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Vienna Unwrapped Inspiration and Planning For Independent Travellers who are visiting Vienna
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. What to do in Vienna in September? My top 14 specials cover one-off events and typical things to do. As a matter of fact, I have taken care that you end up at quality events, and local favourites. For an insider view on music events, visit Vienna concerts.
1. Classical Tradition At The Spanish Riding School
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. You will hardly see the Lipizzaner stallions with as many springs in their steps as in September. Just back from their summer break in Styria they either practice during a Morning Exercise or do a proper perforamnce.
TIP: Combine your visit with a guided tour through the stables to learn about the Lipizzaners. My family and I did it and felt like at a celebrity backstage tour!
Location: Spanish Riding School, Michaelerplatz 1, 1010 Vienna
Dates: from 1st September (Performance); from 3rd September (Morning Exercise)
Tickets: see various options in Spanish Riding School Vienna
2. Participate In Vienna Restaurant Week
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. 
For one week every autumn and spring fine dining in the city comes at a bargain. During Austria’s largest gourmet event ‘Wiener Restaurantwoche’ you can lunch or dine at amazing restaurants across Vienna. For example, at elegant Café Landtmann, Wiener schnitzel insider tip Pichlmaier’s Zum Herkner, or contemporary Labstelle.
Date: 31st August to 6th September 2020
Location: more than 70 top restaurants in Vienna and beyond
Prices: from EUR 14,50 for a two course meal, and from EUR 29,50 for a three course meal;
Bookings: make online reservation (German only)
3. Opening of New Rooftop Terrace
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. Just a few months after the opening of Albertina Modern, a huge dragonfly will have landed on the roof of Leopold Museum. Named after the shape of its main new rooftop building the MQ Libelle (dragonfly) will not only host new cultural projects but also provide spectacular rooftop vistas. Among the highlights to see will be Ringstrasse boulevard, St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Hofburg Imperial Palace. Therefore, factor in some extra time on good weather days when you visit Museumsquartier.
During the planned opening weekend at the start of September 2020 you’ll be able to join free guided tours, workshops, walking concerts and a light and sound installation.
Planned Opening Date: 4th September 2020
Locations: Museumsquartier, Museumsplatz 1, 1070 Vienna
Admission: free
4. Put Your Ear On The Ground
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. With the Beethoven anniversary setting a focus on classical music, why not learn about Vienna at the time of Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert? Since the Habsburg Emperors loved music and used it as an instrument of power, music pervaded almost all aspects of life.
To better understand the Capital of Music I joined a trained musician and private guide on an in-depth tour through the city. Actually, we spent a good time talking not just history but about his insight into Vienna’s classical music scene today. Find out what the tour was like in Music Tour Vienna.
5. Participate In 26th Tour De Vin
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. On the first weekend this month, wine lovers from across Austria will flock to various wine growing areas close to the Danube. For the 26th time, 69 top local vintners will open their wine cellar doors and fresh wine bottles to share their treasures and wine growing knowledge. Simply get a ‘Tour-de-Vin button’ for EUR 25 at any participating winery, which entitles you to wine tastings across all wineries.
Date: 5th and 6th September 2020
Location: 69 vintners in Traisental, Kremstal, Kamptal, Wagram, Vienna and Carnuntum, see details on website
Admission: EUR 25
Transport: to get there from Vienna and tour the vintners, either rent a car, or hire a private car and driver.
6. Wine Hiking In The Vienna Woods
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. As a child, I strolled through the vineyards of the Vienna Woods during wine harvest. Vintner families and helpers were picking grapes and loading them onto their tractors. You can trace my foot steps if you join this local tour guide. During September and beyond, he arranges wine hiking tours.
The tour starts from Leopoldsberg in the North East of Vienna. You will hike along our ‘home mountains’ Leopoldsberg and Kahlenberg. They are great for panoramic views of Vienna and the Danube. The tour ends with a visit to a lovely winery. Check availabilities for this private wine hiking tour.
To venture out further for a day trip of hiking in Austria’s mountains check these hiking tours.
