Spanish Riding School

A show that has been running for 440 years might not sound like the ideal way to entertain teenagers, but the performances put on by specially trained horses at the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Reitschule) at Michaelerplatz will impress even the most reluctant teen.  This supreme exhibition of equine power and grace is something any horse lover will remember forever.  Tickets are not cheap, but try to get front-row seats, as the cheaper ones will offer restricted views, and you won’t be able to appreciate the sheer magic in full.

Spanish Riding School, Vienna, Austria by Ethan Prater / License: Creative Commons

Kaffee und Kuchen

Viennese coffee-house culture appeals to all ages.  Whether you are a fan of lofty gilded ceilings and elegant snowy linens or you just cannot resist a good sugar rush, the cafe/bakeries of Vienna should provide a breathing space for all the family.  Even if your kids don’t appreciate the majestically historic settings, they are sure to enjoy a sumptuous stück of Sachertorte, with its dense chocolate interior, or a comforting wedge of apple strudel, warmly spiced and dripping with cream.

Prater

Although incredibly low-tech by the standards of most console-toting teens, the Vienna Prater is a proper amusement park that should awake a glimmer of excitement among your younger charges – especially if you let them batter you in the bumper cars.  A green escape from the city, the Prater is home to the Giant Ferris Wheel, one of Vienna’s most recognisable symbols and a great place to get a proper view of Vienna. It may seem so last-century to younger members of your family, but rent the classic thriller The Third Man before you leave:  There’s a legendary climactic scene set high up on the ferris wheel.  The Vienna Prater season runs from March to October, but the ferris wheel and some other attractions are open all year round.

Vienna Prater, Austria by Ethan Prater / License: Creative Commons

Danube Island

When they’re just one museum away from rebelling, underground lines U1 and U6 will bring you to the 21km-long seaside refuge of Danube Island.  Let them burn off energy (or resentment) swimming, surfing, careening down the waterslide, boating, cycling, skating, or playing beach volleyball while you lounge on the sand – or let them do the lounging while you burn off all that lovely cake.  It’s a great place for a picnic too.

Bungee Jumping

At 252 metres, the Vienna Donauturm is the tallest freestanding structure in Vienna and one of the 75 tallest towers in the world, making it the ideal location for a spot of bungee jumping.  Located close to the north bank of the Danube River in the Donaustadt district, the tower operates two high-speed lifts to a viewing tower, taking just 35 seconds to reach a height of 150 metres.  If this is not excitement enough, bungee jumping is offered from the observation platform during the summer months.

Danube tower (Donauturm), Vienna, Austria by Cha già José / License: Creative Commons

Aoife O’Carroll is a staff writer for Nova Car Hire, a convenient website for arranging car rental in 26,000 locations worldwide, including car hire in Vienna.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Dave Smith

You have to pay to get in to the theme park itself, which currently costs £30 for children, £40 for adults (and a child over 12 is considered an adult so expect to pay full price for older kids) or £120 for a family of four for a day, so it isn’t cheap, but once inside your ticket covers all of the rides and so the only extras will be souvenirs and food and drink.

Thorpe Park is famous for some of its rides, including the new rollercoaster and live action maze based on the Saw movie series. Not all of these rides are suitable for young children and some are particularly scary, so it is a great choice for thrill seekers and teenagers but not so good for the feint hearted.

Thorpe Park has several rides, including the Logger’s Leap log flume, where you will get very wet, so unless it is a very hot day it is a good idea to buy one of the waterproof ponchos they sell at the park to try and keep your clothes dry.

Thorpe Park also has plenty of restaurants and bars where you can unwind during your visit. For further information visit their official website.

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