7 things you absolutely NEED to do to make the most out of July in Vienna

Kultursommer Wien is basically Vienna deciding everyone deserves a festival—so it just puts one in every district.

Running until August 10, it’s a seriously packed program of free open-air shows all over town: live music (think jazz, indie, Balkan brass), dance and performance, theatre, literature, contemporary circus, comedy and cabaret – you name it.

The vibe is peak Viennese summer: laid-back, local, and completely free. Bring a blanket, pack your own food and drinks (yes, even your Spritzer), and soak up the city doing what it does best.

A pro tip: you can filter for English or other languages in the online calendar—perfect if you’ve got international friends in tow.

Plus, because the stages are spread all over Vienna, you’ll discover new neighbourhoods well off the usual tourist radar.

Insider recommendation? Check out the new stage at the 1210 football club. It’s set right on the pitch, has a super chill atmosphere, and there are plenty of classic Heurigen nearby for a post-show Grüner Veltliner.

One of Vienna’s best reasons to love summer. For four days, Karlsplatz turns into the beating heart of the city’s music scene with Popfest’s signature blend of indie, electronic, hip-hop, and whatever else Austria’s scene has been cooking up.

Picture this: chilling on the steps of Karlskirche with hundreds of fellow music nerds, drinks in hand, listening to local heroes and international guests do their thing on the open-air stage over the pond. Then wandering off to a sweaty club gig in a side venue to finish the night.

The best part? It’s 100% free. Ultra-Viennese, super chill, and very, very worth it.

Vienna’s ultimate summer classic is back: two months of free open-air films and concerts smack in front of City Hall. Every night the giant screen lights up with operas, ballet, jazz, pop and rock performances filmed in ultra-HD, so you can watch world-class shows under the stars.

But let’s be honest—it’s not just about the art. It’s about parking yourself in front of the Rathaus with friends, sipping your drink of choice, and eating your way through 20+ international food stands while Vienna shows off how pretty it is at night.

The vibe? Laid-back, multicultural, and very “this is why we love living here.”

Vienna’s proving once again it’s the opera capital—even when the weather’s too nice to stay inside. All summer long, the Opera Arena am Heumarkt turns into an open-air stage for big emotions, soaring arias, and a bit of alfresco drama.

On the bill? Puccini’s La Bohème in all its tragic, romantic glory, plus special Opera Gala Evenings serving up the greatest hits of the genre—arias and ensembles cherry-picked from the best of the best.

Perfect for date nights, showing off to visitors, or just living your best cultured summer life.

It’s that time of year when Vienna gets a little sweatier, bendier, and a whole lot cooler. ImPulsTanz is back, taking over the city for a month of boundary-pushing performances, workshops, and some of the most infectious dance parties you’ll find on this side of the Danube.

Catch world-class contemporary dance in venues from MuseumsQuartier to Akademietheater. Sign up for a workshop (they’re open to total beginners or actual pros). Or just come for the ImPulsTanz Social at MQ, where dancers, artists, and night owls drink and groove under the stars.

It’s Vienna’s artsy summer at its absolute best.

Techno in a baroque church? Vienna says amen to that. As part of the Impulse Festival, Karlskirche opens its doors for a one-night-only rave that turns sacred halls into a full-blown dance floor.

Three floors—including the crypt—will be pulsing with house and techno DJs, trippy visuals, and the kind of lighting that might make the frescoes blush. There’s even a bar inside to keep your spirit suitably “elevated.”

Entry’s free but first come, first served—so if you want to claim your spot beneath the dome, don’t be late.

If you’re dreaming of a pool party but can’t get out of the city, here’s your chance to go full summer mode right in Vienna’s first district. MAK is turning its lawn into an urban “Badewiese” with kiddie pools (yep), drinks, DJs and an all-round laid-back vibe.

Think less infinity-pool-glam, more retro-Freibad-chaos—so come in your bathing suit (or don’t, we won’t tell), grab an Aperol, and lounge around while DJs spin chill tunes.

It’s weird, it’s artsy, it’s very Vienna. And it’s free entry.