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Best time to visit Austria: month by month
Short answer
May to June and September to early October are best, with highs of about 19–26°C, open mountain cable cars and fewer crowds than mid-summer. July and August are the warmest (around 26–28°C) and busiest, with the Salzburg Festival and Alpine thunderstorms. For the Christmas markets come from mid-November, and for skiing from December to April.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5°C | -1°C | 11 | medium |
| Feb | 8°C | 0°C | 8 | medium |
| Mar | 11°C | 1°C | 4 | medium |
| Apr | 13°C | 4°C | 12 | medium |
| May | 19°C | 10°C | 13 | medium |
| Jun | 26°C | 15°C | 11 | high |
| Jul | 28°C | 17°C | 9 | very high |
| Aug | 26°C | 17°C | 13 | very high |
| Sep | 22°C | 13°C | 11 | high |
| Oct | 17°C | 8°C | 7 | medium |
| Nov | 9°C | 3°C | 10 | medium |
| Dec | 5°C | 0°C | 13 | high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from about 11°C in March to 19°C in May; March is dry, April and May bring 12–13 rainy days, and mountain huts open from late spring.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Warm highs of 26–28°C and lows of 15–17°C, but 9–13 rainy days a month with afternoon storms; lakes and hiking at their best, and peak crowds.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Highs of about 22°C in September falling to 9°C in November; September and October are calm and good for wine harvests and hiking.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs around 5–8°C and lows around 0°C, often with snow; Christmas markets in December and the ski season in the Alps.
Events worth planning around
- Vienna New Year's Concert of the Vienna Philharmonic — 1 January
- Vienna ball season, including the Opera Ball — January–February
- Salzburg Festival — late July to end of August
- Christmas markets in Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck — mid-November to December
When to avoid
Avoid mid-July to mid-August if you dislike crowds and high prices, especially in Salzburg and Hallstatt. Late October to mid-November can be grey and between seasons, with some mountain cable cars closed.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Austria?
June and September offer warm weather (about 22–26°C), open mountain lifts and fewer crowds than July and August.
When do the Christmas markets open in Austria?
Usually from mid-November until around Christmas, with some staying open until the end of December.
When is the ski season in Austria?
Roughly December to April in the Tyrol and Salzburg regions, with glaciers open longer.