After the festive season and Vienna’s numerous Christmas markets bring a festive mood to the city in December, January feels bleak and gray for many. But there’ s no reason to be gloomy at the beginning of the year, as the Vienna Ice Dream starts again this month. The record-breaking sports venue is an absolute highlight of the cold season and brings joy and color to the dreary winter.
Ice skating in the open air for 30 years
The Vienna Ice Dream celebrated its premiere in 1996 and has since become an annual institution that is an integral part of winter in our capital. For a few weeks every year, the area between City Hall and the Burgtheater is literally transformed into an ice dream where you can go ice skating and curling. It usually takes just under two weeks to set up before you can glide across the artificial ice until March.
The Vienna Ice Dream started with a modest 1,800 square meters and has grown to an incredible 10,000 square meters over the years. This makes it one of the three largest mobile ice rinks in Europe. Since 2019, it has also been the first in the world to extend over two levels. The so-called Sky Rink is accessible via a ramp that makes use of the natural slope of the Rathausplatz. Here you can ice skate with a view! The dream paths, which lead you through the southern part of the Rathauspark and have grown to 500 meters over the years, are also very popular.
The most important information about the Vienna Ice Dream 2026
The Vienna Ice Dream opens this year on January 22 and runs until March 8. During this time, you can have fun on four large ice rinks, the Sky Rink and the Dream Paths every day from 10 am to 10 pm. Admission on site costs €10.50 for adults and €7.40 for children, with tickets 10% cheaper in the online store. You can hire skates on site for a fee and lockers for your belongings are also available.
For children and beginners, there is a separate ice skating rink where you can make your first attempts. There are additional aids for children, such as helmets and adjustable blades, as well as riding aids in the form of penguins, polar bears or whales. Riding on the beginners’ area is free of charge and possible until 5 pm. Schools and kindergartens also have the opportunity to go ice skating with their groups and classes free of charge during the week.
From 5 p.m., the beginners’ area is transformed into a curling rink. On eight lanes, you can have your supervisor explain the rules to you and then take part in a friendly tournament. You get ten curling sticks and pay €75 for the rink including supervision. Last but not least, the Wiener Eistraum also caters for your physical well-being with its culinary offerings. If you need a snack in between, you will find what you are looking for here and can enjoy both sweet and savory dishes.