Vienna is such a historic and beautiful city located in Austria. It’s a bit off the beaten path but still very much a tourist destination. We incorporated Vienna into our month-long European adventure. Spoiler alert, Vienna was the biggest surprise, in the best way possible. We all loved it so much! When we traveled to Vienna, our son was three years old. He’s a great little traveler.
Although traveling with children can seem intimidating, it’s totally doable. Traveling abroad as a family has allowed us to create memories that will last a lifetime. One important factor in making travel with kids less stressful is choosing the right destination. Vienna is no doubt a popular tourist destination for adults, but the city also offers so many sights and activities for kids as well. Today I’m sharing a guide on how to explore Vienna with kids. And in a way that’s fun for adults too! You can see a full recap of what we did each day in my Vienna highlight on Instagram.
Before we jump into the details of our time in Vienna, a few big-picture details from our month in Europe. Our family is based in New Orleans. We flew British Airways direct from New Orleans to London to start our trip. We took the same flight back home from London to New Orleans. You can check out my long haul flight essentials here and see all of the bags we packed, including what we carried on versus what we checked in this post, the best luggage for international travel (if you’re traveling with even younger kids, check out my post on the best bags for traveling with toddlers. During our month-long adventure, we spent time in London, Paris, Zurich, Vienna, and Prague.
Vienna with Kids
We spent an entire month in Europe over the summer. Michael and I were supposed to visit Vienna in the summer of 2020, but we all know what happened that year. We had to cancel our trip. So when we had the opportunity to include Vienna on this European adventure, we knew we wanted to add it as a stop. We spent a total of six days in Vienna. When trying to narrow down the cities on our one-month itinerary, we wanted to focus on cities that are family friendly. Vienna has lots of kid friendly activities and attractions and ended up being one of our favorite cities! One we’ll definitely be revisiting.
We spent four full days in Vienna bookended with a travel day on each end for a total of six days. We flew to Vienna from Zurich via Austrian Air. It was a quick and easy flight. The airport is roughly 20 minutes from Vienna’s city center. When we departed, we took the train from Vienna to Prague. The RegioJet train was perfect. We bought premium seats on the train, which were totally worth the price (even the premium seats are very affordable). Next time, I’d likely splurge even more on the private pods, especially if traveling with children. Our train ride was so easy and our three year old loved it.
We were in Vienna in July. It was warm during the day and felt lovely as soon as the sun started to dip down in the late afternoons. I’d say the summertime is a great time to visit.
Is Vienna Good for Kids?
Yes, in our experience, Vienna is very family friendly. Kids can easily tag along and enjoy the main tourist attractions, there are tons of playgrounds and parks where children can run around and play, and most restaurants and even wine gardens are very kid friendly.
We used our travel stroller everyday, Vienna is very stroller friendly. We mostly used Vienna’s public transportation system to get around the city. The train system is very reliable and easily accessible with lots of stops located all around the city. We brought the stroller onboard every train with no problem. Our three year old loved riding the train. We took two taxis during our time in Vienna – one from the airport on our way to our hotel and one to the train station on our way out. Our travel carseat came in very handy in the cabs. We would typically ask our hotel bellmen if a taxi or Uber was a better (more affordable) option.
As for restaurants and wine gardens, everywhere we went was very family friendly. We typically dine out very early for dinner. I find that most restaurants are generally family friendly the earlier you go. Throughout our month in Europe it was so refreshing to see the emphasis put on kids. We visited numerous beer and wine gardens that had playgrounds, and Vienna was no exception!
What to do In Vienna with Kids
We spent four full days in Vienna bookended with a travel day on each end for a total of six days. Vienna is such a beautiful city with so many things to see and do.
Fun Things to do in Vienna
Vienna has tons of playgrounds all around the city. We tried to incorporate a playground into our tourist activities each day so our three year old could burn off some energy. A few of our favorites included Kinderspielplatz Falco, Spielplatz Stadpark, and Rudolfspark.
Vienna is filled with so much history. The Habsburg family is one you hear about often. They were one of the most prominent and important dynasties in European history. The Sisi Museum and the Hofburg Imperial Palace are both must sees while in Vienna.
Sisi Museum
The Sisi Museum is a must see when visiting Vienna. You can buy tickets to go inside the Sisi Museum and Imperial Apartments, however, with young children, I recommend walking the grounds outside as they’re expansive and there’s lots to see and plenty of room for little ones to run. We visited the Sisi Museum early one morning. It was our first stop of the day. This is the time to visit as the crowds are very light, if not nonexistent. We were able to get a great photo out front (see the first photo in the post) and let our three year old run around without feeling nervous about big crowds and traffic.
