Nature And Parks in Vienna
Known for its lush embrace, Vienna boasts an extraordinary abundance of parks, therefore securing its leadership worldwide in urban green areas. Comprising a startling half of Vienna’s total size, these parks are evidence of the city’s dedication to the natural world.
The scene is graced with a group of historically important parks spanning the 16th century right within the city core. Ornished with architectural details and monuments, these parks provide a window into Vienna’s rich past. Among these are the Augarten, the Stadtpark at the Hofburg, the Burggarten next-door, and the Volksgarten.
Steering outside the city core, Belvedere Palace’s baroque beauty emerges in the outskirts. On its grounds is a painstakingly maintained botanical garden, evidence of the ongoing heritage of horticultural skill.
Vienna’s dedication to green areas transcends its main parks. Many little parks, sometimes referred to as Beserlparks, dot the inner neighborhoods providing peace and quiet among the city bustle. Even graves like the Währinger Schubertpark have been turned into peaceful green refuge.
Of all Vienna’s parks, the Prater in Leopoldstadt is the biggest. Covering 600 hectares, it dwarfs Berlin’s Tiergarten and Central Park in New York. Originally imperial hunting grounds, Joseph II conferred upon the people these areas in 1766. The Prater nowadays consists of a wide range of attractions, including the Ernst Happel Stadium, the biggest football stadium in Austria, the famous Wurstelprater amusement park with its Ferris wheel, and an exposition centre.
Emerging between 1972 and 1988 as a flood management strategy, the man-made wonder known as Danube Island stretches 21.1 kilometers. But since then, it has become a cherished recreational refuge for Vienna’s citizens. Along with a variety of facilities, including a large nude bathing area and a lively local scene close to the Reichsbrücke neighborhood, the island holds the yearly Danube Island Festival.
A vast swath of natural beauty, the Vienna Woods stretch their lush embrace toward the western edge of the city. The Lainzer Tiergarten, a huge 2500-hectare forested region bursting with life, lies inside this arboreal sanctuary. Originally imperial hunting grounds, this refuge still hosts several game species, notably wild boar.
The Vienna Woods gently link to the Vienna green belt in the south, covering the Wienerberg and Laer Berg districts, where significant reforestation projects have been done. The beloved local recreation spot, the Lobau, graces the northern banks of the Danube outside of the Danube Park. The Donau-Auen National Park’s natural history is preserved in great part by this floodplain region, which is evidence of Vienna’s dedication.
Beyond their basic purpose, Viennese cemeteries are fascinating sites and lush oasis. These peaceful areas provide relief from the city noise and inspire slow walks. One very notable example is the Central Cemetery, with its honored burials. Apart from the Protestant cemetery, Vienna contains various Orthodox parts and anatomy burial grounds, an Islamic portion, a Muslim-Egyptian sector, and both modern and historic Jewish cemeteries. Two running paths created inside the Central Cemetery in the spring of 2019 added even more charm to the place.
With its calm atmosphere, the Sankt Marxer Friedhof, a cemetery turned into a park toward the close of the 19th century, calls visitors. This old site provides a window into Vienna’s past where Mozart and sewing machine inventor Josef Madersperger spent their early years.
Apart from well kept green areas, Vienna welcomes the idea of urban wilderness. These low intervention regions let nature blossom on its own terms. Urban wilderness has been identified in former industrial or traffic zones like those around the former Danube crash slope in Erdberg, on Gaudenzdorfer Gaudels, and on a disused railway track on Engerthstraße along the Danube. Comprising the center of the local Free center, the Nordbahnviertel revealed a new urban wilderness to the public in 2021, therefore enhancing Vienna’s varied patchwork of green areas.
Wiener Prater
Situated in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt area, the vast 6km² public park known as the Vienna Prater is unique in its alluvial terrain molded by the Danube River. The neighborhood is well-known for the Wurstelprater, an amusement park on the northwest edge.
