Best Time to Visit Austria

Three cities, three different summers

Vienna is the warmest of the three. July tops out at 27°C there, so museum days and café stops feel better than long walks along the Ringstrasse. Salzburg and Innsbruck are cooler, at 24°C and 23°C in July.

August is the wettest month in all three. Innsbruck gets the most rain at 193 mm, and Salzburg isn't far behind at 160 mm. In the mountains, that often means afternoon storms. Start hikes on the Nordkette early in the day, or save them for September.

Spring, autumn and the best months

April is a good time for Vienna. The parks are green, and Easter markets pop up around the city. Mountain towns are different. Snow can linger on higher trails well into spring, and some cable cars close for maintenance between seasons.

September and October suit all three cities. Days are mild and the light is soft. Salzburg's old town is calmer, and Vienna's wine taverns, called Heurigen, are in full swing. Innsbruck works from July to October, so it's the easiest pick if you want to hike.

Crowds, holidays and winter

High season has two peaks. Summer, especially July and August, brings school-holiday families and festival crowds. The Salzburg Festival runs through much of the summer, so rooms fill up and prices rise. December is the second peak, thanks to Christmas markets in all three cities. Then ski season takes over in the Tyrol around Innsbruck.

Public holidays matter more than you'd think. Shops close on Sundays across Austria, and also on days like 1 January, Easter Monday, 1 May, 15 August and 26 October (National Day). Plan groceries the day before.

If you hate crowds, aim for late April or the weeks after the summer rush in September. Want snow? Come in winter, and expect cold, short days. Want a cheaper trip? November is quiet, though it's grey and damp.