It has been called the musical capital of Europe... Poetic lines are dedicated to it, like an impregnable beauty that turns the heads of gentlemen in an unrestrained whirlwind of balls. Vienna is a name everyone knows, but it is also one of the most mysterious cities in the world. A fairytale city where the sound of the old waltz is still alive...
Holidays in Vienna in January — why is it so popular?
As attractive as Vienna is in the warmer months, its fairytale charm is multiplied a hundredfold in winter — the snow-covered rooftops are magical, resembling gingerbread houses, and the soft evening lights gild the snow.
Reviews of January holidays in Vienna confirm that winter is a magical time to be here. A trip to Vienna in January has many advantages that make it worth visiting at least once at this time of year:
- The extraordinary beauty of the cityscape and the opportunity to take exceptional photographs;
- The absence of the many tourists typical of December;
- A noticeable reduction in prices compared to the pre-Christmas period;
- The opportunity to dance the Viennese waltz at a real ball, since the ball season, which began in November, is in full swing in the middle of winter.
One of the unpleasant surprises Vienna can offer in January is a sudden change in the weather. Although January is the coldest month of the year (something to keep in mind when planning a trip), at times the city surprises residents and visitors with unexpected sleet and even winter showers.
So an umbrella in the midst of winter should be as much a part of your luggage as a scarf, gloves and hat, which are indispensable here.
Weather in Vienna in January
The weather in Vienna in January and February is changeable. Rainfall in the form of sleet is not uncommon, and there are also occasional rainy days. The weather at the beginning of January is more reminiscent of December, with temperatures close to or above zero most of the time.
The cold feeling in Vienna can be increased by high humidity. Even if the thermometer is in the positive range, it is advisable to dress warmly for a walk rather than opting for the milder climates.
Temperatures in Vienna can drop dramatically in mid-January, from -3°C to -8°C and below — although this is rare. The weather in Vienna tends to get milder towards the end of January, with average temperatures rising to between -1°C and -3°C.
Air temperature
The temperate continental climate of eastern Austria makes for a mild and humid winter, but it is still the coldest month of the year. Vienna may not have many sunny days in January, but the festive atmosphere and variety of excursions more than make up for it.
Air temperature in Vienna in January
The variability of Vienna's weather is also reflected in the temperature during the month. Temperatures in January can range from -9°C to +20°C and above. The average daytime temperature in Vienna in January is 1.9 degrees below zero, while the average nighttime temperature is close to -1.4 degrees Celsius.
Amount of precipitation
January is the sixth wettest month of the year, leading the winter months. The average rainfall in Vienna in January is 33 mm. Be prepared for rain during periods of above freezing temperatures.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
The number of rainy days in January varies from year to year between 2 and 8. Sunny days account for about 26% of all January days, 7-8 to be exact. The rest of the days in Vienna in January are cloudy.
Excursions: the best places to visit in January
Vienna's winter attractions are far more varied than you might think. While you may have to postpone your walks in the lush gardens until spring, the Austrian capital promises a beautiful and varied holiday this month.
Here's a partial list of places to spend a fun and enjoyable winter day in this historic city:
- Vienna Opera House;
- The Clock Museum;
- The Schnapps Museum;
- The Coffee Museum.
If you are a thrill seeker with nerves of steel, the following museums are open to you:
- Funeral Supplies Museum;
- Vienna Crime Museum;
- Josephinum — Museum of the History of Medicine (despite its prosaic name, its creepy exhibits can send shivers down the spine of non-medical citizens);
- Pathological-anatomical collection in the Narrenturm.
The best tours are for children!
Mid-January is not the best time to take a long walk around the city. But Vienna is so charming under the light blanket of January snow that it is worth spending a day or two exploring the sights. And you can take a break from wandering the snow-covered streets... at the factory. On the outskirts of town you'll find a sweet tooth's paradise.
The Hyndle Chocolate Factory. Here, visitors young and old can learn about the history of chocolate and see the magic of turning cocoa beans into a delicious treat. You can also sample the chocolate and take home a souvenir.
Circus and Clown Museum. This exciting mix of museum and circus is sure to excite children beyond belief. Imagine how happy you would be as a child in a museum, where instead of dusty exhibits and stern aunts, you are greeted by real entertainers!
They will reveal the secrets of the arena and even offer to take part in a circus act.
The TIME TRAVEL attraction. What boy or girl doesn't dream of travelling back in time? Seeing with your own eyes the events that took place hundreds of years ago, meeting the Habsburg family in person and shaking hands with Sigmund Freud are all made possible by the amazing TIME TRAVEL attraction.
Of course, all the characters and events that await you are only the result of the work of many people mastering the art of stunning special effects. But you can be sure that no other history lesson will give you such a vivid impression and knowledge as, for example, personally taking part in a historic battle written about in a thousand and one textbooks.
So hurry up — the hands of the clock are not standing still, and who knows which way they will move tomorrow?
