12 Things to Do with Kids in Vienna

Vienna is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Its imperial air with grand palaces and baroque architecture are some of the virtues that make it a special destination. Perhaps, because of this, you may think that Vienna is more of a destination for adults. However, it has a wide range of activities focused on children.

Many tourist attractions and museums have specific programs for children. In addition, you will find a museum dedicated exclusively to the little ones, an amusement park, large playgrounds and many more options that make it a highly recommended family destination.

In the immense gardens of the Royal Palace of Schönbrunn there are spaces where children can play and enjoy more than adults.

One of them is the Schoenbrunn Zoo, considered the oldest zoo in the world and the best in Europe. It was Emperor Franz I who ordered to build a menagerie in the palace gardens in 1752. Since then this space has been home to thousands of species of animals and has been visited by millions of people.

If you book your ticket for the Schoenbrunn Zoo Vienna, the little ones of the house will especially enjoy the more than 700 species of animals that hosts the zoo highlighting its famous family of pandas, African elephants, rhinos and tigers among many others. There are shows of all kinds where children can interact directly with some of the animals. It is, without a doubt, an ideal place to spend a day with the family.

It's normal for the little ones to get bored at some point with all the palaces, museums and monuments. It is always a good idea to reward them with activities that they will enjoy 100%, and what better place than an amusement park. In the huge Prater park in the east of Vienna, there is a complete amusement park with the same name as the park itself.

The main attraction of the Vienna Prater is a giant Ferris wheel so be sure to book your ticket for Wiener Riesenrad which is its official name. Built in 1897, it is 65 meters high and offers one of the best panoramic views of the entire city. In addition to the Ferris wheel, there are roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, bumper cars and all kinds of attractions for all tastes. Tickets cost around 10 euros, a very reasonable price for a fun family day out.

Another popular plan for children is a visit to Vienna's famous riding school, known as the Spanische Hofreitschule, or Spanish Riding School. Known as the Spanische Hofreitschule, or Spanish Riding School, this is one of the most prestigious places for horse training. You can visit the facilities and watch the horse shows that take place every week.

The place is very particular since it has the elegant decoration of an opera house but with the sand surface where the horses train together with their riders. The show jumping and dressage is very popular, so if you decide to see it with your family it is best to book your ticket as soon as possible. In addition, you can enjoy training at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. The little ones at home are sure to be thrilled with the experience.

I recommend that you book a visit to Schönbrunn Palace as soon as possible because it is one of the main palaces in Vienna and one of the most visited spots in the city. In this huge complex you can visit the rooms of the palace and its gardens and has a special program for children to enjoy the visit in a unique way.

To show the way of life of the Habsburgs, the royal family that occupied the palace, there is a place near the entrance where they offer costumes in period costumes for children. In addition to dressing up as real nobles, they will also have a great time preparing a table worthy of an imperial dinner and many other didactic activities with which they will learn as well as have a great time.

Vienna is also famous for its sweet desserts with Sacher cake being the most popular dish in the city. But there are many other desserts and sweet dishes that will sweeten the trip of children, and adults of course. Besides visiting the Sacher hotelwhere they serve the legendary cake, I recommend you to go to the Demel bakery, one of the most famous in the city, where they sell the best sweets in Vienna.

Another mandatory stop if you love sweets and especially ice cream is Zanoni & Zanoni where they have the best ice cream in Vienna as well as a pastry area.

And if you also want to take them to eat at a place where they will be amazed, be sure to book a menu for the Hard Rock Cafe in Vienna

Animals, dinosaurs, minerals and precious stones...All these things tend to captivate children and even more so if they are allowed to interact and learn from and with them. So be sure to book your ticket to the Natural History Museum. Considered one of the best museums in Vienna, it houses a display of more than 20 million objects, minerals and remains of living beings gathered under one roof at the initiative of the Habsburgs.

In this museum there are temporary exhibitions and permanent collections focused on the learning of the little ones in a fun and entertaining way. The collection of fossils and dinosaurs is usually their favorite, although there is something for everyone.

