The weather in Vienna can be unpredictable, so experiencing a rainy day in Vienna is not unusual. Rain can fall in Vienna not just in winter, but throughout the year. In fact, it rains more frequently, especially during the spring and summer months, while the other months are quite dry or snowy. It’s worth checking the expected weather in Vienna by month before your trip and preparing a plan according to when you visit the city. Throughout the year, you can find a wide variety of activities suitable for all types of weather.
The city of Vienna and its activities change with the seasons. In the warmer months, on non-rainy days, you can enjoy the best outdoor cultural events, open-air attractions, and of course, Vienna’s nature, as detailed in the article “Summer in Vienna – Recommended Attractions and Activities”. Even in winter when it’s cold outside, there’s plenty to do around the city, whether at the Christmas markets or in the city’s magnificent buildings. You can find more details in the article “Vienna in Winter – Recommended Attractions and Activities”. Of course, you can use this article to plan what to do on cold days in Vienna.
What to do on a rainy or on a cold winter day in Vienna?
Vienna is an incredibly well-preserved historic city, filled with museums, palaces, galleries, churches, and other important cultural sites. Many of these buildings are impressive from the outside, but it’s definitely worth going inside to fully appreciate the history and heritage they contain. In fact, Vienna is a perfect destination even on rainy or cold days, as most attractions are indoors. You can also enjoy unique activities that let you experience the classic Viennese atmosphere in a deeper and more authentic way. In the list below, you’ll find our recommended indoor attractions and activities in Vienna, and by clicking each name you can read more detailed information in dedicated articles we’ve prepared.
Recommended museums to visit
Throughout the city, there are about 100 interesting museums that present fascinating parts of the city’s history, important figures, and of course, unique and particularly intriguing collections. You can spend hours upon hours in the various museums in the city, so even one rainy day won’t be enough to cover all the recommended museums.
The most popular museums in Vienna are:
- Natural History Museum
- Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum)
- Technical Museum of Vienna
- Sigmund Freud Museum
- Jewish Museum
- House of Music
- Weltmuseum Wien (World Museum) in the Hofburg Palace
- Sisi Museum in the Hofburg Palace
- The Armoury – Museum of Military History
- Madame Tussauds
- The 21 Vienna City Museums
Of course, there are other museums in the city. You can read more about the MuseumsQuartier Vienna.
Beautiful palaces to visit
Vienna, which was the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, still displays the splendor and grandeur enjoyed by the emperors. There are three main palaces that served as summer and winter residences for the emperors. In these palaces, there are tours, museums, and lovely art displays.
The most popular palaces in Vienna are:
- Schönbrunn Palace: An option for a tour among the magnificent rooms of the palace and a variety of other activities on the premises.
- Belvedere Palace: Unique art displays including the famous painting “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt.
- Hofburg Palace: The central palace where a variety of charming and important museums are located.
Recommended Galleries
In the popular museums and palaces, you can see a variety of artworks and pictures by exceptional artists from across the historic empire and beyond. However, one of the most magnificent collections, second to none, is in the Albertina Gallery. In fact, this is the most recommended gallery in Vienna and a must-visit for art lovers. Another very interesting gallery is in the Leopold Museum, where works by Egon Schiele are displayed.
Impressive Churches and the Great Synagogue
Most churches in Vienna offer free entry. If you want to be impressed by remarkable architecture and the splendor of Christian religious buildings in Vienna, it is worth visiting the city’s main churches.
The most popular churches in Vienna:
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral – The heart of the old city.
- St. Peter’s Church – An impressive hall that also serves for various classical concerts.
- St. Charles’s Church (Karlskirche) – An impressive hall with a unique design, used for Vivaldi concerts.
The Great Synagogue
In the heart of the old city, quite hidden among the ancient buildings, is the main synagogue of Vienna. You can take a tour of the place by prior arrangement or attend a prayer service and enter for free. More information on the Great Synagogue of Vienna.
More Indoor Attractions
In addition to museums, palaces, churches, and galleries, there are also many other interesting buildings with unique activities and exhibitions, some of which are even quite interactive. And if history isn’t really your thing, you’ll still find several attractions here that you’ll enjoy.
Recommended attractions in covered complexes are:
- Time Travel Vienna: An interactive and fun show presenting the history of Vienna.
- House of the Sea (Haus des Meeres): Vienna’s aquarium, featuring mainly marine animals. Located in a historic bunker building.
- The Butterfly House (Schmetterlinghaus): A large collection of live butterflies. Especially suitable for children.
