Outdoor Activities

Karlsplatz Playgrounds
There are two playgrounds, both fully enclosed by fences and easy to see through from anywhere within the playground. One playground is especially good for younger children as it has a sandbox, a small slide, a see-saw on springs, a swing (not a baby swing, though), and a few things to climb on. The other is for bigger kids and kids that like to climb. This one also has a sandbox, as well as a car on springs, large wooden jungle gyms for climbing, and a higher slide. Both playgrounds have seats for parents; the one for bigger kids also has a couple of picnic tables. They are very clean; no dogs allowed. There are no toilets. Kids that manage to get out of the gate are still far from a road. A great place to take a break if you're in the city centre.
Recommended by: Sarah Schenck
Address: Karlsplatz in front of the Karlskirche
Transport: U1, U2, U4 to Karlsplatz
Age Group: Babies if mobile/sitting well, toddlers, children

The Prater
The Prater offers an amusement park with a number of rides for toddlers and children (roller coasters for the older kids, ferris wheels, pony rides, merry-go-rounds for younger kids, etc., etc.), numerous playgrounds, soccer fields, a skateboard track, etc. off the Hauptallee, a wide, car-free boulevard for walking, cycling, inline skating, etc. You can take your baby for a walk on the Hauptallee (it is particularly convenient in summer, since it is shady), or walk through the amusement park (babies are fascinated by all the lights and action). The amusement park is generally closed in winter – the rides cost between €1–10.
Recommended by: Niki Rodousakis
Address: 1020, Prater
Transport: U1 Praterstern, trains (Schnellbahn) S1, S2, S3, S7, S15, trams 5, 21, N, O, Bus 80A
Age Group: All

Schönbrunn Zoo
There really is no better place to take kids on a nice day in Vienna. The zoo is a perfect size in that you can see the whole thing and see all the animals in just a few hours. It is the oldest zoo in the world, too, and the buildings offer a peek into the palace grounds history. It is a very kid-friendly place offering stroller access to everything, baby changing facilities, even wagons for rent. There are plenty of snack and food options on premise. The playground is a unique Hundertwasser design that the kids love, too. Best of all, kids up to six years old get in free and the year membership cards for adults and older kids pay off quickly.
Address: 1130, Schonbrunn Palace grounds
Transport: U4 Hietzing
Age Group: All

Schwarzenberg Park
This is a lovely park in the Wienerwald with open grassy areas, woods and a couple of simple playgrounds. The good thing about this park is that there is a circuit of tarmac (bitumen) paths that are excellent for prams. Excellent toboganning in the winter. There is a small café in the car park (closed Mon & Tue) and one in the park (closed Mondays and in bad weather).
Address: 1170, Exelbergstrasse
Transport: Easiest by car. There is a large car park on Exelbergstrasse just off the Hohenstrasse.  You can also walk (longish) from the 43 tram in Neuwaldegg or connect with the infrequent 43B bus. The 35B (hourly) bus from Hutteldorf to Neustift am Walde also passes the park.
Age Group: All  

Landgut Cobenzl  (Mini Farm)
A small farm with animals at close range in pens or small meadows. Small bags of animal feed can be purchased for Euro 1.50 for the children to feed the animals. Children can get close enough to feed or pet the animals. Good also for birthday parties, where the children bake bread, go into each of the animal pens, etc. There is a cafe serving drinks and snacks. More suitable for slightly older children 3+.
Recommended by: Clare Moody 
Address:  1190, Am Cobenzl 96a
Transport: 38A bus from U4 Heiligenstadt or from 38 tram in Grinzing.
Age Group: Best for toddlers & children

Am Himmel Playground
This is a fun wooden playground with a good range of activities. There is an open playground as well, stunning views, and a café as well. A lovely spot for a picnic. This is also very close to Cobenzl mini farm.
Address: 1190, at the junction of Himmelstrasse & Höhenstrasse
Transport: 38A bus from U4 Heiligenstadt to Cobenzl and walk less than 1 Km to the playground.
Age Group: Best for toddlers & children but plenty of space for crawling babies in warm/dry weather.

Vineyard Walk Grinzing
This is a pram-friendly walk through the vineyards of Grinzing. If you are very keen you can even reach Kahlenberg on top of the hill. Otherwise it is an easy 40min walk up to the U-bend and back. You can also take the bus from Grinzing to the top of Kahlenberg and then walk back down through the vineyards, taking the a right opposite the church at the top of Kahlenberg to get the path down.
Address: 1190, Willdgrubgasse (off Kahlenbergerstrasse)
Transport: 38A bus from Heiligenstadt (U4) or tram 38 from Schottentor and a short walk to Heiligenstadt Friedhof or drive and park the car outside the cemetery.
Age Group: All