Holidays, events and festivals
Winter in Vienna is a time of special celebrations and fairytale magic. The series of balls, which began with the Vienna Red Cross Ball in November, reaches its climax in mid-winter, when all the events are dedicated to music as well as dancing.
The balls in Vienna last until the beginning of Lent before Easter and there are up to 300 of them a year. Sometimes two or three balls are held in the city on the same day.
To be fair, most Viennese balls are a kind of company party, where members of a particular profession have fun and entertain the guests.
The tradition goes back centuries, when all balls were originally divided into court and society balls. Each profession had the honour of hosting a ball in its own name at least once a year. There were balls for chimney sweeps, bricklayers, cooks and even laundresses, which were particularly popular with the male aristocracy due to the rather revealing dresses worn by the beautiful ladies.
Modern Viennese balls include the Officers' Ball, the Ball of the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, the Doctors' Ball, the Engineers' Ball, the Pharmacists' Ball, the Artists' Ball and even the Vienna Boys' Choir Ball. If you wish, you can choose the time of your holiday to attend the ball of your choice.
It is safe to say that Vienna's January holiday season starts before January itself: The first ball of the month is the New Year's Eve Ball, which opens on 31 December.
New Year's Eve Ball at the Hofburg. Other names for the ball, which is held in the breathtakingly beautiful and luxurious palace, are the Great Ball and the Slvester Ball, in honour of St. Sylvester, whose day falls on 31 December.
It is officially considered the opening night of the season, although the first balls were held in November. It is not difficult to get in, but it is expensive - you just need to be at the palace on the opening day, dressed to the nines and with enough money to pay for the ticket.
Once inside, you can forget what era you're in — refreshments, drinks and the ball itself await.
Like fairytale kings and princesses, you will be invited to dance the waltz, polonaise, tango and even rock 'n' roll all night long in the grand halls of the palace! Anything goes at a fairytale ball.
Although there are different ticket categories, you can move freely from hall to hall, no matter what ticket you have purchased. This is one of the largest and most relaxed of all the Viennese balls in early January and is therefore well attended by many foreign guests.
Hunter's Ball. Another ball that is always popular with the public is the Green Cross Ball. It is notable for the fact that attendees wear only traditional Austrian dress: velvet or silk dresses with wide skirts and alpine jackets for the men.
Held at the end of January, it is well worth a visit if only to learn more about the traditions of the people who built this beautiful city.
If you're determined to go, buy a suitable outfit and take a few dance lessons at one of the dance schools. Remember that the dress code for each ball is different!
Colour Ball. This ball is usually held in the town hall. For one night, all the halls are transformed into huge, spontaneous flower gardens, where the opulence of the costumes is matched only by the luxury of the fragrant bouquets presented to the ladies at the end of the festivities.
Although the Ball is an event for adults, children of school age can also enjoy it. So if you are travelling to Vienna with your teenage son or daughter, rest assured that they will have an unforgettable holiday!
Resonanzen Early Music Festival. Vienna's cultural scene doesn't stop at endless balls in January. This annual festival attracts fans of baroque and medieval music at the end of January.
The festival aims to highlight the relevance of early music in the modern world, and features ensembles and performers from all over the world. The festival takes place in the second half of January at the Vienna Konzerthaus and lasts an average of 8 to 10 days.
Shopping in Vienna in January
Vienna's winter sales kick off in December in time for the city's Christmas celebrations, followed by a lull of a few weeks. However, a trip to the Austrian capital in January promises many pleasant surprises: a new wave of bargains begins in the second half of the month and lasts until the end of winter.
This is the time of year when winter goods go on sale to make way for spring and summer collections in March. Clothes and shoes can be bought at discounts of up to 50%, although there are no general rules about sales. Discounts are set by each individual retailer, so if you set your mind to it, you can get a bargain at any time of the year.
Cost of vacation
Airfares are rising slightly in January — tickets are now generally 5% more expensive than last month. However, hotel prices in Vienna are down by up to 50%, which is understandable: the Christmas rush that swept the city in December has subsided, and the number of tourists has dwindled significantly, which could not help but affect prices in Vienna in January.
However, if you are planning a trip to one of Vienna's famous balls, be prepared to splash out. In addition to costumes and jewellery, you will need to pay for a ticket, which can range from 100 to tens of thousands of euros depending on the category.
A trip to Vienna in January with children
A January holiday in Vienna is sure to appeal to young tourists young and old. The hospitable city has plenty to offer kids at any time of year, and the mild climate is even suitable for travel with little ones.
However, January is still the coldest month of the year, so children under the age of three may find January a tiring time with a lack of outdoor activities.
It should also be noted that the first half of January is a school holiday and the city is full of students. For this reason, a winter trip with pre-school children is best done at the end of the month or postponed until February.
For school children, it's hard to imagine a more memorable and exciting winter holiday than a trip to Vienna in January.
Kidpassage wishes you a pleasant and easy preparation and a busy winter holiday in this wonderful city.
