00 - 00:00
    • on holidays, 08:00 - 00:00

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