Vienna in September: Travel Tips & Things to Do [2024]

By visiting Vienna in September, you get the best of both worlds: warm weather of the summer months and fewer crowds as it is (almost) off-season. In fact, September is one of my favorite times to visit Vienna. Below, we have compiled some practical information for you as well as the best things to do in Vienna in September.

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Vienna Weather in September

Considering that, meteorologically, September is a fall month, it is still considered a summer month by many Austrians. It is still pretty warm with even nights not cooling off too much. All in all, the weather in September is very pleasant (although it may drizzle occasionally).

On average, expect highs around 70°F (21°C) and lows around 56°F (14°C). Keep in mind that Vienna can be rather windy, bringing down the temperature a notch.

What to Wear in Vienna in September

In September, you can probably still wear your summer outfits in Vienna. However, I would bring a light cardigan or sweater as it will cool down a bit in the evenings. Just be mindful that if your regular summer outfits include heels, you may want to swap those for sneakers.

Because the weather is slowly transitioning to fall, you may also want to bring an umbrella or a light rain jacket in case of a drizzle.

Practical Information for Visiting Vienna in September

September and October are probably my favorite months to visit Vienna. From the middle of September, most of the tourist crowds have left the cities and even the locals have gone back to work/school. Hotels are cheaper and the weather is pleasant.

September is also particularly good as there are no public holidays in Austria during this month, giving you the utmost flexibility.

Where to Stay in Vienna in September

Hostel: Wombats Naschmarkt, a popular hostel in Vienna, within walking distance of the city center

Budget Economy: B&B Hotel Wien-Meidling, a great budget option close to Wien-Meidling station

Budget Plus: Motel One Wien Hauptbahnhof, an unpretentious choice within 2 minutes of Vienna Central Station

Mid-range: Mercure Secession Vienna, a reasonably-priced 4-star hotel in the city center

Splurge: Hotel Sans Souci Wien, one of the city’s most prestigious hotels, the glamorous Sans Souci features trendy rooms and deluxe furnishings

Best Things to Do in September in Vienna

Below, find a selection of the best things to do in Vienna in September. The events are sorted in roughly chronological order, but please check the official websites for up-to-date information.

Try the First Sturm

The end of September makes a great time to try some fresh Sturm. Sturm is semi-fermented freshly pressed grape juice (and kind of a pre-product of wine). Careful: even if only barely, this is an alcoholic drink!

Sturm is sold in huge bottles in supermarkets, but I prefer getting just a glass or two at a Heuriger. A glass usually costs around 3 EUR.

Head out to a Traditional Heuriger

September is the best time to head out to a traditional Viennese Heuriger – a kind of inn serving mostly cold food and local wines. You will need to put in a little bit of effort to get to one, but the experience is well worth it.

Bus 38A delivers you to the top of Kahlenberg from where several Heuriger can be reached on foot. Once there, order some Austrian meats and/or cheeses as well as a bottle of Austrian white wine (alternatively grape juice or “Himbeerkracherl”).

Just be sure to bring cash – most places here don’t accept cards.

Explore the City on a Walking Tour

Vienna is a great city to explore on foot when it’s still warm – there is so much to see! If you like, you could give our self-guided Vienna walking tour a try or check out one of these popular guided walking tours of Vienna:

• World War II Historical Walking Tour
• Walking Tour of Jewish Vienna
• “The Third Man” Film Location Tour
• Naschmarkt Food Tasting Tour

Kino am Dach

Kino am Dach invites visitors every year onto the rooftop of the Vienna public library for screenings of various movies. Unlike the other more artsy film festivals, though, Kino am Dach also mixes in blockbusters and evergreen favorites. 

The only downside is that foreign-language films are generally shown with German subtitles. Tickets cost 10 EUR.

Check out their website for the full program.

Ottakringer Beer Festival

From the end of June to the very beginning of September, the famous Ottakringer Brewery opens its doors to fans of the tradition-soaked Viennese beer and beer lovers in general. The program includes guided brewery tours, live music, beer tastings, and even beer yoga! 

Best of all, admission is free and the grounds are open nearly all week (Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to midnight). Check out the website for more details.

Vienna Restaurant Week

Haute cuisine at the price of a regular mid-range meal? Vienna Restaurant Week makes it possible!

Taking place at the turn of August and September, dozens of restaurants provide one-of-a-kind tasting menus. You can choose between a 2-course lunch or a 3-course dinner.

Reservations usually open in mid-August – and you better be fast as the most popular restaurants book up quickly. Check out the full program on the official website.

Rathausplatz Film Festival

Usually starting at the beginning of July and lasting until the beginning of September, the Film Festival at Rathausplatz is Europe’s largest culture and culinary festival. 

Best of all, you can hardly miss it, thanks to its central location at City Hall Square (Rathausplatz). Stop by and enjoy any of the numerous FREE cultural events, major music productions, and/or a hearty snack from one of the many top-notch food stalls. 

Check out their website for the full program.

Parallel Vienna

Parallel Vienna is a contemporary art festival, staging the artworks in vacant buildings rather than renowned galleries and museums. It brings together Austrian artists as well as international talents.

Rather than occupying a booth like at a traditional art fair, artists get the chance to present their works in individual rooms of the buildings, allowing for more intimacy.

