{"id":67994,"date":"2024-02-05T10:40:17","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T09:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=67994"},"modified":"2026-02-16T18:19:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T17:19:44","slug":"valentines-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/valentines-day\/","title":{"rendered":"What to do on Valentine&#8217;s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentinesmall.jpg\" alt=\"Drawing of a rose\" class=\"wp-image-67993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentinesmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentinesmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna gave us one of opera&#8217;s happier love stories (Franz Leh\u00e1r&#8217;s <em>The Merry Widow<\/em> since you ask). So here some options for February 14th in our fair city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For the record: yes, it&#8217;s celebrated locally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Romantic\" rel=\"sponsored\">a concert &amp; dinner<\/a>* in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/romantic-dinners\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"46819\">Romantic spots for eating out<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/february\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9205\">February in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Jump to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#dinner\">Romantic dinner<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#concert\">Dinner &amp; a concert<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#valentine\">Valentine&#8217;s Day specials<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#opera\">A night at the opera\/ballet?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#cinema\">A night at the cinema?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#footsteps\">Romantic footsteps<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Romance for two in 2027<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not going to lie\u2026I&#8217;ve been married so long that a romantic gesture now means cleaning the apartment on a Saturday morning while your partner has a lie in. But I am not entirely lost to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/stores\/Mark-Brownlow\/author\/B076Y3X89F\">art of romance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who prefer to say it with flowers rather than a vacuum cleaner, a few suggestions for Valentine&#8217;s Day 2027 in Vienna\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dinner\">Romantic dinner?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Valentinedonauturm.jpg\" alt=\"Dinner laid for two\" class=\"wp-image-68136\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Valentinedonauturm.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Valentinedonauturm-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Dinner in the sky at the Danube Tower; press photo \u00a9 Donauturm)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The obvious choice is a suitably romantic location for a t\u00eate-\u00e0-t\u00eate over a glass of wine and fine food. Perhaps with a view across the city rooftops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since a romantic dinner is not just something for Valentine&#8217;s Day, I actually have a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/romantic-dinners\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"46819\">whole article of suggestions<\/a>. Obviously, book well in advance for the commercial locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many restaurants will have Valentine&#8217;s Day offers, of course. Last time out, for example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/the-donauturm-danube-tower\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4919\">Donauturm<\/a> viewing platform had special options available in its tower caf\u00e9 and restaurant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"concert\">Dinner and a concert?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight1.jpg\" alt=\"View of the rear of the Musikverein and piano store at night\" class=\"wp-image-74413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/musikvereinnight1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Musikverein venue)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How about a night of light classical music in a romantic historical ambience with dinner to boot? A strong alternative which hopefully repeats in 2027, for example, is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/schonbrunn-classical-concerts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5608\">Sch\u00f6nbrunn concerts<\/a>: a bit of Strauss and Mozart in the long Baroque palace orangery, where the latter used to play for Emperor Joseph II (unless I&#8217;ve mixed up my monarchs)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Romantic\" rel=\"sponsored\">concert \/ dinner options here<\/a>*, too, as the big day approaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"valentine\">Valentine&#8217;s Day specials<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/klimtvalentinekiss2025.jpg\" alt=\"Couple kissing in front of a painting\" class=\"wp-image-79266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/klimtvalentinekiss2025.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/klimtvalentinekiss2025-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A kiss beneath <em>The Kiss<\/em> at Belvedere? Press photo \u00a9 Ivory Rose Photography \/ Belvedere, Wien)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, a lot of locations, hotels, and attractions will come up with ideas for special events or offers on the 14th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They usually announce such things fairly late in the day, but I will add notable specials as they reach my inbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a look back at the 2006 day&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A kiss and the Kiss?<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/upperbelvedere23.jpg\" alt=\"Museum entrance to Upper Belvedere\" class=\"wp-image-67391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/upperbelvedere23.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/upperbelvedere23-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Upper Belvedere: not a bad spot for a romantic evening excursion)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Between 7pm and 11pm on February 14th, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/upper-belvedere-palace\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3521\">Upper Belvedere<\/a> offered free entry to its Klimt rooms out-of-hours for pairs to get a romantic photo in front of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/belvedere-sites\/kiss\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1119\">The Kiss<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A professional photographer took your photo as you kissed in front of Gustav Klimt&#8217;s famous painting, and they sent you a digital copy of the result (also for free).