Vienna Vikings American Football
My 2 year old son loved the chance to go to a real ball game. The stadium is small enough that you can see the action on the field from any seat (open seating.) Besides the game itself there are cheerleaders, dancers, and other field-side entertainment (including a big purple elephant mascot.)  The players stuck around after the game and were giving out autographs to kids. The Vikings offer flag football and cheerleading opportunities for older kids. Game commentary is done in German with English thrown in. The atmosphere reminds me of a game at a large high school or small college in the U.S. Catering includes Bagel Station and Coffeeshop (which may appeal to many VBC members.) Tickets are 10 euros for adults, 5 euros for kids between 6 and 14, and free for children under 6.  Fanware available at the stadium for purchase. The games are played in the spring and early summer- not in fall/winter as most North Americans are used to.  Going to a Vienna Vikings game is a really enjoyable family afternoon outing!
Recommended by: Elske Haberl
Address: 1190, Home games played at Hohe Warte
Transport: 37 tram to Hohe Warte
Age Group: Toddlers & children

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Donaupark
The Donau Park is located in the 22nd district and at over 600,000m2, it is one of Vienna’s largest public parks. From around Easter at the Arbeiterstrandbadstrasse entrance there are large mechanical animals (a panda, dinosaur, giraffe, lion and elephant etc) which for a small fee children can steer around in a slow loop. After steering the animals the kids can go for a jump on the adjacent trampolines while parents sneak an ice cream from the small snack stand. Beyond the mechanical animals you reach the first of two large playgrounds connected by a wooden bridge. From March through October, winding conspicuously through the Donaupark every 20 minutes is the Donauparkbahn (minature railway). If you like, you can get out of the train at the Donauturm and take the express elevator up to the observation platform 150m above ground and enjoy the fantastic view. The slowly rotating observation deck boasts a reputable restaurant with traditional Viennese cuisine, and a café. By appointment only, you can visit the petting zoo with horses, donkeys, goats, sheep and geese. The caretaker is usually on site throughout the day in the summer, but in the off-season you must call ahead. There is also a bee house where professional and hobby beekeepers have been receiving training for over forty years. Finally, while snack food is limited inside the park, in addition to the restaurant in the Donauturm there is one of Vienna’s better Chinese restaurants next to the Arbeiterstrandbadstrasse entrance, and in the summer months there is a traveling ice cream cart.
Recommended by: Miranda Schneider
Address: 1220, between Arbeiterstrandbadstrasse, Donauturmstrasse and am Hubertusdamm.
Transport: U1 to Alte Donau
Age Group: All  

Outside Vienna

Naturpark Sparbach
This forest has pushchair accessible pathways throughout leading to a small area with farm animals, a small interactive wildlife discovery area (don't know what else to call it!) a pond, waterfall, old watermill, a fenced in play area provided with WC, picnic tables and a BBQ area, several castle ruins and roaming wild boar. Free parking. Café, toilets (with baby changing facilities) and a small play area at the entrance. 3 Euro per adult, 2 Euro for children over 6. Open 1st April to 31st October 9am to 6pm.
Recommended by: Megan Bourva
Address: Stiftung Furst Liechtenstein, 2393 Sparbach
Transport: Car. A21 exit 26 Hinterbruhl, follow signs to Naturpark. Takes about 30 mins from centre of Vienna
Age Group: Toddlers & children  

Jurassic Island
The Jurassic Island dinosaur park creates an atmosphere of walking through a prehistoric forest where life-sized models line the paths.  The footpaths are wide and easily accessible with a stroller; wagons are also available for rent. Young paleontologists can excavate a dinosaur skeleton, which went over very well with my 4-year-old and my 2-year-old as it is essentially a large sand box. There is a special effects workshop where older children can learn about how the realistic models are made as well as some of the tricks of Hollywood movie effects. They can also experiment with some special effects materials by making their own model dinosaur claw or tooth to take home with them (for a fee).  Aside from the dinosaurs, there is a free play area for children up to age 5, a bouncy castle area for all ages (2 Euros for unlimited access), and go-karts. During the hot summer months, you can enjoy a swim in the small lake, relax in a beach chair, or rent a rubber raft. Food services are limited. There is a restaurant with basic fast-food, but at heavy traffic times they seem to be understaffed and service is slow.
Recommended by: Miranda Schneider
Address:  In der Traismauer 2, 3133 Traismauer
Transport:  About 1 hour by car from Vienna
Age Group: Toddlers & children

Schloss Hof
This palace is fantastic for kids! If you have visitors in town you can not only entertain the kids, but show your guests a bit of the countryside and an 18th century baroque palace. While you can visit and tour the palace, the grounds are the place to hang out with the kids. There is a cafe literally overlooking the petting zoo (a bit of wet goat or llama odor might waft up, but ignore it and enjoy your strudel), a lovely playground, camels and donkeys in the fields, horse carriage rides, pony rides, an arts & crafts room where kids can stay on their own if they choose or you with them, and various special events throughout the year (Advent Market, Easter Market, kite festival, equestrian show, and so much more). In the spring and summer the gardens are lovely and you can walk forever it seems. You can stop at the Carnuntum Archaeological site on the way and even pop over to Bratislava which is visible from the gardens. In the spring stop and purchase some excellent Marchfeld asparagus or cherries. Free parking with a special area for families with strollers. Toilets with a changing room near the cafe.
Recommended by: Sarah Hallman
Address: Kaiserliches Festschloss Hof, 2294 Schlosshof 1
Transport: About 1 hour by car from Vienna. Take the A4 Airport Motorway (exit Fischamend), B9 (in the direction of Hainburg) and B49.
Age Group: Toddlers & children up to 12

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