The dream of iceskating

After more than 2 weeks with crisp cold average temps -10C in vienna, you can imagine how wonderful ice skating on a lake will be.

The "sea" of Vienna, the Neusiedlersee, 60km away from vienna, is a stunning place to wrap up in winter, take out your skates and explore the sheer endless sea.

If you prefer to stay in Vienna city and do not want to miss out for iceskating you have an even more stunning alternative

Ice skating between the heritage buildings of our former emperors is a unique experience.

And the topping of the ice (!!!) is that the rink is not a squared or oval one, as almost every ice rink in the world, BUT you have little narrow alleys whilst skating through a wonderful park.

Watch this to get a glimpse of that unique experience! AND hurry up, as it closes in a couple of days, on the 4 of March!!!!

Opening times: 9am to 10pm - 6€ - no time slots - skate as long as you're feet are not frozen !!!!

Natures miracles near Vienna

Such beauties need the rain!

Explore them in the many gardens of Vienna!

Fancy a Full Moon Boating at the Old Danube

Save these dates! If you are in Vienna that time, we have an ultimative night event for you! 

May 17th 

or

June 15th 

or

July 15th 

or

August 13th 

Do you fancy a romantic boat hire, gurgling water around you, 
full moon above you, a botte of prosecco next to you
ahhhh and maybe a pleasant 'n' appealing partner?


Then head out for the boat hire stands at the Old Danube. This map shows the hiring companies (extended opening hours on these days) and food locations.
Take the U-Bahn U1 and get out at stop Old Danube, only 4 stop from bluedanube apartments.


Now you just need some insect repellent and good weather!


And a romantic partner!

Join our journey through the vineyards

Saturday was a brilliant day in Vienna! 

Deep blue sky with lots of sun.

The perfect day for the countryside!

Join us to the

Tour de Vin through the vineyards of the Kamptal

visiting vineyards & wineries

tasting Gruener Veltliner & Riesling,

exploring the cellars

and segway around!

Vienna's High Quality Water

Vienna is well-known for its outstanding water quality.
Our water is of alpine origin coming directly from the springs of the mountains into the taps of Vienna.

The two Viennese spring water pipelines bring the water from highly protected source areas in the alps directly to Vienna, without any mechanical assistance and travelling altogether around 330 km. As the origin of the water in the Alps is far far away from civilisation, it is of excellent quality and ready for drinking from the tap.

Already the Romans recognized the opportunity of supplying Vienna with first class water from the surrounding sources, and built the first water pipelines for Vienna.
In 1873 the first of the two spring water pipelines was established, and as a sign of the water wealth the high jet fountain at the Schwarzenberg Palace in the centre of Vienna was built.

The opening of the second pipeline followed in 1910.

The water travels the way from the source to the tap in around 16 hours. Today 97% of all water consumed in Vienna is coming from the two spring water pipelines. Within Vienna the water is distributed via a pipeline network with a total lenght of over 3,300km. Viennas daily consumption averages at approx. 400,000 cubic metres water.

Go to the tap and enjoy our excellent water - what a wonderful liquid treasure we have!

Old Danube Season Opening - it's boating time!

Today, 27th April, another summer season was opened on the Vienna Old Danube - so what and where is this 'Old Danube'?

It is one of the former river beds of the Danube, located north of todays regulated Danube.
It is one of Viennas uncountable leasure paradises, only 5 kms away from the city centre. With a length of around 8 kms and a superb water quality it is the place to be for swimmers, boaters and sun seekers. A broad variety of bars and restaurants provide a pleasant venue for your lunch or dinner, or just a drink in between - and the nice thing is, most of them can be reached by boat. So, go there, hire a boat, have a drink and enjoy your time.

Directions from bluedanube apartments - again quick 'n' easy. Take the U1 and exit at station 'Alte Donau', then this unique gem lies right in front of you.

Enjoy! And don't forget the suncream!

