Vienna isn't just a city for culture lovers and coffee house fans: Austria's capital also has a surprising amount to offer families with children. From a historic amusement park and interactive museums to sprawling parks, there are experiences for every age. We've put together the ten best activities that will make kids' eyes light up, and that parents will enjoy too.
1. The Prater: Carousel Rides Like More Than 100 Years Ago
The Prater is an absolute dream for kids. The Wurstelprater, Vienna's historic amusement park, has rides for every age: gentle carousels for the little ones, bumper cars for the brave and roller coasters for the truly adventurous.
The highlight for the whole family is, of course, the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad). The leisurely ride in the historic cabins takes about 15 minutes and offers a fantastic view over the city. A little tip: children under 3 ride for free.
Beyond the Wurstelprater stretches the Grüner Prater (Green Prater), a huge recreation area with playgrounds, balance bike trails and meadows for running around. Perfect if the kids still have energy left after the rides.
Recommended age: 2 and up (Wurstelprater), all ages (Grüner Prater) Admission: Prater grounds free, rides paid individually Getting there: U1 or U2 to Praterstern
2. Schönbrunn Palace: In the Footsteps of Little Princes and Princesses
Schönbrunn Palace sounds like a grown-up program at first, but the opposite is true. The palace has made a real effort to cater to young visitors.
In the Children's Museum “Schloss Schönbrunn erleben” (Experience Schönbrunn Palace), kids can try on Baroque costumes, pose with fans and wigs and discover in a playful way what life was like at the imperial court. The interactive exhibition is lovingly designed and even wins over kids who usually don't care much for museums.
The palace park alone is an experience: the maze and the labyrinth make for adventures, and the Crown Prince Garden invites you to explore. From the Gloriette at the top of the hill, you get an impressive view, and even smaller children can manage the climb without any trouble.
And then there's Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest zoo in the world. Pandas, elephants, penguins: an absolute highlight for kids, and you can easily plan half a day for it.
Recommended age: Children's Museum 3 and up, zoo all ages Admission: Palace park free, Children's Museum and zoo paid Getting there: U4 to Schönbrunn
3. Haus des Meeres: Sharks, Crocodiles and Tropical Butterflies
A former World War II flak tower is now home to one of the most popular outings for Viennese families. Spread over several floors, the Haus des Meeres (Aqua Terra Zoo) has aquariums, a tropical house, a crocodile pool and a shark tank with an underwater tunnel.
Especially fascinating for kids: in the tropical house, colorful butterflies flutter around freely and little monkeys climb above visitors' heads. The shark tank with its glass tunnel captivates even the youngest visitors.
The rooftop terrace also offers one of the best views over Vienna, ideal for taking a breather.
Recommended age: All ages, especially exciting from age 3 Admission: Paid, children under 3 free Getting there: U3 to Neubaugasse
4. Technisches Museum Wien: Touching Explicitly Encouraged
Where kids usually hear “Don't touch!”, the Technisches Museum (Vienna Technical Museum) is the exact opposite. Its interactive stations invite you to experiment: generate electricity by pedaling, experience physical phenomena up close and marvel at historic locomotives.
The “mini” area is designed especially for children aged 2 to 6: a protected play area where the very youngest can discover technology with all their senses. Older kids are in good hands in the high-voltage lab, where spectacular lightning demonstrations take place.
Recommended age: 2 and up (mini area), 6 and up (main exhibition) Admission: Paid, free for children under 19! Getting there: U4 to Schönbrunn, then a 5-minute walk
5. Natural History Museum: Dinosaurs and a Visit to Venus
The Natural History Museum Vienna on Maria-Theresien-Platz is one of the most impressive museums in the world, and kids love it. In the dinosaur hall, a life-size, moving Allosaurus brings on amazed faces and the occasional scare. The skeletons of mammoths, giant tortoises and dinosaurs draw children in like magic.
For younger visitors there are special family tours and children's puzzle rallies that make the museum visit playful. The gem collection with its huge crystals and glowing minerals thrills all age groups.
Insider tip: On the first Sunday of every month, admission for children under 14 is free in many Viennese museums.
Recommended age: 4 and up Admission: Free for children under 19 Getting there: U2 to Museumsquartier
6. Danube Island: Swimming, Cycling and Adventures by the Water
Danube Island is Vienna's huge open-air leisure park, and admission is completely free. Along more than 21 kilometers you'll find sandy beaches, playgrounds, bike paths, climbing parks and, in summer, plenty of places to swim.
