Need help determining when to visit Austria

Naturally, the weather is warmer, many of the summer lift stations close down mid September. Simple supply and demand. More people want to visit in September rather than October.

In the past 10 years or so all of the Octobers in Central Europe were "golden". It was really nice, sunny, not too hot anymore - and very little rain.

Also clearly end of September/early October is shoulder season, so accommodation etc. would be a bit cheaper. With Bavaria, second largest but single richest of the German states having school holidays until the middle of September - and Austria being their No. 1 holiday destination, you'd also find it to be more crowded in the first half of September.

And last but not least end of September to early October is Oktoberfest in Munich. While accommodation there then is $$$ you might want to take a day trip from e.g. Salzburg or so....

Thanks for your responses! I'm just worried that it will be too cold and the day will end much too early if we go in October. Is that something I should be concerned about?

Hi Sandy,

As people who prefer to travel, and have traveled to Austria and Bavaria (mainly the Alps) during October many times, I would definitely go with the later and cheaper dates. It's a beautiful time to be in the alps. Our trips have usually had mild days and even the odd very warm day, with chilly nights and early mornings. Can't even remember a full day of rain out of our 5 trips in October. Weather is never a given, but I'd go later, no question.

Paul

Thanks so much Paul =)

Daylight is until roughly 6:30 to 7pm as I recall. We find the temps to very similar to here in NJ at this time of year. Days in the mid to upper 60's, maybe low 70's, nights maybe around 45. These are rough estimates, as I don't usually check the temps while on vacation.

I completely agree with Paul. After several trips to Bavaria/Austria at this time of year I would choose the later, cheaper dates. It will be a bit cooler but not uncomfortably so. The days will be a little shorter but not by so much that you will notice a difference. The crowds will be lighter and accommodations will be less expensive. You will probably luck out and have perfect hiking weather - clear with comfortably cool days.

We are in the region a couple of times every year. Our favorite time to be there is 15 September to 15 October (more or less). I would go for the cheapest. Since you cant predict the weather you have to know it could be cold, but odds are at worst it will be cool. We have found ourselves wearing sweaters and windbreakers and running the apartment heater during this period one year and shorts and the A/C the next year. Still this is the prime time for the region.

As for the day ending early, that can be when the fun really begins. People who live in the region don't just cut their lives short in the winter, they adapt and work with it. Go with the flow and you will enjoy.

We do also run our Germany tour program through October. I've enjoyed October weather in many European countries; the only one that was cool and rainy happened to be Bulgaria in 2010.

September is great - the weather is good, wine festivals (and Oktoberfest) are in full swing, crowds are smaller, prices are cheaper - you can't go wrong in September. Early October is good too. Sometime in October (usually around mid-October) the weather turns cold. For a $450 savings, I'd probably choose the latter and risk a few cold days at the end unless I had a specific reason to go earlier. I check all the options I can then weigh which is the best value.

We were in Salzburg this year mid January and had a great time. The benefit of contrarian travel is not Ionly lower air fares but fewer tourist wondering around and standing on the sights. I have a photo of the altstadt Sphaera (man on golden globe) in the kapitelplatz with the fortress in the background and NO tourists under or around the sculpture. The downside is artwork and sculptures tented or otherwise covered to protect them against the winter elements.