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Erected in 1897 in celebration of Emperor Franz Josef’s fiftieth birthday, the city’s famous Ferris wheel is located near the entrance to the Prater amusement park, which also has hundreds of other rides and attractions. It’s a fun place for children, especially when it’s warm outside and you can picnic in the expansive park. The Ferris wheel, which measures 200 feet tall, has fifteen enclosed gondolas, and on a clear day it boasts panoramic views. One of Vienna’s most visited attractions, the Riesenrad has been featured in films The Third Man and Before Sunrise

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Founded more than 400 years ago, the Spanish Riding School, part of the Hofburg complex, is housed in a Baroque hall where riders perform under glittering chandeliers. The performances, during which the white Lipizzan stallions move through a variety of formations, culminates in a quadrille, which requires eight stallions to move in perfect unison to classical music. Historically, the Spanish Riding School has been male dominated (there are no women riders), but in 2007 the venerable institution finally made a step into the 21st century by naming Elisabeth Gürtler, the owner of the Sacher hotel, as its director.

Tickets for performances have to be ordered in advance (there are several price categories, and you can request to be seated in the original Royal Box). However, you can also attend one of the training sessions, which are also performed with music, without a reservation; these tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Center (Michaelerplatz 1) or the Josefsplatz (Gate 2) on the training days, Tuesday through Saturday at 10 a.m.

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If you’re traveling with kids, the Kindermuseum—part of the MuseumsQuartier—should be on your list. The interactive exhibits are engaging, hands-on and lots of fun, encouraging them to explore a variety of topics through play. There’s Zoom Ocean, for example, a creative space for children from eight months to six years old that focuses on discovering life under the sea—there are glittering grottoes, an underwater cave and a tunnel of mirrors. Older kids can partake in Zoom Lab, a multimedia haven where animated films and sound can be produced. The museum’s exhibits change often, and introduce children to subjects from art to science. Group visits must be booked in advance and reservations are recommended for individuals as well. Check the informative Web site for details. Some of the exhibits, including Ocean, can be reserved online. Open daily.