The area around the Copa Cagrana (U1 Donauinsel) is especially recommended for families: there are food stands, playgrounds and shallow entry points into the water. If you prefer something more active, you can rent pedal boats or stand-up paddleboards.
Tip: You can rent bikes (including children's bikes and trailers) right on the island. A bike ride along the Danube is a real adventure for families with older kids.
Recommended age: All ages Admission: Free Getting there: U1 to Donauinsel
7. ZOOM Children's Museum in the MuseumsQuartier: Pure Creativity
Right in the middle of the MuseumsQuartier is Austria's only museum aimed exclusively at children. At ZOOM there are no display cases and no “Please do not touch” signs. Instead, kids build, paint, dance, film and experiment.
The four areas are staggered by age: the Ocean is a play and discovery area for babies and toddlers (ages 0–6). The Exhibition is aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds with interactive themed exhibitions. In the Studio, kids work together on art projects, and in the Animation Studio, children aged 8 and up produce their own animated films.
Important: Advance reservations are required for all areas, and spots are in high demand.
Recommended age: 0–14 (depending on the area) Admission: Paid, some areas free Getting there: U2 to Museumsquartier
8. Stadtpark & Playgrounds: Running Wild in the Heart of the City
Vienna has more than 1,000 parks and green spaces, and many of them are perfect for families. Besides the famous golden Johann Strauss monument, the Stadtpark in the city center has a large playground with a climbing frame, slide and sandbox.
More top playgrounds that are worth a detour:
- Türkenschanzpark (18th district (Währing)) – water playground in summer, huge green space
- Augarten (2nd district (Leopoldstadt)) – sprawling park with a playground and lots of room to run
- Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark – wildlife enclosure with deer and goats, adventure playground
- Jesuitenwiese in the Prater – huge nature playground with a climbing landscape
Recommended age: All ages Admission: All free
9. St. Stephen's Cathedral Catacombs: Spooky Fun for Brave Kids
Beneath St. Stephen's Cathedral lies a world that fascinates older kids: the catacombs. The underground passages hold burial chambers with bones from centuries past. The guided tour tells stories of the plague, emperors and medieval Vienna.
Whether it's right for your child depends on their temperament: some kids find it as thrilling as a horror movie, others not so much. In general, a visit is recommended from about age 8.
As an alternative (or in addition): the climb up the South Tower of St. Stephen's Cathedral is a great adventure for sporty kids: 343 steps up, rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view.
Recommended age: Catacombs 8 and up, tower climb 6 and up Admission: Paid Getting there: U1/U3 to Stephansplatz
10. Wiener Eistraum & Christmas Markets: Vienna in Winter with Kids
In winter, Rathausplatz, the square in front of City Hall (Rathaus), turns into a paradise for families. From mid-January to early March, the Wiener Eistraum (Vienna Ice World) spreads across the entire square: a huge ice rink that winds its way through the illuminated Rathauspark. Skates can be rented on site, including children's sizes.
During Advent, the Christmas markets tempt you with punch, roasted almonds and carousel rides. The Christmas market on Rathausplatz has its own children's area with craft stations and a small train. The market in front of Schönbrunn Palace is cozier and less crowded.
Recommended age: Ice skating from about age 4, Christmas markets all ages Admission: Eistraum paid, Christmas markets free
Practical Tips for Vienna with Kids
Free rides: Children under 6 ride Vienna's public transport for free. On Sundays and public holidays, and during Vienna's school vacations, this even applies to all children under 15.
Free museums: In almost all federal museums (Natural History Museum, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Albertina, Belvedere and many more), admission is free for everyone under 19.
Changing & nursing: Most large museums and shopping centers have baby changing rooms. The MuseumsQuartier has a particularly well-equipped family area.
Strollers: Vienna is surprisingly stroller-friendly. Almost all U-Bahn stations have elevators, and most sights are wheelchair accessible. Exceptions: tower climbs and the catacombs.
Rainy day plan: The Technisches Museum, ZOOM Children's Museum, Haus des Meeres or the Natural History Museum are the perfect bad-weather alternatives.
You'll find more family-friendly places in our category Families & Technology, or discover all attractions in Vienna.
