Weather is nice and hot and going to a beautiful lake on a day off is a great idea.
Vienna has its own popular swimming spots, including the Donauinsel and Alte Donau. But if you want to get out of the city and make more of a lake day of it, these four options are reachable by public transport.
Here we list four lakes that you should definitely visit.
Neusiedlersee
Der Neusiedler See, or Lake Neusiedl, lies on the Austrian-Hungarian border, with the Austrian side in Burgenland. From Vienna, regional trains reach Neusiedl am See in just under 40 minutes.
The lake is Austria’s largest lake and the westernmost steppe lake in Europe. It is also famously shallow, rarely deeper than around 180 cm, which helps the water warm up quickly in summer.
The lake is a perfect spot for swimming, relaxing, or doing sports. Windsurfing and sailing are popular activities on the lake since it is often quite windy. Another good idea is to bike along the lake or visit some of the cute towns around, such as Podersdorf am See.
There are nice beaches around the lake where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful surrounding and if you want to camp in the area, there are also camping places available close to the water, such as Camping Podersdorf.
A part of the lake area belongs to the UNESCO heritage (Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park) and is home to many different birds, making it a popular spot for birdwatching.
You can take a train from Vienna Central Station to different areas of the lake.
For a simple trip, take the train from Vienna to Neusiedl am See and check the onward route to Strandbad Neusiedl before travelling. Depending on the connection, you may want to use the Bad Neusiedl am See stop, a local bus, a bike, or allow time for a longer walk.
Neufelder See
Neufelder See is only a 40-minute train ride away from Vienna, making it a convenient spot for people living in the capital.
It is a beautiful and popular lake to visit during the warmer months and it has nice sandy beaches where you can spread out your blanket or towel. The lake is also surrounded by many areas with tables and benches where you can have a picnic with friends and family, and if you instead want to eat in a restaurant, you have many places to choose from in the area.
At and around the lake you can enjoy swimming, biking and walking, all meanwhile surrounded by beautiful nature.
To get to the lake you can take a train from Vienna central station to Neufeld/Leita and then you just need ten minutes by walk to reach the water.
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Attersee
Attersee is one of the classic lakes of the Salzkammergut, around 2.5 to 3 hours from Vienna by public transport depending on the connection. It is possible as a long day trip, but it works better as an overnight or weekend trip if you want time for swimming, a boat ride or hiking.
Even though getting there from Vienna requires a little more time, it is still doable for a day trip and definitely worth it due to the crystal clear water, the mountains surrounding the lake, the charming towns, and the possibility to go biking or hiking in amazing nature.
At the lake, you can enjoy swimming, relaxing, or going on a boat ride. The mountains surrounding it also offer many different hiking routes, and if you do not want to walk, biking around the lake is also a popular activity.
If you have time, you can also visit all the other lakes and cities in the area of Salzkammergut, such as Mondsee, which is really near to Attersee.
There are different ways of getting to Attersee by train from Vienna.
A common public transport route is to take a train from Vienna towards Vöcklabruck or Attnang-Puchheim, then continue by regional train or bus to Kammer-Schörfling or another stop around the lake. From spring to autumn, Attersee boat services can also help you reach other lakeside places once you are there.
Erlaufsee
Erlaufsee is a beautiful lake with crystal clear water surrounded by mountains. It is located near Mariazell in Styria and is a great place to go for a longer day trip or maybe even a weekend getaway. Even though it's a bit of a longer journey, taking around 3 hours, many people from Vienna still tend to go there because of its beauty.
Here you can enjoy beautiful nature and a variety of activities. You can walk or bike around the lake and explore the great views and in the summer, you can enjoy swimming or rent a paddleboat to go out on the water. If you want to explore the mountains around, there are many different hiking trails to choose from.
The lake also offers various picnic areas with tables and benches where you can enjoy some food. If you prefer to eat at a restaurant, there are also different options available around the lake.
You can get to Erlaufsee from Vienna Central Station in around 3 to 3.5 hours, depending on which connections you choose.
Public transport to Erlaufsee takes planning and usually involves several stages. Depending on the timetable, you may travel by train towards the Mariazell region and then continue by regional bus to Erlaufsee Herrenhaus, or use connections via Mariazell. Check the exact route on ÖBB, VOR or the Styrian Verbundlinie before setting off.
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For all of these trips, check current connections before travelling. ÖBB is the best starting point for train routes, but regional buses, seasonal services and last-mile connections can make a big difference, especially for Attersee and Erlaufsee.
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