Hofburg Imperial Palace
The Hofburg Imperial Palace is the former main imperial palace of the Habsburg family. It served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. Since 1946, it has been the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria. If you’re a WWII history buff, you may recognize the balcony overlooking Heroes’ Square. On March 15, 1938, Adolf Hitler proclaimed from the balcony of the New Castle onto Heroes’ Square the “Anschluss” (the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into the German Reich of Austria into the Nazi Third Reich).
The Palace grounds are full of history, and they’re also sprawling – Our little one loved looking at all of the huge statues (the horses were a favorite). It’s an easy spot to take in the history of the city while letting kids run around and explore.
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty. It’s located roughly 30 minutes outside of the city. We took the train from Vienna’s city center. It was an easy and enjoyable ride. You’ll need a ticket to enter the actual residence. However, most of the gardens are free to enter. If you’re planning to visit the zoo (more below), I definitely recommend at least visiting the Schönbrunn Palace gardens on your way in. The zoo is located on the grounds.
We walked through the gorgeous gardens on our way into the zoo. The grounds are beautiful and meticulously maintained. Again, there’s lots to look at and plenty of room for kids to run around and explore.
Schönbrunn Zoo
The Schönbrunn Zoo is the oldest zoo in the world, established in 1752! It’s currently designated as a UNESCO world heritage site. On top of that fun fact, it’s hands down the BEST zoo I’ve ever visited. The architecture inside the zoo and around the exhibits is amazing. I felt like we were transported back in time as a lot of the structures have been kept in tact over the long life of the zoo, some since the 18th century. Because it’s been around forever, the animal enclosures are very accessible to visitors (I’m imagining how close you must have been able to get to the animals back in the 1800s). We were able to see so many animals up close!
Our three year old absolutely loved the zoo and so did Michael and I. It’s well worth the entry price. One of the main attractions of the zoo is the giant pandas. Schönbrunn Zoo is one of only 27 zoos around the world that these pandas call home. For us, the highlights included the polar bears (their habitat is incredibly designed), the giraffes (you’re able to get so close to them), and the sea lions (they were so entertaining!).
Mozart Monument
One of Vienna’s claims to fame is being home to Mozart. The Mozart Monument is located in Burggarten, a beautiful and grand park. The Mozart Monument is really pretty and definitely worth a visit. After you’ve visited the monument, be sure to spend time in Burggarten. Kids will love the pond filled with ducks and the sprawling park grounds. Our three year old loved racing up and down the big hill and doing circles around the pond, reporting on all of the ducks’ movements.
St. Stephen’s Cathedral
St. Stephen’s Cathedral is located in Vienna’s city center. It’s a beautiful roman catholic cathedral. The architecture on the exterior is so intricate and quite impressive. The inside is equally as beautiful. It’s free to enter.
On the day we visited, there was children’s choir performing out front. A big hit with our three year old! He danced and clapped along with the children as they performed.
Haus der Musik / House of Music
The House of Music is a great children’s museum in Vienna! Michael and I had fun here too. It’s an interactive museum showcasing Vienna’s history with music. It’s so well done and one hundred percent worth the admission price. Our three year old loved the piano staircase and the live conductor room. It was so much fun watching him in action! Kids of all ages will enjoy the House of Music museum.
Austrian Parliament Building
We visited the Austrian Parliament Building one evening after dinner. This building is massive. If you live in the US, picture the Supreme Courthouse in DC. There’s a huge fountain our front and lots and lots of steps – perfect for the little ones to enjoy while also learning a little bit about Austria’s government.
Film Festival Rathausplatz
What. A. Gem! We stumbled upon Vienna’s annual film festival, Film Festival Rathausplatz one evening and fell even more in love with Vienna! We were so impressed that we decided to visit the festival grounds again the next night for dinner. The film festival takes place each summer and runs for an astounding 60 days. Admission is free. There are tons of amazing food and drink vendors on site. And starting at dusk each night, a selection of films (old and new) are played on a massive screen in Rathausplatz. The event is very family friendly. Adults and children of all ages will enjoy!
When we visited, Aperol was a main sponsor. Michael and I enjoyed Aperol Spritzes and all three of us had the most delicious dinner – we tried dishes from several of the food vendors. One thing that blew my mind was the fact that they use real dishes and silverware. Everything about the festival is well executed. Unfortunately, we didn’t make any of the films as our three year old’s bedtime is well before the films started each night, but I’m hoping we can make it back this upcoming summer and catch one of the early showings!
