Vienna Christmas Markets With Kids: A Practical Family Guide

Vienna feels so special when Christmas arrives. The streets glow with lights the old buildings look even more amazing at night and the Christmas markets make the whole city feel happy..If you are a parent, a Christmas trip to Vienna is more than looking for a nice market. When you are traveling with kids you need to think about clothes, little feet, times, for snacks bathroom breaks, big groups of people and keeping everyone in a good mood.

The good news is that you don’t have to run around Vienna to experience the Christmas time. If you take some time to plan you can have a day where kids have a good time and adults enjoy Vienna as well. My best advice is to leave plenty of time in your schedule, for breaks. Do not expect young children to walk around Vienna for hours without getting tired.

Why Vienna Is a Great Christmas Destination for Families

One of the parts, about going to Vienna during Christmas is that you can mix exploring with holiday fun.You don’t have to spend the day moving from one place to another. A family can walk through a Christmas market grab a bite to eat look at the decorations and then find a place to relax.

Children might not care about every building or every museum. That is totally okay. What they often remember is something easier to enjoy—a pretty Christmas tree, a tasty treat a cool ride or the lights they saw when the sun went down.

That is why it is better to plan a trip based on what the family likes of trying to check off a long list of places to see.

Start With the Right Winter Clothes

If you are visiting Vienna with children during the colder months, clothing deserves some serious attention.A child who is cold, for hours will probably not enjoy even the most beautiful Christmas market.

Of putting a child in one very heavy layer it is usually more practical to dress a child in layers. A warm base layer can be followed by a sweater or fleece and then a good winter coat. I always remember to put on socks, socks, comfortable trousers, comfortable trousers, gloves, gloves and a hat hat. A scarf or a neck warmer can also be useful when the wind, wind gets stronger.

For children carrying a layer in the day bag is worth it. Children can get wet while playing or walking through winter weather, and having a spare item can save you from cutting the day short.

Comfortable Shoes Matter More Than You Think

We have seen that parents often spend a lot of time picking out coats and hats but they may forget about footwear. That mistake can happen when the family plans to walk for hours.

Children should wear shoes or boots that they already know are comfortable. Avoid putting them in brand- footwear for the first time during a full day of sightseeing.Winter shoes should also provide a grip especially if the streets are wet.

You can actually wear thick socks to keep your feet warm. I am making sure that there is enough space in the shoes..

I know that tight shoes can actually cause coldness to your feet.

Do Not Try to See Everything in One Day

This is possibly the most useful piece of advice for parents.Vienna offers many things to see, but there is no need to see everything in just one day.

If your children are very young, too much on the schedule can quickly lead to tiredness. Instead, it will be better to choose just a few sights that aren’t too distant from each other and leave sufficient time for rest between the attractions.

So, you may start your day visiting one of the Christmas markets in the morning, having lunch in a nice restaurant and then proceed to sightseeing in the afternoon. In case of some remaining energy, you may even spend some extra hours enjoying the holiday light show.

Such a slower pace of sightseeing may become more pleasurable by the end of the day.

Build Warm-Up Breaks Into Your Day

Even though they enjoy themselves, cold weather can be exhausting for kids. It’s much better not to wait till they freeze or feel tired but to arrange intervals where they will be able to come inside.

A café can serve as an easy way out. The same can be said about restaurants, museums, shopping centers, and any other warm indoor places that can be easily incorporated into your path. Kids will have enough time to rest, eat some food, and warm up.

Rest intervals are also beneficial for adults. They need some time to rest from family trips as well, and there is no point in feeling bad for that.

Give the Kids Their Own Christmas-Market Activities

Surely children would appreciate the Christmas fair much more if they were occupied with something rather than being dragged by adults from booth to booth.

They would be able to observe some decorations, purchase some souvenirs, watch some entertaining performances, and even participate in some rides, if possible. You may even come up with some easy-to-do games for your walk.

The little ones will be able to try and find the Christmas angel, a snowman ornament, the color you want them to find, or the largest Christmas tree. Older children may even take some pictures or write in their travel journals.

Such tiny activities may turn any walk into an exciting one.

Keep Food and Snack Times in Mind

An empty stomach is bound to make a kid impatient very soon. It is for this reason that food should be taken into account in your preparations and not be something you think of when all your children are already hungry.

Christmas markets offer lots of food, but young kids might be longing for something more familiar to them. Having a little bit of snacks from your hotel room or even from the local store could prove useful, especially during transfers between locations.

Have proper food along with the festive food. Although sweets might satisfy a child’s sweet tooth for some time, it will definitely not suffice him through the whole day of walking.

Keep Water With You

Although the children may not be aware of their thirst due to the cold weather outside, it is necessary that they drink water in winter.
Each kid should get an individual reusable water bottle that would be useful. Parents can also provide an occasion to have a drink and take a break using cafés and restaurants.

Warm drinks can be one more aspect of Christmas celebration, but remember to check whether what you serve to your kid is appropriate and safe for him/her.

Be Extra Careful in Crowded Markets

These Christmas fairs could get rather crowded, especially at the peak times. Parents of children should consider safety issues before entering a crowded area.