- Spanish Riding School: A place to watch unique horse shows or their training sessions.
- The Parliament Building: Tour the seat of the Austrian Parliament.
- University of Vienna: The main campus is impressive and entry is free. You can wander through the various halls and be impressed by the magnificent university.
- National Library: An impressively beautiful hall with ancient books and changing exhibitions.
Vienna’s Spa – Therme Wien
The largest municipal spa in Austria is located in Vienna and is the perfect solution for cold and rainy days in the city. The spa has heated indoor and outdoor pools and of course a great sauna area. You can easily spend 3 hours here, but it’s important to note that it can be crowded on rainy days. More information on Therme Wien.
Casino Vienna
In Vienna, there is only one casino, located right in the heart of the old city. The casino also has a restaurant, so you can easily spend several hours there. Comprehensive information on Casino Vienna: dress code, opening hours, and what’s included.
Classical Concerts
Vienna is full of options for excellent classical concerts where you can enjoy the best works of the great composers who lived and worked in the city throughout history. Since there are so many options, we have compiled the most recommended ones in a separate article on 9 worthwhile concerts in Vienna. The finest concert in the city, the Mozart Concert, takes place especially in the summer months (and also for a limited time during the Christmas season) in the city’s best concert halls. Read more about the Mozart Concert (including an exclusive 10% discount on tickets).
The Strudel Show at Schönbrunn Palace
In the café at the Schönbrunn Palace complex, there is a charming 20-minute show that presents the secrets of the Viennese strudel. At the end, there is a strudel tasting. More information and ticket booking. It’s worth combining a visit to the show as part of a comprehensive visit to the palace complex.
Culinary Experience
For those who want to experience and get to know Austrian cuisine more comprehensively, it is worth joining a culinary experience of several hours in the city. There are several options available — from a full-course meal to a traditional Würstelstand experience, wine tastings, and more. During the tour, you taste a variety of local dishes and hear interesting stories from a local guide. More information on the culinary experiences. Please note that you might need to coordinate and book several days in advance.
Shopping in Vienna or Outside the City (Parndorf or SCS)
Shopping in Vienna or outside it can definitely pass several hours pleasantly on rainy days. Within the city and on its outskirts, there are about 14 recommended shopping centers. The most popular among them are:
- Shopping City Süd (SCS) (outside Vienna)
- Parndorf – The designer outlet town located about a 40-minute drive from the city (there is a shuttle)
- Donau Zentrum – A large mall within Vienna
Click here for comprehensive information about shopping in Vienna and its outskirts.
The Tourist Bus
If you are short on time and still want to see the main sites of the city, it is worth taking the tourist bus that circulates in the main tourist areas. On the bus, you will sit comfortably, listen to explanations, and see the impressive buildings of the city. On the bus, explanations are provided in many different languages through the audio guide. If the rain stops, you can get off the bus and wander around the various attractions at your leisure. More information and ticket booking.
Day Trip Outside Vienna
Austria is large, and in many cases, even if it’s expected to be rainy in Vienna, there’s a good chance that in other parts of the country it won’t necessarily be rainy. You can join a group and go out for an experiential day of landscapes and nature in the impressive regions of Austria like Hallstatt and the Lake District, the Wachau Valley, the Viennese Alps, and more. More information and booking for the group.
Restaurants, Cafes, Patisseries, Bars, and More
There’s nothing like getting to know Vienna while visiting the city’s culinary institutions. Especially on days when it’s not fun to be outside, you can enjoy a relaxed Viennese atmosphere in the authentic cafes, the delicious patisseries, or the city’s best restaurants. In the evening, you can go out to a luxury bar or enjoy the illuminated city from one of the popular (mostly covered) rooftops.
More details and various culinary recommendations:
- Recommended cafes in Vienna
- Recommended patisseries
- Luxury bars
- Schnitzel restaurants
- Restaurants in various styles
- Kosher restaurants and cafes
Nightlife
Even in the rain, especially on weekends, the clubs operate as usual. You can experience the local nightlife in several recommended clubs in the city. You can find more details in the following articles we have prepared:
As you can see, there is a lot to do on a rainy day in Vienna. Don’t worry if the forecast looks gray and rainy; you can always find something to do during the day. If the weather smiles on you, you can go out to open-air attractions and enjoy the wonderful nature of Vienna. On beautiful days, it’s worth visiting places like Kahlenberg Mountain, the ancient zoo in Schönbrunn, the Prater park, and more.
