Things to Do in Austria in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Austria
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak alpine hiking season with all mountain trails fully accessible and huts operating at full capacity - snowmelt is complete by August, meaning you can tackle routes like the Zirbenweg near Innsbruck or Dachstein glacier trails that are still snow-covered in June and July
- Lake swimming at its absolute best with water temperatures reaching 24-26°C (75-79°F) in lakes like Wörthersee and Attersee - locals call this 'Badesaison' and you'll find Austrians actually taking vacation time to enjoy their own country's lakes rather than fleeing to Croatia
- Extended daylight hours with sunset around 8:30pm in early August, giving you genuinely long days to explore - you can start a morning hike at 7am, spend midday at a lake, and still have evening light for wandering Vienna's Ringstrasse or Salzburg's Altstadt
- Festival season is in full swing with the Salzburg Festival running through August and smaller wine festivals starting in eastern Austria - this is when cultural Austria actually happens, not the dead winter months tourists assume are peak season
Considerations
- This is Austrian peak season meaning accommodation prices in popular areas like Salzkammergut lake district or Tyrol can run 40-60% higher than shoulder season, and booking less than 6 weeks out might leave you with limited options or staying further from where you actually want to be
- Tourist crowds are real at the major hits - Hallstatt becomes genuinely unpleasant between 10am-4pm with day-trippers from Asia, and Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna sees queues of 45+ minutes even with timed tickets if you arrive mid-morning
- Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the alpine regions, typically rolling in between 2-5pm and lasting 30-90 minutes - not trip-ruining but you need to plan mountain activities for morning starts and be off exposed ridges by early afternoon
Best Activities in August
Alpine Hiking in Tyrol and Salzkammergut Regions
August is genuinely the best month for serious alpine hiking - all trails are snow-free, mountain huts are fully staffed with hot meals available, and weather patterns are predictable enough to plan multi-day routes. The Stubai Alps, Zillertal, and trails around Hallstatt offer everything from gentle 3-hour lakeside walks to challenging full-day ridge hikes above 2,500 m (8,200 ft). Morning starts are key - you want to be hiking by 7-8am to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and get the clearest mountain views. Temperatures at altitude are perfect, typically 15-20°C (59-68°F) even when valleys are warmer.
Lake Swimming and Watersports in Salzkammergut
The lake district comes alive in August with water temperatures that actually feel comfortable for extended swimming - something you cannot say about June or even early July. Wolfgangsee, Attersee, and Mondsee are the main draws, with locals setting up for full beach days complete with grills and coolers. This is proper swimming season, not just dipping-your-toes season. You will find Austrians who normally avoid tourist areas actually using these lakes in August because conditions are ideal. Rent stand-up paddleboards or small sailboats at lakeside towns, or simply find a free access point and swim - many lakes have both paid beaches with facilities and free natural access points locals use.
Salzburg Festival Performances and Classical Music Events
The Salzburg Festival runs through August and represents Austria's premier cultural event - this is not tourist entertainment but rather where serious classical music and opera audiences come from across Europe. Productions take place in venues from the Grosses Festspielhaus to outdoor stages, and the city takes on a different energy entirely with well-dressed crowds and pre-performance dining filling restaurants. Even if you are not attending performances, the festival atmosphere makes Salzburg more interesting in August than other months. Standing room tickets and last-minute cancellations make it possible to attend without planning months ahead, though prime seats for famous productions sell out early.
Wachau Valley Wine Tasting and Danube Cycling
The Wachau Valley between Melk and Krems hits a sweet spot in August - grapes are ripening on hillside vineyards, Heurigen wine taverns have their summer gardens fully open, and the Danube cycling path is busy but not overcrowded like September during harvest festivals. Temperatures are warm enough for pleasant cycling but the 70% humidity is less oppressive here than in Vienna. Rent bikes in Melk or Krems and cycle sections of the Danube path, stopping at wine taverns for Grüner Veltliner and apricot products the region is known for. The 36 km (22 mile) stretch from Melk to Krems is mostly flat and takes 3-4 hours with stops.
Vienna Museum and Palace Tours During Midday Heat
Vienna in August gets genuinely warm during midday, making this the perfect time to embrace the city's museum culture rather than fighting crowds at outdoor attractions. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Albertina, and Belvedere Palace offer world-class collections in air-conditioned comfort when it hits 30°C (86°F) outside. Smart planning means outdoor activities like walking the Ringstrasse or exploring Naschmarkt happen before 11am or after 5pm, while midday through mid-afternoon is museum time. The Leopold Museum's Schiele collection and the Belvedere's Klimt paintings including The Kiss are genuinely worth the admission prices, not just tourist checkboxes.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road Scenic Driving
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road reaches peak accessibility in August with all viewpoints and visitor centers fully open and the highest mountain pass roads guaranteed snow-free. This 48 km (30 mile) toll road climbs to 2,571 m (8,435 ft) at Hochtor tunnel and offers genuinely spectacular alpine scenery that rivals anything in Switzerland at a fraction of the tourist density. Morning drives before 10am offer clearest views of Austria's highest peak, Grossglockner at 3,798 m (12,461 ft), before afternoon clouds roll in. The drive takes 3-4 hours minimum with stops at viewpoints, visitor centers, and short walks to glacial overlooks.
August Events & Festivals
Salzburg Festival
Running from late July through the end of August, this is one of Europe's most prestigious classical music and opera festivals, founded in 1920. Productions range from Mozart operas to contemporary drama, performed in venues throughout Salzburg's old town. The festival draws serious music lovers from across Europe and transforms the city's atmosphere entirely - expect well-dressed crowds, pre-performance dining scenes, and a palpable cultural energy. Even without attending performances, the festival makes Salzburg worth visiting in August for the atmosphere alone.
Mariä Himmelfahrt (Assumption of Mary)
August 15th is a public holiday throughout Austria with religious processions in Catholic regions, particularly visible in Tyrol and Salzburg areas. Many Austrians take extended vacations around this date, meaning cities can feel quieter while mountain and lake regions become busier. Expect some shops and restaurants to have reduced hours or close entirely on the 15th itself, though tourist areas generally stay open. Traditional processions with flower decorations occur in alpine villages if you want to see local religious customs.