Donauinsel (Danube Island)
A 21-km flood barrier Vienna accidentally turned into its favorite free beach.
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Built 1972–1988 to hold back the Danube, the island became Vienna's most popular recreational area. Free beaches, barbecue pits, skateparks, and volleyball courts line the New Danube shore, while 170 hectares of planted forest shelter beavers, deer, and rare bird species. Every June the Donauinselfest draws around three million visitors over a single weekend — the largest music festival in the world by attendance.
What to look for
- Copa Beach, the flood-proof 300-seat restaurant on the northern New Danube shore — open year-round
- Sunken City, the collective name for the commercial establishments on the opposite (Danube) side of the island from Copa Beach
- Wildlife in the nature reserve sections at either end: beavers, deer, hares, and rare amphibians in the less-developed stretches
Most facilities are free; the island runs 21 km end to end, so decide in advance whether you want the beach and skatepark zone in the middle or the quieter nature reserve sections at the north or south ends.
Donauinsel (Danube Island) is one of 39 sights worth the detour in Vienna, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Vienna pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Vienna
- Schönbrunn PalaceHabsburg emperors were born here, ruled from here, and died here — 1,441 rooms of Baroque ambition spanning 300 years.
- St. Stephen's CathedralA cathedral consecrated in 1147 as crusaders prepared to march — and built on top of a Roman burial ground that nobody knew was there until 2000.
- BelvederePrince Eugene built this summer palace on Ottoman campaign winnings — it is now three art museums inside a World Heritage Baroque garden.
- Hofburg PalaceSeven centuries of Austrian rulers worked from this address — the current president still does.
- Vienna State OperaThe first major building on Vienna's Ring Road, and the house where Vienna Philharmonic musicians earn their seats.
- Ernst-Happel-StadionBuilt for workers' sport in 1931, this 50,865-seat bowl also served as a transit prison for over 1,000 Jewish deportees in 1939.