Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Vienna in January
This is the coldest month in Vienna: highs average 37°F (3°C) and lows 25°F (-4°C), with about 1.7 in (42 mm) of rain or snow.
With a comfort score of 44/100 (11th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 37°F (3°C)
- Avg low
- 25°F (-4°C)
- Rain or snow
- 1.7 in (42 mm)
- Humidity
- 90%
- Cloud cover
- 78%
- Daylight
- ~8 h 34 min
- Comfort score
- 44/100 · Tough
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 37°F (3°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 25°F (-4°C), so expect frost and ice.
About 1.7 in (42 mm) of rain or snow falls in the month, and with temperatures averaging below freezing, much of it may come as snow.
Skies are often grey, with average cloud cover around 78%.
Only about 8 h 34 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are April – September.
- Comfort holds steady from December (43 → 44/100).
- Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest route recommends Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct, so January falls outside its suggested window.
- Our Hallstatt, Salzburg & Vienna route is planned for Late Nov – early Jan, a window set by the holiday season rather than the weather — January is part of it.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 25°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Vienna in January
Cold days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Café Sperl
Classic 1880 coffeehouse with billiard tables and slow, formal service.
Why now A warm sit-down stop when highs sit around 37°F.
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Old masters including the largest Bruegel collection anywhere, in a domed palace.
Why now An indoor-leaning stop when highs sit around 37°F.
Spittelberg Christmas Market
Stalls of handmade goods along the cobbled Biedermeier lanes of the Spittelberg quarter.
Why now A way to spend part of a cold day out of the wind.
Art Advent Karlsplatz
An arts-and-crafts market in front of the baroque Karlskirche, with organic food and a straw-filled play area.
Figlmüller
Known for oversized Wiener schnitzel since 1905.
Why now Somewhere to warm up between colder walks.
Mayer am Pfarrplatz
Heuriger wine tavern in a house where Beethoven lived, serving its own Vienna wines.
Why now A cozy break on a 37°F day.
Nearby in January
- Budapest in January~133 mi · highs 36°F, 1.5 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, about as wet
- Hallstatt in January~134 mi · highs 38°F, 3.2 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, wetter
- Prague in January~156 mi · highs 35°F, 1.7 in rain or snow · 1°C (2°F) cooler by day, about as wet
- Salzburg in January~156 mi · highs 37°F, 3.6 in rain or snow · similar daytime temperatures, wetter
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~373 m to Vienna's ~186 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Vienna in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Vienna?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 44/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are April – September. Expect highs of 37°F (3°C) and 1.7 in (42 mm) of rain or snow. Our Prague, Vienna & Budapest route recommends Apr – Jun, Sep – Oct, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Vienna in January?
Average highs are 37°F (3°C) and average lows 25°F (-4°C), making it the coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Vienna in January?
Not much: about 1.7 in (42 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 4th-driest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 29.0 in (737 mm).
What should I pack for Vienna in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 25°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
Routes in season in January
- Hallstatt, Salzburg & Vienna Late Nov – early Jan
Planning Vienna in January?
Plan it together in TripsCircle: one itinerary, one shared packing list and costs split as you go.