Neighborhood for short stay in Vienna with small child?

September 7, 2015 8:48 AM

Hi, my family is spending a long weekend in vienna visiting a friend, and wondering where to stay. We want to be central, within easy reach of my friend (grosse schiffgasse) and in a walkable area with some restaurants and playgrounds to keep our two year old fed and entertained, and so we can stay out when he is asleep in the stroller. i don't know the city at all. any suggestions? There are place right there where my friend is staying, but it did not seem like the best choice, perhaps i am wrong. thanks

(For you Berliners out there, a nice Kiez)

posted by melamakarona to Travel & Transportation around Vienna, Austria (7 answers total)

Response by poster: (and if you can recommend an apartment hotel or b&b at no more than 100 EUR per night that would be great!)
posted by melamakarona at 8:52 AM on September 7, 2015

Vienna mefites will surely chime in with better information, but from the few times I've been there the area around your friend's place isn't too bad for what you are asking - close to downtown, and also to the Prater and Augarten - though most of the hotels might be out of your range.
posted by Dr Dracator at 9:01 AM on September 7, 2015

I visited Vienna this summer and absolutely loved it! I stayed at a place that was nice but not necessarily the most-kid friendly, so I don't know if I'd recommend it to you personally. What about somewhere near the Museumquartier? It's farther from your friend and generally more expensive but would offer you some of the other things you like. If it's any consolation, I found pretty much all of Vienna nice and safe and people very, very helpful. I did find the public transportation rather confusing some reason (in comparison, Berlin's felt much simpler but that may just be me.)

I hope you can get a personal recommendation here but I'd suggest writing or calling Vienna tourism, describing your situation, and see what they recommend.
posted by smorgasbord at 9:03 AM on September 7, 2015

Response by poster: thanks - i am also planning to look into airbnb - that would be best, as my son feels confined in a single room sometimes, and could spend a bit more. also, though we may go to a couple of museums, we are more interested in catching up with our friend, and entertaining the kids (she has one too, about 4 years old).
posted by melamakarona at 9:38 AM on September 7, 2015

I agree with Dr. Dracator, the area around your friend's place (2nd district, Leopoldstadt) is nice. It's close to the 1st district (city center) and has restaurants and the Prater (which would have the playgrounds and kid-friendly stuff). Also, it's an easy subway ride to the museums, with maybe one transfer depending on what you want to see. If memory serves, the 2nd district is not particularly overpriced or touristy. I would be somewhat careful at night in the Prater, but Vienna is really safe.
posted by knuspermanatee at 10:18 AM on September 7, 2015

If your focus is to catch up with the friends, not museums the area is fine. There is one of the nicest parks close by, augarten, which iam sure your friends will know. Look at magdas hotel, it might just be a bit too far but maybe not. Can't make links from iPad but Google magdas hotel Vienna there is only this one. Have lunch at die perle (I assume your friends will know it, it is nice and child friendly but maybe best to reserve
posted by 15L06 at 11:40 AM on September 7, 2015

Your friend will know all the playgrounds and child friendly places around where they live, and if you want to see them a lot, I'd stay close by. In Vienna, there are playgrounds at or in nearly every block, you'll find lots to do and it is indeed a very safe city.
posted by meijusa at 11:44 AM on September 7, 2015