What is the best time of year to visit Austria?

Please tell me the pros and cons of each season. When are the least amount of tourists around? What is the best summer month to visit in? Is there a summer month that is a little less touristy than the others? ect...

Special K und Christian O, Vielen Dank fuer Ihre Antworten! :-) Sie haben mir viel geholfen. Ich spreche ein bisschen deutsch und fahre nach Oesterreich um Deutsch zu studieren. :-)

I am in Austria (Vienna) and was born there. In the first district (where there are the most famous things things to see, like St. Stephen's Cathedral), there usually are many people, I didn't really realize a difference in the summer months. But it's really hot then. Our summer break is from the beginning of July to the beginning of September, so I guess there are more Austrians then. But I think in May there are fewer people. The earlier in summer you come, the less people, I guess. ;)

The temperatures are usually sort of decent in May, but that changes. It seems like this year, August will be cooler than usually. It's really hot, so I'd rather go there when it's not that hot because you'll walk a lot and except for ice cream, there's nothing to cool you down. We also don't have that much air conditioning in every store here than you are probably used to in the US. Also, there are many cafes on the street and it's hot, even in the shades.

I hope that helped and if you have more questions, I'd be really happy to answer them!! :)

I would love to visit Austria, not when it is too hot. There is so much to see I would like comfortable temperatures.

Special K answer is good. May is good but you roll the dice because it still can be rather cold. Spring in austria with all the trees blooming is magnificent but you need to be able to time your travel right which is rather dificult as you can have a long/short winter.
Best/safest time to visit austria is either in the late summer early autum (late August/September/early October). The temeprature is already cooler - you probably see an indian summer. Temperature is nearly perfect - sun during the day and than it cools of to 60degF at night (sleeping with open windows).The color change of autum is beautiful.
Another secret time to visit veinna or austria is the advent season. 2-3 weeks before christmas: The winter should be already in swing (hopefully snow) and everywhere the christkindlmark pop up. Where you kind find christmas ornaments and other wooden hand made gifts. Not to forget the christmas markets sell gluehwein and how sandwhiches to eat - a true experience. There is also music and a lot of other activities. Almost every town small and big have these markets which are truey fun to visit and enjoy.

I agree too with Special K. I have relatives in Austria and the last time I was in Vienna was in May 2006. It's just the beginning of the tourist season, and the weather is just starting to get nice. Everything is open - the museums, art galleries, palaces, etc.

Cheers,

Petra M, Vancouver