Two outings tend to top every family list in Vienna: the zoo at Schönbrunn and the Prater amusement park. Both work well with a stroller, both can fill most of a day, and they are on opposite sides of the city, so plan one per day. Opening times and ticket prices change, so check the official sites before you go.
Schönbrunn Zoo
The zoo sits in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace and is generally counted as the oldest continuously operating zoo in the world, with an imperial history going back to the eighteenth century. The historic pavilions give it a character unlike modern zoos, and the grounds are shaded and flat.
- Getting there: the U4 metro line to Schönbrunn station, followed by a short walk. Tram and bus links also exist.
- Timing: go early on warm days, when animals are most active and queues are shortest. Feeding times are posted on the zoo’s site.
- Combine with: the palace gardens and the children’s museum inside the palace. See our Schönbrunn with kids guide.
The Prater
The Prater is a large park, with the Wurstelprater amusement area at its entrance. It is open to walk around without an admission fee, and you pay per ride. The Riesenrad (the historic giant Ferris wheel) is the landmark. Ride choice runs from gentle carousels to fast coasters, so check the height limits for each ride.
- Getting there: U1 to Praterstern or U2 to Messe-Prater.
- With younger children: the Liliputbahn miniature railway crosses the green part of the park, and playgrounds are spread along the main avenue.
- Budget tip: set a spending limit per child at the start, because rides are charged individually.
More family planning
Read our general Vienna with kids guide, the toddler guide, the teenager guide and the kid-friendly museums.
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I’m Andrea, a travel writer based between Vienna and the Croatian coast, and I’ve been exploring both countries in depth for the past 10 years.
I’ve taken 50+ solo trips across Austria, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, Italy and the wider Balkans, and I speak German, Croatian and English fluently, which means I get to have conversations most tourists never do. I know which Viennese coffee house the locals actually go to (hint: not the famous ones), and I know the Dalmatian islands well enough to tell you which ferry to take and which to avoid.
My writing is grounded in lived experience: I’ve navigated Austrian bureaucracy as a resident, hiked the Julian Alps in September when the crowds have gone, and eaten my way through Dubrovnik’s back streets at midnight. I cover Central Europe and the Adriatic for solo travellers who want something more than a highlight reel.
I also write in depth about Vienna and Austria at allaboutvienna.com, where you’ll find everything from neighbourhood guides to seasonal event coverage and expat tips.
When I’m not writing I’m usually hiking, swimming in the Adriatic, or arguing about which city makes better coffee. (It’s Vienna. It’s always Vienna.)