Summerstage in Vienna
photo: Summerstage

Things To Do In Vienna July 2024 – Where To Go Now

What are the best things to do in Vienna in July 2024?As Austria along with other European countries gradually reintroduces normality, outdoor festivals and music events will win the day. Other than that, consider venturing out to the countryside in Wachau Valley with a small group, for wine tasting and sightseeing.

1.Open Air Fun At Food and Music Film Festival at Rathaus Platz

kaiserschmarren at Vienna's Rathausplatz FestivalThings to do in Vienna July 2024. For two months every year, the annual Filmfestival on Rathausplatz transforms the large square in front of the City Hall (Rathaus) into a vibrant party space. Between Vienna sausages, Wiener Schnitzel, sweet dumplings and international street food you can watch and listen to an equally rich choice of music.

From around 9.15-9.30 pm, the large screen in front of City Hall shows famous operas, musicals, classical concerts, jazz, rock and pop. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays 5 pm to 7 pm a live DJ blows lounge tunes past the local after-work crowd. And each Sunday, live jazz bands celebrate the Viennese’s love for weekend brunches.

My tip: Try the freshly prepared Viennese Kaiserschmarrn – warm fluffy thick pancakes in big chunks served with plum compote and caster sugar – prepared in a large iron pan.
Dates: 29th June to 1st September 2024
Location:Vienna City Hall; entrance of open air cinema via Lichtenfelsgasse;
Admission:free

2. Experience A Classical Concert

Ehrbarsaal concert venueThings to do in Vienna July 2024. While classical concert venues are largely closed during the summer, popular tourist venues such as Hofburg Imperial Palace host regular Mozart and Strauss concerts. Special tip: the fabulous classical music events at St. Peter’s church. For Mozart fans: the violin and piano sonatas there in the early evening. At landmark St. Stephen’s Cathedral Vivaldi’s Four Seasons celebrate hot summer Fridays, and some Saturdays . On Thursdays and Fridays, the Four Seasons will sweep across the baroque nave of church St. Charles Borromeo, starting from 2nd July 2023.

3. Attend An Open Air Opera

Things to do in Vienna July: Oper KlosterneuburgThings to do in Vienna July 2024. Where to see an opera performance in July, when Vienna’s traditional opera houses take a summer break? Each summer, the vibrant tunes, grand voices and colorful costumes of Oper Klosterneuburg turn the baroque Imperial Courtyard of Klosterneuburg Abbey into an al fresco opera stage. As you would expect, romantic/bitter sweet to comical opera dominates the local summer nights, such as Verdi’s Don Carlo this season.

This year also sees the premiere of Norma by Vincenzo Bellini. In this tragic opera the Druid high priestess Norma grapples with love, betrayal, and duty in ancient Gaul. As tensions rise between the Gauls and the occupying Romans, Norma faces an agonizing choice between her loyalty to her people and her forbidden love for the Roman proconsul Pollione.

If it rains the performances take place in the equally stunning historical Babenberg Hall nearby.

Dates: Norma – 6th July 2024 (premiere); 9th, 12th, 20th, 25th July, 4th August 2023; Don Carlo – 18th, 23rd, 28th, 30th July, 1st August 2024
Time: 8.00 pm (Don Carlo); 8.30 pm (Norma)
Location:
Klosterneuburg Abbey (5 km from Vienna’s borders);

4. Discover the Charms of Summerstage

Things to do in Vienna July: SummerstageThings to do in Vienna July 2024.Not just the Vienna Danube – in certain parts – has its charms. In fact, sipping a glass of wine at Danube Canal’s Summerstage lets you discover a real neighborhood favorite. When I lived in Vienna it was my summer garden. From the seven restaurants there, the Wiener Weinpavillonwine bar is my favourite. It serves local Viennese wines (yes, we do grow them in the outskirts) and Austrian food. If you are with friends, create your own little degustation menu from the small cold and warm dishes on the menu.

