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Winter semester break: Five things to do with kids in Vienna during the holidays

Austrian children have their Semesterferien, a week off school, during the month of February. In Vienna, the holidays start on February 4th. Here are five things to help them enjoy their time off.

Published: 3 February 2023 16:52 CET
Updated: 6 February 2023 13:52 CET

Winter semester break: Five things to do with kids in Vienna during the holidays

Rathaus Park's is a go-to place every winter in Vienna. (Photo by Datingjungle on Unsplash)

February is a much beloved month among many students, as schools go on a short one-week holiday and families take the opportunity to travel. The break takes place on different dates each year and varies depending on the state.

In Vienna, the break starts on Saturday, February 4th, and ends on Sunday, February 12th.

READ ALSO: What’s happening in Vienna in February 2023?

Many schools and families take this time to travel to the west of the country, where Austria’s best skiing resorts are located. However, if you are staying in the capital for the next week, here are a few suggestions of places to take your kids to – many of them for free.

Spielcenter in Wiener Rathaus

The Vienna City Hall will be transformed into a giant play centre from February 9th to 11th, open from 2 pm to 7 pm. Families with children up to the age of 13 can try out board games and games at the Game Zone, have their face painted as their favourite animal or superhero, design their own games in the workshop and build robots.

You can read more about it HERE.

Wiener Eistraum

For those who prefer to be out in the fresh air, there is an excellent possibility just outside of the City Hall, as the Wiener Eistraum ice skating area is still open. In addition, several skiing paths can even take you uphill and downhill. Families are welcome, even with smaller children, as the city rents out age-appropriate gear.

You can read more about it HERE.

READ ALSO: Here are over 20 things you can do in Vienna for free

Theatre for young audiences

Also, parents can find the Dschungel Wien in downtown Vienna, a theatre house for young audiences. There, on the first vacation weekend, the play “Leinen los!” for children aged five and up can be seen at 4 pm each day. Puppeteer Michael A. Pöllmann brings little wooden puppets to life.

In addition, the Children’s Theater is showing the play “Cosma Superheroine” for kids nine and older during the semester break, in which the protagonist takes care of her hard-working father.

You can read more about it HERE.

Online coding classes

Over several Fridays at 3 pm, children ages 8 to 13 can learn how to write code, develop websites, or programme apps and graphs online. The events are part of the CoderDojo club, a worldwide network of coding clubs for children and young people.

The kids playfully discover technology and learn online (via Zoom). There is no need to register.

You can read more about it HERE.

READ ALSO: One day in Vienna: How to spend 24 hours in the Austrian capital

Wiener Winter Circus

Immerse yourself in the fascinating realm of the circus ring – for children from 6 to 13 years. A winter fairy tale with ponies, goats, ducks, pigeons and surprises awaits you. The circus attraction brings international artists, funny clowns and adorably arranged animal acts.

The show takes place on several weekend dates, and entry for kids costs €12.

You can read more about it HERE.

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Five unusual cafes in Vienna you should not miss out on

Vienna is known for its rich coffeehouse culture, with elegant cafes serving traditional brews in grand settings.

But beyond the classic spots, the city is also home to a range of quirky and unusual cafes offering unique experiences for those looking to explore something different. From eccentric decor to themed menus, these hidden gems add a playful twist to Vienna’s famous coffee scene.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, these cafes provide a refreshing break from the ordinary, offering not just coffee, but a chance to step into a world of creativity and charm.

Here’s a look at some of Vienna’s most intriguing spots to enjoy a drink with a difference.

Café Neko

This is the place to go if you want to pet some cute cats while enjoying a coffee or cake.

You will find Café Neko – which means cat in Japanese – in a cute street in Vienna’s city centre, and once you enter, you will be greeted by the café’s five resident cats.

In addition to cat petting, you can enjoy a wide range of coffees and Austrian and Japanese cakes since one of the co-owners is from Japan.

The café opened in 2012 and is Austria’s first cat café and one of the first ones in Europe.

Here, you can enjoy a cosy atmosphere, surrounded by cats playing with their toys spread around the rooms.

Find out more about the café here.

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A post shared by Takako Ishimitsu (@cafenekovienna)

READ ALSO: Caffeine, war and Freud: A history of Vienna’s iconic coffee houses

Aufzug café

Are you a fan of old Austrian elevators? If so, this is a place worth visiting.

Here, you can drink your coffee while sitting in one of the cafe’s old elevators. The staff serving you are also dressed as old-time elevator porters.

You can enjoy high-quality coffee, different drinks and some cakes.

Due to the size of the space, the menu is quite simple, but the coffee and cakes are known for their good quality.

The café is also a bit of a museum, with elevator-related attributes, books about elevators, and photos of old Austrian elevators, sometimes with an explanatory text next to them.

Read more about it here.

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Allergikercafé

If you have problems with allergies or are on a strict diet, this is the place where you can enjoy your drinks, cakes, and snacks without any issues.

Here, you can order cakes or pastries without fructose, low in histamine, or without additives, to name a few examples.

You can also find various types of milk for your drink, such as rice or almond milk.

The café uses ingredients that minimise the risk of cross-contamination to ensure that its pastries are suitable for people with specific dietary needs.

The setting is cosy and friendly, and the café has a terrace.

Check out the menu here.

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READ MORE: How to drink coffee like an Austrian

Vollpension

This café is one of Vienna’s most famous ones. It was created to support the city’s elderly by providing them with a sense of community, a weekly activity, and an opportunity to earn extra money.

The idea turned out to be a success, and the concept is seen as a win-win situation for both the employees and the visitors, as the cosy café offers delicious cakes, coffee, and drinks.

While visiting the café, you usually pay for a package and can thereby sit in the cosy atmosphere for a certain amount of time. During this time, you can enjoy as much coffee as you want together with your cake.

Vollpension Café has two locations in Vienna and, in addition to the many different cakes and drinks, also offers breakfast.

If you get inspired by the pastries, you can take a baking class at the café, which is regularly organised.

Find out more here.

Karin Hofbauer, 62, bakes for Vollpension, and smiles as she shows a baking tray in front of a laptop. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Café Phil

You should go here if you do not want to visit only a café but also a bookstore and vinyl shop.

You can enjoy coffee and cake here while looking through many books and vinyl records.

The café often hosts cultural events such as book readings and live music gigs and is where people in Vienna gather regularly.

The atmosphere is familiar, and the menu includes light dishes and snacks in addition to coffee and cakes.

You can read more about it here.

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READ NEXT: IN PICTURES: The Vienna coffee shop where phone-less visitors get a discount

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