Family-friendly Activities

Gain interesting insights into the routines of the riders and their young Lipizzaners as you visit the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. See how the traditions, which have been practiced at the school for the last 457 years, remain almost unchanged to this day. Observe the future stars of the Spanish Riding School at their first training sessions in the imperial ambiance of the baroque winter riding school. Listen to commentary and classical Viennese music that accompanies the session. See the training for the basic walk, trot, and canter, the foundations for every equestrian rider and horse. These are the main exercises for these young Lipizzaner talents. The young stallions are particularly interesting as the exercises are explained in detail demonstrating the commitment and hard work required to achieve the perfection that each rider and horse strives for.

Experience a ride on the famous Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel, a landmark of the Austrian capital and a symbol for the world-famous Wiener Prater. With its iconic silhouette, the Giant Ferris Wheel is a must-see attraction for all visitors to Vienna. A ride on the Wheel is just as important to a visit to Vienna as the Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, or the Spanish Riding School. A ride on this significant and fascinating structure provides spectacular views over the whole city. The Giant Ferris Wheel is a true cultural and architectural highlight for any guest in the city: you haven't really visited Vienna until you've taken a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel and marveled at the breathtaking views over the roofs of Vienna! The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel rotates at a speed of 2.7 kilometers per hour. A complete rotation takes just over 4 minutes, but only when the Ferris wheel has not stopped to let passengers on or off. More commonly, a ride takes between 12 and 15 minutes, during which time you can enjoy picturesque views over Vienna and the surrounding area, such as the hills of the Vienna Woods, the Danube, the Marchfeld, and the Pannonian Basin.

Enjoy the Ballet of the White Stallions at the unique, baroque Winter Riding School at Hofburg Palace, built under Charles VI. These performances are the result of years of training for the rider and their Lipizzans. The Spanish riding school is the only institution in the world which has practiced classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole for more than 450 years. From the young, boisterous stallions to the fully trained School Stallions, they enchant the audience with their performance of breathtaking excercises such as caprioles, Levade and many more. The physique and grace of Lipizzans are ideally suited to the High School of Classical Horsemanship. They are Europe's oldest horse breed. The exercise and preservation of the High School of Classical Horsemanship are some of the core tasks carried out by the Spanish Riding School which is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A particularly atmospheric lighting concept was developed by renowned multimedia artist André Heller for the performances in the most beautiful riding arena in the world. This atmosphere and the accompanying classical Viennese music make the wonderful presentation by the rider and their Lipizzans even more enjoyable. The 1.5-hour Gala Performance includes live moderation, the Standard Performance is 70 minutes long, and the Tribute to Vienna performance lasts for 2 hours.

Vienna’s Spanish Riding School has been in continuous operation for more than 450 years. It continues to cultivate classical equitation in the Renaissance tradition of the Haute Ecole. On an exclusive 55-minute behind-the-scenes tour, visit the Winter Riding School, a gem of Baroque architecture, the Summer Riding School which houses the world’s largest oval horse walker and the stables in the Stallburg. The Stallburg is Vienna’s most significant Renaissance building, and features an arcade courtyard and the historical stables of the Lipizzaner stallions. Learn about the history of the equestrian tradition and about the Lipizzaner stallions, who are the stars of the establishment.

Experience fun and action for the whole family and travel through 400 years of Vienna's history. Lose yourself In the extensive cellars of the St. Michael's monastery, on this journey into Vienna's past. Through the use of the latest in entertainment technology travel through time, going back to the days of the ancient Roman camp of Vindobona up to present-day Vienna – a thrilling experience for the senses. Get to know some of the most important people in Viennese history and listen to what they have to say in the portrait gallery. Visit the 5D cinema, where spectacular effects give you the impression of really living in ancient Vienna. Witness imperial Vienna and learn about the nobility of the Viennese court. Meet the imperial family personally, and create your own impressions of the royal highnesses of the past. With the help of new technology and VR glasses, have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a virtual reality and to experience the course of Viennese music history in a special simulated world. With Enemy Aircraft!, feel as though World War II is raging all around you and you find yourself inside a bomb shelter. In Austria is free!, listen to the moving speech by Chancellor Figl within the battered remnants of Vienna, and feel the sigh of relief from the citizens of Austria. Finally, enjoy a special treat: simulated flying over the roofs of Vienna. Your journey ends with a beautiful virtual horse-drawn carriage flight over present-day Vienna.

