SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

CULTURE

The best open-air cinemas in Austria to visit this summer

As summer sweeps across Austria, bringing warm evenings, it's the perfect time to enjoy the fun and glamour of open-air cinemas.

A view of the Film Festival at Rahausplatz in Vienna in July 2022.
A view of the Film Festival at Rahausplatz in Vienna in July 2022. Photo: Stadt Wien Marketing/Theresa Wey

Austria is a country of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, and when the summer months arrive, it becomes alive with some fantastic events (many of them for free) taking place outdoors.

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy open-air cinema experiences – and there are many in the Alpine country. Whether a local or a tourist, watching a movie under the stars is a great way to spend warm summer evenings in Austria. 

From historic castles to city rooftops, there are plenty of unique venues. Here are some of the best open-air cinemas in Austria to add to your summer bucket list.

Rathaus Film Festival, Vienna

One of Austria’s most renowned open-air cinemas can be found in the heart of Vienna, within the courtyard of the Rathaus (City Hall). Every summer, the Rathausplatz transforms into a cinema paradise. 

With a colossal screen set against the grand backdrop of the Neo-Gothic City Hall, visitors can immerse themselves in a diverse range of films, especially operas, concerts and ballet presentations. As the sun sets, this iconic venue comes alive with an electric atmosphere surrounded by food stalls and packed with people from all over the world. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Vienna’s free summer film festival

Vienna also has several other options for summer open-air cinemas, such as the Wie Noch Nie at Augartenspitz, the Kaleidoskop on Karlsplatz, or the Kino am Dach on the terrace of the Viennese public library.

Das Kino, Salzburg

In Salzburg, Das Kino is embarking on a province-wide tour in collaboration with local event organisers, making several stops within the city. 

From the enchanting Acropolis Bonjour and the captivating Adiós Buenos Aires to the boldly unique Ninjababy and Adrian Goiginger’s heartfelt Der Fuchs and Märzengrund, there is something for everyone. 

Additionally, the programme features a summer classic, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by local legend Max Reinhardt and William Dieterle, dating back to 1935.

Options in Tyrol and Vorarlberg

As always, the Otto Preminger Institute’s open-air cinema is in Innsbruck’s Zeughaus. From the end of July to the end of August, moviegoers can enjoy a selection of arthouse films from the past year. Notable highlights include the highly anticipated Barbie, Aftersun, Banshees of Inisherin, and All the Beauty and the Bloodshed. 

This year’s classics include Věra Chytilová’s Sedmikrásky – Tausendschönchen, Jim Jarmusch’s Night on Earth, and a surprise comedy.

Over in Vorarlberg, the KUB open-air cinema presents a diverse range of films, from Rafiki to Nomadland. At Kino am See in Hard, audiences can enjoy not just one “hard movie,” but seven, including Elvis and the Ukrainian family war metafilm, The Earth Is Blue As An Orange.

READ ALSO: Hugo, Almdudler and Radler: 5 drinks to try in Austria this summer

Open-air cinemas in Lower Austria

The Cinema Summer in Lower Austria presents an impressive lineup of 29 venues. In St. Pölten, Cinema Paradiso’s open-air cinema on Rathausplatz offers a diverse programme, including concerts, current films, and premieres such as Oppenheimer. Classic movies like Hair and Alexis Sorbas will also be featured throughout the 60-day event. 

In Linz, the cinematic experience begins at the Moviemento summer cinema, located high above the Kulturquartier. The programme includes Feminism WTF, featuring a discussion round, as well as screenings of Barbie, a preview of the Austrian music film Vienna Calling, Fellini’s Idlers, the vampire punk film The Lost Boys, and the romantic and witty classic Holiday with Audrey Hepburn.

Options in Upper Austria

During August, the streets of Freistadt in Upper Austria will be temporarily closed to create a unique setting for the summer cinema. This cinematic journey will take audiences to Greece with Thomas Stipsits and feature Greta Gerwig’s Barbie. In the last week of August, the Der Neue Heimatfilm Festival will take over the screen. Surrounding villages such as Alberndorf, Kefermarkt, Reichenthal, and Waldburg will also host special summer cinema performances. 

As a special treat, director Adrian Goiginger will lead a cinema walk to Braunberg Castle before the screening of his film Der Fuchs, providing a perfect opportunity to immerse oneself in the atmosphere of the summer cinema.

READ ALSO: Eight lakes that are definitely worth visiting in Austria this summer

Styria, Carinthia and Burgenland

In the southern region of Austria, specifically at unique venues like the Murinsel in Graz, the Rechbauerkino presents an exciting summer cinema programme. 

Alongside the summer ambience, the screenings feature iconic classics that create a contrasting experience, including Ridley Scott’s masterpiece Alien. 