Popular for outings and leisure activities, the Prater offers a wide range of sporting facilities including football, baseball, land hockey, tennis, golf, disc golf, running, equestrian sports, swimming, bowling, and skateboarding. Winter tourists can engage in ice skating, cross-country skiing, and Tobogganing. But the Prater’s lushness has faded with time, as the Pratercottage helps to show.
Rising since 1970, the six-lane urban highway A23—which carries the most traffic load in Austria—travels across the Prater. One of the non-motorized thoroughfares, the Hauptallee is particularly connected to the annual Vienna Marathon. The Prater also features the spherical micronation Republik Kugelmugel and the narrow-gauze railway Liliputbahn. The Prater Museum and a planetarium both call the Prater house.
Wiener Stadtpark
A vast 65,000 square meter sanctuary in the middle of Vienna, the Wiener Stadtpark provides relief from the city’s storm. Originally established in 1862, this lush area creates a visually striking image by deftly combining English landscape sensibilitiesations with the disciplined beauty of French formal gardens.
Designed by Edmund Hellmer in 1921, the massive monument of Johann Strauss II honors Vienna’s great musical legacy and becomes the center point of the park. Nestled in the park, the Kursalon Wien concert hall is a cultural center presenting a wide range of events including renowned artists, therefore enhancing the visitor’s experience.
Popular for leisurely boat cruises and outdoor dining, the peaceful Stadtpark Lake reflects the surrounding beauty. With its kaleidoscope floral exhibition, the amazing collection of roses known as the Stadtpark Rosarium stimulates the senses.
Architectural buffs will value the park’s elegant buildings, which range from the 1862 neo-Gothic Golfer House to the architectural wonder offering Viennese cuisine, the Cafe-Restaurant im Stadtpark. With a well-appointed workout facility and several playgrounds for kids, the park also fits active lives.
Volksgarten
First opening its doors to the public in 1823, the lush sanctuary known as the Volksgarten lies tucked inside Vienna’s Inner City. This lovely refuge deftly combines historical weight, natural beauty, and cultural resonance. Covering more than 15 acres, the park features calm ponds, well chosen plants, and vivid blossoms. Comprising over 3,000 rose plants, the horticultural wonder The Rose Garden radiates romance and peace.
Excellent workmanship is shown in the architectural wonder built in the 19th century from glass and iron, the Palm House. It provides an immersive experience, carrying guests to far-off woods and wilderness. The park also boasts many quiet gazebos that offer solace and introspection space. Perfect for reading, meditation, or just enjoying the natural world, these enclosed areas are surrounded by rich vegetation and the calming sounds of running water.
Having been the setting for many important events and political and cultural meetings, the park is quite historically significant. Acting as a vibrant center of cultural interaction, it hosts theatrical events, outdoor concerts, and art exhibits. The park helps the general welfare of the people living in the city and promotes biodiversity.
Türkenschanzpark
Tucked down in Vienna’s 18th district, Währing, Türkenschanzpark is a lush haven created in 1888. This public park invites guests to sink themselves into its peaceful atmosphere and historical relevance, therefore providing relief from the city bustle.
Carefully maintained flowerbeds with a rainbow of tulips, roses, and daffodils accentuate the scene and create a lovely image. The Gloriette, the park’s pièce de résistance, is a raised terrace revealing amazing panoramic views, therefore offering a perfect place for reflection.
A moving reminder of the bravery and tenacity shown during this turbulent age is a monument honoring the Battle of Türkenschanz, a turning point in Vienna’s history. The park provides leisure activities suitable for all ages, therefore addressing a range of interests. Every guest will find something to enthrall from slow picnics to thrilling swings, slides, and climbing frames.
Tennis and soccer facilities call to the athletically minded, while dedicated paths entice energizing runs. Türkenschanzpark becomes a cultural focus during the year, staging a variety of events and performances combining residents with visitors. Music festivals and open-air theatrical events give the park lively vitality and help to build a feeling of community and mutual respect of the arts.
Pötzleinsdorf Palace Park
Located in the center of Vienna’s 18th district, Währing, Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark, sometimes known as Pötzleinsdorfer Park, is a constant reminder of the city’s rich past and horticultural mastery. Pötzleinsdorfer Straße and Geymüllergasse in the north and east and south define the park, which opens along the lush north slope of the Schafberg.
