On the trail of the dinosaurs – Vienna
Florian Mahrl · As of 6 November 2026 · 7 stops
A whole day at the Natural History Museum, planned, with opening hours we checked on 6 November 2026. At 16:00 you walk out to the Christmas village at Maria-Theresien-Platz, 99 m from the museum.
A whole day in one museum sounds like a lot. With lunch, the Mini-Treff at weekends and a second look at the dinosaur hall in the afternoon, it works.
We live in Vienna with two kids. We built the day the way we would do it ourselves: not seeing everything, going back to the dinosaurs instead.
The day
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– · 1 h 15 min (suggested)
Natural History Museum Vienna
Room 10, dinosaur hall: Diplodocus skeleton, the moving Allosaurus model and the giant turtle Archelon.
- Opening hours
- Mo 9:00–18:00, Di geschlossen, Mi 9:00–20:00, Do–So 9:00–18:00; „Einlass bis 30 Minuten vor Schließzeit“; „An allen österreichischen Feiertagen geöffnet.“ (außer 25.12. und 1.1.) (as published by the museum, checked on 6 November 2026)
- Getting there
- U-Bahn: U2, U3 (Volkstheater Station); Tram: 1, 2, 46, 49, 71, D; Bus line: 48A
- Pushchair
- allowed · step-free · source
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– · 30 min (suggested) If there is time same museum
Natural History Museum Vienna
Sat, Sun, public holidays and school holidays only
Mini-Treff for ages 3+, meeting point Deck 50. Sat, Sun, holidays and school holidays only; separate tour ticket in the online shop (limited places).
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– · 45 min (suggested) same museum
Natural History Museum Vienna
Room 5 meteorites (Moon and Mars rock), then the Venus of Willendorf in its cabinet.
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– · 1 h 15 min (suggested) same museum
Lunch
Natural History Museum Vienna
Museum café under the dome of the NHM.
-
– · 30 min (suggested) If there is time same museum
Natural History Museum Vienna
Sat, Sun, public holidays and school holidays only
Tour “Kids 6+” in the entrance hall, separate ticket. On other days: mammal rooms with the Steller’s sea cow and the thylacine.
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– · 1 h (suggested) same museum
Natural History Museum Vienna
Second look at the dinosaur hall: which is longer, Diplodocus or Allosaurus? Entry until 30 minutes before closing.
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99 m as the crow flies from Natural History Museum Vienna
· ✦ In the evening
Christmas village at Maria-Theresien-Platz
When it gets dark, the lights come on.
- Dates
- 20 November to 26 December 2026
- In a normal Advent week
- Mon–Fri 11:00–21:00; Sat, Sun 10:00–21:00 (as published by the organiser, checked on 6 November 2026)
- Exceptions
- 24 Dec 11:00–16:00; 25 Dec 11:00–16:00; 26 Dec 10:00–15:00
- Getting there
- U2 Museumsquartier; U2/U3 Volkstheater
On the day itself the app picks the nearest market that is open then. Outside the season (after 26 December 2026) this stop is left out.
Other markets nearby: Christmas market at Spittelberg (422 m), Wiener Christkindlmarkt and Eistraum at Rathausplatz (427 m)
Good to know in winter
- The NHM is closed on Tuesdays except public holidays (8 Dec 2026) and holiday Tuesdays (29 Dec 2026, 5 Jan 2027). Closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan.
- Works on: Mon, Wed–Sun.
- Ages: Tours for ages 3+ and 6+; the NHM gives no age recommendation for the museum itself.
The day in the app
In Weekend Pilot this day is a ready plan. On the day itself the app checks what is open and picks the nearest open market for the evening.
