When to Go

High Season: May, June, and September are busy and expensive but offer major festivals and better weather. July and August are the hottest months in the east (less so to the west) but this is also when most Viennese take their own vacations.

Low Season: Late January and February are the best times for airfares and hotel deals—and to escape the crowds. But unless you are skiing, winter offers the least appealing weather. Snowfall, icy winds, and freezing temperatures can cause travel disruptions (more so in the mountainous west than in the dryer east).

Value Season: October is gorgeous, with temperate weather, good hotel deals, and lots of cultural events. By November temperatures start to drop. Late March and April are good months to visit, before the masses arrive and when snows are nearly gone and springtime activities are abuzz.