Other than that Summerstage is a great place to try European and world food, including Italian, French, Latin American and Caribbean.
Dates: mid May to mid September 2024
Timing:Monday to Saturday 5.00 pm to 1.00 am; Sunday 3.00 pm to 1.00 am
Location:
Rossauer Lände, 1090 Vienna

5. Celebrate Anton Bruckner Through Art

Vienna tours private sightseeing: Belvedere gardensThings to do in Vienna July 2024. Since Austrian composer Anton Bruckner would celebrate his 200th birthday this year, why not explore his music through art? At Vienna’s baroque Belvedere Palace American artist Dara Birnbaum has installed her artwork “Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major”. Birnbaum is an American artist known for her pioneering work in video art and media installations. On top, Bruckner himself had spent his final year at the Belvedere.

Developed in Vienna, this installation explores the political undercurrents of Austrian music history through Anton Bruckner’s (1824–96) eponymous symphony. Bruckner’s 5th Symphony in B-flat major is a monumental orchestral work packed with rich harmonic language. With its majestic themes, intricate counterpoint, and powerful brass fanfares, the symphony captures a sense of grandeur and spiritual depth, exemplifying Bruckner’s distinctive style within the Romantic tradition.

Dates: 25 April to 22 September 2024
Opening Hours: daily 10.00 am to 6.00 pm
Location:
Lower Belvedere, Rennweg 6, 1030 Vienna

6. Go City Sightseeing by Bike

Vienna bike tour: RingstrasseThings to do in Vienna July 2024. The moment I started to pedal off on my city tour bike one hot July afternoon I knew it was the right thing to do. Catching a cool breeze during summer sightseeing was so pleasurable! In fact, a bike tour allows you to cover more ground while enjoying the city’s extensive network of bike lanes and paths.

In addition, cycling provides an eco-friendly way to discover Vienna’s landmarks, picturesque neighborhoods, and beautiful parks, all while enjoying the fresh air and getting some exercise after those patisseries and coffeehouses…

To find out more about the whole experience and whether you can still jump onto the saddle, click on my story about the city bike tour.

7. Embark On A Small Group Wine Tasting Tour To Wachau Valley

Duernstein in Wachau ValleyThings to do in Vienna July 2024.July and August are also good months to bike out to the Austrian country side. This one day wine tasting bike tour is one of the most popular in and around Vienna. It is fairly easy going: You will cycle along the mostly flat Danube bike path toUNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau Valley.The group makes regular stops at small wineries to taste wine, apricot liqueur and jam, and other local produce. Read more insmall-group wine tasting tour

8. Light Festival On The Old Danube

Things to do in Vienna July 2024. Each year the tranquil Old Danube switches on sound and light during its Lichterfest. Dozens of boats, gondolas, and adorned rafts glide across the water. Glowing lamps, Chinese lanterns and strings of lights illuminate them, turning them into a luminous sea. The spectacle culminates with a spectacular display of fireworks. This is a perfect opportunity to experience Vienna’s recreation paradise.

During the evening Radio Wien, Vienna’s local state radio station, enhances the ambiance with its own party boat featuring a DJ. Whether observing from the shore, renting a boat, or relaxing outside one of the bars or restaurants, make sure you reserve tables in advance. At around 10.00 pm fireworks will light up the night sky.

Alternatively, rent a boat (best one of these amazing sofa boats) and watch the show from the water while you dine. Alternatively, glide amidst the fireworks on a stand up paddling tour.

Location: Old Danube
Date: 22nd July 2024 (in case of bad weather: 29th July 2024)
Time: 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm

9. Explore The Danube Flood Plains By Boat

Danube Flood PlainsThings to do in Vienna July 2024.To capture the most savage authentic stretch of the Danube, go where the cruise ships can’t. In the summer, you can take the small National Park boat from the city to the Danube National Park of Lobau. It’s so close to Vienna, yet it’s as if you are in a wetlands jungle. From the National Park Centre you can take short and long hiking and biking tours, or go deeper into the Danube’s side arms by canoo.
Dates: 2nd May to 26th October; 9.00am (return arrival at 1.30 pm)
Location:
Danube Canal at Salztorbrücke/Franz-Josefs-Kai
Price:
EUR 12 (adults) EUR 6 (children 6-15 years);you need to book in advance; nh@ma49.wien.gv.at;

Check things to do during other months:

go tothings to do in June
find out aboutthings to do in August

explore Vienna Travel Planning – When to Hire a Trip Planner and Travel Consultant

find more Vienna Tours

accessVienna Concerts – My Shortlist of the best Music Events
more events inVienna Tourism Calendar
back to Vienna Unwrapped homepage