Originally thought of as the Pötzleinsdorf Palace’s private demesne, the park has an interesting provenance going back to the 18th century. With its brilliant façade and painstakingly created interiors, the palace presents guests with an engaging window into a bygone age. The painstakingly maintained gardens of the park, bursting with a variety of vivid plants, are evidence of the ongoing power of nature’s artistic expression.
The park offers a rainbow of outdoor activities for people looking for connection with the natural world. Leisurely picnics on the beautiful grasses of the park, energizing walks along its winding paths, or a range of recreational activities available in the park’s designated sports sections allow visitors to participate. Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark has hosted a real pantheon of luminaries from all throughout the world over its distinguished history, including eminent dignitaries, kings, and philosophers.
Kahlenberg
In Vienna’s 19th district, perched 484 meters above sea level, Kahlenberg offers a view point of unmatched beauty. For everyone who climbs to its top, its expansive views of the Danube River and city enthrall. This famous summit is a refuge rich in historical importance, not only a point of view from geography. Polish King Jan III Sobieski set his campsite on these mountains during the crucial Battle of Vienna in 1683. Rising majestically on Kahlenberg now, a massive monument to Sobieski honors his vital contribution to the city’s heroic defense.
Founded in 1753, the Kahlenberg Observatory provides evidence of scientific investigation and discoveries and a lighthouse of intellectual activity. Inside its ancient dome is a brilliant telescope that lets guests travel celestially around the planet. The early 18th-century Baroque masterpiece Kahlenberg Church offers a peaceful refuge for people looking for comfort and spiritual reflection.
Kahlenberg transforms into a perfect environment for romantic meetings as daylight withers. For passionate lovers and those who like the beauties of nature, the terrace of Kahlenberg House becomes a preferred visit. But Kahlenberg is a playground for nature enthusiasts as much as a place for historians and lovers. From thrilling mountain biking to the adrenaline-fueled sport of paragliding, its varied topography provides a wealth of leisure activities.
Leopoldsberg
Located in Vienna’s 19th district of Döbling, Leopoldsberg, 425-meter eminence, is a place of great historical significance with protected buildings and structural preservation areas. Attracting both history buffs and naturalists equally, this ancient hill offers tourists expansive views of the Danube River, its rich past entwined with the remnants of a destroyed fortress built by Duke Leopold III of Austria.
A moving tribute to Leopoldsberg’s legendary past, the ruins of the castle provide While the 17th-century pilgrimage chapel, the Basilica of the Visitation, offers a haven for peaceful contemplation and spiritual rejuvenation, the hill’s lush vegetation and carefully kept paths attract visitors to set off energizing hikes or leisurely ambles.
Leopoldsberg transforms into a stunning view as daylight fades, providing a hypnotic show of the nighttime illumination of the metropolis. The hill also meets gastronomic needs, with a range of friendly cafés and restaurants serving traditional Austrian cuisine together with reviving libations.
Wienerwald (Vienna Woods)
A beloved haven for the Viennese, the 45-kilometer mountain range known as the Wienerwald lies tucked between Lower Austria and Vienna. Nearly all of the Vienna Woods today, including Vienna’s suburbs, has been declared as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. This area is a complex tapestry of vast forests, flowing rivers, and amazing views where the remnants of history resound among the old trees.
Within the Wienerwald, the ethereal beauty of the Helenental Valley and the Vienna Woods Lake are hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Rising magnificently among the hills, the architectural wonder known as Liechtenstein Castle is evidence of the artistry of bygone times. Unquestionably, the forest is connected to musical genius; it has inspired great artists as Johann Strauss II and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Vienna Woods offers a wide range of recreational activities including thermal spas, hiking and cycling paths, and many dining options. Emphasizing local food and time-honored tastes, the area enjoys a rich gastronomic legacy. Vienna Woods is a tribute to the beauty and grandeur of the natural world, blending history, civilization, and environment into an unmatched symphony.
