Austria In May: For Evenings Spent Around Renaissance Architecture And Icy Hollows

23 Mar 2023

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Cover Image Credit: Pixabay

Austria is a beautiful landlocked country in Europe and is characterized by its friendly populace, alpine glory and clean cities. Visiting Austria in May can be an immensely memorable trip. Due to the low crime rates in its cities and suburbs, Austria is considered to be one of the best countries to settle down in the world.The country which gave us a music maestro like Mozart is a place to relax and celebrate the natural beauty created over millennia of nature’s activities. The painstaking efforts, made by the people of Austria, that has gone into creating the great architecture, brilliant art and culture is all worth witnessing. So sit back and read on as we list down the important aspects of visiting Austria in May.

Weather In Austria In May

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The weather in Austria in May is quite varied depending on the specific region or city you are in. Average temperatures in the day can easily reach 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. While the nights are a lot cooler settling at around 9 to 11 degrees Celsius. There is occasional rainfall in certain places but nothing to be alarmed about. You should pack light thermals for your stay. However, a trip to the Alps will require you to wear heavy thermal wear. All in all, Austria is a great place to travel to in the month of May

Why Should You Visit Austria In May

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Austria in May is a great place to visit. As the summer season begins, the snow on the Alps starts to melt and we can see the alpine greenery of the beautiful mountains. Trekking through the green pastures and alpine vegetation becomes a very sought after activity during this period. This season is lean in terms of tourist numbers, hence, cheap travel and lodging options are aplenty. Travelling within the country is also quite cheap if you buy a rail pass, which entitles you to unlimited travel through Austria for a limited time. There is also a festival you can attend if you visit austria in May:

Must Read: 7 Incredible Tourist Places To Visit For Day Trips In Austria

Wiener Festwochen

This is a 6 week festival established way back in the 1950s. It opens outside the City Hall of Vienna and pays homage to all cultural things. Originally, this festival was set up to reshape and rebrand the image of the city after the 2nd World War. It encourages people to unite through art and culture. It understands art as an enabler of fresh solidarities, thus creating a neutral zone for experimentation for future generations. Take part in this culture porridge if you are visiting Austria in the month of May.

5 Places To Visit In Austria In May

The following places are worth a visit if you are in Austria in May:

1. Schloss Ambras – Palace

If you visit Austria in May, then visit The Schloss Ambras which is located in Innsbruck. It is perched on a picturesque hill and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Archduke Ferdinand II transformed this renaissance era fortress into its present form, that is, a palace. Tourists crowd inside the main attraction, the Spanish Hall aka Spanische Saal which forms the centerpiece of this structure along with exhibits by Van Dyck and Velazquez.

2. Eisriesenwelt – Cave

The Eisriesenwelt caves span across 30,000 sq mt and around 40 km of tight passageways burrowed deep inside the mountains. These caves are the world’s largest ice caves accessible to man. Entering the caves, be it in any season feels like entering a deep freezer, so dress accordingly. It is a 4 hour trip and can exhaust you as it involves a climb of about 1000m, but it is a rewarding experience.

3. MuseumsQuartier – Museum Complex

The MuseumsQuartier is another attraction that you can visit. The complex is a combination of cafes, bars, restaurants and of course, museums. The huge exhibition space is a good place to indulge and explore in Austrian culture or just hang out to relax on the warm summer evenings. The largest hub for Austrian culture can be a good addition to your itinerary.

4. Krimmler Wasserfälle – Waterfall

This waterfall is spectacular to look at not just in May but any time of the year. It is a 3 hour walk and the waterfall trail can be seen weaving up the hills towards its origin. From up here, the view is unmatchable and you can even spend the night here if you are exhausted by the climb. These peaks give you a panoramic view of Krimml down below.

5. Dachstein Caves

The Dachstein Caves are formed by 2 different caves spread across icy hollows of 80km. The 2 caves are separated by a distance of about 1 km and are called the Mammuthohle and the Rieseneishöhle. You can easily reach them by cable car. The individual tour of each cave lasts for about an hour.

Another thing to remember is that these caves can only be explored on guided tours. These guides offer important insight into how these caves were formed and about the art installations along these caves. This cave tour will surely turn out to be your favourite experience in Austria.

5 Activities To Try In Austria In May

There are several things you can indulge in while you are in Austria. The following are a few of them:

1. Taste The Food In The Genussfestival Food Fair

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Stadtpark in Vienna turns into Austria’s largest food fair for three days in May. Ober 200 food stalls set up shop in this fair to serve you sumptuous meals. Here you can enjoy some Austrian bread made of sourdough, gnocchi with poppy seeds from Waldviertel and Vorarlberg cheese Knopfle. Apart from this, you can watch local bakers and farmers exhibit their work traditions.

2. Attend The Summer Night Concert

The Schonbrunn Palace gardens play host to an annual open air concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The massive event features some renowned conductors, musicians and artists from around the world each year. You will need to arrive a couple hours early to the venue to get good seating as this is a free concert and hence, incredibly popular among locals and visitors alike.

3. Be A Part Of The Danube Wine Tour

Every year in the first week of May, wine enthusiasts flock to the wineries in the wine growing areas of the Danube valley. The top 36 of these local wineries open the doors to their wine cellars for you to treasure their winemaking knowledge. All you need to be a part of this is a 25 Euro ticket from one of the wineries and you can go to wine tastings in all the other wineries.

4. Tour In An E-Bike

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The mountains of Leopoldsberg and Kahlenberg host an e-bike touring event every weekend in the month of May. The scenery on these tours are packed with panoramic views, lush greenery, vineyards and local historical buildings. Instead of traditional vehicles, the e-bike tour is held to help you observe nature in these mountains without causing any pollution.

5. Cook And Eat With A Viennese Family

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A lot of locals in Vienna play host to tourists and give them a taste of austrian cuisine and hospitality. In these households, you cook your food with them and later eat it together while discussing Austrian history, nature, art and politics.

Further Read: Spend Winter In Hallstatt For A Magical Time In Austria!

Austria in May is sandwiched between the spring and summer and does not see as many visitors. However, good food, clean cities, great natural beauty, cheap travel and stay, and renaissance architecture, all this is more than enough to entice you to plan a visit to Austria. We hope this guide helps you to make up your mind to visit Austria.

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Frequently Asked Questions For Austria In May

What is the weather like in Austria in May?

Temperature starts to climb in the month of April and from a mere 7-8°C in April to around 15-16°C in May. Although, it will remain pleasant and would be a nice place for a vacation.

What is the best time of year to visit Vienna?

The best time to visit Vienna would be from April to May and/or September to October.

What is the best time to visit Salzburg?

The most wonderful time to visit Salzburg is from September to October. Summers have set in and crowds have tapered off. Enjoy beautiful gardens in comfortable temperatures.

Is Vienna an expensive city?

As a capital city of one of the world’s richest nations, you might expect Vienna to be expensive. However, such is not the case when compared to London and other EU states.

How many days are enough to explore Vienna?

You need at least 4 days to explore the whole city of Vienna. But if you have limited time, then 2 days are enough to explore the major locations.