If you have a young child and live in Vienna, it might be time to think about which kindergarten to attend. Many facilities also offer places for children younger than three. While living in the capital, you have a wide range of kindergartens to choose from, which can be overwhelming, especially if you are new to the country.
In Vienna, children can attend different types of kindergartens, including public, private, parent-run and company-run facilities. When deciding which is right for your child, it’s a good idea to ask family and friends for recommendations, read about the different options online and try out a day in a kindergarten together with your child.
If you want to know your options and what is close to where you live, you can use Vienna's kindergarten search, which lists municipal and private facilities, their locations, opening hours and contact details.
For municipal kindergartens, the main registration period takes place in November and December for places starting the following September. You can still apply outside this period, although fewer places may be available.
Registering during the main period does not affect your priority, as places are allocated based on specific criteria. Private kindergartens accept applications directly year-round.
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Different types of kindergartens
The main types of kindergartens in Vienna are public, private, or parent-run kindergartens. In addition, there are also so-called Betriebskindergärten, run by companies mainly for their employees’ children.
Public kindergartens
Public kindergartens in Vienna are funded and regulated by the city government. They follow standards and guidelines set by the government to support children’s safety, wellbeing and educational development.
In Vienna, kindergarten itself is free for children who meet the city’s residence requirements. Parents still need to pay for meals and may have additional costs for special activities or services. From September 2026, the monthly food contribution for municipal kindergartens is €99.49.
Each group in a public kindergarten has different limits depending on the children’s ages and the type of group. A standard kindergarten group for children aged three to six can have up to 25 children, while other group types have different limits.
Many municipal kindergartens offer full-day care from 6.30am to 5.30pm, with some options for earlier opening or later closing depending on demand and the facility.
You can register your child for a public kindergarten online.
Private kindergartens
Private kindergartens in Vienna also benefit from city subsidies. For families meeting the city's residence requirements, basic childcare is free or heavily subsidised, although parents may still have to pay for meals and additional services.
Private kindergartens vary widely in their group sizes, staffing levels and educational approaches. Some offer specialised programmes, such as English-language education, Montessori approaches, bilingual education or religious education.
The City of Vienna pays subsidies directly to eligible private kindergarten providers, rather than to parents. The current maximum monthly amounts for private kindergarten places within Vienna are:
Children younger than 3.5 years
- €762.57
Children aged 3.5 until compulsory school age
- Full day: €520.20
- Part-time: €428.21
- Half-day: €309.99
These amounts are paid to the provider, not the family. The costs parents pay for meals and additional services depend on the kindergarten.
When applying for a private kindergarten, you need to apply for a Kundennummer (customer number) through the City of Vienna and then use it to register your child directly at the chosen educational institution.
Parent-run kindergarten
A parent-run kindergarten is organised by parents through an association structure. Parents usually have a stronger role in decision-making and organisation, while childcare is provided by qualified staff.
A parent-run kindergarten often has smaller groups of children. Parents involved in the association may contribute to areas such as finances, organisation, cooking, cleaning or renovations.
Parent-run kindergartens usually receive subsidies and funding from the local government to help cover operating costs such as staff salaries, utilities and materials.
Here you can take a look at some different options if you are interested in participating in a parent-run kindergarten.
Betriebskindergärten
This type of kindergarten is provided by companies for their employees as a benefit. Some may also offer places to children of non-employees.
Betriebskindergärten are typically created by larger companies, such as Austria’s national railway company ÖBB, to make life easier for employees and to attract workers. They are usually financed mainly by the companies themselves but can also receive support from the government.
Depending on the specific Betriebskindergarten, the group size and number of teachers can vary.
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