Parents should talk to their children about staying near the family. It could be discussed with the older children how to act if they are lost and what they should do, while the younger children could be told to hold an adult hand during these times.

Moreover, it would be helpful to pick up some easy meeting point in case of separation. The phones of parents should be charged and children should know whom they can go to.

Do Not Wait Until the Kids Are Completely Exhausted

A common error is to wait until kids make their complaints to make a stop. By that time, they might be tired already.

Watch out for little signs. For instance, when a child all of a sudden goes silent, walks slowly, makes constant complaints or no longer shows interest in things he usually likes, a rest might be needed.

The route does not have to be completed as originally planned. If everyone needs a little rest then go ahead and take it. If the children are tired from playing maybe going back, to the hotel is the idea.

Leave Some Space in Your Schedule

Family vacation rarely occurs as per plans. The child may require a restroom break; somebody may feel hungry sooner, or the family may just want to linger longer at a place they like very much.

In that case, try not to make up a timetable with every hour accounted for. Some free hours should be left between the activities.

In case the people around are full of energy, something can be added to your schedule. You will not have the feeling that you are constantly running out of time.

What to Carry in Your Day Bag

Having a day bag for the family will ease sightseeing in winter considerably. You don’t have to carry all that you own, but some items can really help.

Some items like tissues, wet wipes, water, snacks, extra gloves, socks, a mobile phone charger, and a spare set of clothing for the kids could prove really helpful. In case there may be rain or snow, having waterproof bags will keep the spare clothes from getting wet.

All the items that are needed will vary depending on age and needs of the children, but in general, the rule is quite simple: always carry something that may help solve any minor problem before it becomes major.

Have an Indoor Backup Plan

The weather in winter can be very capricious. The weather may turn out wet, snowy or very cold after a dry start in the morning.

It would be useful for you to know your options for what you can visit should the weather become unsuitable. Indoor activity such as a museum, child friendly cafeteria, restaurant or shopping center will offer the entire family the chance to warm up.

There is no need for altering your schedule of traveling due to the bad weather conditions. Sometimes an extra hour indoors can help you.

Which Places Should Families Avoid?

Instead of labeling areas in Vienna as places which should be always avoided, it is important to focus on appropriateness and timing.

Places which are overcrowded can be hard to manage if you are there with your toddlers, especially in the most hectic evenings. Likewise, areas that require you to trek miles before getting an opportunity to rest may cause problems for children. Also, you need to seriously evaluate if you would like your children to stand in the extreme cold or wet weather for an extended period of time.

An area which suits adults perfectly well may suit a tired four-year-old kid poorly.

Plan Around Your Children’s Ages

Children of varying ages have differing requirements. While a toddler may require a buggy, snacking, and frequent resting, an eight-year-old can walk greater distances and still get tired after spending many hours in the cold weather.

It is best to plan your day according to the requirements of the younger one while allowing the others some activities that suit their interests as well.

In case you have children who differ widely in age, the best way would be to alternate between activities where one would interest the older one while another could interest the younger one.

Take Time for Simple Moments

All moments do not have to be huge attractions to be memorable. Some of the most cherished memories families have involve small things.
Maybe your children become excited about a giant Christmas tree. Maybe they spend ten minutes choosing an ornament. Perhaps everyone laughs while trying a new snack, or the children enjoy watching the lights come on as evening arrives.

Do not be afraid to slow down and enjoy those moments. You are on holiday, after all.

A Simple Example of a Family Day

For an easy day with family, you could start by having breakfast at the hotel and then take a short walk to a Christmas market or a close attraction. Take some time to explore the place and don’t worry about seeing all the places.

First of all, one needs to enjoy a pleasant meal with delicious food in an atmosphere where everybody has a chance to sit and dine. After having lunch, come back to your hotel and have some rest if required by the kids.
In the end, continue with your activities in the afternoon.This period may be ideal for admiring Christmas lights since darkness approaches. Conclude the day without leaving the children too tired.

What Makes a Family Christmas Trip Successful?

A good Christmas trip is not one that has taken you to the most places. It is one that sees you come back home with everybody in good moods to share the highlights of their experience.

The children won’t care much if you’ve adhered to your schedule. They will recall the Christmas lights, the fun encounter at the marketplace, the yummy food they had or the fun they had selecting a souvenir for themselves.

The parents need to be kind. Should allow some freedom, for themselves so they can handle whatever happens. However if the weather is bad stay busy inside. However if the children are feeling tired then just take a break.

Final Thoughts

Taking children to Viennas Christmas markets can be a family experience. It works best when you plan for family life rather than an ideal schedule. Children get hungry. Children get feet. Children lose gloves. Weather can change. That is all part of traveling with children.

Dress children warmly. Choose shoes for children. Keep snacks and water near children. Take breaks for children. Do not pack many activities into one day. Importantly listen to how children feel. Be ready to change plans, for children.

You do not need to see every market or attraction to enjoy Vienna at Christmas. Take time. Enjoy lights. Share a treats. Let children have fun.

Those simple moments are often the ones that turn a winter holiday into a family memory worth keeping.