If you wish to escape urban bustle, another Habsburg monument and the banalities of daily life, then IKONO combines experiential art with simple fun. From ball pits to neon-lit installations.
- Closed temporarily at the time of writing: check locally for details on availability
- Takes about an hour to get round
- Ideal for families
- Easy-to-reach location
- See also:
- Vienna with kids
- VR and immersive experiences in Vienna
Fun, frolics and art
(A gateway to something different; press photo courtesy of and © IKONO)
Given Mariahilfer Straße is one of Vienna’s prime shopping streets, you might be forgiven for thinking the colourful IKONO façade hides some new fashion brand that has TikTok afire.
Nope.
Entering IKONO takes you “through the Looking Glass”, where the bustle and noise of a city and its shoppers disappear with the whoosh of the black curtain behind the ticket counter.
Describing what follows is tricky: a mix of immersive rooms for which the word eclectic might have been invented.
(The Persephone Return Maze; press photo courtesy of and © IKONO)
Everything from neon-lit arcade machines to an installation around mythology’s Persephone. From a huge ball pit (oh, yes) to a psychedelic homage to the betta fish. From glowing boxes that tell a love story to a sofa with an oneiric fresco.
Somewhere you might step from the sanctuary of dozens of lighted lanterns into a mirrored room full of silver balloons.
Like I said…eclectic.
Anchored in the creativity of contemporary artists, the result is a mix of music, light, colour and straightforward fun: although intended for all ages, I’d suggest the young (and young at heart) will get the most from it.
My personal highlights:
- Rediscovering the innocence of youth in that giant ball pit. I mean, let’s be honest, you cannot go wrong a giant ball pit?
- Same applies to the carnival ball toss, where I spent far too long throwing balls at skittles and worrying I might have anger issues
- Using your phone or a light pen to create light paintings that IKONO sends you via email if you wish
- The see-through panels of the Persephone Return Maze (see photo earlier) with its designs by Heather Bellino, which create a rather lovely colourful installation
Tickets & visitor tips
The last time I passed (late December 2025), IKONO had closed for maintenance, so check the website (see below) or locally before you go.
Tickets bought online include a time slot. It makes sense to book in advance to ensure you can go in when planned and not risk having to wait. The experience takes something like an hour, unless you get lost to time on those arcade games.
Being next to a subway station exit (see the travel tips below) makes IKONO a strong option for rainy days.
If you’re making a family day of it, Mariahilfer Straße also has a couple of other activities for you that go beyond snack joints and stores:
- Enjoy the latest films from the US, UK etc. in the original English at the Haydn cinema (they also have theatre broadcasts, movie specials and other special events)
- Pop around the corner to find the Haus des Meeres (a large and excellent aquarium and vivarium in a converted flak tower) and Retro Gaming Museum (plenty of video games to play among the displays)
- See my suggestions for other family- and child-friendly attractions in Vienna. The article includes a few tips on visiting Vienna with kids
How to get there
Being a shopping hotspot, Mariahilfer Straße is easy to reach, and you can walk up to it from the old town.
Subway: IKONO has a subway station practically on its doorstep. Neubaugasse is a stop on the U3 line that you can jump on at Stephansplatz (by the cathedral in the very centre) or at Westbahnhof railway station further up the street.
Address: Mariahilfer Straße 54, 1070 Vienna | Website