Family-friendly attractions in Vienna, Austria By Rowena Carr-Allinson
Vienna (Flickr: Rob Glover)
Best known for its incredible historical and cultural heritage, Vienna is without a doubt the world’s classical music and architectural historical heart. Dull for kids? Think again! The Austrian city is incredibly kid-friendly, with family-friendly attractions ranging from bespoke museums to a zoo and, of course, the Vienna State Opera that even offers children’s operas!
Stay at the centrally located Hotel Sacher Wien to experience the city’s most luxuriously iconic hotel, home to the famous Sacher Torte, which is bound to be a success with the kids! For a great rooftop bar, try the The Ritz-Carlton, while the Radisson Blu Style Hotel offers contemporary luxury at a smaller budget.
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Haus der Musik
After all, it’s all about music, so take the kids to the interactive museum that celebrates the city’s rich musical past. The little ones can explore sounds, music, find out about the great composers, and even try the kid-friendly Namadeus musical game invented by Mozart himself, which turns names into music! You can even compose your own tunes, thanks to dice, or have a go at conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Unforgettable!
Prater Amusement Park
Prater Amusement Park (Flickr: Nicu Buculei)
In addition to the giant Ferris wheel that rises 200 feet high and offers spectacular city views, the whole family will love the kid-friendly attractions in this park such as the chair-o-plane, the ghost train, and Ice Mountain, the interactive tour visiting polar bears and penguins! Hop on a bike to explore, hit the skate parks, try the jungle gyms, or climb into the saddle for a pony ride.
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace (Courtesy Schönbrunn Castle)
The former imperial summer residence has an incredible 1,441-rooms! One of the finest monuments in the country, it’s easy to spend all day there, exploring the palace, the children’s museum, the gardens and the world’s oldest zoo – a master class in making history, mixing traditions and heritage with wildlife.
The Belvedere
The Belvedere (Flickr: Kurt Bauschardt)
These two Baroque palaces, the Upper and Lower Belvedere, sit alongside the Orangery and the Palace Stables so there’s plenty to see! First built as a summer home for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Upper Belvedere is now an art museum with an impressive collection of Gustav Klimt works. The good news is that the museum even has a programme for its younger guests: the “Art Detective on the Trail of Masterpieces” to help guide the kids around the galleries, turning the visit into a sort of treasure hunt. A great add on to your family vacation in Vienna!
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The Belvedere’s Children’s Museum
This family-friendly attraction is really designed for kids to enjoy. They can dress up as imperial children, see how they look with wigs on or play with imperial toys. Prefer the fresh air? Explore the Maze and Labyrinth in the beautiful palace gardens, check out the giant kaleidoscope, or try the climbing pole where the aim of the game is to ring the bell at the top! This is also where you’ll find the zoo, so budget plenty of time for your visit.
Take a bike tour with a difference
Similar to the Dutch Bakefiets, the Kinderkutsche (kids’ carriage) is a bike with a frontal storage box where the kids can be strapped in safely. A wheelbarrow meets bike, it’s the perfect way to peddle around the town and see the city on two wheels without tiring out the kids! It even come with a sun or rain canopy.
Rowena Carr-Allinson contributed this to MiniTime. Since the arrival of her son in 2011, she has taken him everywhere from Bangkok to NYC, writing family friendly articles en route.
