SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

DISCOVER AUSTRIA

10 unmissable events in Austria in July 2024

July is soon here and it is a great month to be in Austria with many festivals and events taking place all over the country. From a famous Kirchtag in Carinthia to the Salzburg Festspiele, where are some you need to attend.

10 unmissable events in Austria in July 2024
People wearing traditional costumes at Villach Kirchtag. PHOTO/DIETER NAGL (Photo by DIETER NAGL / AFP)

Villach Kirchtag

Villach Kirchtag is a traditional festival taking place annually in Villach, Carinthia.

This year, the festival goes on from July 28th to August 4th and offers days filled with live music, artistic performances, amusement rides, and traditional local cuisine and beverages.

Here, people dress up in dirndl and lederhosen, drink local beers, and enjoy Carinthian food such as Reindling (a type of sweet bread), Kasnudeln (cheese-filled pasta), and the traditional Kirchtag soup.

At the festival, you can meet both locals from the region and visitors from everywhere and together enjoy dancing on the street to different kinds of music all night long.

Find out more about the festival on its website

Food Festival Graz

This culinary festival takes place in Graz from June 30th to July 7th and gives you the opportunity to try everything from local specialties to international cuisine.

The aim of the festival is to provide unforgettable culinary experiences to every enthusiast and budget.

Apart from great food, you can enjoy live music, drinks, cooking shows, workshops, presentations, and other events.

You can read more about it here

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Food Festival Graz (@foodfestivalgraz)

Wellenklänge Festival

Wellenklänge Festival is a famous cultural event held annually at the beautiful lake Lunz in Lower Austria.

The festival takes place July 12th to 27th this year and offer a diverse range of performances and artistic presentations, including music, theatre, dance, and visual arts.

The festival is known for its unique setting on the shores of the lake surrounded by tall mountains. It has also earned a reputation for its high artistic quality and diverse cultural activities set in beautiful natural surroundings.

READ MORE: Four of the best hidden villages in Austria’s Salzkammergut region

Rock im Dorf 

If you are a fan of heavy riffs and drum beats, head to Kirchhdorf in Upper Austria July 5th to 7th and enjoy Rock im Dorf, also known as ‘rock out in the village’. 

With two stages and a full programme, the Rock im Dorf festival will let you enjoy bands such as MIA., Bilderbuch, Mayberg and Endless Wellness Frittenbude. 

Camping is also possible with a pass (€5) in the Upper Austrian Traunviertel. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ROCK IM DORF Festival (@rockimdorf)

Carinthian Summer

Embrace the summer with Carinthian Summer: a huge music and cultural festival held annually since 1969 in the Austrian province of Carinthia.

This year the festival takes place from July 6th to August 4th. 

Here you can head to venues around Lake Ossiacher, Villach, Klagenfurt,  and other parts of Carinthia to check out a diverse range of music, whether it is classical, jazz or rock/pop. 

You will also find some experimental music in the festival programme to inspire audiences of all ages. 

The Rising Stars concerts are some of the festivals highlights. Here young artists gets promoted and integrated into the festival. 

Butterfly Dance Festival 

Put on your dancing shoes and join the Butterfly Dance Festival in Schlosspark Esterházy, Eisenstadt, Burgenland.

On July 5th, you can dance to soul, hip hop, funk, jazz, and other types of music in the beautiful Schlosspark in the capital of Burgenland.

Acts such as Kruder & Dorfmeister and Thievery Corporation will provide the perfect soundtrack, and dance instructors will be on stage to guide you.

You can read more and buy your tickets here

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by The Nova Jazz & Blues Nights (@njbn.at)

Poolbar Festival 

The popular Poolbar Festival takes place annually in the medieval town of Feldkirch in Vorarlberg. This year, you can expect a program packed with concerts, readings, quizzes, cabarets, and more.

The lineup includes artists Wiegedood, Steel Pulse, Lena & Linus, Orbit, Klangkarussell, and Betterov.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, July 4th, and runs until August 11th.

On their website, you can check out the detailed program

READ ALSO: How to spend a summer afternoon in Austria like a local

Salzburger Festspiele

The Salzburg Festival is an annual celebration of art and culture in the historic old town of Salzburg. This year, it takes place from July 19th to August 31st.

Salzburger Festspiele is considered one of the most important festivals in the world for opera, classical music, and theatre. The organisers sell over 200,000 tickets each year.

The festival hosts world-famous orchestras, conductors, opera singers, and actors. The Vienna Philharmonic is one of the orchestras present every year.

You can see the program and read more about the festival here.

 Salzburg Festival is known worldwide for its qualitative performances. Photo by HANS JOERG MICHEL, AFP.
 

Nordkette Wetterleuchten

For those who love electronic music and to be surrounded by Austria’s tallest mountains, heading to this festival high above Innsbruck might be a great idea. 

The 21th edition of the Nordkette Wetterleuchten Electronic Music Festival takes place July 13th to 14th. 

As a festival visitors, you will be transported up the mountain 2,000 metres above sea level where you can enjoy famous DJs, live acts, and local Innsbruck legends.

