Travel guide · Austria · Schnee means snow
What to Wear in Austria in Winter
Austria in winter is lakes, glaciers and Christmas markets. Vienna and Salzburg sit just around freezing; in Zell am See nights fall to −8°C, and on the Kitzsteinhorn glacier it stays below −9°C all day.
The short answer
From the Christmas market to the glacier: one layer for every height.
An Austrian winter trip often moves from a city of palaces and coffee houses to a lake village, then up by cable car to the snow. A merino base layer goes with you all the way, warm on the mountain and comfortable indoors.
Month by month, Zell am See (750 m)
When to go, and what to pack
Average temperatures and daily hours of sunshine by the lake. On the glacier above, it is about 15°C colder.
January, place by place
From 3°C in Vienna to −14°C on the glacier
Average temperatures in January, the coldest month, and which Sleet weight to pack.
Air cools by roughly 6°C for every 1,000 m you climb. A mild morning by the lake in Zell am See can be −14°C at the top of the Kitzsteinhorn, before the wind.
Winter moments
Four Austrian winter moments, and what to wear for them
The Christmas markets
Salzburg and Vienna in December: lights, music and hours outside.
Wear: 240 GSM under your coat.
The Kitzsteinhorn glacier
Cable cars from Kaprun up to 3,029 m, with a view over a sea of peaks.
Wear: 300 GSM, top and long john.
The frozen lake
Walks along Zell am See’s lake, sometimes frozen, with snowy mountains all around.
Wear: 240 GSM for lake days.
A horse-drawn sleigh ride
Wrapped in blankets through snowy valleys, sitting still in the cold.
Wear: 300 GSM, top and long john.
Austrian mountain huts are warm and lunches are long. Merino breathes, so you stay comfortable inside and warm again on the slope.
Which Sleet weight
Choose for the coldest place on your trip
240 GSM Midweight
Vienna · Salzburg · Hallstatt · Zell am See lake days
Warm for towns and villages, light enough for long lunches, shops and evenings out.
Shop 240 GSM To −30°C300 GSM Heavyweight
Kitzsteinhorn glacier · St. Anton · sleigh rides · ski days
For full ski days, high lifts, summits and cold spells.
Shop 300 GSM For every travellerTwin Layer & Kids
Sensitive skin · children
Twin Layer: soft cotton inside, merino outside, cut for men and for women. Kids: extra-fine merino sets.
See the collectionSkiing every day? Take 300 for the slopes and 240 for the village evenings.
How to layer
Three layers, easy to take off
- Base layerMerino against the skin, top and long john. Warm on the lift, cool enough at lunch.
- Middle layerA fine wool or cashmere jumper, or a light ski fleece. Off at the table, on again outside.
- Outer layerSki jacket and trousers for the slopes; a tailored wool coat for the village.
Austria dresses well, from the opera to the slopes. A merino base layer keeps you warm under a tailored coat, without bulk.
Packing list
- Merino base layer: two tops, one long john
- Fine wool or cashmere jumper
- Wool coat, and ski wear for the mountain
- Hat, scarf and warm gloves
- Wool socks, two or three pairs
- Boots with grip for icy streets and markets
- Sunglasses for the glacier
Questions travellers ask
Is Zell am See cold in winter?
In January, about 0°C by day and −7°C to −8°C at night by the lake. Take 240 GSM for the town and 300 GSM for the glacier.
How cold is the Kitzsteinhorn glacier?
In January, about −9°C by day and −14°C at night, colder in the wind. Choose 300 GSM.
Do I need thermals for the Christmas markets?
Yes: you stand outside for hours in the evening, around freezing. A 240 GSM base layer under your coat keeps you warm.
240 or 300 GSM?
240 for cities, markets and lake days; 300 for the glacier, skiing and sleigh rides. If your trip has both, take one of each.
What size should I take?
See the size guide, or message us on WhatsApp and we will help you choose.
Knitted in Australia since 1982
Going to Austria this winter?
Tell us where you will stay and what you plan to do. We will tell you which weight and size to take.
Delivered in 1–2 days in the UAE and 3–5 days across the GCC.