Austria in January

Peak ski month in Tyrol and Salzburgerland; Vienna ball season and cheap city hotels.

• Vienna and the east · Vienna, Wachau, Burgenland, Grazcool

  Dry continental climate: hot July–August (up to 35 °C) and cold, grey winters; wine harvest September–October.

• Salzburg and the lakes · Salzburg, Salzkammergut (Hallstatt, Wolfgangsee)cool

  Salzburg is one of the wettest cities in Austria ('Schnürlregen'); bring a rain jacket in any month. Lakes are swimmable July–August.

• Tyrol valleys · Innsbruck, Kitzbühel, Zillertalcool

  Sunny, dry winters in the valleys; foehn wind makes sudden warm days. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms.

• High Alps · Ötztal, Arlberg (St Anton), Hohe Tauern, glaciersbest weather

  Ski season December to April ('best' in winter means snow); huts open late June to late September. Many lifts close in May and November.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year's Day

  1 Jan

  Vienna Philharmonic New Year's concert (tickets by lottery); shops closed.

• Epiphany

  6 Jan

  Public holiday; ski resorts full to this date.

• Ball season

  Jan–Feb · Vienna

  Evening streets around the Hofburg and Rathaus are closed for traffic; formal dress crowds restaurants.

Crowds · Austria

Medium

Prices · Austria

Medium

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• High Alps

  Best weather of the year (Ötztal, Arlberg (St Anton), Hohe Tauern, glaciers)