Vienna Unwrapped Inspiration and Planning For Independent Travellers who are visiting Vienna
What to do in Vienna Austria with a toddler? Or put differently – how to keep a 2 or 3-year old happy in a cultural capital? Because I often roamed Wien with my own toddlers, I thought I’d share my tried-and-tested tips with you.
1. Move Around In A Kinderkutsche
If you like biking and have young children rent one of these bikes during the warmer months. Storing your kids safely in front of you, the Kinderkutsche (‘children’s carriage’) adds many fun rides during a city break .
Essentially, each vehicle includes space and safety belts for up to four children of all ages, and comes with a sun/rain canopy and raingear for the driver. If you need an extra push, you can rent a Kinderkutsche with electric motor. Definitely, the Kinderkutsche is great for bike rides along Ringstrasse boulevard, in nearby Prater and on Danube Island.
Rental shop: Glockengasse 22, 1020 Vienna
Rental fees: EUR 8/ 12 (with electric motor) per hour; EUR 48/ 72 (with electric motor) per day; EUR 96 /144 for a week end;
Rent a Kinderkutsche: email post(at)kinderkutsche.at
2. Ride Choo Choo Trains And Pony Caroussel
At 
Vienna Prater my kids adored the liliput ‘choo choo train’ that goes through the Prater’s lush woodlands. Starting from Prater’s central station, the cute vintage trains head off for the Prater’s alluvial forest. For 20 minutes your little ones are likely to enjoy moving through the theme park and then woodland scenery. On weekends and public holidays you can also use an original steam train. Especially in hot summers feeling the forest’s cooling breeze is divine.
Another lovely thing to do for toddlers in Vienna is a ride in the vintage First Vienna Pony Caroussel. Unlike at merry go rounds, real horses slowly move round the caroussel. Other than that, I think a three-year-old may also find the 10 min ride in the Giant Ferris Wheel fun.
Address: Liliputbahn im Prater, Prater 99, 1020 Vienna
3. Visit ZOOM Ocean
At Museumsquartier, you will find Vienna’s best museum for toddlers: There, kids from eight months to 6 years can use the play area of Childrens ZOOM Ocean at ZOOM Museum. Apart from a colorful soft play zone kids can jump on a water mattress or admire themselves in a tunnel of mirrors. In the summer, the museum sometimes displays outdoor tents and natural wigwams. In general, play time slots last 60 minutes.
Address: ZOOM Children’s Museum Vienna, Museums Quartier, Museumsplatz 1, A-1070 Vienna
Opening Times: Tue and Fri at 9.00 am, 10.30 am, and 4.00 pm
Wed and Thur at 9.00 am, 10.30 am, 1.00 pm, 2.30 pm, and 4.00 pm
Sat, Sun, public holidays and school holidays at 10.00 am, 11.30 am, 1.00 pm, 2.30 pm, and 4.00 pm
4. Make Noise At House of Music
Since you stay in Europe’s capital of music, why not let your toddler make serious noise? In fact, the Haus der Musik appeals to both adults and children. Just as you take your first step on the stairs, you will make music. Thanks to a motion sensitive carpet, the first 13 stairs emulate a piano keyboard that let you learn the notes as you climb up to the first floor.
Among the other attractions, toddlers love SONOTOPIA’s interactive music stations. Banging and plucking on giant instruments kids can widely experiment with sounds. At the sound laboratory, kids will explore sound patterns and play with ‘Clongs’, virtual reality characters driven by sound.
Beyond that, adults and older children love the NAMADEUS muscial name game and (virtually) conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Address: Seilerstätte 30, 1010 Vienna
Opening Times: daily 10.00 am to 10.00 pm
5. Connect with Animals At the Schönbrunn Zoo
The zoo at Schönbrunn Palace is said to be Europe’s best zoo. Although also one of the oldest zoos in the world, the zoo offers natural and large space habitats for its animals. Throughout the zoo, which is set wood land you will find various soft play elements. And like in many modern zoos, you can watch animal feedings at various times of the day. Our favourite animals there are the rhinos, pandas, tigers and pelicans. Find out more about the Vienna Zoo in Schönbrunn.
Address: Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Vienna (you can also enter through Schonbrunn Palace’s gardens)
Opening Times:
April to September: 9.00 am to 6.30pm;
October: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm;
November to January: 9.00 am to 4.30 pm;
February: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm;
March: 9.00 am to 5.30 pm
6. Immerse Yourself in Vienna’s Aquarium
To give your toddler an exciting break from urban asphalt, why not explore tropical fish and sneak through a tunnel amidst sharks and giant water turtles? Apart from thousands of different water animals, the Haus des Meeres aquarium also hosts birds, bats, monkeys and insects.
Most interestingly, the aquarium covers 11 floors of a giant landmarked tower that is hard to overlook. As one of Vienna’s six air defence towers, the massive concrete cylinder vividly reminds of World War II. In fact, you can also visit the small war exhibition room on one of the top floors.
Before you leave, do visit the aquarium’s stunning observation deck or the Ocean Sky rooftop cafe that offer amazing views of the city. For further info, visit website.
Address: Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, 1060 Vienna
Opening Times: daily, 9.00 am to 8.00 pm
7. Plunge Into A Water Playground
During the summer many Viennese families take their kids to the Danube Island. If you have a toddler, head for the Water Playground (Wasserspielplatz). This giant playground has ponds and a creek that are shallow enough for kids who can’t swim yet. There are lots of opportunities for toddlers to play with water, build mud dams and castles and play with toy boats. Our kids loved crossing a creek by rope ferry, and a water wheel that transports water up a hill which then cascades down into a pond.
For more ideas what to do on the Danube, check out the Vienna Danube guide.
Address: Wasserspielplatz Donauinsel, Donauinsel, 1220 Vienna
Opening Times: May to September, depending on weather
8. Other Things To Do With A Toddler
The best inner city playgrounds for toddlers are those at Rathauspark and on Karlsplatz square. Apart from using soft natural bark for the flooring they have play stations that toddlers enjoy. Find out more in Vienna with kids.
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