As well as electronic music, the festival also offers panoramic views of Innsbruck and great food and drinks. 

Klima Biennale Wien

Enjoy the last weeks of this climate festival which goes on until July 14th at various locations all over Vienna.

The festival explores how art, design, architecture, and science can contribute to creating a sustainable and liveable future while also considering the impacts of climate change.

At the festival you can experience a wide range of performances, exhibitions, talks, concerts, and workshops.

If you want to participate, you can buy a festival pass at various locations, for which you pay as much as you like. You can, for example, buy it at the Museum Hundertwasser.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Klima Biennale Wien (@biennale.wien)

READ MORE: 8 Austrian tourist spots likely to be overcrowded this summer

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

CYCLING

Where around Vienna can you go mountain biking?

From challenging trails in the hills to relaxed routes around the Danube, here we list the best trail spots around Vienna.

Where around Vienna can you go mountain biking?

Vienna is a great place to live if you like mountain biking. The area around the capital offers a great variety of trails for all skill levels.

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider, you can be sure to find something suitable for you.

Here, we list five spots where you can go and enjoy different types of trails in beautiful nature.

Vienna Woods

Vienna Woods, just southwest of Vienna, is known for its many great mountain bike trails.

Here, you can find beautiful and exciting trails that take you through forests, vineyards, and hilly areas.

The trails range from gentle paths for beginners to more challenging routes with steep climbs, technical sections, and natural obstacles. The routes are generally well-marked, but some trails cross with hiking paths, so it is important to be mindful of others.

Klosterneuburg, Mödling, and Purkersdorf are popular starting points for biking in Vienna Woods.

Besides the trails, Vienna Woods also offers many locations with great city and countryside views. You can also visit historical sites such as Klosterneuburg Monastery, local vineyards, or one of the many Heurigen (traditional Austrian wine taverns), where you can enjoy locally produced wine or grape juice from the area and some food.

You can read more about the different trails here

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by m0le photo (@xm0lexphotox)

READ ALSO: How to get your bicycle serviced for free in Vienna

Leopoldsberg and Kahlenberg

This is a great place to mountain bike near the city, up and down hills with varied terrain.

The two hills near each other in Vienna Woods, Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg, are famous spots in Vienna where you can enjoy mountain biking and eating and drinking at the many Heurigen.

You can also enjoy great city views, the Danube, and its surroundings.

During warmer months, the hills are popular places to go if you want to escape the heat since the temperatures can be lower in forest areas. 

Here, you can find a great variety of trails suitable for mountain biking at all different difficulty levels. They are well-marked and typically not overly crowded with bikers, especially if you do not go during the weekends. 

Here you can find a map of some of the routes around the area. You can also use Bergfex and check out different route options. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Mateusz Ostaszewski (@hornindalsvatnet)

READ FURTHER: 10 things you definitely should know if you cycle in Vienna

Lobau 

Lobau is within the Donau-Auen National Park on the eastern outskirts of Vienna. It offers many great trails for mountain biking in a flatter area.

 Lobau offers a mix of natural landscapes and wildlife. You can bike in beautiful nature and enjoy wildlife with birds and sometimes even deer, all while still being close to the city.

The trails in this area take you through diverse landscapes, including forests, meadows, and wetlands along and near the Danube River. Here, you can find trails for all levels, from easy routes for beginners to more challenging routes with uneven terrain and natural obstacles.

You can check out some route options here.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Nationalpark Donau-Auen GmbH (@np_donau_auen)

READ MORE: What are the rules for electric bikes in Austria?

Bisamberg

This hill northeast of Vienna is a great place to visit if you enjoy mountain biking through vineyards and forest areas. You can also enjoy some great views of the city and the surrounding countryside.

Bisamberg offers trails suitable for all different skill levels, from easy paths for beginners to more challenging routes with steep curves and technical sections. The trails also offer views of the surrounding landscapes, the Danube River and the city in the distance.

Many mountain bikers start their rides in Bisamberg itself or at spots on the outskirts of nearby towns such as Korneuburg. These areas offer easy access to the different trails, parking spots if you come by car, and places to rent bikes.

Here you can find some great trails in the area. 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Urilch Felck (@urilch_felck)

Anninger

Anninger is a well-known hill near Mödling, just outside of Vienna. It is popular among mountain bikers and offers a wide range of trails for beginners and more advanced riders.

You can enjoy trails with forest paths, rocky sections, and some more challenging climbs in the area. There are also many convenient facilities nearby if you want to visit a bike rental shop, grab a bite to eat, or use the restroom.

Anninger is home to diverse wildlife and bird species, making it a popular spot for birdwatching.

After a day outdoors in the area, you can visit local restaurants and Heurigen in Mödling and nearby villages to try regional dishes and wines.

You can find some mountain bike routes in the area here

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MTB Initiative Anninger Trails (@anningertrails)

READ NEXT: Am I allowed to bike in Austrian forests and mountains?

SHOW COMMENTS