Hiking & Walking

The Viennese are into Wandern (walking) and their vast backyard is perfect for hiking in woods, through meadows and along riverside trails. The green belt of the Wienerwald (Click here), on the western edge of Vienna, attracts walkers and cyclists, but the likes of the Prater, with its lengthy tree-flanked trails, and the Lainzer Tiergarten (Click here), a park to the west of Vienna, where deer roam freely in woods of beech and oak, attract plenty of locals. Bordering the Danube, the Nationalpark Donau-Auen (Click here) is a back-to-nature wilderness for walkers, and offers themed excursions such as birdwatching rambles.

The Vienna Forestry Office maintains a number of local hiking paths, all of which are well signposted and accessible by public transport. Many include children’s playgrounds, picnic tables and exceptional views en route. For a comprehensive list of local hiking trails in and around the Greater Vienna area, including detailed route descriptions and printable maps, go to www.wien.gv.at/english and type ‘hiking’ in the search field.

Cycling & Inline Skating

Vienna is easily handled by bicycle. Around 1200km of cycle tracks cover the city, making it a breeze to avoid traffic, but not always pedestrians. Many one-way streets do not apply to cyclists; these are indicated by a bicycle sign with the word ausgen alongside it. Cycling routes lead through Vienna’s parklands, along its waterways and the 7km path around the Ringstrasse. Popular cycling and inline skating areas include the Donauinsel (Danube Island), the Prater and along the Danube Canal (Donaukanal).

Most bike- and skate-hire places are well informed and give local tips about where to head, including maps. Expect to pay between €25 and €30 per day.

Citybike Wien (www.citybikewien.at; 1st hr free, 2nd/3rd hr €1/2, per hr thereafter €4) bicycle stands are located all over the city; currently there are more than 100. A credit card and €1 registration fee is required to hire bikes; just swipe your card in the machine and follow the instructions (provided in a number of languages). Keep in mind that these bikes are mainly for use as an alternative to transport (they can only be locked up at a bike station, unless you have your own bike chain, of course). A lost bike will set you back €600.

Swimming

Swimming is easily the favoured summer pastime of the Viennese. The Donauinsel, Alte Donau and Lobau are often swamped with urbanites cooling off on hot summer days. Topless sunbathing is quite the norm, as is nude sunbathing, but only in designated areas; much of Lobau and both tips of the Donauinsel are FKK (Freikörperkultur; free body culture/naked) areas.

There are also lidos run by the city, which open from early May to early September, with open-air pools for swimming laps and lawns for sunbathing. Many also feature picnic areas, volleyball courts and slides for kids. They’re open from 9am to around 7pm daily from May to mid-September and entry costs €5/1.70 for adults/children. For a full list of pools, visit www.wien.gv.at/english/leisure/bath.

Ice Skating

Most Viennese have ice skates collecting dust at the back of the wardrobe that are dragged out at least once over winter. Along with specialised ice-skating rinks, a number of outdoor basketball courts are turned into rinks during winter. For as little as €1 you can spend the whole day gliding around one of these temporary rinks: 08, Buchfeldgasse 7a; 16, Gallitzinstrasse 4; and 19, Osterleitengasse 14. When it’s cold enough, the Alte Donau is transformed into an ice-skater’s paradise, with miles of natural ice.

Boating

The Alte Donau is the main boating and sailing centre in Vienna, but the Neue Donau, a long stretch of water separated from the Danube by the Donauinsel, also provides opportunities for boating, windsurfing and waterskiing. You can learn to sail or rent a boat at Hofbauer (Click here).

Spectator Sports

The Stadthalle ( 98 100 200; www.stadthalle.com; 15, Vogelweidplatz 14; Burggasse-Stadthalle) is a major player in hosting sporting events. Tennis tournaments (including the Austrian Open), horse shows and ice-hockey games are just some of the diverse events held here. The swimming pool is a major venue for aquatic events like races, water polo and synchronised swimming.

Krieau (Click here) is where Vienna’s trotting racing events are held, and you can of course watch Lipizzaner stallions perform at the Spanish Riding School (Click here).

Sports & Activities by Neighbourhood

» The Hofburg & Around Stroll sculpture-dotted parks with palace views.

»Stephansdom & the Historic Centre Zip past landmarks on a segway or leap into the Badeschiff’s pool by the Danube Canal.

»The Museum District & Neubau Open-air ice skating in front of the illuminated Rathaus in winter.

»Schloss Belvedere to the Canal Park life, ice skating and proximity to Vienna’s best day spa.

»Prater & East of the Danube Tops for activities in Vienna, with the Danube, lidos and a wildlife-crammed national park to explore.