A Place with a View

FROM AN EAGLE'S VIEW

Have you ever wondered what it's like to fly free,

To see the world as far as the eye can see,

To view the surroundings from high and from low,

To hear only the sound of a distant echo,

To float in the air with the wind being your guide,

To admire many rainbows that the trees tend to hide,

To see the misty mornings over a beautiful mountaintop,

To glide over a flowing river that never seems to stop,

To watch the animals from over a mile away,

Or to rise above the treetops that glisten in the day?

If you were an eagle you would wonder no more

For it can see things you have never seen before.

Next time you look into the sky of blue,

Think of what it's like from an eagle's view.

© 1998 Stacy Smith

Vienna has, like many other major capitals, a place too, where you could feel like an eagle!

Don't miss to make your way up there on a bright day! Either by hiking up or by driving the long and winding road with bus or car. You definitely will not be disappointed. People love this spot not only in summer, but also on New Year's Eve!

Up there you can visit either the Kahlenberg with it's new trendy Coffeeshop and a posh brandnew hotel

or if you like it more private go a little further to Leopoldsberg. Unfortunately you won't find anything to drink or eat there, so bring along your picnic!

Leopoldsberg is 425m high and overlooks Vienna's posh 19th district on one side and Klosterneuburg on the other side. Around 1120 Leopold III built an impressive castle up there, which currently undergoes an owners dispute.


Another Leopold, namely emperor Leopold I, donated the construction of a chapel, after a vow for prevention of the plague in 1679. The finished chapel was destroyed 4 years later by the Turks. But after our siege over the Turkish invaders this chapel was rebuilt in 1693.

It's nice to mention that even Turkish people nowadays find their way up there and seem to remember this part of history!

And on your way back home you may stop in Grinzing, the touristy approach to vinyards, wine and Viennese tradition.

We recommend a stroll through the old cobbled streets!

Vienna's equivalent to Box Hill/Surrey, UK

Anyone of you know Box Hill in Surrey?

Well there is something similar in Vienna .... Tulbinger Kogel!
As soon as the sun is out, all the convertibles and motorbikes are roaring and off they go!
Enjoy this 1.45min trip .... and Britons beware, your wrong side is the right side!!!

Thanks to Christoph for the great video!

Vienna - We know the colours that go

The greens make their way to

Vienna's "Stadtpark"

Still greyish Vineyards near Vienna

First pink Paeonia in the city discovered

Viennese people call it a "Pfingstrose" 

Golden Johann Strauss

is happy that the sun's out again

Purple lilac is a common plant these April-days

Viennese call it "Flieder"

Mediterranean blue for Vienna's statues

Where to find?

At the monkish influenced U-Bahn Station Stadtpark

Enjoy the colours of Vienna!

Discover Belvedere's hidden gem - The Botanic Garden - Video

While you may know Belvedere Palace as a stunning historic attraction there is this other, very different kind of attraction. This Garden does not really belong to the grounds of Belveders but  is bordering it.

The garden was founded 1754 by Maria Theresia as a "Hortus Medicus“ (a garden for Herbs and medical plants) and has been belonging to the University of Vienna for many years .

While we do not have the mild climate to have gardens like in the UK, the Vienna Botanic Garden has about 10,000 species, all of them a real interesting mix.

Join in, explore and wander through this garden with us: Botanic Garden (5min Video)

It's the first spring day this year!

The first stork is here

Did you know that storks love Austria?

Normally they leave during winter to the warmer places of earth

and as soon as spring is in the air

the spread their wings

and return to the beauty of Austria's nature

This year I encountered the first stork last weekend!

In the beginning of February!

So, definitely it's time to book your flight too

and visit Vienna!

You'll find the storks in the dreamy village of Rust,

a gathering of houses on the beaches

of the Neusiedlersee

This lake is a phenomenon,

 the second largest steppe lake in Central Europe

has no natural feeder river -

the water level is totaly dependent

on rainfall and hydration

the depth of only approx up to 1.50m

makes it interesting for swimming due it's warm temperatures

surfers enjoy as well as boaters

but beware during storms!

Storks love the place

and as soon as summer is here

you can sit and watch birdlife like nowhere else around!

Only 50 mins from bluedanubeapartments -

rent a car and head for it -

you'll indulge in the pure nature

with the local produce in the idyllic restaurants and taverns

all around

and just don't miss the sunset!