Vienna is a city for rainy days. Hardly any other city has so many major museums in such a small space, plus coffee houses where you can sit for hours, a large thermal spa with a metro connection, and cabaret (Kabarett), concerts and theatre every evening. Here are our ideas, sorted by mood. If you want to know what’s on today, check Vienna today: the tips there adapt automatically to the current weather.
15 ideasMuseums and art
- Kunsthistorisches Museum – The world’s largest Bruegel collection, followed by a Melange under the dome. Perfect when it’s unpleasant outside.
- Naturhistorisches Museum – Dinosaurs, meteorites and the Venus of Willendorf. Open until 9 pm on Wednesdays.
- Belvedere – Klimt’s The Kiss in the original, plus the baroque garden between the Upper and Lower Belvedere.
- Albertina – From Monet to Picasso in the heart of the city; from the terrace you look out onto the Staatsoper.
- Leopold Museum – The world’s largest Schiele collection, in the middle of the MuseumsQuartier. Afterwards, a coffee in the MQ.
- Wien Museum at Karlsplatz – The history of the city from the Romans to today. The permanent exhibition is free.
- Technisches Museum Wien – Hands-on and try-it-yourself, from steam engines to space travel. Ideal for rainy days with kids.
- Haus der Musik – Conduct the Wiener Philharmoniker yourself, interactively across several floors in the city centre.
- KunstHausWien – Hundertwasser to walk through: crooked floors, colourful façades. The Hundertwasserhaus is just around the corner.
- Weltmuseum Wien – Treasures from around the world in the Neue Burg on Heldenplatz.
- Prunksaal of the Nationalbibliothek – One of the most beautiful library halls in the world, in the middle of the Hofburg. Half an hour is enough, and you forget the rain.
- Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments – How the empress really lived, in the Hofburg. Combines well with a stroll through the city centre.
- Sigmund Freud Museum – The flat and practice at Berggasse 19, where psychoanalysis was born.
- Heeresgeschichtliches Museum – In the Arsenal, with the car from Sarajevo 1914. The building alone is worth the visit.
- Bestattungsmuseum – Typically Viennese morbid: coffins, rituals and the collapsible coffin, right by the Zentralfriedhof.
2 ideasWellness and swimming
- Therme Wien in Oberlaa – The big city thermal spa with a U1 connection. The best plan for grey, cold days.
- Off to the indoor pool – Swim a few lengths and then head to the sauna. Vienna has indoor pools in almost every district.
11 ideasCoffee house and food
- Off to a Viennese coffee house – Melange, apple strudel, newspaper and no rush. It can rain outside as much as it likes.
- Brunch instead of an umbrella – Have a long breakfast while it pours outside. Our 10 best addresses for breakfast and brunch. More
- Schnitzel night – When it gets cold, a proper Schnitzel helps. Our top 10 in Vienna. More
- Burger night – Smash, classic or vegan: the 10 best burgers in the city at a glance. More
- Pizza night – Neapolitan or Roman: the 10 best pizzerias in Vienna. More
- Steak night – Dry-aged, grill and good wines: the 10 best steakhouses in the city. More
- Eat fish – From the Naschmarkt to the Kutschkermarkt: the 10 best fish restaurants in Vienna. More
- Eat Turkish – From Ocakbaşı to meze: the 10 best Turkish restaurants in Vienna. More
- Döner round – Quick, warm and good: the 10 best döner and kebab spots in Vienna. More
- St Martin’s goose (Gansl) – November only: 20 venues from Beisl to Heuriger, plus vegan Gansl addresses. Book early. More
- Heuriger on the city edge – Grinzing, Nussdorf or Stammersdorf: it’s warm inside in the Stube. Check beforehand who is open (ausg'steckt).
4 ideasActive and entertainment
- Off to the cinema – Popcorn, a big screen, two hours of switching off. The classic for rainy days, and in the evening anyway.
- Bouldering – Vienna has several large bouldering gyms. Rent shoes, start climbing, no experience needed.
- Escape room – An hour of puzzling as a team. Weatherproof, and you’ll have something to tell afterwards.
- Public skating session at the EisStadthalle – Ice skating under a roof at the Wiener Stadthalle, Hall B. Weatherproof. More
7 ideasIn the evening
- Cabaret (Kabarett) night – Niedermair, CasaNova, Stadtsaal: somewhere in Vienna, people are laughing every evening. What’s on today is listed below under events. More
- Standing room at the Staatsoper – World-class opera at almost cinema prices. An evening you won’t forget.
- Konzerthaus or Musikverein – Classical music in the city’s most famous halls. Sometimes tickets are still available at short notice. More
- Jazz at Porgy & Bess – One of Europe’s most important jazz clubs, in the heart of the city centre. More
- Loos Bar – Tiny, mirrored and a classic by Adolf Loos since 1908. A cocktail here is part of Vienna.
- Match in the sports bar – Big screens, beer, atmosphere: the 10 best sports bars in Vienna for football and Formula 1. More
- Going out tonight – Concerts, parties and shows happening today are right below in our events calendar. More
5 ideasWith kids
- Haus des Meeres – Sharks and a tropical house in a flak tower in Esterházypark, with a viewing terrace over the city on top.
- ZOOM Kindermuseum – Hands-on play, discovery and crafts in the MuseumsQuartier. Reserve a slot in good time.
- Dschungel Wien – Theatre for children and young people in the MuseumsQuartier. What's on today is listed below under events. More
- Planetarium im Prater – Stars, planets and outer space under the dome. The Prater is right next door afterwards.
- Madame Tussauds im Prater – Selfies with stars, emperors and athletes, rain or shine in the Wurstelprater.
All ideas for rainy days with kids →
Quick answersFrequently asked questions
What can you do in Vienna when it rains?
The big museums are the most popular choice (Kunsthistorisches and Naturhistorisches Museum, Belvedere, Albertina), along with an afternoon in a Viennese coffee house, the Therme Wien in Oberlaa and, in the evening, cabaret (Kabarett), cinema or a concert.
Which museums in Vienna are free?
The permanent exhibition at the Wien Museum on Karlsplatz is free. Many other venues have discounted evenings; you can find the current offers in our events calendar.
What can you do with kids in Vienna when it rains?
Haus des Meeres, Technisches Museum, ZOOM Kindermuseum, Planetarium and Dschungel Wien are all weatherproof. We have collected all the ideas on a page of their own: Vienna with kids in the rain.
Where can I see what's on in Vienna today?
On Vienna today we show the current weather, three fitting tips and all of the day's events, every day.