I wanted to share my 7-day trip to Vienna with two children (8 and 15 years old), which we all thoroughly enjoyed. It was very eventful and interesting. Perhaps this will help those who, like I once did, are looking for a plan for a week with similar circumstances.
Day 1
We took a city tour of Vienna with a private guide, and afterward, with a better understanding of the most interesting places, we delved deeper into exploring them by wandering through the streets and enjoying Vienna’s incredible architecture. Alternatively, you could also take the Hop on Hop off bus or, if your budget allows, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city center.
Day 2
The palace complex Schönbrunn. You need to dedicate a whole day to it.
There are two options. First, you can visit the zoo (if you have kids and they want to go there first), BUT when buying tickets for the palace tour (you’ll be asked about the time and you must enter exactly at that time), plan at least 5 hours for the zoo. The zoo is very beautiful and large. Unfortunately, if you’re short on time and need to go for the palace tour, you won’t be allowed back in, as happened to us. Luckily, we missed only a small section in the forest.
Therefore, I would recommend going to the palace first (the largest tour lasts 1 hour) and then calmly exploring the zoo and everything else.
We bought a combo ticket, which included the zoo, a guided tour with an audio guide (I highly recommend getting the audio guide), and access to the gardens, Gloriette, the labyrinth, and the greenhouses. Keep in mind that the greenhouses close at 18:00. The park, however, is open until 20:00.
Day 3
We spent the first half of the day at the palace complex Belvedere, starting with the Upper Belvedere. I highly recommend getting the audio guide for the palace (5 euros each). Inside, apart from the beautiful halls, there is a vast collection of paintings from different eras, and you can listen to information about some of them in the audio guide, which is much more interesting than just looking.
Then, walking through the garden and fountains, we reached the Lower Belvedere. It is much more interesting from the outside, and inside there is an exhibition on the history of documentary films and collage art. Inside the museum, everyone is given the opportunity to create their own collage and leave it as a keepsake in the museum (this is a fun activity for children).
The third Belvedere (21), if you’ve purchased tickets for all three, is only interesting if you’re a fan of contemporary art. However, there is a park with a lake and a great children’s playground in front of it.
We were staying close to the center, so we returned home to rest and then went out for dinner in the city center, where we enjoyed the evening atmosphere of Vienna.
Day 4
We spent the first half of the day in the Vienna Woods (reaching the Heiligenstadt station via the U4 metro line, and after exiting, taking bus 38A, which goes to the Kahlenberg stop, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the hill). You can walk down (since it’s a long way, you may opt for a little train) to the Grinzing area, where there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and ice cream shops, and you can stroll around, admiring the quaint and charming old Austrian houses in this historic district of Vienna. From there, you can take bus 38A back to the metro.
We spent the second half of the day on the Danube Island, feeding swans, renting a bike, or simply relaxing by the riverside. On the left side of the island, you’ll see towering modern skyscrapers, while on the right side, there is an incredibly beautiful, huge cathedral. Next to it, there is a playground and hammocks where you can relax, especially during warm weather.
Day 5
We spent the first part of the day in the Technical Museum. Plan for 4-5 hours here, as the museum has more than 80,000 exhibits, making it difficult to see everything at once. There are plenty of interactive activities, and it’s sure to be interesting for children and teenagers alike.
After lunch, we went to the Natural History Museum, where we stayed until its closing time (at 6:00 PM). At the museum’s information desk, you can get an audio guide in Russian (6 euros each, and a document is required as a deposit). The guide tells you about the museum’s rarest exhibits and their histories.
Both museums offered discounts with the Vienna City Card, and children’s tickets were free.
Day 6
Wachau Valley (80 km from Vienna). You can find my detailed post here.
Day 7
We leisurely headed to the city center, to the Museum of Illusions. It’s an interesting place, but for the price, we felt it didn’t quite live up to our expectations. I can recommend it if you have 1.5 hours of free time in the center, teenagers, and are willing to spend 30 euros.
Then we headed to Prater Park. It’s a fantastic place, perfect for ending the day with some fun. The number of rides for adults, teens, and kids is overwhelming. There’s also the famous Ferris wheel. But be cautious—spending 100 euros here can happen very quickly, as the cost of rides ranges from 4.5 to 8 euros (the Ferris wheel, if I remember correctly, is 14 euros).
A small downside of the park is that 99% of the rides only accept cash. However, you can pay with a card for food inside the park. There’s plenty of food for all tastes, and the prices are reasonable. Try the raspberry ice cream—it’s delicious in Vienna.