Shakespeare and Company
During our month-long European adventure, we made a habit of visiting local bookstores in each city along our route for our son to pick out a book as a souvenir. We stopped in Shakespeare and Company in Vienna. There’s something so charming about local bookstores. They have a great selection of english children’s books.
Ankeruhr
Ankeruhr is a quick tourist attraction stop that is sure to impress both adults and kids. It’s an elaborate historic clock. It’s fascinating to watch it in action.
Naschmarkt
Naschmarkt is a local market with over 120 vendors, including tons of food and pantry item stands and sit down restaurants. We did a quick walk through the market as it started raining when we were there, but you could easily spend an hour or two browsing all of the different goodies the vendors have to offer.
Where to Eat in Vienna
- Mel’s Craft Beer: Great for craft beers, burgers, and fries.
- Knock Box: Great coffee stand next to Kinderspielplatz Falco.
- Joseph Brot: There are multiple locations around the city, one is conveniently located right next to the Park Hyatt Vienna. Great coffee and pastries.
- Demel Cafe: A must visit when in Vienna for its famous kaiserschmarrn, a traditional Austrian dessert. You can walk up to the window for a quick hit (or dine in). The perfect midday snack!
- Weingut Feurwehr Wagner: One of my favorite things we did while in Vienna! A wine garden serving tons of local Austrian wines and wiener schnitzel. There’s a huge playground on property that kids of any age will love! Perfect for parents who want to enjoy a glass of wine while the children play. We took the train (+ a short walk) here.
- Erich: Delicious, fresh food with baja California vibes.
- Cafe Central: Iconic Vienna restaurant. There’s usually a long line out front. Our hotel helped us snag a reservation. We enjoyed coffee and a few pastries and desserts.
- Vegaista Ice Cream: Delicious vegan ice cream shop with multiple locations around the city.
- Mochi Ramen Bar: Even our three year old loved this ramen spot! Hot tip: Get there right when they open, especially if you’re bringing children. It fills up fast! We were immediately sat when we arrived at opening, but a line had formed by the time we left.
A Few More Noteworthy Things to Do in Vienna with Kids
- Visit the Giant Ferris Wheel located in the Prater Amusement Park
- Haus des Meeres: Vienna’s aquarium
- For dinosaur lovers, the Natural History Museum
- Take a bus tour of the city!
- Visit Café Sacher Wien to try Vienna’s original sacher torte (for the chocolate lovers!)
Where to Stay in Vienna with Kids
I highly recommend staying in the city center of Vienna with kids. It’s very safe, clean, and centrally located to all of the sights, restaurants, and things to do.
Park Hyatt Vienna
We stayed at the Park Hyatt Vienna during our time in Vienna. While the Park Hyatt brand is known as a luxury hotel and for its top tier customer service, the Park Hyatt Vienna exceeded all of our expectations.
From the moment we arrived, we felt like the hotel’s only guests. They welcomed us and helped us get settled in our stunning room. Michael and I both agree that our room was the nicest and most beautiful hotel room we have ever stayed in. We stayed in one of the suites. It was the perfect set up for our family of three. Our three year old had his own space in the living room while we had a private room, bathroom, and walk in closet. The hotel is stunning.
Along with the beauty of the hotel, the customer service is unmatched. Our son still talks about his favorite bellman and calls him by name. The breakfast spread each morning at Bank Brasserie & Bar is fantastic. And again, the staff went above and beyond each and every morning we were there. We booked our stay at the Park Hyatt Vienna with points. If you can swing a stay there, you will not be disappointed. I’ll have a full review of the Park Hyatt Vienna live soon. A few notable amenities, the spa is beyond gorgeous. I took full advantage of the steam room and sauna. There’s also a very cool underground, indoor pool which was a big hit with our three year old.
The Park Hyatt Paris is also centrally located to the main shopping streets in Vienna. Pretty much any high end brand you can think of has a storefront in this area where you can live out any shopping fantasy.
One Last Thing
One last tidbit for visiting Vienna. If you’re in need of a laundry service in Vienna, we used Gottschalk and they were great! Fast, reasonably priced, and also took great care of our clothing.
It’s safe to say we all fell in love with Vienna. We’re already looking forward to visiting again. Have you visited Vienna? Drop a comment below and let me know if I missed any must see or must do things in Vienna.
