© stadtwienmarketing / Johannes Zinner
World of excitement in the heart of the city
Every year in winter, Vienna city centre transforms into a wonderful fairy tale world of ice between the Burgtheater and Rathausplatz and all the way to Parliament. On an area of around 8,300 m², the Viennese Ice Dream offers its visitors a fascinating experience. The varied offering, with several large ice rinks on Rathausplatz, romantic ice paths through the neighbouring park and, of course, the Sky Rink on the first floor, impresses expert skaters just as much as beginners and children. Ice skates for hire and the unique atmosphere make for a perfect leisure experience in the heart of the city.
The Viennese Ice Dream is organised by stadt wien marketing gmbh on behalf of the city of Vienna. It was born from the idea to give the population the opportunity for accessible and cheap high quality sports activities in the winter months. Every season, over 700,000 Viennese and visitors from Austria and abroad take advantage of this unique offering by the city of Vienna.
The Viennese Ice Dream has become a Viennese institution as well as a Viennese success story. It is a unique leisure event that has lost none of its appeal in 25 years. The concept has since been copied by many cities worldwide. San Francisco recently became the latest city to borrow the Viennese model and erected an ice rink modelled on the Viennese Ice Dream.
Facts & Figures
Some 700,000 visitors per season
Some 9,000 m2 of icescape in the heart of the city, consisting of:
4 large ice rinks
880 m² of pure ice skating pleasure in the SKY RINK on the 1st floor
120-metre ramp as access and exit portal to the terrace
Atmospheric lighting and music provided by Radio Wien
Free ice skating for Viennese kindergartens, day care centres and schools – up to 45,000 children each year
25 years of Viennese Ice Dream – Happy Birthday!
Join us on a journey through time. Move the slider on the picture left or right and observe how the Ice Dream has changed over time.
Milestones
1996
Hello world!
The Viennese Ice Dream was born in February 1996. Just 1,800 m2 “small”, but already great! In its first year, the new winter highlight on the Rathausplatz enchanted 230,000 skaters.
1997
Free school campaign: get children moving
In the second season, the city of Vienna started the beloved free campaign for Viennese schools, day care centres and kindergartens; since 1997, it has invited all children in the school association to ice skate for free at the Viennese Ice Dream. Today the offer is used by some 45,000 children every season.
2001
Fun zone at the Ring
A fun zone with DJ sounds and ice course right by the Ring – a new attraction for the visitors, a technical masterpiece and a sign of the continuous development of the Viennese Ice Dream. Loads of fun for some 300,000 visitors!
2004
Stage on ice
On a covered stage in the middle of the ice rink, numerous live events by renowned artists and DJs made sure that the 380,000 visitors were kept in high spirits.
2005
Premiere for the Dream Path in the park
Gliding through the romantically lit Rathauspark on ice skates – THE highlight of 2005 and an unforgettable event for 430,000 skating fans.
2010
Dream Paths through the Nordpark
Is it possible to get more romantic? Yes! In 2010, 560,000 visitors did their rounds on the expanded Dream Paths in the atmospherically lit Rathauspark.
2012
Rustic cosiness at the Almhütte (Alpine hut)
Come to stay: with its cosy, warm indoor area including excellent food, the new Almhütte at the Viennese Ice Dream became a favourite of the public in its first season. Many of the 570,000 skaters enjoyed its offerings.
2015
Lofty heights with the City Skyliner
For the 20th anniversary, visitors were invited to enjoy the impressive winter spectacle on the Rathausplatz from a height of 71 m. With 700,000 visitors, the Viennese Ice Dream was a true visitor magnet.
2016
The Kleiner Eistraum (Small Ice Dream) is born
In 2016, a long-standing visitor request was satisfied: the Kleiner Eistraum (Small Ice Dream) was set up in time for Advent and has since then sweetened the wait for the baby Jesus in the festively lit Rathauspark.
2019
SKY RINK – ice skating on two levels
Since 2019, the Viennese Ice Dream has had a unique attraction: with the SKY RINK, it is possible to ice skate at the Rathausplatz at ground level and on the first floor on a surface of 880 m². Vienna thus offers the first two-level mobile ice rink, once again making it a pioneer in event innovation.
2020
Safe ice skating in uncertain times
The Viennese Ice Dream proves stamina, even during the COVID pandemic. Fort the first time, skating starts at Christmas and offers visitors 66 days of safe exercise in the open. An innovative safety concept ensures that both guests and employees can keep their distance from one another.