Things to Do in Winter in Austria

As the residence of Prince Archbishops, Salzburg was a spiritual center from the earliest days of Christianity in Europe. The Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter, in the heart of the Altstadt (Old Town) was founded by St. Rupert in AD 690 and served as the residence of the Archbishops until the early 1100s.

The spectacular Hofburg Palace in Vienna was for centuries the seat of Austria's monarchy, the powerful Habsburgs. Visiting this palace is one of the top things to do in Austria.

For an action-packed outdoor adventure, it's hard to beat dogsledding. Sitting in a sled covered by thick blankets and being pulled across open valleys filled with snow and surrounded by forests feels like a bit of a fairy tale. Even better, you'll find that the huskies pulling you are enjoying the experience just as much as you do.

You'll find plenty of indoor rinks in Austria, but the true beauty of ice-skating here can only be experienced if you brave the temperatures outside. In areas like Tirol, many lakes completely freeze over, so you can ice-skate surrounded by majestic, towering snow-covered mountains.

If all the skiing and tobogganing has whet your appetite, you're in luck - Austrian cuisine is perfect for winter days.

There's more to do on the snowcapped mountains of Austria than having fun on the slopes. Austria is actually home to some very unique high-altitude destinations that are well worth a visit.

The colder it gets in Austria, the more popular outdoor swimming pools become. Of course, these aren't your regular pools but thermal baths, heated pools, and saunas in the heart of Alpine valleys, surrounded by a blanket of snow.

Austria is home to some of the best Christmas markets in Europe. In Vienna, the Christmas markets are everywhere, but the Viennese Dream Christmas Market in front of City Hall and the Christmas Village at Belvedere Palace are the most popular ones.

Tobogganing is part of every childhood in Austria – and fortunately for visitors, the fun continues on for adults. Lots of mountain huts and ski resorts offer toboggan rentals, so you can take to the hills.

Austrian Alpine villages are some of the best places to visit in Austria year long, but they are particularly magical when it snows. There's a unique charm to cobblestone streets covered in powdery white as you make your way around centuries-old buildings decorated for the holidays.

Between November and April, Austria holds almost 500 balls – most of which happen in Vienna in January and February. The Viennese Ball is a centuries-old tradition that preserves a very strict ceremonial program of fancy dress code, waltzing, fine cuisine, and the exclamation "Alles Walzer!" to get the celebration started. Joining this tradition is one of the top things to do in Vienna.

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is an amazing spectacle at any time of the year, but during the holidays, they hold special classical concerts that are must-sees. Their famous New Year's Concert sells months in advance.