I’ll be honest. February is probably the quietest month in Vienna, with the fewest annual events and festivals.
Think of January and take away the fun bits. (Only kidding.)
One thing very much in February’s favour is genuinely fewer queues and crowds.
For example, the week beginning February 5th in 2024 is the so-called Semesterferien: a short week-long break between semesters when Vienna’s schools all go on holiday.
A lot of Viennese take off with the kids for the Semesterferien (to ski, for example), leaving more space for the rest of us.
Anyway, here are a few seasonal ideas for you.
- See also:
Top activities in February 2024
The usual concerts, museum offerings, tours etc., continue unabated. But what else might you do?
Exhibitions in February
(The Kunst Haus Wien should reopen in early 2024 with new exhibitions)
Vienna always has numerous exhibitions on at any one time. Since February 2024 is still a while off, few museums have all their events already announced. But, for example…
- The Gottfried Helnwein exhibition at the Albertina comes to a close. Explore his works until February 11th. Ditto the exhibition of new works by Katharina Grosse, which you can enjoy until February 25th
- We have the start of the The Beauty of Diversity exhibition at the Albertina Modern (provisionally from February 16th), which demonstrates that art has more to offer than paintings by (old) white men
- And the final days of two exhibitions at the Leopold Museum: one for the pioneering expressionist Max Oppenheimer (until February 25th) and a retrospective for Gabriele Münter (until February 18th)
- The Wien Museum MUSA takes us back a handful of years to the art of the Noughties, while the Wien Museum begins its post-renovation exhibition programme with a look at the architectural works of the baroque architect par excellence, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
- The MAK continues with Hard / Soft: perspectives on textiles and ceramics in contemporary art
- The WOW2 exhibition (with highlights from the archives along three themes) and a special mini-Klimt exhibition occupy the premises of the Heidi Horten Collection
- Belvedere21 offers a retrospective for a towering giant of Austrian contemporary art: Renate Bertlmann
- Conceptual artist, Maximilian Prüfer, addresses two campaigns by Chairman Mao in a solo exhibition at the Weltmuseum
- Perspectives on both Frieden (Peace) and caring make appearances at the Jewish Museum, along with (from February 14th), the etchings and story of Emil Singer
Talking art, Art at the Park (February 23rd to 25th for the public) is a high-quality art fair held on the premises of the luxury Park Hyatt Vienna in the centre of town.
Enter the Ice World
(The lighted rinks)
It starts in late January but hits its peak throughout February: the Wiener Eistraum.
The “Vienna Ice World” offers a wonderful outdoor ice skating experience right in the middle of the city, along with food and drink stalls with an organic focus and featuring plenty of vegan & vegetarian options.
The square in front of the Rathaus turns into a split-level ice rink, with skating trails and other rinks spread among the trees of the Rathaus park. Everything lights up delightfully at night.
Oh, and don’t worry if you forgot your skates: simply hire them on site.
Popular tours & classical concerts
Given far fewer people around, February is the time for booking those activities that are often busy or oversubscribed the rest of the year.
(The Staatsoper from above and behind)
I’m thinking here particularly of:
- Classical music concerts (especially at the two top venues: the Musikverein and Konzerthaus. But also the various classical Viennese concerts designed specially for visitors)
- The Schönbrunn Palace tours (do the Grand Tour of the interior: you get into many more rooms than the basic tours and the cost difference is quite small)
- The Spanish Riding School (book to see the morning training or a stables tour if you can’t catch a gala or want a more inexpensive way to experience the stallions)
- Upper Belvedere (where you get to see Klimt’s The Kiss)
- Opera tickets (particularly for the ever-popular Staatsoper. Standing tickets are particularly good value but you might be able to grab some inexpensive seats, too)
- Vienna Zoo (which has indoor enclosures like a rainforest house, if you’re worried about the weather)
Have a ball
One of February’s claims to fame is that this is a busy month for balls. So if you’ve ever dreamed of doing the waltz in the city that invented the dance, now’s your chance.
We have the Johann Strauss Ball, for example, at the famous Kursalon, where the man himself performed. And many more, including the 66th edition of the world-famous Opernball (February 8th), though tickets and tables for the latter are not always easy to come by if you’re a mere mortal.
Catch the flowers
(The orchids on show are far more spectacular than this houseplant)
Flowers? Ah, yes, and no ordinary flowers, either. The International Orchid Show (February 21st to 25th) sets up in the Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens.
Numerous exhibitors add more than a few spots of colour to the Viennese winter. We really enjoyed the show, which includes lovely displays as well as the expected sales booths.
Go skiing
(Avoid the Semesterferien if you go skiing)
Of course, you can always do as the Viennese do and flee the city for the slopes.
February is the main month for skiing in Austria, and you can reach the Semmering alpine ski resort, for example, in just over an hour, so suits a day trip.
It’s probably best not to do this in the Semesterferien week, unless you want to spend your day being abused by impatient Viennese as they push their way into the lift queue.
Think of Rome’s Colosseum, but with ski sticks instead of gladiatorial swords and you get the idea. (I’m only partly exaggerating.)
Go swimming
(One of the city’s café-confectioneries)
Not outside, I should add. The state-run indoor swimming pools are nice and warm, but your holiday treat is a day or two at the spa baths complex at Therme Wien. Hot water from thermal springs feeds its various pools.
The Therme also offers all the usual spa treatments and a restaurant. Incidentally, it sits right next door to one of the city’s more renowned cake and confectionery outlets: the Kurkonditorei Oberlaa. (And it has its own subway stop on the U1 that passes through the centre.)
Tip – Dress up warm
I don’t have the stats, but I’m pretty sure February could be our coldest month. Minus temperatures are possible.
(Kaiserschmarren shredded pancakes)
That’s not all bad, of course. Snow is possible, which makes the city look even more beautiful (at least until it turns into that delightful brown slush we all know and love).
And there is a certain pleasure to be had in entering a coffee house or Konditorei and warming yourself with a hot coffee topped by whipped cream or with a classic dish like Kaiserschmarren (much beloved by Emperor Franz Joseph).