LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
When to Go
Summer sightseeing and winter sports make Austria a year-round destination and when to go depends on what you want to do or see. Festivals occur year-round, although the majority of music festivals are held between May and October.
For warm weather, aim for the months between April and October, although it must be said that April and October can swing from cold to warm all too quickly. The summer high season is in July and August, when crowds will be bigger and prices higher. Just because it’s the high season doesn’t mean it’s the best time to visit; temperatures in cities can rise to uncomfortable levels, Austrians take their summer break at this time and many famous institutions close down, including the opera, the Spanish Riding School and the Vienna Boys’ Choir. Consequently, June and September are also busy months for tourism, and are quite often the best times for city trips and hiking in the Alps.
During winter you’ll find the cities less crowded and the hotel prices lower (except over Christmas and Easter), but it can get bitterly cold. Winter sports are in full swing from mid-December to late March, with the high season over Christmas and New Year and in February. The length of the skiing season depends on the altitude of the resort – skiing is possible on glaciers nearly year-round. Alpine resorts are very quiet from late April to mid June, and in November and early December; at these times some bars, restaurants and hotels close down. School children have week-long breaks over Christmas and during February, making it a good time to avoid the pistes.
Austria lies within the Central European climatic zone, though the eastern part of the country has what is called a Continental Pannonian climate, characterised by low precipitation, hot summers and moderate winters. The Alps have high precipitation, short summers and long winters, and visitors need to be prepared for a range of temperatures depending on altitude. Seasons are distinct. Summer falls between June and August and has the highest temperatures, but also the highest levels of rainfall. Winter can bite hard, especially in December, January and February. Spring and autumn bring changeable weather, but quite often the most comfortable temperatures.
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