I'm sure this has been done before, but I can't anything. Anyway ....

Do you have any tips/hints/suggestions for my upcoming visit to Vienna ? Travelling with wife and 2 kids (12 and almost 4 yrs old). I know it's a bit vague, and we have some of the guidebooks, but any info/advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers.

A bit vague is a great understatement. Other than eat lots of pastries and take a ride on the giant ferris wheel I would recommend entering Vienna in the search box above. You may find some answers to your unasked questions.

Take them to see the Hundertwasserhaus and the nearby museum/shop where you can actually walk on the uneven floors. I'm sure they'd also enjoy the Naschtmarkt (city market). I think the Belvedere Palace is a lovely place to take kids. It's beautiful, has terrific grounds and fountains and the art collection inside has the beautiful and fanciful Klimts which IMO would appeal to children with their color. Have lunch at a Weinerwald restaurant with chicken dishes of every description and go to a Nordsee fast food fish restaurant where they (at least the 12 year old) can try lobster for much less than you'd pay in a "real restaurant." Riding the tram around the ring would also seem to appeal to children--at least once. I was practically a child myself when I first went to Vienna, my first European city, and I've always loved it. I'm guessing you'll find many things for them to love there as well.

I guess it would depend on what is a novelty for your children; as we don't have trams here, riding them would be a novelty in itself. Perahps the 12 year old could choose a route - take a ride to the end of that route & take a look around. On the way, take note of anything that looks interesting (parks, sculptures, buildings etc), then hop off the tram / bus / train at that point and explore. That's how we (60+ big kids!) discovered the Hundertwasser Recycle centre, some spectacular sculptures, and little wineries. With the day tickets for public transport and such frequent services, this is so easy to do in Vienna.

Sometimes the small things can be at least as memorable as the iconic tourism spots - specially if you have discovered them all for yourself!

Perhaps your best source of good information regarding your question is the Vienna Tourist website

www.wien.info

go to "Vienna For"- click on families - all types of information- as you know what you kids like or dislike - just go through this - from museum tours designed for kids and more
The prater Amusement park offers a change of pace with all sorts of rides - the giant ferris wheel near by - a small train ride to explore the prater park-even a McDonalds.
many like the horse drawn carriage rides " Fiakers " - expensive but fun

Should mention kids ride free on Vienna public transport during school time vacation period.

If you tell us what your kids' interests are, we may be able to you more suggestions.

Just FYI, the regular tram no longer goes all around the Ring (mentioned by JulieVikmanis). There are 3 tram lines (line 1, 2, and D) but each only go 1/2 way or 3/4 way around the Ring. The only tram that goes all around the entire Ring is the Tourist tram, which is quite expensive.

There's a Butterfly House next to the Hofburg complex.

How about the Schonbrunn zoo? http://www.zoovienna.at/e/index.html

Yes, thanks for all the suggestions so far. I appreciate it's vague, and have looked through quite a lot of stuff that I think they'd enjoy already. I often take the 'carpet bombing' approach to such things as, quite often, some posters will throw up an oddity or a relatively unknown thing to do. Apologies for those of you that have problems with that.

A place often overlooked is the Vienna Aquarium.
This is a unique venue- a former Flak Tower from the Second World War- the walls too thick to remove so it stands as before - also with a viewing deck at the top for a good panorama of the city.
Enough for the building - some good programs directed to children and a fun visit to many. central location. Great bad weather or hot day activity.

www.haus-des-meeres.at

Cheers. I know it's pretty impossible to say, but late July / early August - how hot will it get in the city ? We're staying in Lauria Apartments, which is reasonably central ...

hi yakman,

we got back from Vienna [without our kids] about 2 weeks ago, but naturally, I couldn't help thinking what they would like had they been there.

so this is my list [in no particular order, and with apologies to the other posters who may already have mentioned them]

THe Prater - not just for the big wheel [riesenrad] but for the other rides, and the beer gardens, which sell pretty good, reasonably priced food. the park is free, you just Pay as you go for the rides. they will LOVE those.

the Kahlenberg - take a trip up to the mountain/hill to the north of the city, which gives great views from the top. to get there, get the tram/tube to Heiligestadt, then the no 38A bus. you can walk down through the woods to Grinzing [taking in the odd Heurige as you go] then catch the bus/tube back.

The Belvedere - for the Klimts, but also for the terrifically funny sculptures by ? on the ground floor of the upper belvedere.

the hofburg - the sissi exhibition is very interesting, even for children, I would think.

riding the trams - just see where they take you.

as for the temperature, I'm the wrong one to ask. apart from one day, we had very wet and cold weather, [in June] so take your umbrellas - they are surprisingly expensive.

Do make sure that you get the right sort of travel passes - if you have school kids, lots of attractions will be freefor them or you can get family tickets, so the vienna card will probably not be worth it. and so far as I know, the schools have already broken up [they had their last day the day we left] - so it sounds as if the kids will travel free too. I would just get the ordinary travel pass for the adults to cover you for the length olf your stay.

have a great trip,

regards, ann