Vienna offers plenty of choices for families who enjoy outdoor fun all year round. To get inspired, you may want to check following websites:
KidsLoveVienna.com has a very comprehensive directory of outdoor family activities for families (in both English and German).
WienXtra – An official website and app with plenty of outdoor tips (in German).
Mamilade– A website with numerous tips (in German).
Hiking
Lovers of hiking will find endless possibilities in Vienna. Among the most popular are hiking trails in the Wienerwald (Vienna Woods), Lainzer Tiergarten (Lainz Game Reserve) and in the vineyards on the outskirts (especially in the 19th and 21st districts). Some of the best hiking destinations for families are Kahlenberg, Cobenzl, Bisamberg, Sophienalpe, Dehnepark, Steinhofgründe and Schwarzenberg Park, to name a few.
The City of Vienna has designed 13 official city hiking trails. These are panoramic hiking round trips that will take you to Vienna’s most beautiful natural destinations; well signposted, open all year round and accessible by public transport; and doable with kids, some even with a stroller.
Cycling
Cycling is very popular in Vienna almost all year round and the cycling routes network is constantly growing. For families, the best cycling destinations include trails running along the rivers and in flat areas such as Prater, Donauinsel, Donaukanal, Liesingbach, Marchfeldkanal, Lobau and Neue Donau.More adventurous kids can train their skills at one of the free bike parks including the BMX bike park Zirkuswiese in Prater and the bike park on Wienerberg pond. The newest coolest addition is the Radmotorikpark & Pumptrack on the Neue Donau in the 22nd district.
Summer Outdoor Activities
Bathing
In the summer, you will find plenty of outdoor pools. Some of the best options for families include Gänsehäufel Bad, Hütteldorfer Bad, Schafberg Bad, Simmeringer Bad, Krapfenwaldlbad.
Moreover, there are many natural bathing spots that are great for families such as Badeteich Hirschstetten, Badeteich Süssenbrunn, Badeteich Seepark Aspern, Alte Donau waterway, and the Familienbadestrand in the Neue Donau.
Skating
Especially popular with teens, Vienna features plenty of skate parks. You can find a list with locations here.
Roller-skating
Another popular summer outdoor activity, not only for families, is roller skating. Just as with cycling, even for roller-skating with kids, the best trails in Vienna are those along the river – especially Neue Donau, Donau Insel (Danube Island), Donaukanal and in the flat asphalted areas such as Prater, Floridsdorfer Aupark or Donaupark. However, beware that roller skating (and cycling) in parks is often prohibited.
Water sports
With so much water, water sports just have to be a thing in Vienna. You name it, you can find it. Here are just a few of the activities on offer: SUP, kayaking, boat rental, wakeboarding and waterskiing, yachting and canoeing.
Winter Outdoor Activities
Ice Skating
Ice skating is winter outdoor activity number one in Vienna. Besides modern indoor halls, there are some beautiful outdoor ice-skating rinks to be found throughout the city.
Wiener Eistraum – The world-famous open-air ice rinks in front of Vienna City Hall.
Engelmann– Ice skating over the roofs of Vienna.
Eislaufverein– Vienna’s unique open-air ice rink, with a very long tradition, next to the Stadtpark.
Sledding
There are thirteen officially certified sledding hills in Vienna. The list can be found on the municipal website. Two of them, Jesuitenwiese and Donaupark even have artificial snow.
Skiing
For children and beginners, there is a dry slope at the Hohe Wand Wiese.
Cross-Country Skiing
There are several trails you can use for free as long as there is at least 20cm of snow.
Farms
There are several city farms around the city: Vienna Kids Farm, Landgut Cobenzl and City Farm Augarten.