Events

The park closes at 14:00 and opens again at 17:00, so be at the Mozart Gate on the Burgring or the Goethe Gate at the corner of Opernring and Goethegasse before five. There is no catering and there are no seats, so bring a blanket, a picnic and something to drink, and leave the glass bottles and the folding chair at home. If the lawn fills up, the concert also runs on the big screen at Rathausplatz from 20:15, on the last night of the Film Festival.

Wednesday evening is the opening, when the whole Vienna art scene turns up and the pavilions look their best under artificial light. Come Sunday morning instead if you would rather look at the work than at the people. One Fair Pass covers all five days, so there is no reason to pick just one.

Get there when doors open to beat the crowds at the tasting stations. The smaller independent roasters tucked in the back corners are usually more interesting than the big brand stands up front.

The vintage tractors stand still for viewing on the Saturday and only roll across Heldenplatz on the Sunday morning, so plan for the Sunday if you want to see them move. Come hungry as well: the Schmankerl stalls sell out of the best stuff by mid-afternoon.

This one will be packed on weekends. Visit on a weekday afternoon or during evening hours for a calmer experience.

Come at lunchtime rather than in the evening. The tents are already running, the Stelze tastes the same in daylight, and the rest of the Prater is right outside when you have had enough of brass bands.

The Passionswege programme pairs designers with traditional Viennese craft businesses. The resulting collaborations are always the most surprising part of the festival.

The Neustift am Walde to Nussdorf walk is the most scenic of the four. Stop at Weingut Cobenzl for the view and stay for the Heuriger afterwards.

The venues sit close enough to walk between, so the whole point is to keep moving and see six half sets rather than two full ones. The festival runs alongside a music-industry conference at Albert Hall, which is why so many of the acts come from Central and Eastern Europe.

Start at the smaller, quirkier museums (Globe Museum, Funeral Museum) while everyone else is queuing at the Kunsthistorisches. Hit the big ones after 22:00 when the crowds thin.

Around 100 objects, with loans from the Louvre, the British Museum and the Met alongside the Gemma Augustea from the museum's own collection. Tuesday is the only evening the house stays open until 21:00, and it is the calmest slot of the week. The same ticket also covers the imperial armoury and the collection of historic instruments upstairs, both of which are usually near empty.

The Gartenbaukino screenings are the highlight - a 1960s cinema that hosts the big premieres. Book early for opening night, but midweek afternoon screenings are easy to get and just as good.

The qualifying weekend is the insider's ticket: full matches and top players already on site. After that, the early rounds stay the sweet spot, and the Stadthalle feels surprisingly intimate for a venue this size.

The Bundesheer fills the late morning on Heldenplatz with a flyover and a march-past before the swearing-in, and it's more impressive than you'd expect, so come early if you want a clear view. Then walk over to the Hofburg, where the Prunksaal of the National Library opens free of charge. Which other houses take part changes from year to year, so check what's open before you plan a route.

The full programme is published in early September, so check the dates again before you book flights.

The studio open houses are the real draw - you get access to working artists' spaces that are normally closed. Check the programme for guided gallery walks, which connect the dots between exhibitions you'd never find on your own.

Skip the sold-out Opera Ball and go for the Kaffeesiederball (Coffee Brewers' Ball) at the Hofburg instead. Same grandeur, better vibes, and you can actually get tickets.

Position yourself near Graben or Am Hof around 23:30 for the best combination of atmosphere and space. The waltz station at the Graben, where everyone dances to the Blue Danube at midnight, is pure magic.

Can't score tickets? The Preview Performance on December 30 has the exact same program and the same conductor. Registration opens every February at wienerphilharmoniker.at.

Go after 7pm for the full light show effect. The Sky Rink on the upper level is worth the queue: ice with city views.

Can't get tickets? Watch the dress rehearsal the evening before. You see the debutantes, the opera stars, and the ballet.

Book your top three choices the moment reservations open - the best restaurants sell out within hours. Lunch slots are easier to get and often the better deal.

Setagayapark in the 19th district is tiny but magical - a Japanese garden with koi ponds and cherry trees that feels like a Studio Ghibli set. Go on a weekday morning when it's still quiet.

Go hungry. The Backhendl (fried chicken) stands are the real draw - pair it with a glass of Schilcher rose and you've got lunch sorted.

Not running? The Ringstrasse between Burgtheater and Rathaus is the best spectator spot. Bring coffee from Sluka around the corner.

Get there right at opening on Friday to beat the crowds. The wine and spirits stalls at the back of the park are worth the walk.

This is one of Vienna's most emotionally charged evenings. Even if you don't speak German, the music and atmosphere transcend language. Combine it with a visit to the nearby Haus der Geschichte (House of Austrian History) in the Hofburg for context on Austria's 20th-century story.

The free opening show is the festival highlight, and it usually takes place on Rathausplatz. Get there early, it draws huge crowds.

Thursday evening is the sweet spot - the after-work crowd creates a great atmosphere, but it's not as packed as Friday or Saturday. Try a Zwickl (unfiltered lager) if you see one.

The Rainbow Parade is the highlight - position yourself near the Parlament or Burgtheater for the best photo ops. The Pride Village at Rathausplatz runs on parade day, so leave time for the square once the parade has passed.

Arrive early - seating is first come, first served, and the best spots fill up fast. They keep only a limited number of blankets on site, so bring your own if the evening turns cool.

Arrive at least two hours early to get a decent spot on the lawn. Bring a blanket, a bottle of wine, and someone you like.

Skip the main stages and head towards Neue Donau. Smaller crowds, better acts, and you can actually get a drink without queuing for 20 minutes.

Tuesday evenings have Bieryoga (yes, really - yoga with a beer in hand). Friday nights bring live bands. Either way, take the U3 to Ottakring and walk down - the brewery is impossible to miss.

The food stalls are the real attraction. Get there around 7pm, grab dinner from the international vendors, then stay for the screening. Weeknights are less packed.

The [8:tension] series presents emerging choreographers and is often more exciting than the main programme. It plays across several houses, from the WUK to the Kasino am Schwarzenbergplatz.

The Seebühne concerts in front of the Karlskirche at sunset are pure magic. Grab a drink from the stands, find a spot on the grass, and stay until the last act.

Arrive early afternoon, grab some Jollof rice from the food stalls, and stake out a good spot for the evening concert.

Go on a weekday evening when it's mostly locals. Start at one of the Heurigen on Rathstrasse, then follow the music into the festival streets.

The venue and the dates are the last things the organiser publishes, so set a reminder instead of planning a trip around it. The advance vouchers go on sale before either is public, which means buying before you know where or when you are going.

Head to a Heuriger in Neustift am Walde or Nussdorf - order a glass of Sturm with a Brettljause (cold cuts board) and sit in the vineyard courtyard. Say 'Mahlzeit' instead of 'Prost' - Sturm isn't wine yet, so cheers rules don't apply.

Go hungry and arrive before noon - the queues at the most popular trucks build up fast. The outdoor setup works best in good weather, so fingers crossed for a sunny September weekend.