Now, April is quite a decent time to visit Vienna. Spring should have sprung, but it’s not high summer. So the city’s busy, but not peak busy. Except around Easter, though this falls in March in 2027.
All of which makes April as good as March, but with a higher probability of sun.
- Book a concert experience* for April
- See also:
Top April activities in 2027
So what might you do beyond the usual year-round tours, museums, concerts, and other delights that Vienna has to offer the enthusiastic visitor?
My quick tip
I’ve been visiting a few of the light classical concerts put on primarily for visitors to Vienna. A nice way to spend the evening, perhaps with something fine to eat before or after.
I enjoyed two concerts in baroque churches, for example: the Classic Ensemble Vienna in the Peterskirche and Orchester 1756 in the Karlskirche. And the highlights concert in the more modern Haus der Musik.
Exhibitions in April 2027
(The Albertina is always a good address for top exhibitions)
The last few Aprils had some astonishing exhibitions, and I expect the same for 2027.
My highlights
Full schedules are yet to appear at the time of writing, but my highlights so far:
- The Albertina Modern continues its showcase of modern and contemporary art from Australia
- Austrian artist Franz West gets a biographical exhibition at the Wien Museum
- Living space takes centre stage in the MAK‘s Before Dark exhibition, which covers interior design in Vienna between the world wars
- The evolution of Viennese fashion in the early 20th-centutry features at the Leopold Museum with a special focus on ties to Paris
- See contrasts and creative tensions between avant garde and academic approaches to art at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
- The small but intriguing exhibition on Bernini by the Kunsthistorisches Museum at Palais Lobwitzky draws to a close (until April 4th)
- The Naturhistorisches Museum explores the origins of its collections and takes a nuanced look at the good and bad of collecting. The institution also reveals what an archaeogenetic project can tell us about life in the early middle ages
- And catch the final days of the Jewish Museum exhibition on the fates and biographies of Viennese Jews forced into exile during national socialism. But their exhibition on Jewish orientalists continues
For full exhibition options, consult the broader exhibition listings.
Bonus art events
- The Klima Biennale took place for in 2024 and 2026 with its events and exhibitions around climate change and a strong contemporary art element flowing through proceedings. As the name suggests, the next one is 2028
- The Art Austria art fair enlivens Palais Auersperg with national and international works (April 21st to 25th)
- The Edelstoff design market features lots of independent designers (2027 dates TBA)
- The Kunst & Design art and design market hopefully drops into Vienna’s main brewery for a weekend (2027 dates TBA)
Easter markets(?)
(Easter market on the Freyung)
The Easter weekend in 2027 falls in late March. This means the Easter markets will begin earlier in that month, and most will have ended by the time April comes around.
However, the Schönbrunn market did extend well beyond Easter last time out. I await details.
These seasonal markets make a rather nice holiday diversion. As well as arts & crafts of a higher quality, you also get to enjoy a variety of local snacks and specialties…though many inevitably live at the relatively unhealthy end of the nutritional spectrum. Cough, sausages, cough.
Enjoy some food & drink
(Wine from the Steiermark)
As nature pushes layers of green over the country, so the food and drink festivals start up in earnest.
One of the country’s more Alpine provinces, for example, is the Steiermark. Each year, the region’s tourist folk, farmers, wine growers, and musicians turn up in Vienna for the Styrian Spring festival (2027 dates TBA).
As well as offering a taste of the traditions of that beautiful part of the country, the festival offers a taste of the tastes, too. Like all Austrian provinces, the Steiermark has a proud culinary heritage. Look, particularly, for their wine, beer, and pumpkin products.
