Tips for Families at Museums and Music Tours in Austria

September 25, 2015By: Austrian Tourist Office

Lonely Planet listed Austria as best places for family holidays in Europe 2015. Kids will not only be introduced to the culture and history of this fascinating country, but can also engage in countless adventures within its breathtaking countryside. From city to mountains, Austria provides a wonderful backdrop for family memories that will be forever cherished.

Vienna

Among the 70 cultural facilities that make up the MuseumsQuartier Wien (MQ), three are dedicated to children (plus special children programs at many of the others.) The ZOOM Kindermuseum has four areas for kids 14 and under featuring hands-on fun segmented by age groups and including design, painting, drawing, animation and many adventures.

Kindermuseum in Vienna

The Mozarthaus Vienna caters to families with workshops that combine guided tours of the museum and help children unlock the secrets of “The Magic Flute”. The free audio guide is available for families as a great tool for kids to explore Mozart's world and his daily life. Although, discovering Mozart's life wouldn't be complete without experiencing classical music. Vienna’s House of Music is a great family-friendly space to discover the fascinating world of sound and Viennese music in an interactive, playful way.

Yes, Vienna is best known for is incredible cultural treasures, but it is also home to the world’s oldest amusement park, Wurstelprater. It is located in Wiener Prater, a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district Leopoldstadt, which also has the Hauptallee (the main alley), the Krieau and the Praterstadium (Ernst Happel Stadium). Family favorites include the Viennese giant wheel, built in 1897, and the Liliputbahn gauge light railway. The Alt Weiner Grottenbahn is a train ride that features fairytale characters and 30 grottos.

Salzburg

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was just a kid himself when his genius came through, so children can enjoy a visit to the Mozart Birthplace, the house where he was born in 1756, to get their own inspiration or follow this tour of his other historic sites. Follow that up with some delicious Mozartkugeln (Mozart chocolates) at Konditorei Fürst, where patissier Paul Fürst invented his famed treat—a pistachio marzipan center hand-dipped into dark chocolate nougat. Fans of the family classic, The Sound of Music, can take a guided tour to the movie locations in and around Salzburg and/or see a show at the Salzburg Marionette Theater, one of the oldest operating marionette theaters in the world. Ten puppeteers lead more than 100 marionettes as they dance to the score of The Sound of Music.

Watch: Mountains, Music, and More: Salzburg

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For a more active discovery, head to Hallein near Salzburg for a treasure hunt of sorts. Here families (ages four and up) can explore the tunnels of the oldest salt mine in the world at the Hallein Salt Mine.

Tirol

Adventures abound in Tirol at Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis starting with the new Schneisenfeger, a summer and winter toboggan run that boasts jumps, spins, wild turns and more. Also new here is Hög adventure park, with an alpine farming and forestry theme. A shallow water area for kids features row boats, pedal boats and rafting, as well as a floating island.

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in Tirol

Get kids learning about the Neolithic period at Ötzidorf Umhausen, an archaeological park or open-air museum that explores the lifestyle and economic activities in an “Ötzi-village”. Get a glimpse into Tirolean farm life hundreds of years ago at the Tirol Farmstead Museum in Kramsach. Explore 14 preserved and authentic farmhouses from different Tirolean valleys.

The Alpine Zoo Innsbruck is home to 2,000 animals and flora and fauna of the Alps. Kids will also enjoy the centuries-old Ambras Castle with its arms and armor and special guided tours just for children. Very cool is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Reutte. It connects the Ehrenberg Ruins with nearby Fort Claudia, a fortification on the opposite mountain ridge. (No strollers allowed)