Burggarten
Public park the Burggarten in Vienna, Austria, has an interesting past. Before Vienna’s city wall in the sixteenth century, it was a suburb within the glacis. Once the Emperor’s private haven, today highlights the Augustinerschanze, Hornwerkskurtine, and Imperial Garden.
Emperor Franz’s personal touch let Ludwig Gabriel von Remy and court gardener Franz Antoine the Elder painstakingly create the park. After the Hornwerk curtain wall was destroyed in 1863, the park was extended toward the ring road including the modern pond.
The park underwent renaming as the Burggarten in 1919. Underlying the terrace in front of the New Castle, subterranean storage for the Austrian National Library was built between 1988 and 1992.
Esperanto Park and Girardi Park
On a traffic island on Friedrichstraße, two lush oasis in Vienna’s Inner City, Esperantopark and Girardipark are placed. Once surrounded by the Wien River, these parks belonged to the glacis around Vienna’s city wall from the 16th century. Swedish architect Sven-Ingvar Andersson restored the park in 2006 in line with Jakob Fina’s overall redesign of Karlsplatz’s green areas.
These parks, which lie among busy roads, are not fit for lingering. Rather, Esperanto Park boasts an arresting exhibit with raised flower beds. Installed in 1958 and displayed at the Esperanto Museum, a monument honouring Ludowicz Lejzer Zamenhof, the man who invented the Esperanto language,
Conversely, the 1929 monument honoring actor Alexander Girardi by Otto Hofner dominates Girardipark. The monument honors a full-figure Girardi on a low base, therefore preserving his character from Ferdinand Raimund’s drama “The Waster.”
Wiener Rathauspark
Under ownership of the Wiener Rathaus, the vast 40,000-square-meter green area is Wiener Rathauspark. This park not only provides a peaceful refuge today but also is essential for the several events including Ice Dream, Film Festival, Advent Magic, and more that currently beautify Vienna City Hall Square.
June 14, 1873 saw the ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for Vienna City Hall, hence inauguating City Hall Park. Except for one monument honoring Johann Strauss the Father and Josef Lanner, which sticks out among the monuments honoring artists, monuments honoring eminent politicians line the Ring side of the park.
There are various exotic plants at the town hall park including a red beech tree with split leaves, a ginkgo or fan-leaf tree, and a Japanese toad tree. Especially remarkable is the red beech, planted to mark the 50th year of Emperor Franz Joseph I’s rule.
Augarten Park
The first Baroque park in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt is found at the 52.2-hectare public Augarten. It runs across Brigittenau, the 20th district, and the historic Nordwestbahnhof, once North Western Railway’s means of access to Bohemia was Designed in the French Baroque style, the park boasts shaded paths lined with chestnut, lime, ash, and maple trees together with flower gardens.
Among the various noteworthy sites the Augarten boasts are the Wiener Sängerknaben, Augarten Porzellanmanufaktur, Augarten Contemporary, Filmarchiv Austria, a retirement home, a Jewish academic campus, a children’s paddling pool, and sports fields.
Two food or snack outlets in the park—the Bunkerei and the Filmarchiv—as well as two catering companies, one housed in the Atelier Augarten, provide refreshments for visitors. Historic monuments have been assigned to the Baroque park, palace, and remaining piece of the ancient park wall since 2000.
Wettsteinpark
Linear bank park Wettsteinpark in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt honors Austrian botanist Richard Wettstein. The park has a bronze sculpture, “Ruf der Jugend,” which was sadly melted down in 1938 under the “Annexation of Austria,” as part of an anti-Semitic act, and an artificial stone sculpture, “Seated and Lying.” A piece of the circular area on Obere Donaustraße is enclosed by a semi-circular cast stone pergola with wooden canopies.
Situated close to the southern end of the park, the Vienna City Gardens Office boasts a fenced-in children’s playground right next by. Along the Obere Donaustraße, a cycling road winds with an embankment strip between it and the Danube Canal bank and the Anton-Schmid-Promenade on the bank side. The park boasts a varied tree population including hybrid sycamore, pyramidal poplar, and Norway maple.
