Child-friendly Vienna: Six ideas for entertainment and fun
- 10 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The first time I visited Vienna as a tourist, my daughter wasn't even a plan yet - I was child-free and careless, but even then, I was able to recognise how wonderful the city would be to raise a child in. I could imagine myself pushing a stroller in Burggarten, while enjoying a sunny day outside. This particular dream did not come true, but I did manage to enjoy some of the yearly years of motherhood in Vienna. The advantages of raising children in Austria are many but today I wish to share a few ideas for entertainment that are affordable and versatile, as well as relevant all year long. Here are six ways to entertain your kid in Vienna, but rest assured I could come up with a lot more!
WIENXTRA is a free service that has a lot to offer: from free admissions and discounts to events and workshops, to outdoor activities. With the Kinderactive card that is issued for free, you can take part in sports events, go to the cinema, try different creative workshops, collect badges, you can also borrow games and books, and always have something to look forward to, even as a parent. We tend to love it when our children are having fun, don't we? For example, last time we used out Kinderactive card was to go to a workshop for "drawing" with sheets of gold, organised at Belvedere. It was educational and fun.
Something I appreciate when we talk of WIENXTRA is that you can browse the activities, based on your child's age. You also get a monthly booklet with all the upcoming events but if you prefer to receive it digitally, you can sign up for their newsletter. I find it easier to just go to the app and search for events there. It is very convenient, because you also have access to your personal Kinderactive card there.
Kind in WIEN from FALTER is a very informative newsletter that not only provides ideas for entertainment but also interviews and articles on various important child-related topics. You receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, but if you have the time to go to Rathaus, you could also get a very thick catalogue of places and activity ideas for kids, for free. This was exactly how I initially found out about the service and even though my catalogue is from last year, I am still using it for inspiration.
An annual pass for the Schönbrunn Zoo is something I would recommend to every parent of a little child in Vienna. Not only it is fun to see all of the animals that are living in the zoo, but there are many events throughout the year. Even during the colder months, going for a walk at the zoo is something that could lighten up every gloomy winter afternoon. The zoo is beautiful and versatile, there is a lot to see and to experience. Having the opportunity to go there whenever you have the wish to do so, is something that would let you get familiar with all of the different animals, at your own pace.
I have been hearing of the Niederösterreich Card that gives you free admission to many museums and interesting places all over Lower Austria but it is this year that I first ordered it for ourselves. It truly gives a lot of entertainment opportunities - it could actually be overwhelming, but what you should be really careful with is the time of purchase of the card and scheduling your visits accordingly. The card is issued annually, from April to April. It makes little sense to buy it during the autumn or winter, even though there are many things you could use it for even when the weather is bad. Still, a lot of the offers are seasonal and only available during the summer - like the pool entrances, trips with ships and little trains, etc. Vienna is also nicely represented with quite a diverse offering of museum visits and other entertainment ideas.
For those of you who like hiking and want to introduce it to your children, the Stadtwanderwege Wanderpass is a great way to do it. The routes are easy enough for children to join you and in addition, they also get motivated by collecting stamps on every route. I have already written about this in detail on the blog, so you may read more about it here.
Parks | Festivals | Playgrounds | Water playgrounds | Gardens
There is so much to do in Vienna, even without a program and taking part in organised events. During the summer, there is almost all of the time something going on at the parks close to your home - from events for children specifically, to the free sports initiatives at the parks in Vienna (like dancing and yoga for example). The water playgrounds are a fantastic and are free for everyone. The open playgrounds with special sports equipment (Motorikparks in the 10th and the 22nd district) are an excellent way for the kids to practise balance and climbing. The absolutely stunning gardens like the Hirschstetten Gardens and the Kagran School Gardens offer so much diversity when it comes to nature, and entertainment. Especially at Hirschstetten, there are lovely children playgrounds, but also picnic and beach areas. And as I mention that, spending a summer day at the Danube - having a picnic, swimming or riding a bike, is as close to perfection as it gets.
I am sure there is so much more I could write about. Like, for example, a lot of institutions organise events specifically for children where the little ones, as well as their parents, can have fun by joining open days or outside activities. The festivals organised in Vienna are usually child-friendly, providing entertainment possibilities for everyone.
I hope you found something useful for you and your little ones. And if you have another helpful insight for parents in Vienna, don't hesitate to share it in the comments!
NIB & Ember
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