The programme also pays tribute to Graz actress Marisa Mell through the Diagonale film festival. For an interactive cinema experience, the open-air screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show invites everyone to join in and dance the Time Warp.

Carinthia also has its fair share of summer cinema offerings. Films are screened in the courtyard of the Villach Music School, the Burghof in Klagenfurt, and other locations. 

In Burgenland, summer cinema can be enjoyed at the Waldteich in Bad Tatzmannsdorf and in the Josef-Hölzel-Allee. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

DISCOVER AUSTRIA

IN PICTURES: Austria’s five most impressive waterfalls

Austria's many dramatic waterfalls offer a perfect escape during the warm summer days.

IN PICTURES: Austria's five most impressive waterfalls

Austria not only offers mountains and crystal-clear lakes but also many dramatic and tall waterfalls worth exploring.

On a hot summer day, visiting a waterfall to enjoy cooler temperatures and natural beauty can be a great idea.

Krimml Waterfalls

These are Austria’s largest and most famous waterfalls. When combined, they have a total height of about 380 meters.

You find the falls in High Tauern National Park, where you can reach them via a well-maintained hiking trail.

The hiking trail leads you through a beautiful alpine landscape with dense forests and rugged cliffs. Along the way, you will find many viewpoints where you can rest on benches and enjoy stunning views of the region.

The best time to visit the waterfalls is during the summer months when the water volume peaks due to snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. It is also an ideal time to visit if you want to escape hot temperatures elsewhere.

Many people also spend time by the waterfalls due its believed health benefits. The high volume of water and cascading nature of the falls produce fine aerosols known to have a positive effect on respiratory health.

You can read more about the falls here.

Krimml waterfalls are a great place to visit if you want to cool down during the warmer months. Photo by Abdulrhman Alkhnaifer on Unsplash

Stuibenfall

Stuibenfall is Tyrol’s largest waterfall and is located in the Ötztal Valley. It drops over several levels, with a total height of about 159 meters.

The waterfall drops from a steep cliff and creates a cascade of water that can be heard and felt from long distances. During peak flow periods, such as in spring or after heavy rainfall, the waterfall is known to show its full force.

Ölztal Valley is famous for its beauty, high mountains, deep valleys, and alpine meadows. The valley offers many different hiking trails and great viewpoints.

You can start your hike up to the waterfall from the cute nearby village Umhausen.

Stuibenfall is Tyrol’s largest waterfal and a popular place to enjoy the nature. Photo by Jaakko Kemppainen on Unsplash
 

Golling Waterfall

This famous waterfall is located in the region of Salzburg. It is about 75 meters tall and cascades down in two main drops from a rocky cliff.

You can get to the waterfalls by a hike starting in the small town of Golling an der Salzach. From there you can explore a well-marked trail through a beautiful alpine landscapes with views of the Salzach Valley.

The waterfall is a popular spot, especially during summer, where you can enjoy the refreshing temperature and calmness of the nature around. 

The town of Golling also offers a lot to experience. Here you can visit the historic Golling Castle (Schloss Golling) and enjoy a walk or a picknick in Bluntautal Valley (Bluntautal).

While visiting Golling waterfall you can also enjoy the many hiking trails in Salzach Valley. Photo by Diane Theresa Hendrick on Unsplash

Liechtensteinklamm Waterfall

You find this beautiful waterfall near the small town St. Johann im Pongau in the region of Salzburg.

There is an official path to the waterfall which leads you through the narrow Liechtenstein gorge. Along the way, you will pass several other smaller waterfalls until you reach Liechtensteinklamm Waterfall, the largest one.

The gorge is one of the longest and deepest in the Alps, with ravines that are around 300 meters deep.

The hiking path to the waterfall will take you through many smaller waterfalls, impressive mountain peaks, steep cliffs, and of course, a lot of thundering water.

From the entrance of the gorge, the hike will take you about one and a half hour (roundtrip). The great thing is that the return path is not the same as the one to get there.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Andrea (@antole2806)

Kesselfall 

Kesselfall is a series of waterfalls located in a beautiful gorge near the town of Kaprun in the region of Salzburg.

The falls are part of a popular hiking route, Kesselfall Almweg, which goes alongside the rushing waters of the waterfall. The path offers beautiful views with water flowing through a landscape of rocks and forests.

Apart from the hiking path to the waterfall, you can explore a wide range of other well-marked trails in the area. You can find trails of all levels for both hiking and biking  The region is known for its beauty, high mountains, meadows, and forests.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Adéla Korejsová Bechyňská (@adelakorejsovabechynska)

READ MORE: Four Austrian national parks worth paying a visit

SHOW COMMENTS