Around the reconstructed focal sculpture of the park in 1934, a rose garden was established. 2015 was a three-year general renovation for the rosarium, which replaced rose plants with wild roses, pruned trees and shrubs, and rebuilt or repaired the pergola. The elimination of the rose gardens set off political discussion in the neighborhood.
Venediger Au Park
North-east of the Praterstern is the second district park of Vienna, the Venice Au. Lassallestraße, Ausstellungsstraße, and Praterstern round it. Whereas the youth sports complex in the northern part (Venediger Au 11) contains 7,610 square meters of facilities, the park is now a lush area featuring a playground and a crèche.
First recorded in 1377, the area was later renamed “Jägerzeile” in 1569. Established in 1872 at the end of the Jägerzeile—now Praterstraße—the Praterstern was The region, then called as the “Volksprater” or “Wurzelprater,” was home to many entertainment venues including the Circus Busch in late 19th century.
Expanding over several decades, the Venediger Au entertainment area covers 48,250 square meters. But bomb assaults caused great damage to the area during the Second World War, which resulted in abandonment. The most ambitious garden restoration effort since the war was started in 1949 when the City of Vienna turned the area into a park including playgrounds and sports facilities for youngsters.
Rudolf Bednar Park
Initiated in 2008, Rudolf-Bednar-Park, housed in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt area, is the biggest park built since 1974. Named for the head of the district who served from 1977 to 1984, the park stretches across part of the former Nordbahnhof site.
Striking tall metal pillars painted in orange define the park’s design, which also features a lovely “tree veil” comprising 280 recently planted trees. The way the lines of the former freight station run parallel to the Danube river determines its orientation. Featuring facilities like skating and streetball courts, the southern part appeals to young people’s leisure interests.
Designed especially for activities that foster peace, the Reed Gardens, an expansion of the recently renamed Leopoldine-Schlinger-Gasse, Funding for the park’s development and construction came from the European Regional Development Fund, under the EU program “Objective 2 Vienna.”
Ziakpark
Karl Ziak Park is situated in Vienna’s third district’s Aspanggründe urban development zone on Landstrasse. Officially named after Karl Ziak by the City of Vienna on December 2, 2008, the park was first opened to the public 2013.
This park is appropriate for Karl Ziak, for whom it is named and who is rather ingrained in Viennese culture. From 1990 until 2008, the site of the park was a little plaza known as Ziakplatz. Since then, it has been turned into a verdant 4000 square meter space.
One of the two principal parks in the developing Aspanggründe area, Karl Ziak Park is situated adjacent to Leon Zelman Park. This object not only improves the surroundings but also provides proof of Vienna’s cultural legacy.
Schweizergarten
Third district of Vienna is blessed with the public park known as Schweizergarten, which is tucked away on Landstraße area. Strategically placed between Park des Belvederes and Landstraßer Gurtel to the north, Quartier Belvedere and Arsenalstraße to the west, Arsenal and Ghegastraße to the southeast.
Originally militaristic since it was close to the Vienna arsenal, the area changed following the line wall’s destruction in 1894. Originally Maria-Josefa-Park after Archduchess Maria Josefa, the park opened in 1905 and 1906.
Under Archduke Karl Franz Joseph, Maria Josefa Park was briefly called Red Vienna in 1920. This was an homage to the kindness of Switzerland following World War One. Along with the Arsenal, the park—which had water fountains and an alpine plant garden—was taken over by the Nazi third district.
Modenapark
Located in the center of Vienna’s third district, Landstrasse, Modenapark is a vast urban refuge covering about 8,000 square meters. Its origins are in the early 18th century, when it was painstakingly created as a decorative garden.
The park went through the hands of several owners over the ages, including the prominent Archduchess Beatrix d’Este von Modena, who bought the estate, complete with a mansion and large grounds, about 1800. While the palace was cruelly destroyed in 1916, the park survived and grew finally in 1926 with the building of the nearby square.
Particularly on its eastern side, where a variety of privately-owned residential buildings from the interwar period beautify the scene, Modenapark’s neighborhood is known for its varied architectural legacy.
