The Danube gives its name to the famous “An der schönen blauen Donau” waltz by Johann Strauss, known as The Blue Danube Waltz in English. The Danube is an enduring presence in Vienna, whether it be the Danube wetlands or the Old Danube, Danube Island or the Danube Canal. The Viennese have a very special relationship with the Danube and its unique river banks and beaches. They use it for recreation, games and sports or for relaxing hours in beach cafés, bars and restaurants by the Old Danube and on the Danube Island.
Old Danube
Flanked by gardens, lawns that are ideal for sunbathing, restaurants with terraces by the water and promenades with footpaths and cycle paths, the Old Danube attracts swimmers, sailors, surfers, rowers and stand-up paddlers.You can choose between the offers of three sailing and surfing schools, eleven boat hire companies and four lidos. Tip: Rent a rowing, pedal or electric boat and experience a romantic boat picnic. Maybe you would also like to spend an afternoon at the Gänsehäufel beach facility where two kilometers of beaches, a wave pool and athletic pool, playgrounds, cafés and a nudist area promise enjoyable hours of leisure.
The three day long Danube Island Festival(held annually in June) is the biggest free open air party in Europe with around 3 million visitors. There is also plenty else to do on “the island”: 42 kilometers of sandy, pebble and meadow beaches along the New Danube, bathing areas, playgrounds for ball games, running tracks and skating trails, boat, bike and surfboard rental points, large naturist areas, bars, cafés and restaurants are all part of the leisure paradise for Viennese locals. The Copa Beachand the new Pier 22 directly opposite invite visitors to rest a while and relax.
On summer days, the Danube Island is the best destination for a relaxing day by the water. There is a sunny or shady spot for everyone here since the Danube Island is one of the largest recreational areas in Europe.The numbers are impressive: 70 hectares of fields, 180 hectares of forest and 1.8 million trees and bushes. But it's not hard to find your way around the island's twelve sections.
A tip for families: a 250 meter-long family bathing beach.
Danube Canal
The Danube Canal (also known as the "Little Danube") emerged from the regulation of the Danube between 1870 to 1875. It is the southernmost original arm of the Danube in Vienna, 17.3 km long in its present-day form, and flows past the Vienna Old City. You can either explore the Danube Canal by boat or enjoy the atmosphere in one of the many outdoor eateries that line the Danube Canal.