7. Celebrate The New Opera Season
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. In September, the city’s main opera houses re-open after the summer break. This year, the new opera season starts with brilliant Italian composers: Imagine listening to Verdi arias like ‘Sempre Libera’ or The Drinking Song (La Traviata) and ‘Di quella pira’ (Il Trovatore) live at the Wiener Staatsoper!
To find out what’s on stage during your trip check the calendars for operas in September at the Wiener Staatsoper.
8. Dance At The Concordia Ball
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. Usually, summer balls such as the annual Concordia Ball take place in May/June. Thanks to Covid-19 and a postponed event, September travellers will get a rare opportunity to use their ball gowns and black ties for a night of waltz and cha-cha-cha in Vienna’s City Hall. Find out more in Best Vienna Balls.
Dates: 17th September 2020
Location: Wiener Rathaus
Tickets: get tickets
9. Experience The Lipizzaners And Vienna Boys Choir
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. When 400-year old horses pair up with a 500-year old boys choir you know you are in Wien. What sounds spooky is a graceful and uplifting tradition. On two days in September (and one in early October), you can listen to the angelical voices of the choir boys at the Spanish Riding School in the Imperial Palace. The Lipizzaner performances will alternate with the choir performances.
For further 2020 events and dates go to Vienna Boys Choir.
Dates: 18th September 2020
Location: Spanische Hofreitschule Wien, A-1010;
Tickets: get tickets
10. Listen To Cathedral Concerts
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. Why concerts in a church? Actualy, before concert halls became THE thing, composers like Mozart performed at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. I do love soaking in Stephansdom’s art and architecture while classical music washes around its pillars, statues, paintings and altars.
In September and October, you can listen to Vivaldi’s epic Four Seasons as the autumn settles into Vienna. Find out more in my Stephansdom guide.
11. Summer Night Concert: LIVESTREAM ONLY
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. After the traditional May/June concert has been postponed, the concert organizers have decided to allow fans of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to experience this annual free open air concert via livestream only. In the gardens of Schonbrunn Palace this massively popular event stages key musicians and conductors each year. For the upcoming performance under the theme LOVE, conductor Valery Gergiev and German operatic tenor Jonaus Kaufman will bring sweet opera, operetta, concert and ballet tunes from Jules Massenet to Emmerich Kálmán and Giacomo Puccini to life.
For further information visit Summer Night Concert. For more festival inspiration check my Vienna Music Festival guide.
Date: 18th September 2020; 8.30 pm
Location: Schonbrunn Palace, Schonbrunner Schlossstrasse 147, 1130 Vienna;
Admission: LIVESTREAM ONLY (link to be supplied nearer the date)
12. Go Avant Garde At MQ Vienna Fashion Week
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. To venture beyond the dirndl dress get a glitzy update at the contemporary and avant garde Vienna Fashion Week. The event represents the final of the Summer Of Fashion At Museumsquartier. Essentially, there will be dozens of fashion shows, exhibitions and pop up stores from Austrian and international designers. Most importantly, watch out for elegant fashion by Anelia Peschev, Habig, Elke Freitag, Elfenkleid and Michel Mayer. You can enter the shows 10 minutes prior to each show. Access will be granted according to capacity.
13. See Affordable Art At vienna contemporary
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. vienna contemporary is vibrant, bizarre and happy. This affordable art fair opens a window to the buzzing art scenes of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary, the Caucasian Region and other European countries, on top of showcasing Austria’s best in contemporary art. Learn who is up and coming in Central, Eastern and Southern European art. You may even end up with the most sophisticated souvenir from your trip.
Date: 24th to 27th September 2020
Location: Marxhalle Wien, Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 1030 Vienna
Programme: visit website
14. Free Things To Do In Vienna September
Things to do in Vienna September 2020. Vienna, along with Austria and Europe, opens up its top monuments at the European Heritage Days (EHD). For one day, the Federal Monument Office (Bundesdenkmalamt) will open many lesser known monuments and popular institutions in Vienna for free, among them the Academy of Visual Arts, Burgtheater’s rooms, Gustav Klimt’s villa, the Biedermeier collection of the Museum of Applied Arts/Contemporary Arts, and more.
Date: 27th September 2020
Programme: ‘Emperors, Kings and Philosophers’ – go to website
Find out about Things to do in August
More about Things to do in October
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