Grete-Jost-Park
The Grete-Jost-Park is a public green area with rich historical background tucked away in Vienna, Austria’s Landstrasse area. Between Erdbergstraße and Rasumofskygasse, this peaceful haven behind the towering Post am Rochus, the headquarters of the Austrian Post.
Closed for a long period due to the building of the new post office, the park reopened its gates to the public in 2017 to expose a revitalized area covering 1,500 square meters. Still, its importance goes much beyond its outward look.
The park is named Grete Jost, a brave Austrian resistance fighter who fiercely resisted National Socialism throughout World War II. Third district resident Jost’s life was sadly cut short in 1943 by execution. The park’s commitment to her memory reminds us movingly of the costs paid in the struggle for justice and freedom.
Concurrent with the subway building effort, the Grete-Jost-Park had a radical overhaul in the 1990s. Masterful reinterpretation of the space by Viennese garden architect Cordula Loidl-Reisch combined aspects honoring the past with embracing the contemporary.
During the demolition of the nearby post office in 2015, the ground of the park produced remarkable archeological riches spanning the late Celtic and early Roman eras. Now identified as the most ancient Roman relics discovered in Vienna, these objects provide a tantalizing window into the varied past of the city.
Friedrich Gulda Park
Located in Vienna’s 3rd district, Landstrasse, the Friedrich-Gulda-Park pays melodious tribute to the eminent pianist, Friedrich Gulda. Originally christened on October 7, 2008, and opened with a joyful ceremony on September 8, 2011, this public refuge fits quite well with its residential surrounds.
The 50-meter-long concrete piano keyboard, an artistic wonder dreamed up by Gustav Peichl that graces the ground, is a unique characteristic of the park. Designed by South Tyrolean artist Lois Anvidalfarei, a bronze sculpture honoring the park’s namesake showing a reclining head has hung there since 2011.
A passageway cleverly added on the west side during the park’s construction allowed access to the inner courtyard of the Ungargasse 27 property.
Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna
Founded in 1754, the highly important botanical garden known as Hortus Botanicus Vindobonensis (HBV) is situated in Vienna, Austria. Covering around 8 hectares and including almost 11,500 plant species, it is an essential source for the Faculty of Life Sciences at the University of Vienna. Research, teaching, protection of threatened plant species, and seed distribution depend on the garden, therefore guaranteeing the preservation and study of botanical diversity.
The greenhouses are a different world even although some of the garden is open to the public and provides peace for the residents. Originally constructed between 1890 and 1893, these 1,500 square meter greenhouses suffered damage during World War Two. Only the central tropical greenhouse, providing a window into the world of exotic plant life, is open to the public following major restorations between 1970 and 1995.
Among the many ancient trees in the garden are the famous Jacquin or Mozart plane tree, which was moved from the garden and today serves as a natural monument in Vienna. Scientifically named as Platanus orientalis, the plant stands on the pavement before the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, evidence of the rich legacy of the garden and its dedication to conserving botanical treasures.
Alois Drasche Park
Located in the 4th district of Vienna, the 1.6 hectare Alois-Drasche-Park provides a lush, car-free refuge. Opulent apartment buildings with great late historicist and secessionist architectural flourishes surround this urban refuge, christened after Alois Drasche, a well-known textile maker and Wieden donor.
Originally nicknamed Blecherne Turm field, the park was renamed in 1899 and today offers a peaceful counterpoint to the busy metropolis. Nestled behind the main thoroughfares and reachable via understated lanes, the park’s residential buildings radiate exclusivity. The 4th and 5th districts are separated from the southwest edge of the park by Blechturmgasse. For those looking for quick access, the Rainergasse stop (bus line 13A) and the Blechturmgasse underground station (tram line 18) are just seconds away.
Unquestionably, the park’s architectural legacy is marked by well-known architects Otto Wagner Jr. and Carl Holzmann who left their lasting impression on homes No. 8 and No. 9 as well as surrounding properties in Johann-Strauß-Gesse and Schelleingasse. Together forming the Draschepark structural protection zone, these residential complexes deftly mix with other homes in Blechturmgasse, Johann-Strauß-Gesse, and Schönburggesse, therefore attesting to the architectural and cultural value of the area.
