January in Vienna averages highs of 4 °C (40 °F) and lows of -2 °C (29 °F), with about 7 rainy days and 8 h 45 min of daylight.
January weather in Vienna at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit Vienna?
Tough month: cold and some rain. January is usually shoulder season in Vienna: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Neujahr) public holiday
- Tue 6 Jan: Epiphany (Heilige Drei Könige) public holiday
- Ball season (January to Carnival) event
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Vienna in January
With cold days in January, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Schönbrunn Palace — and the gardens indoors
- St Stephen's Cathedral — climb the south tower indoors
- Kunsthistorisches Museum — Bruegel room indoors
- Belvedere — Klimt's The Kiss indoors
- Coffee houses — Café Central, Sperl or Prückel indoors
- Naschmarkt — Saturday flea market too outdoors
Where to stay: Innere Stadt for sights; Neubau or Mariahilf for cafés and value.
What to pack for Vienna in January
- A warm winter coat, hat and gloves: it rarely gets above 4 °C (40 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Vienna costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €60–130 | €160–320 |
Excluding flights. January is usually shoulder season in Vienna: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budapest | 4° / -2° | 7 | Tough month |
| Prague | 4° / -2° | 8 | Tough month |
| Krakow | 2° / -4° | 8 | Tough month |
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FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Vienna?
By the numbers, January is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 4 °C (40 °F) and about 7 rainy days. January is usually shoulder season in Vienna: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are May, June, July, August, September.
How warm is Vienna in January?
Average highs are 4 °C (40 °F) and lows -2 °C (29 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Vienna in January?
Expect about 7 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 41 mm in total. It is the 6th driest month of the year in Vienna.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.