Vienna Press Release – June 2025 Hot Days, Cool Nights: Vienna After Hours

Many urban areas are increasingly facing the challenge of rising temperatures in summer. Vienna is no exception, even though around 50% of the city consists of green spaces. At the same time, the demand and supply of outdoor activities for mild summer evenings and nights is growing steadily. Whether it’s edible treats, art, or culture, Vienna offers a wide range of options during pleasant evening temperatures and continues to be a city with a high quality of life.

Afterwork events at museums

Just as the evenings start to cool down in summer, things begin to heat up outside two of Vienna’s top museums. Every Wednesday, the bastion terrace in front of the Albertina is transformed into one of the most popular outdoor locations of the summer for the “Albert & Tina” party series. Breathtaking views of the Vienna State Opera included. Admission includes a museum visit during the Albertina’s opening hours, redeemable at any time (not just on the event day) for all exhibitions through September 21, 2025. Once a month, the Heidi Horton Collection invites visitors to explore its collection of modern art with free admission and open studio sessions. When the weather is fine, the offering extends outdoors into the sculpture garden, featuring DJs, snacks, and ever-changing special highlights.

Links:

https://www.albertina.at/besuch/programm/albert-tina/

https://hortencollection.com/programm/2025/art-afterwork-express-yourself-bei-freiem-eintritt-ins-museum

Popfest Wien

Popfest Wien has long since been a fixture on the summer cultural calendar. 2025 will mark the 16th edition of the festival. From July 24 to 27, Karlsplatz will once again transform into a stage for Austrian pop music – open-air, free of charge, and right in the heart of the city. Around 60,000 visitors are expected to attend. The stunning Karlskirche serves as a breathtaking backdrop, while the pond becomes a floating stage. Bars and food trucks offer a diverse culinary experience. The program starts in the early evening and continues until late into the night. There are also indoor events at the Wien Museum and the neighboring Technical University. Few music festivals are as accessible by public transport: simply take subway lines U1, U2, or U4 to Karlsplatz, and you’re in the middle of the action.

Links:

https://popfest.at/

Eateries along the Danube Canal

Trendy eateries and laid-back bars line the Danube Canal waterfront. The terraces start filling up from 5 p.m. onwards – perfect for sundowner cocktails, street food, relaxed music and stunning water views. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to end their evening after a day of sightseeing just like the locals do – enjoying the sunset by the water. On the inner bank, you’ll find Strandbar Hermann, with its sandy beach and DJ beats; the Badeschiff, enticing guests during the day with its city-center pool; Fräulein’s fabulous summer garden with a trendy container vibe; and Motto am Fluss, perfect for a leisurely dinner. Across the water, one bar follows another. From Blumenwiese to Taste! and tschak, all the way to Neni am Wasser. There’s something here for every taste.

Links:

https://www.wien.info/en/recommendations/summer-scene-danube-canal

Evening cruises on the Danube Canal and the Danube

From Friday to Tuesday, DDSG Blue Danube offers three-hour sightseeing evening cruises along the Danube Canal and the Danube. Aboard the MS Wien or the MS Vindobona, both featuring Hundertwasser-inspired designs, guests enjoy exceptional views of the lively Danube Canal, the eye-catching Hundertwasser waste incineration plant at Spittelau, the historic Kahlenbergerdorf, the illuminated Danube Tower, and the impressive DC Tower – the tallest building in Austria. The city cruise both starts and ends at the Schwedenplatz pier.

Links:

https://ddsg-blue-danube.at/en/scheduled-cruises-vienna/evening-cruise/

Volksgarten Pavilion

Just a stone’s throw from City Hall, the Parliament, and the Hofburg Palace, the pavilion in the Volksgarten was designed by mid-century architect Oswald Haerdtl. Set among fragrant trees, retro 1950s furniture, and shimmering string lights, people gather here for barbecue and cocktails. Or for dancing – the Techno Café takes place here every Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. And right next door, the Volksgarten club is also one of the city’s hottest nightlife spots.

Links:

https://www.volksgarten-pavillon.at/en/

https://www.dastechnocafe.at/en/

https://volksgarten.at/en/

Liquid Market

From August 28 to 30, the best bars from Austria and across Europe will gather for three days at the Liquid Market cocktail festival. A total of 50 exhibitors have been invited to mark its tenth anniversary. For the very first time, they will be serving their signature drinks and new creations at the historic Otto Wagner grounds. This former hospital complex, designed by renowned Viennese architect Otto Wagner and surrounded by expansive parkland, provides a unique backdrop for the festival. In addition to a huge outdoor area, it also offers a weatherproof indoor alternative. The ticket price includes all drinks. Selected products are available for purchase on site. Visitors can look forward to tastings, workshops, street food, and, of course, plenty of great music. And last but not least, non-alcoholic cocktails will also be offered.

Links:

https://www.liquidmarket.bar/event/festival-vienna-2025

Viennese Sausage Stands

Vienna’s sausage stands are much more than just snack bars. They are places where people can come and socialize and were even added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2024. These small ‘Standln,’ located on busy street corners, are the go-to spot for a quick snack between meals or a late-night bite after a party. Whether you prefer a classic Käsekrainer, a vegan seitan sausage, or a spicy curry, you’ll find it here –served late into the night, often until 4 a.m., enjoyed standing at a table, with mustard, horseradish, and a dose of real Viennese charm. Popular stands include ‘Bitzinger’ between the Vienna State Opera and the Albertina, ’Würstelstand LEO’ on Gürtel (the city’s oldest), ‘Wiener Würstelstand’ near the Spittelau transport hub, ‘Zum scharfen René’ at Schwarzenbergplatz – famous for its spicy selection of sauces – and ‘Alles Wurscht’ behind the Vienna Stock Exchange, which even serves Beef Tartare and Calamari Fritti.

Links:

https://www.wien.info/en/food-drink/viennese-cuisine/sausage-stand-366402

Viennese Heurige

Vienna’s Heuriger culture is also listed as part of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Heurigen, meaning wine tavern, offer an authentic glimpse into everyday Viennese life, especially in the evening, whether they are nestled in the vineyards on the city’s outskirts or right in the heart of Vienna. The Markterei is the newest example of the latter. While the Markterei operates as a market hall most of the year, it transforms into a city Heuriger during the summer months. On Thursdays and Fridays, winemakers present their wines from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in a traditional Heuriger atmosphere, complemented by an ever-changing selection of culinary delights. The Markterei appeals to both locals and visitors to the city who want to experience the Heuriger tradition in a modern setting.

Traditional Heuriger establishments are typically found on the city’s outskirts, in neighborhoods like Grinzing, Nussdorf, Oberlaa, Stammersdorf, or Mauer. One Heuriger stands next to another and all of them offer a cozy, inviting atmosphere. You can spot them by the pine branch above the door and a sign reading ‘Ausg’steckt,’ which also indicates when the establishment is open. Traditionally, only wine produced on-site is served, accompanied by a range of cold and hot dishes, from hearty to pickled specialties. Sunset is especially beautiful at the rustic wine taverns, called a ‘Buschenschank’, surrounding Vienna’s Kahlenberg hill. A Buschenschank is a pared-down version of a Heuriger – small, simple, and without hot food offerings. From here, you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Vienna while sitting on traditional wooden benches nestled among the vineyards, perfectly complemented by a glass or two of Viennese wine.

Links:

https://www.wien.info/en/food-beverages/viennese-wine-heurige/

www.markterei.at