{"id":7218,"date":"2018-12-18T08:13:57","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T07:13:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=7218"},"modified":"2026-01-01T17:13:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T16:13:31","slug":"silvesterpfad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/silvesterpfad\/","title":{"rendered":"The Silvesterpfad"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/silvesterpfadsmall.jpg\" alt=\"Silvesterpfad sign\" class=\"wp-image-21805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/silvesterpfadsmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/silvesterpfadsmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna doesn&#8217;t leave celebrating New Year&#8217;s Eve to chance. Each year, the city organises the <em>Silvesterpfad<\/em> (New Year&#8217;s Eve Trail) with entertainment around the city centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to expect&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A series of linked open-air stages across Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entertainments typically starts from 2pm on Dec 31<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food &amp; drink stalls dot the route<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free: no ticket required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/concerts-opera-vienna-tickets-l206741\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_NYE\" rel=\"sponsored\">classical concert experience<\/a>* for your trip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/where-to-stay\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1647\">Find hotels for a New Year visit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/new-years-eve\/\">New Year&#8217;s Eve in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the Silvesterpfad?<\/h2>\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\/03\/silvesterpfadstage.jpg\" alt=\"Stage on the Silvesterpfad\" class=\"wp-image-43772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/silvesterpfadstage.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/silvesterpfadstage-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\">(One of the many stages around town at a previous event)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The New Year&#8217;s Eve trail is exactly as it sounds&#8230;a series of linked festive sites across Vienna, each fitted out with a temporary open-air stage and all geared up to entertain passers-by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025\/2026 Silvesterpfad, for example, allowed revellers to enjoy seven open-air sites on streets and squares around the central district and one outside the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each site on the trail has a different musical focus, so you can pick a location to match your tastes. And the choice is wide: pop, classical, disco, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The event has no entrance fee or ticketing system; you just turn up. The entertainment usually begins at 2pm and ends around 2am on January 1st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Silvesterpfad&#8217;s popularity means hundreds of thousands of Viennese and tourists from the country and abroad typically throng the streets from early afternoon to late at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp205287\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_NewYear\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Around 550,000 enjoyed themselves last time out. They even stopped letting people into the areas around the stages as midnight approached. So don&#8217;t leave your visit until the last minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food and drink?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t want to nip into a bar or restaurant to keep your energy levels up for walking and waltzing, numerous catering stands pepper the Silvesterpfad route and usually open from late morning on December 31st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I last went, for example, a marvelous stand sold mini <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/the-sachertorte\/\">Sachertorte cakes<\/a> outside <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/demel\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"22941\">Demel<\/a> on Kohlmarkt. And the baked delights sold like, well, hot cakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expect sparkling wine and punch to figure prominently. If want to learn more about the former, as well as drink it, the local sparkling wine company does <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/schlumberger-wine-cellars\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"71268\">nice tours of its cellars<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Expect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/food\/sausages\/\">sausages<\/a>, too, of course. If you can&#8217;t find sausages at a Viennese event, consider that an early sign of the pending apocalypse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2026 Silvesterpfad locations<\/h2>\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\/06\/freyungfrombelow.jpg\" alt=\"The Freyung from below\" class=\"wp-image-47716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/freyungfrombelow.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/freyungfrombelow-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 historical Freyung square hosts a stage in 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I await details for the coming 2026 celebrations. last time out, Vienna&#8217;s old town hosted all of the central sites with stages on&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/freyung-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29646\">Freyung<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/rathaus\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"79\">Rathausplatz<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/am-hof-square\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27637\">Am Hof<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Graben pedestrianised street<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stephansplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"83491\">Stephansplatz<\/a> (in front of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stefansdom\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"294\">cathedral<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>K\u00e4rntner Stra\u00dfe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Neuer Markt square<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>All these locations are within a short walking distance of each other. For example, Stephansplatz actually connects the Graben and K\u00e4rntner Stra\u00dfe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The eighth location was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/wintermarkt-riesenradplatz\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6447\">Wintermarkt<\/a> at the entrance to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/wurstelprater-amusement-park\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"35559\">Prater entertainment quarter<\/a> in the 2nd district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Highlight: waltz in the New Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Only one city can probably teach you to waltz outside while still making you feel like you&#8217;re in a ballroom.<\/p>\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\/04\/grabenlights.jpg\" alt=\"New Year lights on the Graben\" class=\"wp-image-45432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/grabenlights.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/grabenlights-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\">(Lights on the Graben: always a favourite with visitors)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The giant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmas-lights\/\">Christmas chandelier lights<\/a> along the Graben pedestrianised street at the very heart of the city stay up through New Year. Beneath them, you can usually enjoy a waltz under the guidance of a ballroom dancing school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might need the practice for the communal waltz likely to break out on Stephansplatz as the crowds listen to the cathedral&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/north-tower-stephansdom\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5428\">Pummerin bell<\/a> ring in the New Year at midnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Revellers also traditionally congregate on the Rathausplatz square in front of city hall for an official midnight waltz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(At the most recent event, that location was all about Eurovision, with best-of entertainment and the start of the official countdown to the Vienna-hosted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/eurovision-2026\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"83760\">May 16th extravaganza<\/a>.)<\/p>\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\/04\/rathausview.jpg\" alt=\"View across to the Rathaus\" class=\"wp-image-45434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/rathausview.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/rathausview-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\">(View across to the Rathaus through the surrounding park)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It only takes a little practice to dance the waltz, but a lot of skill to dance one adequately in the middle of a partly-tipsy crowd of Viennese. One of the great scientific mysteries of our time is how people manage to do so without causing significant pileups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On January 1st, 2026, the Stephansplatz and Wintermarkt also showed a live video broadcast of the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/new-years-concert\/\">New Year&#8217;s Concert<\/a> from the Musikverein. On the Graben and K\u00e4rntner Stra\u00dfe, you could hear the audio of the event. Perhaps these opportunities repeat on New Year&#8217;s Day in 2027?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"pro1008299,pro1029872\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_NewYearAlt\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is what I learned from my time on the Silvesterpfad:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plan your afternoon and evening schedule using the full programme and other details provided at the <a href=\"https:\/\/wienersilvesterpfad.at\/\">official website<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Don&#8217;t be shocked at how much you are actually charged for drinks etc. when you buy them from stands: you may have to add the cost of a returnable deposit on glasses, plates etc. to the advertised menu prices<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Along the route, some bakeries and snack bars may also open, should you wish an alternative source for food and drink<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I went until about 7pm (don&#8217;t mock me) and experienced no rowdiness or idiots letting off crackers. An absence of vehicles helped with the positive atmosphere; the Silvesterpfad area stays cordoned off from traffic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The trail was already busy, though, even at that early time. If you&#8217;re not good in crowds, stay away, and it all gets louder as the evening progresses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With all the revellers, it takes quite a while to get places. To move faster, just nip down a side street and walk along a parallel road to your end destination. Once you get off the marked Silvesterpfad streets, the crowds thin rapidly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy New Year!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, Vienna organises the Silvesterpfad (New Year&#8217;s Eve Trail) with entertainment around the city centre<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21805,"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-7218","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\/7218","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\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7218"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87907,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7218\/revisions\/87907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}