Discover Vienna in spring

On foot, by tram or even by horse-drawn carriage for the more romantic, the Ringstraße, also known as the 'Ring', is an absolute must. It's an exceptional walk that gives you a good idea of the city's architecture, both Baroque and modern, as this ceremonial boulevard surrounds the city. It is dotted with numerous official buildings, private hotels, small squares, parks, monuments and chic cafés.

One afternoon, take a seat on the terrace of one of these famous cafés, inviting you to relax over a drink. There are also plenty of brasseries on the banks of the Danube, where you can enjoy the spring sunshine in the most pleasant surroundings.

Enjoy a typically Viennese shopping spree at one of the city's many markets, such as the Naschmarkt, Karmelitermarkt or Brunnenmarkt: they offer a host of seasonal organic delights and add to the springtime pleasures thanks to the many stalls offering tastings.

Don't forget the Easter markets, which traditionally open at the end of March. You'll findhandicrafts, colourful eggs, typical food and drink, and lots of activities for children.

Spring is an ideal time to enjoycultural events. Every year, the Vienna Festival - Wiener Festwochen in German - offers a wide range of performances over a five-week period between May and June.

The programme includes a wide range of classical and contemporary music concerts, performances, avant-garde theatre and dance shows, presented in the city's most emblematic venues such as the MuseumsQuartier and City Hall.

The 'Festwochen' offer the public around thirty different productions from fifteen or so countries and over 150 performances of all kinds. Every year, the opening festival attracts thousands of visitors to the town hall square, Rathausplatz. You'll find a wealth of information on the Vienna Tourist Office website.

All around the capital, the Viennese forest, the "Wienerwald", unfurls its necklace of greenery and hiking trails for walkers. It is home to the Augustinian Chapter Abbey, which dates back to the 12th century. Another very pleasant excursion awaits you on Mount Kahlenberg. From its summit, at an altitude of 500 metres, you can enjoy breathtaking views over the entire Viennese valley. If you're feeling more sporty, you can continue your ascent to the neighbouring Leopoldsberg.

Spend an afternoon in the Lainz wildlife park on the outskirts of Vienna. This 2,500-hectare former imperial hunting estate is an oasis outside the city, where wild boar, roe deer and stags roam freely. The best time to see all these beautiful creatures frolic through the vegetation is in spring.

In the middle of the animal park, you'll find the country house built by Emperor Franz Joseph in 1881 for his wife Elisabeth (the famous Empress Sissi), which is somewhere between a large villa and a small castle. Called the Villa Hermes after the mythological god, the name was chosen by Empress Sissi as a tribute to her travels in Greece.

In the Villa Hermès, the Wien Museum offers an interesting exhibition on the history of the house: some of Sissi's living rooms have been reconstructed, including one designed by Gustav Klimt. The flats of Gisèle (the Empress's daughter) on the ground floor have been converted into a restaurant. It serves excellent specialities, including game. And if you stop off here, you'll have a majestic view of the forest from the terrace!

If you want to take some unforgettable shots for your photo album or Instagram account, or simply enjoy the city'sflower-filled atmosphere, there are a few 'spots' you should check out. The 4.5-kilometre Prater-Hauptallee, for example, becomes splendid in spring, when thousands of chestnut trees come into bloom.

After taking a few colourful shots, you can kill two birds with one stone and head to the Vienna Prater amusement park for a day of fun or just a bite to eat.

Another famous street full of flowers is Hainburger Weg, where the cherry trees on either side of the pedestrian path stretch their branches until they touch and hide the sky.

Last but not least, don't forget to visit the Hirschstetten flower garden, home to a myriad of plant species spread over more than 60,000 square metres. There are almost thirty themed gardens, some of which recreate an exotic atmosphere, with Mexican, Chinese, Indian and Provençal gardens. Others focus on a particular era, such as the prehistoric garden. With more than 69,000 spring flowers and 15 Japanese cherry trees, the place becomes absolutely magical in summer.

⭐ Strandhotel Alte Donau 4*

On the banks of the Danube, this 4* hotel will allow you to enjoy the mild weather that reigns over Vienna in spring lying on a deckchair by the water. The hotel also rents bicycles for exploring the city.