The Ultimate Vienna Itinerary For A Families with Teens

There is enough history to interest the parents, and enough fun and entertainment for the teens. Plus, incredible nature and arts that are great for the whole family. Regardless of how old your kids are, Vienna manages to deliver an enriching and enjoyable experience all year round.

You’ll also be glad to hear that getting there is a breeze, with so many flights to Austria easy to find from cities all across the U.S. several times a week. After landing, there’s thankfully a good range of public transport options, taxis, or even rental cars available.

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Let’s take a look at what Vienna can offer families and a rough itinerary that you could follow during your time in this wonderful city.

Wander around Vienna’s Old Town and adjust to the Austrian culture

The first morning of any family vacation should be easy, flexible, and be open to the sights, sounds, and tastes of the city. The Old Town of Vienna should be your primary goal to get things started.

The entire area is mostly catered towards pedestrians, simple to walk around, and friendly to strollers. Younger kids to teenagers will marvel at all the ancient buildings that are so different from modern skyscrapers.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral is as good a place to begin as any and is a real symbol of the city. Teens will love to get to the top of the tower and witness the panoramic view, while feeling like they’re in some sort of adventure movie like National Treasure or Indiana Jones!

Time for a Coffee

Many cafes in Vienna look very elegant and formal, but thankfully they’re not snobby. They’re happy to cater to families and, depending on the weather, can accommodate inside or on an outdoor terrace. Make sure you try local delicacies such as wiener schnitzel, apfelstrudel, sachertorte, and kaiserschmarrn for the full Austrian food experience.

Kids will love the local hot chocolate and teenagers might want to try a mélange, which is similar to a latte. Parents, of course, will probably just want the strongest coffee available! Austria is famous for delicious coffee that is a far cry from the likes of chain cafes in the States.

Feel like a Royal

Your next item on the Vienna itinerary should be to wander around the Hofburg Palace. If it’s a nice, sunny day, then skip the interior and simply enjoy the beautiful arches and courtyards of this historic building.

As well, you can’t visit this area without checking out the Spanish Riding School. It’s a famous pastime to watch the horses during a morning training session and provides a relaxing, gentle start to the Vienna trip.

The Old Town is simply chock-full of medieval-looking streets, old staircases arching up toward little shops, and grandiose churches – all the while listening to classical music played by street buskers (Austria is well-known for composers such as Mozart and Schubert).

Modern and kid-friendly options

It’s great to immerse yourself in the local culture and history of Vienna, but you might be looking for something a bit louder and more colorful than just typical sightseeing. Since 1766, Prater is a great amusement park for the family that isn’t a long way out of the city center.

There are rides and stalls for all ages at Prater, even gentle trains and carousels for the little ones. The giant Ferris wheel is a must-see and gives the best views of the city – perfect for the Instagram-loving teens. Aside from Prater, there are several LEGO stores and pop-up exhibitions catered for toys and games, too, so there’s something to keep the kids busy while you perhaps do a bit of clothes shopping.

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Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens

You might need an entire day trip to cover the Schönbrunn Palace, as there’s so much to do here. Inside the palace itself is a real wonder, with secrets revealed about special rooms, stories of the royals, and tours of the most interesting parts.

The Children’s Museum is a joy, as it allows kids to dress up in royal costumes, play with old toys, and learn about life back in the past.

The gardens are free to walk about and are vast and gorgeous. If you’ve taken your lunch with you, then a picnic on the grass is a perfect idea, then the kids can play hide and seek around the trees, explore the maze, or jump on the mini train that loops around the palace gardens.

Not far from Schönbrunn is one of the biggest and most exciting zoos in Europe. With exotic animals and large pathways to see everything, there’s a lot to learn about and gaze at when visiting such an iconic zoo.

Museums that we promise aren’t boring

There is a multitude of fascinating museums that aren’t the typical “bunch of old junk” that so many places can be. The ZOOM Museum is wondrous for children, as it lets younger visitors to design, paint, build, and experiment in different workshops. It’s a rewarding and educational place but very popular, so book ahead.

For any budding musician in the family, then the Haus der Musik simply must be seen (or rather heard). It’s an interactive museum where people of all ages can play with sound, pretend to conduct an orchestra, and try different instruments in a way that won’t be annoying. Even grumpy teenagers can play around with drums and electric guitars!

Lastly, the Natural History Museum is very far from old junk. Everything from giant gems to dinosaurs can be found here and it’s a real delight to explore it all and learn some interesting things along the way. Don’t worry, either, as the café is great and there’s loads of outdoor seats for summer.

