Advent program for children
In the run-up to Christmas, a visit with the family to one of Vienna’s many Christmas markets is a long-standing tradition – especially the Viennese Christmas Market on Rathausplatz. Children will be wide-eyed at the sight of the wares and treats offered by the 100 or so market booths. Interactive stations in Rathauspark invite visitors to explore: the birdhouse village, the red apple, the nutcracker, the mountain of gifts, and the fairy tale tower. An Advent wreath is decorated with four animal musicians. Other highlights include the nearly 12-meter-high, hand-painted multi-level carousel, the nativity scene trail, and the reindeer train. The heart tree fascinates young and old alike.
On the 110 m² children’s ice rink, kids can try their first steps on the ice for free (ice skating aids and skates are available to hire on site). Grown-up ice skaters can get their fill along romantic fairytale paths across the Rathauspark at the Ice Dream at the Christmas Market (overall skating area: 3.000 m²).
The Viennese Christmas Market is open daily from November 14 to December 26, 2025 (10 am – 10 pm; on December 24 until 6:30 pm).
Other Advent markets with attractions for children
A visit to an Advent market is sure to enchant families – here is a selection of where you can find special attractions for children:
Art Advent on Karlsplatz presents handicrafts and demonstration workshops, and the children can also look forward to an extensive daily offering: the straw landscape, the Draisinen Express, the lost property carousel, barrel organ music from Werkelmann, supervised creative handicrafts in the Star Workshop in the big yurt at the pond area (daily 2.30 pm - 7.00 pm) and storytellers in the Sky Tent (Thu-Sun 3.00 pm). (November 11 – December 23, 2025)
The Prater organizes a winter market on Riesenradplatz. The kids explore the Prater together with the adults – such as on adventure rides on board the winter train, high-flying rides on the chair-o-plane, and at the autodrome. You can take selfies with stars at Madame Tussauds, while Magic World Vienna enchants visitors in the truest sense of the word. A round on the Giant Ferris Wheel is unforgettable for everyone. Don’t miss the family-friendly Perchtenlauf – a lighthearted event to chase away evil spirits at the end of year! There is music to appeal to everyone: predominantly local artists perform live concerts ranging from gospel to pop every Wednesday to Sunday. The beer garden at Luftburg – Kolarik becomes the “Winterburg” winter market and will be open daily from 12 noon to 8 pm, with a dedicated stop for the winter train. There guests can enjoy organic snacks, free bouncy castles, an outdoor playground and boccia courts. (November 21, 2025 - January 6, 2026)
At the Advent Market at the Remise Transport Museum, children can pass the time until Christmas with the craft workshop, the exciting story “The Wiener Linien Snowman Tale,” the Christmas Puppet Show, the Christmas Post Office, an ice stock sport lane and concerts – all in the historic setting of the Wiener Linien Transport Museum. The Christmas Puppet Show (Nov 30, Dec 7, and Dec 13, 2025) and Father Christmas (Dec 6, 2025) will be making appearances. (November 28 – December 14, 2025, Fri–Sun from 2 p.m.)
The Christmas-themed Josefinenalm lodge is located right in the middle of the Christmas Village on the University Campus in the Altes AKH. A children’s program with a magician, Punch and Judy show and Christmas workshop will be held there every Saturday and Sunday. (November 14 – December 23, 2025)
The Christmas Exhibition at the Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens features, in addition to the display in the large greenhouse, a Christmas market with around 50 market stalls, as well as crafts and cookie baking for children. (November 13 – December 21, 2025)
Christmas at Schönbrunn Palace: market, museum, lights garden
The Christmas Market Schloss Schönbrunn appeals to children and families by offering a wide range of activities: children can use the innovative Glice ice rink (a synthetic ice rink) free of charge, and there is also a dedicated children’s skating rink, curling rinks, a carousel, a Ferris wheel and a craft workshop. (November 6 – January 6, 2026)
At the Schloss Schönbrunn Children’s Museum, the palace ghost Poldi has come up with a range of activities: the themed tour “It’s Christmas at the Children’s Museum” lets visitors experience imperial Christmas traditions – with surprising differences from today (Saturdays and Sundays, Nov 22 – Dec 21, 2025, as well as on Dec 8, 25, and 26, 2025; ages 7 and up; booking recommended). Starting November 22, the daily winter puzzle challenge, the treasure hunt “The Squirrel’s Golden Nuts,” and Poldi’s craft workshop will be on offer. Santa Claus will stop by on December 6, and on December 24 the hand puppet show “Poldi and Martina the Christmas Goose” will take place.
25 brand new: the Imperial Lights Garden in Schönbrunn Palace Park. Baroque lighting elements transport visitors back to the time of the emperors on a magical circular trail (daily from November 6, closed only on December 24, 2025, advance timeslot booking recommended).
Puppet shows
At Lilarum, Vienna’s largest children’s theater, magical Christmas puppet shows capture the imagination of even the youngest visitors from age three, with the story of Hoppla the Bunny and the Christmas Tree (November 29 – December 24, 2025).
The Apfelbaum Fairy Tale Stage presents Die Heilige Nacht (The Holy Night), based on a story by Selma Lagerlöf. (December 13, 20, 21, 23, 24, 2025)
Shepherd’s carols and children’s opera
In December, the Vienna Boys’ Choir will celebrate the festive season with their Christmas concert Good Shepherds 2025, hosted in their concert hall MuTh. (December 5–9, 2025)
Opera specially for families: at the Peterskirche (Church of St. Peter), downstairs in the bright, comfortably heated crypt. The Christmas Witch flies to the music of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. In the Italian Christmas story, Befana the witch arrives too late for the birth of baby Jesus. She comes across the Three Wise Men, who are just setting off on their journey home. (December 20-26, 2026)
Advent concerts, theater, musicals
Family highlights at the Stadtsaal are the concert Wenn es Winter wird (When winter comes) with Mai Cocopelli (December 7 & 8, 2024) and an afternoon with Marko Simsa. He and the Kokosbusserl Band invite everyone to rummage deep in the treasure chest of Christmas songs (December 21, 2025).
The popular children’s songwriter Bernhard Fibich will delight audiences with Christmas-themed interactive concerts at the House of Music (December 6, 11, 17, 18 & 19, 2025) and Kabarett Niedermair (December 22, 2025).
There is even more going on at the Kabarett Niedermair: Schneck & Co will be performing their program Herr Holle hört Weihnachten (December 21, 2025) and a Christmas concert (December 23, 2025). Winter stories & Christmas carols for audiences aged 5 and over will be performed by the Danube Pirates from Asagan (December 20, 2025). And on St. Nicholas Day (December 6), Brennholz.Rocks will ignite a firework display of rock music at an interactive concert for the whole family.
