Vienna New Year's Concert: waltzes to start the year

On the morning of 1 January the Vienna Philharmonic plays music of the Strauss family in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, and the concert is broadcast around the world. Tickets are allocated by an online lottery and are very hard to get, but Vienna is a wonderful place to welcome the new year even without one.

Fun facts

• The concert tradition began around the start of the Second World War and has been held on New Year's Day ever since.
• The programme traditionally ends with the Blue Danube waltz and the Radetzky March, with the audience clapping along.
• Tickets for the concert and its two preview performances are drawn in a lottery held about a year in advance.

What to see

• The Golden Hall of the Musikverein, famous for its acoustics and gilded decoration.
• St Stephen's Cathedral, whose great Pummerin bell rings in the new year.
• The Silvesterpfad, the New Year's Eve trail of stages, music and stalls across the old town.

What to taste

• Sachertorte, the classic Viennese chocolate cake.
• Wiener Schnitzel with potato salad.
• Glühwein and punch from the festive stalls.

What to do

• Dance a waltz in the street at midnight, as many people do when the Blue Danube is played.
• Watch the concert on television in a Viennese café or hotel on New Year's morning.
• Look for a lucky charm such as a marzipan pig, a popular New Year gift in Austria.

💡 Tip: From Vienna Airport the City Airport Train and the cheaper S-Bahn go to Wien Mitte in the centre. Apply for the ticket lottery early and book accommodation well ahead, as the city is very busy over New Year.