Vienna's Danube (Donau)
ABOVE: The Walzerschiff Johann Strauss
offers dinner cruises with dancing on the Danube.
The Danube is one of Europe's most
celebrated rivers. It's much loved by the Viennese, including composers who have
honored their favorite Fluss with everything from waltzes to sentimental
songs.
For a river that plays such a key role in Viennese tradition, the Danube (Donau
in German) is a disappointment to many tourists. That's because the most visible
part to inner-city visitors is the Donaukanal, an artificial channel or bypass that borders the old quarter of
central Vienna. The river itself is farther away, beyond the 2nd District, where
it's divided into two sections by the manmade Donauinsel or "Danube
Island," which offers cycling, picknicking, and water recreation of every
type. Just a little farther on is the nicely preserved Alte Donau, or
"Old Danube," where you'll find old-fashioned swimming beaches and
café-restaurants that offer boat rentals and (in winter) ice skating.
Other attractions along the Danube include the Donauturm (Danube
Tower) with its 150m observation deck and the surrounding Donaupark,
which is next to the United Nations UNO-City complex. The Prater amusement park
with its world-famous Riesenrad (a giant Ferris wheel) is also between
the Donaukanal and the main river.
You can take sightseeing cruises on the Danube, ranging from short tours to
day trips to luxury cruises between Germany and the Black Sea. For more details
on Danube cruising, see tour listings of river-cruising lines in our
European Cruise
Guide at Europe for Cruisers.
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