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All was on a first come first served basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other museum specials<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/retrogamingmuseum2.jpg\" alt=\"Outside of the gaming museum\" class=\"wp-image-62063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/retrogamingmuseum2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/retrogamingmuseum2-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Enjoy 2 for the price of 1 at the Gaming Museum)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year, look out for specials for couples and pairs at other museums and similar locations. In 2026, for example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/retro-gaming-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"62158\">Retro Gaming Museum<\/a> had a &#8220;buy a ticket and get a free one for your date&#8221; offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Museums often offer Valentine-themed tours, but largely in German only. You might find exceptions, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Concert by candlelight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve written elsewhere about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/candlelight-concerts\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"75858\">Candlelight Concerts<\/a> that commonly feature today&#8217;s music in classical form. Last time, one of those concerts was a February 14th Valentine Day&#8217;s special in the Weltmuseum with a string quartet interpreting such tunes as <em>La Vie En Rose<\/em> or <em>Can\u2019t Help Falling in Love<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On the water?<\/h4>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentineDDSGBlueDanube.jpg\" alt=\"Couple enjoying dinner on a boat\" class=\"wp-image-68138\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentineDDSGBlueDanube.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/valentineDDSGBlueDanube-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Valentine&#8217;s Day dinner along the Danube; press photo \u00a9 DDSG Blue Danube &amp; Emanuel Kaser)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ah, moonbeams on the waterfront as your gondola&#8230;um, no, that&#8217;s Venice not Vienna. However&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The DDSG Blue Danube cruise service that operates around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/boat-tours-river-trips\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"59447\">Vienna&#8217;s waterways<\/a> offered an evening trip up the river with a four-course candlelit dinner and suitable music on the 14th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"opera\">A night at the opera\/ballet?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/staatsopernight.jpg\" alt=\"Staatsoper at night\" class=\"wp-image-41933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/staatsopernight.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/staatsopernight-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Staatsoper State Opera House)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spot of high culture seems a fine way to spend the evening on Valentine&#8217;s Day. We had a couple of suitable productions on the 14th in 2026, but I await schedules for 2027:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/volksoper\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1083\">Volksoper<\/a> had <em>Der Rosenkavalier<\/em> by Richard Strauss, with its comedic tale of love in 18th-century Vienna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/opera\/staatsoper\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1071\">Staatsoper<\/a> had the ballet <em>Jewels<\/em>: a homage to precious gems by George Balanchine that provided a modern update on the romantic ballet tradition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cinema\">A night at the cinema?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You might be lucky and find a new release with an appropriate theme at one of Vienna&#8217;s many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/theaters\/english-cinemas-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"633\">English-language cinemas<\/a>. But look for special Valentine showings, too. In 2026, the Haydn Kino screened 2005&#8217;s <em>Pride &amp; Prejudice<\/em>, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"footsteps\">Romantic footsteps?<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/albrechtstatue.jpg\" alt=\"Steps below Archduke Albrecht\" class=\"wp-image-46823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/albrechtstatue.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/albrechtstatue-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Scene of the poetry recital in <em>Before Sunrise<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, simply draw Valentine inspiration from fictional and courtly lovers and retrace their journeys. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Before Sunrise<\/em> movie: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/songsfilms\/before-sunrise-locations\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"36997\">follow Jesse and C\u00e9line<\/a> as they wander nocturnal Vienna, talk about life, and learn that we&#8217;re all just stardust. Recreate Jesse&#8217;s recital of Auden&#8217;s poem <em>As I walked out one Evening<\/em> outside the Albertina<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Sachertorte movie<\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/songsfilms\/sachertorte-movie-locations\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"58231\">take after Karl<\/a> and enjoy chocolate cake and coffee in honour of the (possible) love of your life<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Empress Elisabeth<\/em>: turn the clocks back some 150 years and tread gently in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/empress-elisabeth\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16956\">footsteps of the legendary Sisi<\/a>, subject of Emperor Franz Joseph&#8217;s undying love. Although that relationship was perhaps also as much tragedy as romance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ideas for romantic moments and celebrations of love in our fair city<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":67993,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-67994","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-events","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67994"}],"version-history":[{"count":45,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88719,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67994\/revisions\/88719"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}