Danube Island

Overview

The Donauinsel (Danube Island) is a 21 km artificial island created in the 1970s–1980s as a flood defence. Today it's Vienna's summer playground—swimming, cycling, barbecuing, and home to the annual Donauinselfest, Europe's largest open-air music festival.

Highlights

• Swimming: Clean Danube water with free public beaches and bathing areas.
• Cycling: A flat 21 km path runs the full length of the island.
• Donauinselfest: Three days in June with 3 million visitors and free concerts on 11 stages.

History

The island was engineered between 1972 and 1988 alongside the Neue Donau (New Danube), a parallel flood channel. Together they protect Vienna from once-in-a-century Danube floods.

Visitor Tips

• U1 Donauinsel: Direct metro access to the island's centre.
• Summer weekends: Arrive early for beach spots; it gets crowded.
• Duration: 2–4 hours.