It is a perfect place to visit with the whole family, as adults will also enjoy it and will especially appreciate the value of some of its jewels, such as the famous Venus of Willendorf, which has its home in the Natural History Museum of Vienna.

The fun at Schönbrun Palace Gardens doesn't end with a visit to the zoo. There are also green areas that are especially attractive for children. In the same gardens there is a playground consisting of a fun labyrinth surrounded by hedges and fountains for extra charm. Getting lost in the Labyrinthikon, as the park is known, is especially entertaining for the little ones.

Keep in mind that this park in the palace gardens is only open at a certain time of the year, from March to early November.

The Zoom Museum is a place designed exclusively for children which undoubtedly makes it a must for the little ones of the house if you visit Vienna. The museum's program and activities are always changing, but it always offers different options for different age groups.

All activities are focused on the senses and range from hand painting to music workshops to various games. All of them are led by qualified art teachers to entertain and teach children. The museum's activities have limited places and are in high demand so it is advisable to book in advance.

Another place that often makes a special impression on children, but also on adults, is the so-called Butterfly House. In Vienna it is known as Schmetterlinghaus and is a butterfly house in which there is a large collection of chrysalises and butterflies, the latter fluttering freely inside.

Seeing hundreds of butterflies flying in unison is always a very beautiful experience, but if you are lucky one of them may land on you and act as an improvised "guide" of this magical place. Another of its attractions are the chrysalises that, if you are lucky, you can see how they open and give way to another butterfly. It is located between the Albertina museum and the Burggarten park in the Josefsplatz.

Another museum worth visiting with children is known as the House of the Sea. The building houses numerous freshwater and saltwater aquariums with thousands of marine species on display with themed areas and fun activities. Highlights include the 360º degree shark tunnel, the crocodile area, and the recreations of the coral areas. There are activities for children and not so children, such as the possibility of diving with sharks or feeding them, as well as shows and guided tours.

Apart from the aquariums and marine animals, another attraction of this place is its rooftop terrace. On the eleventh floor of the tower that houses the House of the Sea there is a restaurant and bar with 360º views of the city of Vienna. The observation deck can be visited in addition to the zoo and restaurant.

The Marionettentheater, or Marionette Theater, is famous throughout Vienna and the rest of Europe for its performances with especially realistic and carefully crafted puppets.

The theater belongs to Schönbrunn Palace and hosts performances of such well-known plays as Hansel and Gretel, Aladdin, Pinocchio or its special play The Secret of Sissi about the famous empress of Austria.

The decoration of the theater itself will leave you captivated, but you can't pass up the opportunity to see one of their plays if you are traveling with your family. The main performances are in several languages, although for the visual value alone it is not a prerequisite that you understand the language of the play.

The historic center of Vienna is one of the most beautiful and complete of the European capitals. In its streets there are countless monuments to see such as St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Town Hall or the opera house that you must see. Because of its size, touring it can be a bit tiresome for children, although there is a special way of touring it that will surely change the attitude of the little ones of the house.

You can do it by riding in the typical fiaker, a traditional horse-drawn carriage inherited from the aristocracy of the Austrian capital. These carriages allow adults to enjoy the sights of the city while children live a unique experience. You can choose from several routes of different distances and routes and these carriages depart mainly from the Stephansdom or Michaelerplatz squares.

You already know the best things to do in the capital of Austria with children, now it's time to take out a pen and paper and write down some tips if you are traveling to Vienna with children:

• Public transport in the city is free for children under 6 years old.
• Most of the main tourist attractions are also free for children under 6 years old, with a few exceptions.
• Many of the city's museums are free for children under 18.
• If you take the Vienna Pass, which I recommend, transportation and many museums and monuments are included and are free for children under 15 years.
• Most tourist attractions have ticket packages for families so don't forget to ask at the ticket office.
• Gastronomy can also be a lure for children. The breaded steaks known as schnitzel, sausages and sweets such as Sacher cake are the favorites for the little ones. In the restaurants, there are usually no children's menus, but smaller portions for children are available.