Vienna in January: a seasonal travel plan
Vienna, Austria. In january, the average daytime high is 3.1 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Vienna
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 3.1 °C
- Nighttime low
- -3.2 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 40.4 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 12.1
- Daylight
- 8.8 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 3.6 | -2.3 | 4.0 |
| Days 11–20 | 2.7 | -3.7 | 3.9 |
| From day 21 | 3.1 | -3.5 | 4.2 |
What this month is like
Vienna, Austria. In january, the average daytime high is 3.1 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 12.1 wet days on average, with about 40.4 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 8.8 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 4.5 °C, January — 3.1 °C, next month — 6.6 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 9.6, 12.1 and 8.4.
Things to do
Vienna grew around the Hofburg and St. Stephen's Cathedral, and the Ringstrasse separates the inner city from everything beyond it. The centre is walkable, Schönbrunn and Belvedere each need their own half-day, and trams plus the U-Bahn link the rest without fuss.
Hofburg and St. Stephen's
Start at St. Stephen's Cathedral, cross the Graben to the Hofburg and look into the imperial apartments or the Treasury. The lanes are narrow and busy, but everything stands close together, so allow a couple of hours for the palace.
Schönbrunn
Schönbrunn lies west of the centre and the U-Bahn brings you there directly. Leave time for the park and the climb to the Gloriette, which frames the whole city, and the gardens alone fill half a day.
Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt shows what Viennese cooking draws on: cheese, olives, spices and snacks sold from stalls. MuseumsQuartier is a short walk away, with the Leopold Museum and Kunsthalle, a good place to spend a wet afternoon.
Where to stay
Innere Stadt
The Innere Stadt keeps the main sights within walking distance: cathedral, palaces, coffee houses and shops. Rooms are expensive and the streets calm down in the evening, while Prater and Schönbrunn require a tram or train ride.
Leopoldstadt
Leopoldstadt, across the Danube Canal, is quieter and cheaper than the centre, and Stephansplatz is still a walk away. Families settle here, the Prater is next door, and Karmelitermarkt supplies the neighbourhood with produce.
Neubau
Neubau around Spittelberg draws people for coffee houses, small shops and evenings out. The lanes are narrow and noisy at night, yet the museums and the Ringstrasse are ten minutes on foot.
Getting to and around Vienna
Trains S7 and the City Airport Train run from Schwechat airport to Wien Mitte in roughly twenty minutes. The U-Bahn is the quickest way across town, with five lines crossing the centre and the outer districts. Trams run along the Ringstrasse, and the inner city is best covered on foot.
Three days in Vienna
The inner city
Climb St. Stephen's tower in the morning, walk along the Graben to the Hofburg and visit the Treasury. Spend the afternoon over coffee and newspapers, then end the day beside the Opera.
Schönbrunn and the market
Reach Schönbrunn at opening time, walk the park and climb to the Gloriette for the view across the city. Back in the centre, have dinner at Naschmarkt or in the side streets nearby.
Belvedere and Prater
Begin at the Belvedere with the Klimt paintings, then walk to MuseumsQuartier for coffee in the courtyard. In the evening ride out to the Prater and take a turn on the Ferris wheel.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.1 | -3.2 | 40.4 | 12.1 | 8.8 |
| February | 6.6 | -1.4 | 35.4 | 8.4 | 10.2 |
| March | 10.4 | 0.3 | 32.1 | 7.4 | 11.9 |
| April | 15.0 | 3.9 | 48.4 | 8.9 | 13.6 |
| May | 19.2 | 8.7 | 94.5 | 16.4 | 15.2 |
| June | 25.0 | 14.1 | 81.1 | 14.5 | 16.0 |
| July | 27.4 | 15.8 | 78.6 | 14.4 | 15.6 |
| August | 27.2 | 15.8 | 89.5 | 13.6 | 14.3 |
| September | 21.8 | 11.1 | 85.2 | 9.7 | 12.6 |
| October | 16.2 | 6.5 | 56.5 | 8.7 | 10.9 |
| November | 9.0 | 1.6 | 45.8 | 8.9 | 9.3 |
| December | 4.5 | -1.6 | 47.5 | 9.6 | 8.4 |
Frequently asked questions
Vienna: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 3.1 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 12.1 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 40.4 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 3.6 °C; 11–20 — 2.7 °C; 21 to month-end — 3.1 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 8.8 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Vienna worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 3.1 °C and nights around -3.2 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Vienna on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Vienna in January?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 8.8 hours.