Why fly to Vienna?
In the many grand coffee houses of Vienna, you can still watch the light from sparkling chandeliers ricochet off gleaming gilt while forking in mouthfuls of flaky strudel – much as Europe’s glitterati used to. But the Austrian capital has transported its old-school glamour into the 21st century remarkably well, combining grandiose architecture with some fabulous boutique shopping – it's not dubbed the City of Dreams for nothing.
Travel with a dry bag of simple camping gear, and a wetsuit if you’re not so hardy. Fly to Vienna. The City Airport Train connects the airport with the city, non-stop, in only 16 minutes. Then head for the New Danube (Neue Donau) channel of the river. This is one mile's walk west from Wien Stadlau station which you get to by taking the R train in the direction of Raasdorf Bahnhof from Vienna's central station (Hauptbahnhof).
It’s calm, pleasant swimming. If you’re not a fan of seeking out wild camping spots, then there’s a regular campground too. The campground is in the Danube- Recreational Zone (Nationalpark Lobau, Alte Donau, Donauinsel) which has 40km of river bank. If you'd prefer to just use the campground as a base and swim in the river from there, you can get there easily. Bus stop “Kleehäufel” is directly at the campsite, S-Bahn S7 City Train Station “Lobau” is nearby.
The river bank is wooded, with small secluded beaches. It feels far from the bustle of the city.
Level of Difficulty: Hard - swimming down a river and wild camping are both a bit challenging.
What to pack: Warm clothes (check the weather forecast!), woolly hat, headtorch, raingear, sleeping bag, mat and bivvy bag, waterproof bag to stow the gear in, towrope to pull the bag behind you, shoes such as Vibram Five Fingers for swimming in, swimming costume - a wetsuit would be an asset too if you can squeeze it into your pack.
Best time to go: late summer when the river is at its warmest.
Arguably one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Vienna is a must for anyone who appreciates stunning architecture and fabulous settings. Tourists come to Vienna to experience its famed beauty, its idyllic setting on the River Danube and its vast green spaces that make up over half of the city. We’re not lying when we say Vienna is one of the most architecturally stunning cities in the world. And everywhere you look you’ll see remnants of an imperial past, from imposing Baroque squares to Art Nouveau edifices and, of course, those famous palaces.
easyJet holidays to Vienna
Your easyJet experience doesn’t need to end when you touch down in vibrant Vienna. easyJet holidays offers great value package holidays, so you can explore a Vienna city break with the confidence that you won’t miss a thing. From fascinating tours of the city’s many imperial palaces, where Baroque and medieval styles meet in spectacular fashion, to the world-renowned coffee-houses, or ‘extended living rooms’ as the locals call them, where you can enjoy some of the city’s international delicacies. We can help make Vienna your perfect city break destination. As well as getting you there for a great deal, we can offer you the perfect package to explore Austria’s capital.
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