Discover the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna after-hours paired perfectly with dinner and a concert. Tour through the palace with an audio guide, take a train ride to a fine restaurant nearby, before listening to a concert by Mozart and Strauss in the Orangery. Meet in front of the main entrance of Schönbrunn Palace and enter inside, using your smartphone as your audioguide. Explore the interior of the palace and learn its many interesting histories and facts. Take a panoramic train ride through the Palace gardens, that arrives at the restaurant for your special meal. Enjoy dinner for about an hour, then ride the Panorama train back towards the concert. Enter into the Orangery Schönbrunn and take your seats. Feel the anticipation as the orchestra takes the stage, and immerse into the sounds of Mozart and Strauss for the evening.

Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum was built by Emperor Franz Joseph to house the imperial collections. See works from ancient Egypt and classical antiquity and through the late 18th century. In the Picture Gallery admire masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphael, Vermeer, Velázquez, Titian and Durer. At the Kunstkammer see works by goldsmiths such as Benvenuto Cellini. The collection includes sculptural masterpieces and filigree works in ivory by top artists of the day. Marvel at the magnificent building itself, with its imposing staircase that features a series of paintings on which Gustav Klimt collaborated.

Explore over 70 exhibition pieces at The Museum of Illusions. Suitable for the entire family, train your brain and trick your mind with the mind-boggling puzzles. Defy gravity in an inclined room. Grow and shrink your family and friends in the Ames room. Experience what it feels like to lose the ground underneath your feet at the vortex tunnel. Have your smartphone or camera ready, as there are numerous unique photo opportunities throughout the museum. Break your mind over tricky wooden games and train your brain to think creatively.

Enjoy a wonderful performance by the Riders of the Spanish Riding School and the carriage driving riders from the Lipizzaner Stud Piber in the wonderful baroque ambiance of the Winter Riding Hall, accompanied by classical Viennese music. The Lipizzaners are considered the oldest horse breed in Europe, known worldwide for their elegant equestrian performances. While the High School of Classical Horsemanship, often referred to as the "Ballet of the white stallions" remains the essential part of this new program an additional attraction awaits you. After three High School performances executed by the famous school stallions from Vienna and their riders, enjoy one of the most outstanding skills of the Lipizzaners and watch their perfection, beauty, and harmony carriage horses. This will be shown as a special highlight at the end of the show. The use of the white and elegant Lipizzaners as exquisite carriage horses, although rarely seen today, derives from the adoration of these horses within the court of the Habsburgs over centuries. The "Lipizzaner Classic" gives you a fantastic insight into the overall ability of these white stars, starting with the three program parts of Classical Horsemanship and ending with an exclusive demonstration of carriage driving from the Lipizzaner Stud in Piber, 50 km outside Vienna.

Enjoy typical Austrian delicacies as you discover famous Viennese cuisine, during a ride through the beautiful city by horse-drawn carriage. Listen as your coachman and butler regale you with exciting stories of Vienna's history and sights. The carriage is comfortable and weatherproof, and offers four spaces with a table for you to sit at on your journey.  Relax on the drive with a clean, emission-free, and quiet mode of transportation. As you travel, pass by the most important sights of Vienna's old town such as Hofburg, the Spanish Horse Riding School, Burgtheater, Albertina, and the Opera, just to name a few. Enjoy a slower pace of life as you see and taste Austria with this enchanting experience.