Winter
Dec → Feb4 to 7°
nights -2 to 0°
- 11 rainy days · 49 mm
- 5.2 h of sun
When is the best time to visit the Wachau Valley?
- Jan4°not recommended
- Feb7°not recommended
- Mar11°fair
- Apr15°recommended
- May19°recommended
- Jun25°recommended
- Jul26°fair
- Aug26°fair
- Sep21°recommended
- Oct15°recommended
- Nov9°fair
- Dec5°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Wachau Valley, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4° | -2° | 4.7 h | 51 mm | 12 d | |
| February | 7° | 0° | 6.5 h | 41 mm | 10 d | |
| March | 11° | 1° | 8.3 h | 38 mm | 10 d | |
| April | 15° | 5° | 9.6 h | 61 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| May | 19° | 10° | 10 h | 93 mm | 14 d | ✓ |
| June | 25° | 15° | 12.2 h | 83 mm | 13 d | ✓ |
| July | 26° | 16° | 12.3 h | 80 mm | 11 d | |
| August | 26° | 16° | 10.9 h | 86 mm | 11 d | |
| September | 21° | 12° | 9 h | 89 mm | 10 d | ✓ |
| October | 15° | 8° | 7.2 h | 59 mm | 12 d | ✓ |
| November | 9° | 3° | 5.3 h | 49 mm | 9 d | |
| December | 5° | 0° | 4.5 h | 54 mm | 10 d |
The four seasons in the Wachau Valley, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Melk Abbey) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May11 to 19°
nights 1 to 10°
- 11 rainy days · 64 mm
- 9.3 h of sun
Summer
Jun → Aug25 to 26°
nights 15 to 16°
- 12 rainy days · 83 mm
- 11.8 h of sun
Autumn
Sep → Nov9 to 21°
nights 3 to 12°
- 10 rainy days · 66 mm
- 7.2 h of sun
Book early for April to June and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Wachau Valley, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h03 of daylight, in December 8h21, a difference of 7h42.
8h45Jan
10h08Feb
11h45Mar
13h36Apr
15h11May
16h03Jun
15h41Jul
14h18Aug
12h30Sep
10h43Oct
9h09Nov
8h21Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Melk Abbey" (48.23°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Wachau Valley, month by month
EventsApricot blossomMarch to AprilApricot harvestJulyGrape harvestSeptember to OctoberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: March, April, July, August, September, October, November
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Wachau Valley, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- March to AprilApricot blossom
The Marillen apricot orchards turn white between Melk and Krems from late March, and the valley trails fill with walkers.
- JulyApricot harvest
In July, stalls selling jam, schnapps and tarts set up outside the farms of Spitz and Dürnstein.
- September to OctoberGrape harvest
The Riesling and Grüner Veltliner grapes come in during September and October, and the Heuriger wine taverns serve the new wine under the vine arbours.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended4°-2° at night
- 51 mm · 12 d
- 4.7 h
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended7°0° at night
- 41 mm · 10 d
- 6.5 h
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair11°1° at night
- 38 mm · 10 d
- 8.3 h
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended15°5° at night
- 61 mm · 10 d
- 9.6 h
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended19°10° at night
- 93 mm · 14 d
- 10 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended25°15° at night
- 83 mm · 13 d
- 12.2 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair26°16° at night
- 80 mm · 11 d
- 12.3 h
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair26°16° at night
- 86 mm · 11 d
- 10.9 h
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended21°12° at night
- 89 mm · 10 d
- 9 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended15°8° at night
- 59 mm · 12 d
- 7.2 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair9°3° at night
- 49 mm · 9 d
- 5.3 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended5°0° at night
- 54 mm · 10 d
- 4.5 h
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 4 °C at the warmest of the day, -2 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (51 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.7 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 0 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (41 mm). Expect 6.5 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 11 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (38 mm). Expect 8.3 h of sunshine a day. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Cool: 15 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (61 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
May. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 10 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 93 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. 25 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (83 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. 26 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (80 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 26 °C in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (86 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
September. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (89 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 15 °C at best, 8 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Expect 7.2 h of sunshine a day. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 9 °C at best, 3 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (49 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (5.3 h a day). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 5 °C at the warmest of the day, 0 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (54 mm). Sunshine gets scarcer (4.5 h a day). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Wachau Valley?
April to June and September to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 15 to 25 °C, with 12 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Melk Abbey).
Which month should you avoid in the Wachau Valley?
December: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 54 mm over 10 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Melk Abbey).
What is the hottest month in the Wachau Valley?
July, with 26 °C on average in the afternoon and 16 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Melk Abbey).
What is the coldest month in the Wachau Valley?
January, with 4 °C at best during the day and -2 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Melk Abbey).
What is the driest month in the Wachau Valley?
March: 38 mm over 10 days of rain, against 93 mm in May, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Wachau Valley?
July, with 12.3 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Wachau Valley guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Austria: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Commune de Saint Léon sur Vézère / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Le sixième rêve / Pexels · StefanM76 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)