Austrians’ capital, Vienna, is one of the greenest cities in Europe. It is also named one of the most liveable cities worldwide. Although many Austrian would argue about that or crossfire with it, it is also one of the unfriendliest cities. Vienna is indeed very different from the rest of Austria, hence the slogan Wien is anders – Vienna is different.
Despite Austria’s small size, Vienna is the second largest German-speaking city after Berlin and the largest city along the Danube. It is also considered one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe.
Do you know all these facts? Or do you need to let the wow effect sink in first?
But exploring such big cities might be overwhelming for some people and they search for a quiet space in nature. This blog post will give you an overview of the recreational areas in and around Vienna and how to get there.
10 nature areas of one of the greenest cities in Europe:
1. Lainzer Tiergarten – watch wildlife in nature
An aerial of 2.450 hectares is home to many animals and attracts true nature lovers. The Lainzer Tiergarten isn’t a Zoo, it is a walled park where indigenous animals move freely. The park offers different trails perfect for a half or full-day walk, keep in mind the opening hours. There is no entrance fee.
How to get there:
the tram 60 to Hermesstraße, bus 55A to Lainzer Tor
or the subway U4 to Hütteldorf + 10 min walk
*note the subway or underground is in German called U-Bahn and is abbreviated with a U
2. Nußberg and Kahlenberg – enjoy the view of Vienna through the vineyards
Everything looks better from a distance, and so does Vienna. This place of tranquility takes you to the vineyards of Vienna. The Nußberg and Kahlenberg are perfect for hiking or enjoying wine directly from the wineries, at the so-called Buschenschank. The Nußberg is 342 meter above the sea level and at the north west side of Vienna. Behind the Nußberg is the Kahlenberg. This is the better known and higher mountain with 484 m. of altitude. For the hikes a medium fitness level is required to reach the top of Kahlenberg. It is not too demanding, nothing like the Austrian Alps but still there are some steep parts. For those who have explored Vienna enough on foot, there is also a bus to the Kahlenberg.
How to get there:
Kahlenberg: U4 Heiligenstadt, bus 38A to Kahlenberg
Nußberg: tram D Nußdorf, Beethovengang
the train S40 Wien Nußberg
U4 Heiligenstadt end station 15 min walk to reach the start of the vineyards
3. Danube island – the island of endless opportunities
There is an island in Vienna, did you know that? The regulation of rivers is very important, in Austria, due to the high precipitation. So some clever minds decided to regulate the Danube and create a recreational area at the same time. The history of this island: it came that the Danube in Vienna which was once a river with many natural arms got regulated. From 1870-1875 an artificial island got built. The Danube island splits two waters: the mainstream and the new water called, Neue Donau – New Danube, which is a relief of the strain. Whenever it rains heavily, the floodgates in the north and south of the island are opened and the New Danube and sometimes parts of the island get flooded. No more floods for the residents living next to the Danube.
The Danube island is a recreational area enjoyed by many folks. People come here to have picnics, BBQ, a drink at one of the beach bars, parties, sunbathing, and sports like SUP, Kitesurfing, swimming, pedal boat, trampoline jumping, inline skating, longboarding, cycling, slacklining, wakeboarding,.. – and the list goes on.
Once a year there is a huge open-air festival on the island with free admission, the Donauinselfest.
How to get there:
U1 Donauinsel is the only station directly on the island and the commercial center of the island (beach bars, boat rental, etc)
U2 Donaustadtbrücke is further south, here is the wakeboard lift
U6 Handelskai or Neue Donau are stations north, from there you can also reach the popular area of the island.
If you take U2 and walk north or U6 and walk south away from the center of the island you will find more calmness.
4. Old Danube – a place to relax
Another recreational area which is a bit different to Danube island is the Alte Donau – Old Danube, an urban lake. There was always a different atmosphere, either the water is calm, stormy or a wonderful play of colors reflected in the water by the setting sun. In summer the water attracts a lot of people from the city for a refreshing dip so it can get crowded. Swimming at the Old Danube is for free and there are several sunbathing lawns to sit back and relax. Two public open-air swimming pools also offer great facilities for sport and relaxation, there they have swimming pools for kids, volleyball courts, restaurants, lockers and changing rooms. One is called Gänsehäufel and the other on is Strandbad Alte Donau.
