There are over 700 playgrounds and several adventure parks in Vienna so, no matter where you live, you should be able to find at least one near to your home. Many playgrounds are truly special and worth traveling across the city for whenever you feel like trying someplace new with the kids. The most comprehensive directory of playgrounds in English can be found on KidsLoveVienna.com. It includes real photos of each place and practical details that matter to families, such as a list of play equipment, sports facilities, water fountains, or picnic tables. It is always advisable to check out your chosen destination online before setting off with kids so you always know what to expect.
Most playgrounds in Vienna are accessible for free and usually feature a drinking fountain (though water is off in winter months). A toilet is typically only available at larger playgrounds or at those in highly frequented locations.
There are even special types of playgrounds, such as water playgrounds, adventure playgrounds, forest playgrounds, and activity parks.
Top playgrounds
With so many great playgrounds it is difficult to choose just a few, yet here are our personal favorites:
Jesuitenwiese (ranch playground) – For many, this is the best playground in Vienna. It is located at Prater (2nd district).
Labyrinthikon is one of the most original outdoor playgrounds in Vienna and one of the few with paid entrance. It is located in the Schönbrunn Palace Gardens (13th district).
Knight’s castle playground at Kurpark Oberlaa is a themed adventure playground in one of Vienna’s most beautiful garden parks (10th district).
Stadtpark – Kinderpark – The best playground for kids of any age in the central area, featuring several sports areas and a water playground (1st/3rd district).
Sparefroh playground– A fantastic playground at Donaupark, with plenty of exciting equipment for older kids as well as a separate toddler playground (21st/22nd district).
Schweizergarten playground – Located next to the Belvedere and Vienna Central Station, the beautiful Swiss garden is home to one of the best playgrounds in Vienna.
Esterházy Park – A lovely playground and a popular meetup place next to the House of the Sea (6th district).
Pötzipark playground– A huge forest playground in the Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark, with a petting zoo nearby (18th district).
Währinger Park – A pretty park with two great playgrounds, close to the Währinger Gürtel (18th district).
Wertheimstein Park – A fairy-tale themed forest playground in a beautiful park (19th district).
Badeteich Hirschstetten playground – A great, tropical-themed playground located at one of the best bathing spots for families in Vienna (22nd district).
Seepark Aspern playground – A modern, sea-life themed playground next to the Seepark bathing pond (22nd district).
Türkenschanzpark firefighting playground – A firefighting themed playground at Türkenschanzpark (18th district).
Waldmüllerpark – A beautiful park with several exciting playgrounds and one of the coolest giant slides in Vienna (10th district).
Liechtenstein Park playground – A really lovely playground for all ages in the heart of the bustling urban area of Alsegrund (9th district).
Feuerwehrspielplatz (firefighting playground) – A bit difficult to reach, yet one of the best themed playgrounds in the city (22nd district).
Forest playgrounds (Waldspielplatz)
Forest playgrounds are a special experience for kids in Vienna – they bring a piece of nature into the capital. Our favorites include Schwarzenbergpark Waldspielplatz, Lainzer Tor Waldspielplatz, Dehnepark Waldspielplatz, Augarten Waldspielplatz, Am Himmel, Steinhofgründe Waldspielplatz.
Adventure playgrounds
Robinson Spielplatz – A proper insider tip in Vienna’s 19th district.
Bacher park – a park in the 5th district with some of the coolest climbing installations in Vienna.
Kahlenberg Dwarf – The free play area and low ropes course next to the Kahlenberg forest rope park.
Adventure parks and climbing gardens
Waldseilpark Kahlenberg – A high ropes park on the Kahlenberg hill (19th district).
Hochseilklettergarten Gänsehäufel – A climbing park in the iconic Gänsehäufel Bad on the Alte Donau (22nd district).
Kletterpark Donauinsel – A high rope-climbing park at the Neue Donau (22nd district).
Motorikparks & activity playgrounds
Motorikparks are activity parks for adults and kids, operated by the City of Vienna. They feature plenty of activity stations to train balance, coordination, power, and overall fitness.
Motorikpark 22 Donaustadt – The biggest Motorikpark in Vienna, located behind Ikea in Donaustadt.
Motorikpark 10 Favoriten – A smaller activity park adjacent to the lovely playground at Helmut Zilk Park, just a few steps away from Vienna’s Central Station.
Water playgrounds
In the summer, water playgrounds are extremely popular with Viennese families. Not only do they make even the hottest days in the city more bearable but they are also accessible for free.
There are two main (amazing!) water playgrounds in Vienna: Wasserspielplatz Donauinsel and Wasserspiel Wasserturm. Both feature large splash and play areas surrounded by a large green area.
Smaller water playgrounds, and sand and mud playgrounds can be found all around the city. Here are some of our favorites: Piraten Spielplatz at Liesingbach, Stadtpark – Kinderpark, Sparefroh playground, Schweizergarten playground, Pötzipark playground and Meiereiwiese playground.