Things to Do in Austria in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Austria
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Cherry blossoms peak in Vienna's Stadtpark between mid- and late-March, lining the Ringstrasse with pale pink petals that locals insist smell faintly of almond - the city's most photographed tree stands opposite the gilded Johann Strauss statue.
- + Hotel prices drop 30-40% from summer peak while restaurant reservations open up - the wood-paneled Café Central in Vienna, where Freud and Trotsky once argued over newspapers, finally accepts walk-ins at dinner.
- + Alpine hiking trails accessible again after winter closure: the 115 km (71 mile) Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail opens with snow patches still clinging to north faces, creating those perfect contrast photos you see on postcards.
- + Austria's famous Easter markets appear in town squares - wooden stalls selling hand-painted eggs and the first fresh elderflower syrup of the season appear in Salzburg's Residenzplatz from mid-March onward.
- − Mountain passes can still close without warning - the Grossglockner High Alpine Road has been known to shut down for spring storms as late as March 25, stranding day-trippers who didn't check conditions.
- − Ski season ends abruptly mid-March in most regions - Kitzbühel's legendary Hahnenkamm slopes turn to slush by March 15, leaving snow-seekers disappointed if they booked late.
- − Museums and palaces switch to reduced spring schedules just as crowds return - Schönbrunn Palace cuts interior tours from 40 to 25 daily, creating the longest lines of the entire year.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March mornings hit the sweet spot - 57°F (14°C) at 9 AM with chestnut trees just budding and almost no tourist traffic. The 5 km (3.1 mile) loop past the State Opera and Parliament takes 45 minutes at cycling pace, but locals stop at Naschmarkt for early strawberries and Turkish coffee that tastes like cardamom and caramel.
The Danube valley's apricot orchards burst into bloom exactly in March - bright white flowers against terraced vineyards that have produced Grüner Veltliner since Roman times. The 17 km (10.5 mile) trail from Dürnstein to Melk takes 4-5 hours past half-timbered villages where winemakers offer first tastings of the previous year's vintage in medieval cellars.
March weather lets you cycle the 40 km (25 mile) filming locations without summer's tourist buses - the gazebo at Leopoldskron Palace sits empty except for early birds, and the famous vine-covered pergola at Hellbrunn Palace frames well against snow-dusted Alps. The route passes six lakes where the water mirrors sky so well locals call it 'April weather in March.'
Outdoor thermal pools at 95°F (35°C) feel surreal against 50°F (10°C) mountain air - the contrast creates steam clouds that drift up through pine forests like something from a fairy tale. Rogner Bad Blumau's thermal water smells faintly of sulfur and leaves skin feeling silky for hours, exactly what locals claim cures winter stiffness.
March offers the only chance to photograph snow-capped peaks reflected in thawing alpine lakes - the 2,300 m (7,545 ft) elevation around Innsbruck keeps snow while valleys below bloom with crocuses. Golden hour starts at 6:30 PM, giving photographers two hours of soft light without summer's harsh contrast.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Hand-carved wooden eggs and the first fresh herbs of spring appear in Freyung Square - the scent of roasted chestnuts and pine branches creates an atmosphere locals describe as 'spring arriving one stall at a time.'
Excellent opera and concerts in venues where Mozart himself performed - the festival kicks off with brass choirs echoing off Baroque facades that have been amplifying sound for 300 years.
Essential Tips
What to pack, insider knowledge and common pitfalls