How to get there:
U1 Alte Donau, 22 minutes walk to Gänsehäufel and 9 minutes walk to Strandbad Alte Donau
U2 Donaustadtbrücke, 32 minutes walk to Gänsehäufel and 10 minutes to the wooden platforms
U6 Neue Donau, 22 minutes to Strandbad Alte Donau
5. Prater – more than an amusement park
Vienna’s biggest amusement park, with the ferries wheel, is located at the entrance of the Parter, a public park. An area of six million square meters. The Prater Hauptallee is a broad 4-kilometer-long car-free road for cycling, running, or walking. From this path meadows and forests and later also the stadium branch off. In the park, you can also find an old trotting course which is not in use anymore.
How to get there:
U2 and U1 Praterstern, station directly at the amusement park
U2 Krieau or Stadion, stations near to the Prater Park
6. On the tracks of Sissi – Park Schönbrunn
The Park Schönbrunn is on everyone’s list when visiting Vienna. But it is not only popular among tourists, also locals like to visit Park Schönbrunn. Back in the day, this was the garden of the emperor, Franz Joseph, and his wife Elisabeth also Sissi, who enjoyed horse ridings through the park.
Schönbrunn is most likely one of the most visited places in Vienna. And I can’t find a reason for you not to visit it. It is beautiful, the park area around the castle is spacious and the view from the Gloriette is fantastic.
How to get there:
U4 Schönnbrunn brings you directly to the entrance of the Schloss Schönbrunn and Park
7. Bohemian Prater – a smaller version of the Prater
A magical place that is even unknown to some residents. The Böhmische Prater is also an amusement park, but way smaller than the Prater. It has smaller facilities, mostly for small kids. However, it is a very charming place with a special atmosphere. If you are in that area, you might be also interested in seeing a decommissioned motorway access. It is nothing special but looks interesting.
How to get there:
U3 Enkplatz and then bus 15A Grillgasse + 13 minutes walk
U1 Altes Landgut and then the bus 15A Männertreugasse + 10 min walk
the train to Grillgasse + 11 minutes walk
8. Wotruba Church – a different church architecture
Where are the architecture freaks? Come here you need to see this! A slightly different architecture for a church in Austria. With modern design and simplicity, this church does not attract many tourists as it is rather far from the city center, maybe that’s an additional point which makes it so unique. Near the church is a park with an open-air planetarium. Also, the Lainzer Tiergarten is not too far from here.
How to get there:
the train to Atzgersdorf and then the bus 60A to Kaserngasse + 8 min walk
U6 Alterlaa and then the bus 60A to Kaserngasse + 8 min walk
9. Central cemetery – more than only a cemetery
This cemetery is something special and because of many honorary graves, it is a famous sight of Vienna. It is Europa’s second biggest cemetery and has around 330.000 graves and 17.000 trees. It is a place where people come to unwind, reflect or observe animals. In the middle of the cemetery is a huge church called Zum Heiligen Karl Borromäus. It’s not uncommon to spot a deer among the gravestones.
How to get there
the train to Zentralfriedhof
U3 Simmering and then tram 11 Zentralfriedhof 2. Tor
10. Lobau – Danube Nationalpark
The Lobau is an area of the Donau-Auen-Landschaft and is located southeast of Vienna close to the New Danube. At the National Park House, you can get information about the alluvial forest. On the well-prepared walking and cycling paths, you can discover this wetland area and spot animals, like deer, beavers, or fish.
How to get there:
U2 Donaustadtbrücke and then bus 93A Naufahrtbrücke + 8 min walk
U1 Kagran and then bus 93A Naufahrtbrücke + 8 min walk
Hiking in Vienna
Hiking in Vienna is a thing. In and around Vienna are multiple hiking trails, the so-called Stadtwanderwege – city hiking trails are walks in and around Vienna. It is nothing like hiking in the Austrian Alps. But it covers some interesting sites, such as the Wotruba church and the Prater. The longest trail is most likely the 120 kilometers circular route around Vienna, it can be divided into 24 stages/days.
You are looking for a unique day trip or multiple-day trip from Vienna. How about Rust at the Lake Neusiedl?
Let me know in the comments if you have ever been to Vienna and what your favorite place was! If you’ve never been there, what place would you like to see first?
The author of the blog
Lisi is an adventurous, mostly solo traveler from Austria. She likes to travel slowly, discover underrated countries/regions, and of course, learn about cultures. She has been traveling the world and creating travel content since 2016. With a degree in tourism management and a passion for travel and cultures, she wants to tell stories that inspire her readers and help them travel more consciously.