Check out their website for more details and tickets.

Waves Festival

Wave is a music festival, describing itself as “East meets West”. Usually, it hosts 2 countries that get to showcase some of their most exciting new acts.

Experience an intriguing mix of alternative, electronic, and rock music sprinkled with a dash of club hits. Attached to the music festival is also an international conference, hosting workshops and more.

Check out their website for more details and tickets.

Vienna Contemporary

Vienna Contemporary is Vienna’s leading art fair, bringing together newcomers as well as established artists in highly curated exhibitions. Numerous shows, performances, lectures, and more complete the program.

Check out their website for the full lineup and tickets.

Vienna Coffee Festival

With its numerous coffee houses, it should come as no surprise that Vienna also hosts a festival entirely dedicated to coffee. Straying a bit from tradition, this festival explores the newest trends in all things coffee.

Tickets are fairly affordable and include admission to the festival as well as tastings at the different booths. Check out the website for more details.

Buskers Festival

The Buskers Festival in Vienna is just what you would expect: a fun street festival for all ages. At the core of the festival located at Karlsplatz are fairness and solidarity, meaning that even new performers get a chance to showcase their talent.

While there are no tickets or paid admission, artists depend on so-called “hat money” – so bring some change to show your appreciation! Check out their website for the full program.

Open House Wien

Utilitarian architecture often goes unnoticed. Open House Wien tries to change this by showcasing how architecture can influence our daily lives.

Join a guided tour with one of the volunteers – free of charge – and experience Vienna, unlike any other tourist.

Check out the website for the full line-up.

Erntedankfest

While Austrians don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in the American sense, we do pay our respects to farmers and their extraordinary products every fall with Erntedankfest.

Farmers from the surrounding districts of Vienna present their goods in the city center. It’s a great chance to explore seasonal Austrian produce and products without having to travel far.

Erntedankfest culminates in communal meals, where locals and visitors alike savor dishes made from fresh, seasonal ingredients, reflecting Austria’s rich agricultural heritage. Fair games and live music are also part of the program.

In 2024, Erntedankfest will take place from the 6th to the 8th of September at Heldenplatz.

Vienna Independent Film Festival

Vienna Independent Film Festival brings together filmmakers from around the globe. Artists can send in their movies to be judged by an international jury. The top picks are then screened for the public.

The films range from traditional short films and feature films to animations and documentaries, or even experimental pieces.

Tickets for a single screening cost only 5 EUR and all movies are guaranteed to be in English or include English subtitles. Check out the website for this year’s program.

MQ Vienna Fashion Week

It may not be New York, Paris, or Milan, but Vienna does put on its own version of Fashion Week every year! Dozens of designers get to showcase their work on the runway while visitors can play the ever-popular “see and be seen” or browse for designer pieces in the pop-up store.

Art Vienna

Art Vienna is an international art fair, hosting up to 25 galleries and art dealers every year. The festival particularly highlights contemporary art and is a must for art collectors (although more casual art lovers could probably skip this one).

Check out their website for more details.

Rum Festival & Gin Market

In the middle of September, Ottakringer Brewery offers more than just beer as it hosts a rum festival as well as a gin market (a gin festival, in truth). Lovers of the two spirits should definitely stop by.

Tickets include admission to the selected festival as well as 3 tasting vouchers. For more information and tickets check out the website of the Rum Festival or the website of the Gin Market.

Vienna Design Week

Vienna Design Week is one of Austria’s most important design festivals. It is absolutely massive – comprising more than 200 events and attracting more than 40,000 visitors each year.

Not only does it give a platform to young and established designers, but it also encourages dialogue around important topics such as sustainability and social justice. Most of the events can be visited free of charge, making design accessible to everybody.

Check out their website for the full program.

Hollywood in Vienna

Hollywood in Vienna is a concert celebrating the art of film music. It usually consists of two performances: a gala concert including an award ceremony as well as a regular concert.

If you plan to attend, buy your tickets well ahead of time, and please note that this is a formal event, so pack and dress accordingly. Check out their website for this year’s line-up and tickets.

European Heritage Day

In Austria, European Heritage Day is celebrated as Tag des Denkmals on the last Sunday in September. What makes it so special is that many buildings that are not usually open to the public open their doors to visitors.

In addition, guided tours show well-known landmarks in a new light. Best of all, the events are free of charge (although some guided tours may only be in German).

Be sure to check out their website ahead of time for an overview of the full program.

Kaiser Wiesn

If you can’t make it to Munich for Oktoberfest, Vienna offers the next-best thing: Wiesn (from 2022 known as Kaiser Wiesn). From late September to October, you get the chance to dress up in Trachten (if you want), drink beer (if you want), and enjoy traditional Austrian dishes accompanied by traditional Austrian “party” music. 

Visiting during the day is free of charge, but if you want to attend any of the live music events in the evening, you need to purchase tickets ahead of time.

Slash

Slash is a film festival entirely dedicated to fantastic films, usually taking place around the turn of September and October. It features anything from crowd-pleasers to truly experimental pieces, always carefully hand-picked.

Come if you enjoy horror, science fiction, or fantasy – you are sure to find something worthwhile. Check out their website for this year’s program.

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Now, what do you think? What is your favorite time of the year to visit Vienna? What else is there to do in Vienna in September? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!