(A spring event at the big brewery)
April also brings:
- The Vienna Whisky Festival (April 2nd and 3rd), although the venue is our main brewery (Ottakringer)
- The spring edition of the Super Bier Fest might also drop into that same brewery (2027 dates and name TBA)
- And Ottakringer starts its own short Tankbiertage beer festival (2027 dates TBA)
- Finally, the city-owned Cobenzl winery sometimes has an open day (2027 dates TBA), which is free. Though you do have to pay if you want to try some of the prize-winning wines. The winery sits on a hill with lovely views of the city
Fandoms, photos, music & more
On the fandom front:
- The Fantasy Con (2027 dates TBA) is a small event with an artist alley, readings, music and similar
On the photos front:
- The Vienna Vintage Photo Fair (April 10th and 11th) has free entry and features local and international specialist vendors, collectors and related institutions with an array of historical photographs to view (and buy)
(The Reigen hosts most of the Vienna Blues Spring gigs)
On the music front:
The Vienna concert season is in full swing in April, of course, but if you fancy something a little different…
- The Vienna Blues Spring usually continues throughout April and features performances from both local and international musicians…with a focus on (guess?) blues
- The wean hean festival (2027 dates TBA) celebrates the Viennese song tradition
- The Salam Music & Arts festival offers a blend of music and other artistic expressions from Southwest Asia and North Africa (2027 dates TBA)
- The prestigious Hofmusikkapelle hosts the Übergänge festival with readings and concerts (2027 dates TBA)
On the movie front:
- The Red Lotus festival (2027 dates TBA) showcases the work of Asian filmmakers
- The Jewish Film Festival features works from around the world that address aspects of Jewish life in all its facets and contexts (2027 dates TBA)
And finally…
- The Argus Bike Festival (April 10th and 11th): a lovely two-day event with information stands, bike-related exhibitors and lots of two-wheeled show action
- The Vienna Meets Prague festival (2027 dates TBA) brings highlights of Czech culture to the city and usually includes some events of interest to English speakers, such as concerts or a film showing with English subtitles
Enjoy the running
April hosts the weekend of the Vienna marathon (April 18th), an international event with added kudos: part of the course for the race is the same stretch of road where Eliud Kipchoge became the first human to run the marathon distance in under two hours (at the INEOS 1:59 Challenge).
Seasonal tip(s)
Enjoy the April sun
(The Stadtpark)
Unlike in March, you’re more likely to find flowers peeping up from Vienna’s numerous parks and gardens in April (and enough sun to enjoy them).
If you want to enjoy the spring verdure on the trees and/or fruit tree blossom, then head for places like:
- The Lainzer Tiergarten: an extensive nature protection area with wild boar and more (the lovely Hermesvilla is here, once a summerhouse for Empress Elisabeth)
- The Vienna Woods: lots of cycle paths and hiking trails through the hills and forests that surround Vienna’s west
- The Stadtpark park: in the centre and featuring famous musician memorials (look for Strauss, in particular)
- The Prater park: an 11km hiking trail that starts and ends in an area rich with restaurants and entertainments
- Of course, don’t forget the sculpted gardens attached to the various palaces, too, such as at Schönbrunn, Belvedere or the Volksgarten next to the Hofburg. You’ll see these as you pass through the usual sightseeing areas, anyway
Several protected or private areas usually open up in full to the public end of March. For example:
- The Cobenzl city farm: just as it says on the label. Kids can get up close to farm animals
- Hirschstetten: part of the city’s horticultural nursery complex. They’ve turned it into a landscaped botanical gardens, with a palm house and a fair few birds and animals in there, too. It’s a bit of a secret and off the usual tourist trails. Oh, and it’s free
Enjoy the April rain(?)
If April does bring the proverbial showers, I have a whole article of advice on what to do to stay as dry as possible.
Go for an ice cream
(One of the more popular parlours is Zanoni & Zanoni on Lugeck square close to Stephansdom cathedral)
If the sun trumps rain, then the local ice cream season should already have begun sometime in March. And we’re not talking about lollipops in the freezer aisle of the supermarket.
Vienna hosts many high-quality ice cream parlours, so fill a cone or cup with your choice of flavours. Or take a seat and enjoy something off an extensive ice cream menu that might set your diet back a few weeks. Oh, and vegan options are usually available.