Page 66 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna
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64 INTRODUCING VIENNA VIENNA THROUGH THE Y EAR 65
VIENNA THROUGH THE YEAR Average Daily Hours of Sunshine
Spring often arrives unexpectedly, with not, it is still warm enough to sit in the Hours Hours Sunshine Chart
June, July and August
a few days of sunshine and warmth. The Stadtpark. As winter chills set in, chestnut 10 10 are the sunniest months
climax of spring is the Wiener Festwochen sellers appear on the streets, and by 8 8 in Vienna, with between
in May–June. Summers are long and hot, the feast of St Nicholas on 6 December, 6 6 six and eight hours of
and ideal for swimming and for river trips snow has often fallen. Christmas is a sunshine each day, but
summer can also be
on the Danube (see pp180–81) during family occasion, but the New Year is 4 4 quite damp and humid.
July and August, when some venues celebrated in style as it heralds the start 2 2 Although the clouds
officially close. Vienna comes alive again of the Carnival season. The Wiener gather in September,
in September when the most important Tourismusverband (see p239) has details 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 0 Indian summers are
quite common.
theatres reopen, and more often than of important events.
Concordia Ball (2nd Fri in Jun)
Summer takes place at the Neues
Spring
Summer can be both the Rathaus (p132).
Vienna is beautiful in spring, busiest and most relaxing Ball der Universität (18 Jun).
which is the time for the Wiener time in Vienna. The great Popular ball held at the
Festwochen (see May). It is also theatres are officially closed, University (p132).
a season that brings a few days but the Jazz Festival is on at Donauinselfest (last weekend in
of balmy weather, and when the Opera House and the Volks Jun). Threeday pop concert on
the parks and Prater woods theater in July. The Danube Danube island.
burst into colour (see pp164–5). beaches are ideal for sun
This is the best time of the year bathing, swimming and other
to visit the Stadtpark (see p167) watersports on sunny days. In July
with its open-air bandstand and the evenings, people frequent Outdoor films, operas and
much-photographed resident the Heuringer wine taverns on concerts (until Sep) shown on
peacock. The Volksgarten, the outskirts of the city. a giant screen in Rathausplatz. Sunbathing beside the Danube
Burggarten and the great Admission is free.
parks of the Belvedere and Oper Klosterneuburg (Jul). Music in churches (Jul–Aug).
Schönbrunn also come into Performances are in the Many churches stage summer
their own. The Stephansdom Kaiserhof courtyard of the concerts while the big cultural
tower offers splendid views of palatial religious foundation, venues take a summer break.
the city and its colourful parks. Klosterneuburg, a short way Impulstanz (International
north of Vienna (see p163). Dance Festival) (end Jul–mid-
Jazzfest (1st two weeks Jul). Well Aug) at the Volkstheater (p230)
March A collection of life-sized dolls on display during the Wiener Festwochen known artists perform at many and Universitäts Sportzentrum
Easter Markets (two weeks venues, including the Opera at Schmelz.
before Easter), held at the April May House (pp140–41), Porgy & Bess Seefestspiele Mörbisch
Freyung and in Schönbrunn. Volksprater Funfair (1 Apr–31 Tag der Arbeit (1 May). Jazz and Music Club (p229) and (Thu–Sun mid-Jul to end Aug).
Arts, crafts and traditional food Oct), held in the Prater woods An official public holiday, Summer outside the Votivkirche the arcaded courtyard of the An operetta festival, which
are all on sale. (pp164–5). Labour Day is celebrated Neues Rathaus (p132). takes place in Mörbisch,
Schönbrunner Schlosskonzerte City Marathon starts from UNO- with parades on Rathausplatz June Piber Meets Vienna (Jul–Aug). around 40 km (25 miles)
(until end Oct), at the Orangery, City by Donaupark (see p163), and Ringstrasse. Corpus Christi (late May–Jun). Mares with their foals and outside Vienna.
Schönbrunn Palace (see pp174–7). passing Schönbrunn Palace and Maifest (1 May) fills the Prater Public holiday. Catholic young horses in training from
Performances of popular around the inner city, ending at (pp164–5) with music and festival held in honour of the Piber Lipizzaner Stud come August
melodies by Johann Strauss. Heldenpaltz at the Hofburg. children’s programmes. the Eucharist. to the Spanish Riding School Maria Himmelfahrt (15 Aug).
Frühlingsfestival (2nd week Vienna Music Festival Vienna Pride and Regenbogen- (see pp100–101) for summer Public holiday. A Catholic
Apr to mid-May). Classical music (6 May–21 Jun), part of the parade (mid-Jun). LGBT parade shows that are less formal than festival, which celebrates
festival alternating between Wiener Festwochen on the Ringstrasse. the usual displays. the Assumption.
the Musikverein (p150) and the programme, which begins a
Konzerthaus (p229). few days earlier at the Wiener
Spanish Riding School (until Konzerthaus (p229) and
Jun). Lipizzaner horse MuseumsQuartier (pp120–23).
performances in the Winter Dancing on the Vindobona
Riding School (pp100–101). (15 May to end Sep). Board the
Hofburg Orchestra (until Oct). boat at Schwedenplatz for a
Concerts at Musikverein (p150) cruise on the Danube.
and Hofburg (pp98–9). Wiener Festwochen (mid-May
Kursalon (until end Oct). Open- to mid-Jun). Vienna’s greatest
Runners taking part in the annual air concerts (p229). Indoor festival features operas, plays
City Marathon concerts all year. and other performing arts. Seefestspiele Mörbisch, an annual operetta festival performed against the backdrop of Lake Neusiedl
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