Art shouldn’t be available just to the early birds and in Vienna, rest assured, it is not. Exhibits are available to many people with schedules that continue well into the night. That’s why some institutions and museums have extended opening hours. At least on specific weekdays.

Here are the two recommendations. First, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (worldwide famous for its really big collections of European paintings). It opens until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. The other one is the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts), which also opens until 9 p.m., but on Tuesdays. Inside you’ll find tons of exhibits focusing on design, architecture, decorative arts, and everyday life too.

With smaller crowds, evening visits have that perk of being perfect for taking your time with individual artworks.

Once in lifetime Opera

Vienna is the cradle of high culture art, some would say. In any case, attending an evening performance here is an especially delightful experience.

The Vienna State Opera hosts productions that go from famous operas to ballet performances. If you’re into discovering Opera for the first time, don’t feel intimidated, you’ll be surrounded by spontaneous aficionados like you. And if you are on the connoisseur side and fancy attending a really famous presentation, we recommend booking your tickets with (a lot of) time ahead.

Surprisingly, the opera also provides subtitles. A really appreciated help for international audiences who may not understand (or speak) German.

Pub Crawl for an all-in-one night

If you’re new in town or want to just feel like trusting the experts in local nightlife, the pub crawl covers all bases.
This kind of activity, organized by Pub Crawl Vienna brings travelers together to explore more than one bar and a club, all in a single evening.

This format has several advantages. Mainly, it removes much of the uncertainty involved in choosing where to go. But there’s also the language factor.

Although English is widely spoken in Vienna, German can feel intimidating to visitors who aren’t familiar with it. Having staff to guide the experience while traveling with a group has the best of both worlds: no language-related worries, but also opportunities for spontaneous social interactions.

The biggest benefit is meeting other travelers looking for the same as you.

The Magic of Christmas Markets & their lights

While Christmas Markets do open when there’s still (some) light outside, the magic happens once it’s getting dark. The shimmering lights blending with the voices, sounds, and smells make for a really special atmosphere.

Just take our word for it: dress accordingly. Winter in Vienna is no joke and I discovered first-hand that thermal underwear is a must, not an option.

The most popular Christmas Market and probably the most beautiful too, takes place in front for the City Hall. Opening in mid-November, the Viennese Christmas Markets are must on your winter itinerary. Ideally, plan your visit in early December when it’s not as crowded and the prices are a bit more affordable.

Argentine Tango Milongas to meet fellow dancers

For the better part of he last 9 (!!!) years, we’ve been studying and dancing Argentine Tango. This, of course means, seeking out milongas (basically parties) in (almost) all places we visit. And Vienna makes no exception.

The city’s love for dancing goes back to the ballrooms associated with its imperial past. To this day, from November to February, you can attend the Viennese balls. But if you don’t dance Viennese Waltz (see what we’ve done here?), and instead are a tanguero/a, you’ll also be in for a treat.

You can attend a milonga nearly every day! Milonga El Firulete is one of Vienna’s oldest traditional milongas and Galeria Ideal Tango Wien offers an atmosphere reminiscent of Buenos Aires milongas. There are also quite a lot of schools to choose from if you also want to study or prefer the less formal practicas atmosphere.

So, don’t forget to pack those Tango shoes! We certainly never do. And remember: milongas are for socializing, having fun, and meeting new people.

Nighttime Sightseeing Bus Tour

Companies like Vienna Sightseeing Tours or Big Bus Tours offer night tours, too. And, yes, as you would expect, they also feature all the major architectural highlights under a more grandiose yet intimate light.

This alternative is great if you are on a business trip and have just one night in town. But it is also ideal if you feel like rewarding yourself with a cozy seat in a bus after a long museum afternoon. Or, you just want to experience the city at night.

However, at night, the tour buses at night are not regular hop-on hop-off buses, they follow a continuous route without stops. You book them from start to finish and enjoy the guided show in a circular path.

Time is not of the essence in Vienna

Ultimately, Vienna after dark invites you to slow down and experience the wide variety of alternative activities that allow you touch the real beating heart of the city. The Illuminated architecture contemplated in silence can take you to the city’s artistic traditions in a way daylight tours can’t. A pub crawl or even dancing at a milonga can show you a more passionate and spontaneous side of the city. Definitely some of its most interesting moments arise once the sun goes down.

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