Winter is a good season for families in Vienna if you plan for short days and cold. The city has indoor options in every district, and the Christmas markets are built for children. Check current dates and opening times before you travel.
Christmas markets for children
Several markets run special children’s programmes with craft workshops, small carousels and storytelling. Visit in the afternoon on weekdays for thinner crowds. Non-alcoholic punch (Kinderpunsch) is a standard menu item at most stands. See the full Christmas markets guide.
Ice skating
An outdoor ice rink usually opens in front of the City Hall in the cold season, with additional rinks around the city. Rental skates are available at the main rinks. Opening dates depend on the weather and the year, so confirm current dates and prices.
Indoor days
- A museum day in the MuseumsQuartier area with children’s spaces, and the natural history museum for dinosaurs and minerals.
- The Haus des Meeres aquarium and the Technical Museum for hands-on exhibits.
- A swimming session in a municipal pool or a family spa visit. See our thermal baths guide for rules on children.
Practical tips
- Pack layers, hats and gloves, because wind off the open squares is cold.
- Use a coffee house as a warm-up stop. Many offer hot chocolate and cake for children.
- Daylight is short in December, so schedule outdoor sights in the middle of the day.
More ideas: Vienna with kids.
Last Updated on
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.)