10 Things to Do in Vienna in March

As spring arrives in Vienna, but winter still lingers, the Austrian capital welcomes you with pleasant weather to make the most of the various cultural activities, events and fairs.

In March you can take part in a wine tasting, spend a week devoted exclusively to culinary art, attend Easter celebrations, music and sports festivals, and visit the most wonderful opera house in the world.

If there is one event that symbolises the Viennese tradition, it is undoubtedly the ball at the Vienna State Opera building. This event, which has a 200-year tradition, brings together many people to dress up for a show whose last act takes place on Ash Wednesday, ending Carnival and ushering in Lent.

If you can get a place, as tickets are flying out, you can see the Austrian president and many luxury guests dressed in their best costumes, dancing in the main auditorium of the Vienna State Opera, which has been converted into a dance floor for the occasion.

Enjoy a classical music concert

If you can't get tickets, don't worry; you can still book tickets for a classical music concert in Vienna, which take place in different churches and other venues throughout the city at prices to suit all budgets. Here are the different options:

• Classical concert tickets for St. Peter's Church, from RM209.
• Tickets for classical musicconcert in the Church of Santa Ana, from ** RM157**.
• Tickets for Vivaldi's Four Seasons concert, from ** RM158**.
• Mozart concert tickets, from ** RM278**.
• Mozart and Strauss concert tickets, from ** RM306**.

Vienna's spring weather is certainly a great time for outdoor activities, but there are still some cold days, especially in early March, when it's not a bad idea to stay indoors for a few hours.

The cultural offerings of the Austrian capital do not end with classical music concerts or Vienna's palaces. The city also has numerous museums that are a must-see. Here is a list of the most important ones:

• Museum of Art History: it houses the largest collection of classical art works in the country and is located a few metres from the Imperial Palace. Given its importance, there are many guided tours to this museum.
• House of Music: It is not surprising that being Vienna the birthplace of composers such as Mozart and Beethoven, there is a museum dedicated exclusively to music and its history. Perfect if you are travelling to Vienna with your family.
• Belvedere Palace: you surely know the great masterpiece of Gustav Klimt, 'The Kiss', well now imagine seeing the original in the museum that houses this beautiful palace that you should not miss in Vienna.
• Albertina Museum: this museum houses a collection of great artistic importance of authors ranging from Monet to Picasso through Dürer and also Klimt. Another must-see.
• Leopold Museum: a museum with a great collection of modern art Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Richard Gerstl or Oskar Kokoschka.
• Museum of Illusions in Vienna: an ideal plan if you are visiting the city with your family, where you will test your senses and visual perception.

March is the ideal time to book a trip to Budapest. The reason: it's not yet high season in the Hungarian capital and you can enjoy its incredible beauty without the crowds of tourists.

Budapest, just 2.5 hours from Vienna, has a lot to offer. So, if you're in Vienna for several days, do a 2 for 1 and also get to know this other European capital on one of the organised tours to Budapest.

Thanks to these full-day tours that include hotel pick-up, transfers, tour guide and free time to enjoy the city at your own pace, you can forget about how to get from Vienna to Budapest. It will be as comfortable as possible and you'll be back at your hotel in Vienna in the evening.

Vienna produces around 20,000 electrolytes of wine annually, which has made it one of the classic cities for visiting vineyards, and March is an ideal time to do so.

There are around 6,000 wine producers and heurigers in Vienna, which is how wine shops in Austria are known.

Between vineyards, wine cellars and heurigers, you can make the most of your visit in March, when the blossoms are beginning to bloom and the cold weather is leaving behind. Book a bike tour with wine tasting and make sure you don't get the wrong wines.

Easter in Vienna is an important date where you can visit different markets and taste handicraft products. However, this celebration is a whole experience of sensations that goes beyond the traditional Easter eggs.

If you choose these dates to visit Schönbrunn Palace you will find the most outstanding market, but not only because it offers top quality and traditional products, but also because visitors can immerse themselves in a world decorated in a baroque style and full of activities, even for the youngest visitors.

Here you can find music and open-air shows, as well as products for sale ranging from Easter eggs, to ceramics, wood carved items, glass art, and much more. Of course, it is very popular so I recommend booking a visit to Schonbrunn Palace.

The Vinyl & Music Festival, which takes place on the first weekend in March, is an event that is becoming more and more popular every year. The motto is clear: enjoy playing vinyl records. In addition, attendees can buy vinyl, buy sound systems to play them at home, or attend live DJ concerts.

There is a wide range of exhibitors presenting the different steps in the manufacturing process of musical products up to the point of consumption. An advanced course on the music industry, but if you want to delve into the history and culture of this art, be sure to book your tickets for the Vienna House of Music.

And as everything is related, the festival takes place in the garden of the Ottakringer Brauerei, the great Viennese brewery, where a number of food trucks complete a perfect weekend plan.

Practical information

• Location: Ottakringer Platz, 1.
• Price: only what you spend on vinyl or food.

The culinary industry is not to be missed when visiting Vienna. And to attract the attention of those passing through, there is an exclusive restaurant week, where great discounts are offered on exquisite menus. The prices are really worth taking advantage of.

The list of participating restaurants exceeds 100 of the city's top places to eat. Whether you choose to have breakfast, lunch, dinner or just take your food back to the hotel while you relax a little, you can do it all at an affordable price during March.

Besides being a different experience, touring the restaurants in Vienna will allow you to get to know the great variety of dishes that this wonderful city has to offer. And if you want to delve deeper into the sweetest gastronomy, be sure to book tickets for the Bo-Yo Chocolate Museum workshop, where you will taste different varieties of high quality chocolate.

The Osterklang is already a classic festival with a loyal following that eagerly awaits the arrival of March to enjoy the wide range of music on offer in the Osterklang programme.

Due to the growing popularity, the traditional venues of the Musikverein and Konzerthaus have been joined by the new hall complex in the former imperial stables.

Ballet performances or concerts of music ranging from Bach to jazz, the choice is endless. You can be sure to find a concert to your liking. And if not, you can always book tickets for a classical concert.

Although March marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it is still possible to enjoy various cold season sports. If you wish, you can still skate on the magnificent 5,400 square metre ice rink that is set up every year next to the town hall building. The ski resort is also open and, thanks to its powerful lighting, is a great attraction to enjoy the slopes at night.

There are specially prepared trails for cross-country skiing, always with the Danube as your companion, or you can go sledging with the little ones down the slopes of Prater.

As you can see, the climate makes it possible to extend the winter season and practice snow sports for the most fanatical fans. So, if you are a sports fan and the cold doesn't bother you, don't forget to bring your equipment! You can find more information on this link.

During the last weeks of March, from the 19th to the 27th, the WIKAM International Art and Antiques Fair opens its doors, a fair that has history, art, and a great turnout from beginning to end.

Aimed mainly at art lovers, this huge show, which has been going on for four decades now, presents antiques and art in all its expression. You can enjoy not only historical art, but also contemporary and avant-garde art.

After so many years of experience, this platform brings together leading collectors and works from all periods and styles. Where? At the Ferstel Palace- we recommend you book your tickets in advance!

Speaking of March, there are a few important things to know before you go... During this month, the Austrian capital experiences an average temperature of around 11 degrees Celsius, which increases with each passing day. So it's ideal for enjoying all the things to see and do in Vienna.

It's also very dry, with little rainfall, which makes it very conducive to enjoying life in nature again, unlike the winter cold.

The days are getting longer, as the sun rises at around 6am and sets after 6pm, allowing you to enjoy long days outdoors. It is always advisable to wear comfortable clothing, as the temperature can rise during the day, only to drop again when the sun goes down.