Things to Do in Austria in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Austria
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Alpine ski season kicks off late November with fresh powder and virtually empty slopes - you'll actually have space to carve turns at resorts like Stubai Glacier and Hintertux without the Christmas crowds. Lift tickets run €45-55 versus €65+ in peak season.
- Vienna's cultural calendar hits full stride with opera, ballet, and concert halls running their main season programs. Standing room tickets at the Staatsoper cost just €10-15, and you can walk up same-day instead of booking months ahead like summer tourists.
- Advent markets begin late November (typically around November 22-25) giving you the authentic early-season experience before they become shoulder-to-shoulder tourist magnets in December. Stalls are fully set up but crowds are maybe 40% of what they'll be two weeks later.
- Hotel prices drop 30-45% compared to summer peak in cities like Salzburg and Innsbruck. That €200 summer hotel room? You're looking at €110-130 in early November, and you'll have actual negotiating power for multi-night stays.
Considerations
- Daylight is genuinely short - sunrise around 7:15am, sunset by 4:30pm by late November. You're working with maybe 9 hours of usable daylight, which compresses sightseeing considerably and makes those €12 museum tickets feel more essential.
- Weather sits in this unpredictable transition zone between autumn and winter. Lower elevations might get rain, higher elevations get snow, and you could experience both in the same day. Mountain passes can close unexpectedly, which complicates road trip planning.
- Many alpine hiking trails and mountain huts close for the season by early November. The famous high-altitude hikes tourists see in Instagram photos? Not happening. You're limited to valley walks and lower elevation trails, typically below 1,500 m (4,920 ft).
Best Activities in November
Early-Season Glacier Skiing
November is actually when Austrian skiers start their season, hitting glacier resorts that operate year-round. The snow is fresh, lifts are uncrowded, and you'll be skiing alongside locals tuning up for the season rather than tour groups. Temperatures at altitude run -5°C to 2°C (23°F to 36°F), perfect for dry powder. The Stubai Glacier near Innsbruck and Hintertux in Zillertal both have 15-20 km (9-12 miles) of runs open, with visibility typically excellent in November before the heavier winter storms roll in.
Vienna Classical Music Season
November is prime time for Vienna's concert halls - the main season is in full swing without the tourist crush of December's holiday concerts. The Staatsoper runs 5-6 performances weekly, the Musikverein hosts the Vienna Philharmonic, and smaller venues like Konzerthaus offer chamber music almost nightly. Standing room tickets (Stehplätze) are the insider move - €10-15, available 80 minutes before curtain, and you're in the same hall as people who paid €200. The 70% humidity actually doesn't matter since you're indoors, and the early sunset means 7:30pm concerts feel perfectly timed.
Thermal Spa Experiences in Styria and Salzburg Regions
November weather - cool, damp, occasionally drizzly - makes this the perfect month for Austria's thermal spa culture. The contrast between 20°C (68°F) air and 34-38°C (93-100°F) thermal pools is genuinely wonderful, and locals pack these places on rainy weekends. The larger spa complexes in Bad Hofgastein, Bad Gastein, and Loipersdorf have both indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and treatment areas. You'll spend 3-4 hours minimum once you settle in. The variable November weather means you might have outdoor pools steaming in light rain, which is actually the ideal experience.
Wachau Valley Wine Tasting and Heuriger Visits
November is when the new wine (Sturm) finishes fermenting and Heurigen - traditional wine taverns - serve the fresh vintage alongside their last autumn harvest foods. The Wachau Valley between Melk and Krems is stunning in November with bare vines, morning fog over the Danube, and virtually no tour buses. Temperatures of 20°C (68°F) during the day make cycling the valley paths perfectly comfortable, and the 10 rainy days monthly means you'll likely hit dry weather if you plan 2-3 days in the region. Heurigen serve simple cold plates - smoked meats, spreads, bread - with wine by the quarter-liter for €3-4.
Salzburg Old Town and Sound of Music Locations
Salzburg in November has maybe 40% of summer's tourist volume, which transforms the experience of walking the Altstadt (Old Town). You can actually photograph Getreidegasse without 50 people in your frame, and the Hohensalzburg Fortress has space to breathe. The 20°C (68°F) highs make the uphill walk to the fortress comfortable - you'll work up a light sweat but nothing like the 30°C (86°F) summer slog. Rain happens about every third day, but most key sights (Mozart's Birthplace, Residenz Palace, Dom Cathedral) are indoors anyway. The city starts feeling festive late November as Christmas decorations go up but before the actual market crowds arrive.
Hallstatt and Salzkammergut Lake District
Hallstatt is genuinely beautiful in November and blissfully quiet - the day-trippers who mob it in summer are mostly gone. The lake reflects the surrounding peaks beautifully on clear mornings, and with 10 rainy days monthly, you've got decent odds of good weather if you allocate 2 days in the area. Morning fog on the lake typically burns off by 10-11am. Temperatures around 20°C (68°F) make the walk from the parking area into town comfortable, and the salt mine tours run year-round. The downside is some lake ferries reduce frequency or stop entirely in November, so you're more car-dependent than summer visitors.
November Events & Festivals
Advent Market Opening Weekends
Vienna's major Christmas markets - Rathausplatz, Schönbrunn, and Stephansplatz - typically open around November 22-25, running through December. The opening weekend gives you the full market experience with decorated stalls, Glühwein, roasted chestnuts, and handicrafts, but with maybe 40% of the crowds you'll see two weeks later. Prices are the same throughout (Glühwein €4-5, food €6-12), but you can actually move through the stalls and find seating. Markets open around 10am and run until 9-10pm, with best atmosphere after dark when lights are fully visible around 5pm.
Martinigansl (St. Martin's Goose) Season
November 11th is Martinstag, and Austrian restaurants serve traditional roasted goose (Gansl) with red cabbage and dumplings throughout the month. This is genuinely a local tradition, not a tourist event - restaurants fill with Austrian families and friend groups, and you need reservations at popular spots. A full goose dinner runs €25-35 per person, and restaurants from Vienna to rural Styria participate. It's worth experiencing once for the cultural immersion and because Austrian goose preparation is legitimately excellent.