Not every December day is made for wandering around a Christmas market. Sometimes it's simply too cold, too windy or everyone just feels like spending the day somewhere warm.
Fortunately, Vienna offers plenty of festive indoor activities for families. Every Christmas season, museums, theatres, family cafés and creative workshops organise special programmes for children of all ages.
We've gathered some of our favourite places to check each year. Most venues publish their Christmas programme during Advent, and popular events often require advance booking.
Please note, pre-bookings are always welcome and many events sell out quickly.
Christmas markets with indoor activities
If you'd still like to enjoy the Christmas market atmosphere without spending the whole afternoon outside, these are great places to start.
Vienna Christmas World at Rathausplatz
The Christmas market at Rathausplatz isn't just about food and market stalls. Every year, the children's area usually includes craft activities, storytelling, puppet theatre and other festive entertainment for younger visitors. Rathausplatz is one of the best choices if you're visiting Vienna with children during Advent.
Remise Transport Museum
The Advent Market at the Remise Transport Museum combines a traditional Christmas market with plenty of indoor family activities. Every year, children can usually enjoy Christmas crafts, puppet theatre, storytelling, concerts and festive workshops inside the museum.
Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace
The Christmas Market at Schönbrunn is always one of Vienna's highlights for families. Besides the market itself, children can usually enjoy creative workshops, skating, carousels and other seasonal attractions throughout Advent.
Imperial Lights at Schönbrunn
If you're visiting after dark, the illuminated gardens at Schönbrunn create a magical Christmas atmosphere that children usually love.
Blumengärten Hirschstetten
The Christmas exhibition at Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens has become a favourite family tradition. Alongside beautifully decorated greenhouses, there are usually Christmas displays, festive decorations and activities for children throughout Advent.
Children's Museum & Christmas workshops
Children's Museum Schönbrunn
If we had to recommend just one indoor Christmas activity, this would be near the top of our list.
Every Christmas season, the museum usually prepares an extensive family programme with Christmas crafts, themed tours, treasure hunts, quizzes, hand puppet performances and a visit from St. Nicholas. Many activities are included with museum admission, making it excellent value for families.
Theatre, music & Christmas performances
If your family enjoys stories, music and theatre, December offers plenty of festive performances for children.
Places worth checking each year include:
- LILARUM Puppet Theatre – Christmas puppet shows for younger children.
- Märchenbühne Der Apfelbaum – fairy tales and Christmas performances.
- Haus der Musik – family Christmas concerts and interactive musical events. House of Music
- Kinderoper in der Krypta – Christmas opera performances for families.
- Kunterbunte Erlebniswelt (1170) – festive family performances.
- Weltmuseum Wien – Christmas family workshops and cultural activities. Weltmuseum Wien
- Lesewerkstatt – Christmas storytelling and seasonal workshops.
Many venues also organise baby concerts and interactive performances throughout Advent.
Christmas baking workshops
For children who love getting creative in the kitchen, many venues organise Christmas baking throughout December.
You can usually find festive baking workshops at:
- Babette's – Christmas biscuit decorating and edible Christmas decorations.
- Laba Kreativ Camp.
- Kulturzentrum Spittelberg.
- Kinderspiel Café (1030).
Christmas crafts & DIY gifts
Making Christmas presents together has become a favourite Advent tradition in many families.
Every year, these venues usually organise festive craft workshops:
- Poldi's Christmas Craft Workshop at the Children's Museum Schönbrunn.
- Atelier Sours (1160)
- Zwergerlparadies (1210)
- Planet Lollipop (1110)
- Kinderwerkstatt Wien (1070)
- Little Suns (1210)
- IKEA Wien Westbahnhof – sustainable Christmas craft workshops for children. IKEA Wien Westbahnhof
- mumok – creative family workshops during the Christmas holidays. mumok
Christmas with babies & toddlers
Even the youngest family members can enjoy the festive season.
These family cafés and playrooms often organise Christmas-themed mornings, baby cafés, festive breakfasts, sensory play, crafts and Christmas story sessions during Advent.
- Careccino (1120)
- Spielraum Kunterbunt (1220)
- Lemoni Café (1160)
- Little Suns (1210)
- Biolino Institut (1060)
- Wolkenspielraum (1120)
Museums that are perfect on a cold winter day
If you prefer to keep your plans flexible, these museums are excellent choices throughout the Christmas holidays.
Vienna Museum of Science & Technology
The museum regularly prepares additional family activity areas and creative workshops during the Christmas holidays alongside its interactive exhibitions.
Museum of Natural History Vienna
Dinosaurs, Arctic animals and family tours make this one of the easiest museums to enjoy with children of different ages. Seasonal guided tours for families are often available during the holidays.
Vienna Planetarium
Perfect for children fascinated by stars and space, especially on dark winter afternoons.
House of Music
One of Vienna's most interactive museums, where children can explore music through hands-on exhibits and family activities.
Weltmuseum Wien
Family workshops and interactive exhibitions introduce children to traditions and cultures from around the world.
One more idea
If you're looking for even more inspiration throughout Advent, WienXtra also publishes an excellent calendar of family activities every Christmas season.
A practical winter tip
December often means moving between Christmas markets, museums and cafés throughout the day. Comfortable layers make all the difference.
Warm leggings or soft winter trousers under waterproof outerwear keep children comfortable outside, while breathable natural fabrics make it easy to stay cosy once you're back indoors.
Babbily organic winter thermo-leggings
To enjoy the Christmas festivities, warm clothes are a must in winter. Babbily’s brushed organic cotton winter thermo-leggings are warm, cosy, comfortable and easy to wear. Just slip them on and your child is ready for the festivities indoors or out.
Babbily grow-along trousers and leggings are not only super comfortable, but also exceptionally durable, replacing 3-4 standard pairs, saving your wallet and the planet. Our play leggings and trousers for kids are the smart choice for parents who value quality and durability. Say goodbye to constantly replacing torn pairs and say hello to trousers that keep up with your child’s adventures.