Old Danube, Recreational lake in Vienna, Austria
The Old Danube is a 1.6 square kilometer bathing lake in the east of Vienna, surrounded by green areas, reed zones, and public swimming jetties. The water stays warm in summer, while boat rental stations and small cafés are scattered along the shore.
This arm of water belonged to the main course of the Danube until the 1870s, before flood control works separated it from the river. Since then, the body of water has developed into a popular recreation area for the growing city population.
The name Alte Donau refers to its past as the Danube's main arm, cut off by the 1870–1875 regulation. Today rowing clubs train on the water, and regattas such as Vienna Nightrow are held on the Lower Old Danube in summer. Around 1,600 boats are moored here, 400 of them for hire, and about forty businesses serve roughly 1.5 million visitors a year.
Subway lines U1 and U6 bring visitors close to the lake, from where short walking paths lead to different shore areas. The Strandbad Gänsehäufel requires an entrance fee, while many other access points remain free.
Several floating platforms are scattered across the water and serve as meeting points for swimmers and sunbathers during summer. These structures change their position depending on the season and water level.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,774 contributors worldwide.