Magic at seasonal markets

Seasonal markets in Vienna provide a special layer of fun to any family vacation, regardless of what season you visit. Christmas markets here are incredibly famous and turn ordinary squares and courtyards into sparkling winter villages.

Lights, decorations, and festive music are a joy for the senses, and you’ll find many small theme park attractions like carousels, as well as food stalls selling all sorts of sweet and savory treats. Plus, a cup of mulled wine for the adults after a long day!

What’s more, Easter markets are just as big as Christmas markets and feature petting zoos, storytime corners, and arts and crafts sections that are great for kids. The local food changes based on what’s available locally and you’ll marvel at how big and diverse these markets can be.

The crowds can vary on what time of the day you’ll visit, but there’s always a moment to check what’s being sold and enjoy a krapfen (jam-filled doughnuts) or two. The cheese, coffee, and chocolate from Austria are particularly famous here and it would be a shame to go home without sampling most of it!

Cycling with the family in Vienna

The cycling culture in Vienna is a major surprise to families visiting from other countries. Of course, there are many cars and great public transport, but it’s not unusual to see an entire family cycling around together.

The city is very friendly to cyclists, with clearly-marked paths that are wide and safe. This is especially important when riding with younger family members who perhaps are not as secure when moving near traffic.

Many hotels offer bike rentals, so check with your reception if it’s possible to use one for the day. Otherwise, there are several rental shops or even bikes that can be hired around the city at special points. Just make sure everyone has a helmet!

A fantastic place to begin your cycling journey is Danube Island. It’s a spot that’s very long and narrow, stretching for miles throughout the city and is thankfully completely free of cars. The pathways are very flat and smooth, so even novice riders won’t have to feel like they are struggling to keep up.

Along the way you’ll see great nature, areas for picnics, and even playgrounds and ice cream stands (a hit with the kids for some reason). It’s a good idea to ride and rest in several stages, so you get an impression of the city and don’t have to push too hard. Plus, the nature is best seen at a slow pace and there are too many nice snacks to ignore!

Ringstrasse is another great riding spot for families, as this historic boulevard circles the Old Town of Vienna. You’ll get to witness this beautiful area from another angle and once again, the bike lanes are easy to see and you can ride past the Vienna State Opera, Parliament Building, Burgtheater, City Hall, and the University of Vienna. The route is a bit shorter than the Danube Island and you can always get off your bikes, lock them, and spend a bit of time walking around before jumping back on the bicycles.

Lakes and rivers of Vienna

For any family that loves the water, then you’ll discover that Vienna offers many great activities. You can’t visit Vienna without renting a pedal boat on the Old Danube. These are an absolute joy for family members of all ages, and they’re very affordable and fun on a sunny day.

You should be able to fit at least five people on larger boats, otherwise rent two smaller pedal boats. Teenagers will probably enjoy trying to knock each other’s boats!

There’s even paddleboarding or kayaking for those who are a bit more adventurous, as well as wakeboarding with a motorboat if you’re feeling like doing something very different!

Of course, simply swimming and sunbathing is enough, and there are calmer swimming zones for younger children to splash about. There are numerous restaurants and kiosks selling all sorts of delicious food and drinks for when everyone needs a good break.

Small day trips

Vienna is naturally enjoyable enough but there are a few family-friendly day trips on offer. The Wachau Valley is a very scenic area famous for vineyards, little villages, and great views of the rivers and mountains. Even without a car, there are many reliable and fast buses or trains available to spots outside of Vienna.

Along a similar line of suggestion for the pedal boats, it’s never a bad idea to jump on a large tourist boat and take a slow, relaxing journey along the Danube River. Kids always love boat rides and teenagers will want to post everything on Instagram to show off their holiday!

It is the perfect solution when everyone is a bit tired and unsure what to do, but still want to see the best of Vienna and enjoy the sights.

Why Vienna is such a hit for family vacations

Easily one of the most exciting cities in Europe, Vienna is full of attractions and interesting shops, cafes, and restaurants that families of all sizes can enjoy. Still, there are many reasons why you can enjoy this European capital city.

It’s very safe and welcoming, even at night or busy markets
Transport is reliable, clean, and big enough for strollers
English is well-spoken here and the citizens are friendly
The overall pace of life doesn’t have the big city rushing feeling, but instead a slower, calmer mood
Food is big, reasonably priced, and will cater to even the pickiest eater
If you need a break from the city, nature such as huge forests, stunning mountains, or tranquil lakes are also nearby in Austria
The city itself contains many green spaces, including big parks, gardens, and ponds that are all perfect spots to unwind
Tap water in Vienna arrives directly from the alpine springs, which makes it fresh and tasty and doesn’t require you to buy bottled water
There are many playgrounds, zones without cars, and wide pavements that help bigger families

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