10 exciting tips for rainy weather: Our bad weather program for Vienna

Written by: Sabine Klug, 22.1.2020

On days when everything is gray and the rain is pouring down on Vienna’s streets, you really only want to do one thing: be lazy. However, the austrian capital also has a lot to offer on rainy days. We’ll tell you what you can do on a rainy day with our following leisure tips that guarantee fun and excitement.
Get out of your comfort zone and into a rainy weather adventure!

Table of Content

1. Cinema: the classic

Going to the cinema always works. Especially on a dull day, there is nothing more enjoyable than a big, comfortable seat, a bag of popcorn and a great movie. Vienna offers you a wide range of options – from the classic, red-seated cinema hall in the CineCenter cinema, to the ultra-modern, well-equipped cinema halls at the Cineplexx. Here you can find the current cinema program sorted by films or cinemas.

2. Indoor shopping adventure: shopping centers in Vienna

You have nothing to wear? A rainy day is the ideal time to solve the problem of not knowing what to wear in one of Vienna’s numerous shopping centers. In almost every district in Vienna, there is a “temple of consumer frenzy” with a multitude of shopping opportunities. We have listed a few shopping centers for you here:

  •     Millenium City: 20th district, U6 Millenium Tower station
  •     Lugner City: 15th district, U6 station Burggasse / Stadthalle
  •     Donauzentrum: 22nd district, U1 station Kagran, 25 22A 26A 27A 93A 94A
  •     Gasometer City: 11th district, with the growing “Music City”, U3 station Gasometer
  •     Stadion Center: 2nd district, U2 Station Stadion, 11A, 77A

3. Famous and unusual museums in Vienna

Vienna offers a variety of museums, regardless of whether you love classical art or are looking for something more special – there is a rainy weather program for every taste! Vienna’s favorite museums currently include the 3D Pic Art Museum, the Art History Museum, the Albertina, the Imperial Treasury and the Belvedere Museum. Just browse through this list of all Vienna museums!

4. Enjoy the Viennese coffee house culture

Nothing is more typical for Vienna than a coffee house. The tradition of Viennese coffee house culture is characterized by a very special atmosphere and has therefore been an intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO since 2011. The reason for this is, among other things: The coffee houses are a place “in which time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is on the bill” – we think that’s exactly what it is! However, there are two things that non-Viennese should be aware of:

  • In the coffee house, it is not the ordinary waiter who caters the ordered goodies; they are served by a “special” waiter, usually one with a black bow tie.
  • There is more than just one option for coffee in Vienna’s coffee houses. Rather, there are numerous different variations available to you. Check out this coffee guide for that.

5. Take a walk in the rain!

There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad equipment, as a well-known saying goes. That means: put on a pair of sturdy shoes, a warm jacket, don’t forget your umbrella and start to explore the streets of Vienna. Especially in rainy weather, Vienna offers beautiful, mystical-looking places – for example the Sternwartepark (1180 Vienna), the Zentralfriedhof (1110 Vienna), the Augarten or the Lainzer Tiergarten – and these are just a few of Vienna’s most beautiful locations .

6. Summer feeling in the palm house and desert house

Do you want to fight your wanderlust and dream of summer? Find your way to the palm – and desert house! Both are located opposite each other in the gardens of Schönbrunn. In the desert house, an adventure trail leads through authentic desert landscapes – from Central America to Madagascar. Rattlesnakes & Co., extraordinary plants and an environment steeped in history come together there. The Palm House, on the other hand, is not only home to three different climate zones and an incredible biodiversity, it is also unique in Europe and an incredible work of art. After all, it is the last and largest of its kind on the European continent.

7. Dive into the city’s indoor swimming pools

The Viennese indoor swimming pools are actually like the Viennese coffee houses: they offer a very special atmosphere. Most municipal indoor swimming pools have the same structure: There is a children’s and sports pool, a sauna, a shower bath – (we love this name for showers!) – and a small restaurant. Here is a brief overview of Vienna’s indoor swimming pools:

Amalienbad, Reumannplatz 23, 1100 Vienna

Hütteldorfer Bad, Linzer Strasse 376, 1140 Vienna

Jörgerbad, Jörgerstraße 42-44, 1170 Vienna

Brigittenauer Bad, Kosterneuburger Strasse 93-97, 1200 Vienna

Floridsdorfer Bad, Franklinstrasse 22, 1210 Vienna

Anyone interested in history should not miss this history of the Viennese baths!

8. Pure thrill in the Escape Room

Being locked in a room and solving difficult puzzles under time pressure – that is the concept of an escape room. These adventure games are booming in Vienna. No wonder, after all, they promise pure excitement. Depending on your taste, there is an almost endless range of scenarios. For example, travelling back in time to the last century, uncovering dark machinations or solving a mysterious murder. Curious? Here are some escape room providers:

Open the Door, 1100 Vienna

Scavenger Escape Rooms, 1070 Vienna

First Escape, 1010 Vienna

Time Busters, 1090 Vienna

Crime Runners, 1090 Vienna

Escape Mission, 1030 Vienna

Vienna Mysteries, 1010 Vienna

9. Lasertag in Vienna: neon colors, fog effects and a laser beam

This sport has found a home in Vienna a few years ago. But what is laser tag actually? Laser tag includes a large, dark room, psychedelic light effects, bright colors, a lot of fog and a laser beam looking for its next victim. What does that have to do with exercise? A lot! Because laser tag is sweaty, but has an incredibly high fun factor. The game also promotes team building. After all, you need a good strategy to catch the opposing team. There are many different arenas in Vienna, that differ in terms of game mode, duration, equipment and point system. No matter which arena you choose: Laser tag is nerve-wracking and extremely entertaining.

  • LaserMAXX Vienna (1090 Vienna, 1210 Vienna, 1230 Vienna): The game is played in different game modes, such as death match, team death match and last-man-standing, as well as with so-called power-ups such as Rapidfire, Shield, Spy Mode and Invisibility.
  • Moon Paintball (1210 Vienna): Every Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight you can also play laser tag in the tried and tested paintball facility.

10. Chill out in the STUWO dormitory: Use our free offers

A rainy day also gives you the opportunity to explore your STUWO student residence more closely. After all, what could be nicer than sleeping in and enjoying a big breakfast in bed or starting the day with friends in a communal kitchen? Afterwards, the fitness center beckons you to get your sweat on with a workout. A rainy day is of course also a good way to learn a little – in the communal lounge you have enough space and light to prepare yourself perfectly for your next exam. To leave the stress of learning behind you can relax in the wellness area and step into the sauna or the steam bath. You can also treat yourself to a few minutes in the music rehearsal room, where you can let your creativity run free.
And at the end of the STUWO bad weather program we suggest you to get comfortable in the Cinema Lounge in our community areas and watch an exciting film with your roommates, with friends or those who will become such. After all, that’s what a student residence hall is for!

We hope you enjoy our tips that will spread sun even on rainy days!
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