Month guide · Vienna · Austria
Vienna in December
What December is really like in Vienna: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 3.0 at
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -1°C (30°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Cold, festive and busy, with Christmas markets, concerts and the New Year celebrations.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 4°C (39°F) / -1°C (30°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Vienna: days average 4°C (39°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about -1°C (30°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with November (8°C (46°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 3°C (37°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 07:39
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:01
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold with occasional snow, Christmas markets in December, the New Year's Concert and the ball season in January and February.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 5 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in December). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Christmas markets (until 24–26 December, some until early January)
- New Year's Eve trail through the old town (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Zoo · Hietzing
Tiergarten Schönbrunn
Founded in 1752 in the grounds of Schönbrunn, this is the oldest zoo still in operation in the world.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Market · Wieden
Naschmarkt
Go on a Saturday morning for the flea market, then look at the Otto Wagner apartment buildings on Linke Wienzeile opposite.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
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Architecture · Landstraße
Hundertwasserhaus
Completed in 1985, this public housing block designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser has uneven floors, onion domes, trees growing from the balconies and a patchwork of bright colours.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Kids
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Experience · Döbling
Kahlenberg and the heurigen
Take bus 38A to Kahlenberg, walk down through the vineyards to Nussdorf or Grinzing, and end with dinner in a heuriger garden.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Food
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Active
What to pack
For highs near 4°C, lows near -1°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Vienna?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Vienna in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Vienna?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold, festive and busy, with Christmas markets, concerts and the New Year celebrations.
+How warm is Vienna in December?
Average highs are around 4°C (39°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Vienna in December?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.