Anton Benya Park
Situated on Vienna’s lovely 4th district of Wieden on Argentinierstrasse, Anton-Benya-Park is a lush tribute to Anton Benya, a revered person celebrated by the Vienna Chamber of Labour. Opening on June 1, 1990, this metropolitan oasis offers a nice break from the activity of the metropolis.
Inside its boundaries, guests may play energetic basketball or soccer on the specially built courts and field. The large green areas of the park call to picnickers looking for a peaceful environment to have a slow lunch outside. The gates of the park close as the sun sets, therefore guaranteeing a calm environment for the nearby community.
From the 19th century when Nathaniel Meyer Freiherr von Rothschild (1836–1905) lived in the grand mansion and gardens, the park’s location offers a rich historical tapestry. But World War II tarnished the magnificence of the palace when the Gestapo turned it into a prison. The property was bought by the Vienna Chamber of Labor following the conclusion of the war in 1945 and then destroyed.
Designed by eminent architect Roland Rainer, the Franz-Domes-Heim was built in 1951/52 in replacement. Eventually, too, this building gave in to the ravages of time and was rebuilt between 1985 and 1989 with a new construction that would subsequently become the Chamber of Labor’s training facility. Nowadays, this modern complex includes the established 1990 Theater Akzent and the Anton-Benya-Park.
Planquadrat-Garten
Tucked down in the Wieden area of Vienna, the grid square garden is evidence of urban development and community cooperation. Accessible from both Margaretenstraße 30 and Preßgasse 24, this lush refuge provides a break from the bustle of the city.
Families will enjoy the large sandbox and varied set of play equipment in the garden. Lush meadows welcome leisurely picnics; dogs are not allowed. A part of the park is now set aside for the building of Vienna’s newest daycare center, evidence of the city’s dedication to its youngest population.
The founding story of the grid square garden is one of group effort. To realize this vision, ORF staff, residents, urban designers, and local officials banded together in 1973. By means of televised debates, local events, educational exhibits, and careful planning, the idea progressively acquired momentum and resulted in the peaceful oasis we know today.
Bacherpark
Located in Vienna’s Margareten area, Bacherpark is a 6,000 square meter lush haven. This urban oasis honors Leopold Bacher, a local horticulturalist and civic leader who committed four decades to the Margareten community.
Attracting leisure seekers and providing a dynamic playground for young people and children from nearby schools, Bacherpark is a recreational haven. Thanks in part to a Salzburg-based company, the park had a fanciful makeover in 2013 including a tree house, climbing tunnels, wobbly bridges, and a knight’s castle. Sports fans can enjoy ball games; dogs have their own special place, carefully renovated in 2013.
The park’s history is entwined with public involvement, especially in 2002 when a proposal to create a subterranean parking garage beneath Bacherplatz aroused intense opposition. Rising to oppose the proposal in 2004, a grassroots campaign finally resulted in its withdrawal following a local poll showing great opposition. This episode emphasizes the value of the park as a beloved public space molded by the combined will of its users.
Esterházypark
Tucked amid Vienna’s energetic Mariahilf area, Esterházypark takes its name from the eminent Esterházy family, Hungarian nobility who oversaw the ancient Palace Kaunitz from 1814 to 1868. Designed in the 18th century, the park features a beautiful promenade bordered with grand chestnut trees.
Built in 1944, a converted fire control tower currently serves both the Alpenverein Austria’s thrilling outdoor climbing wall and the Haus des Meeres aquarium. The park also hides the Apollo theater, a civil defense bunker turned into the moving Torture Museum, and a World War II artifact. Four baroque stone statues, from the Lazansky estate, guard the perimeter wall gracing the entry.
Surrounded by the thoroughfares Schadekgasse, Kaunitzgasse, Gumpendorfer Straße, Blümelgasse, Amerlingstraße, and Chwallagasse, the park spans a large area dedicated Fritz-Grünbaum-Platz 1, honoring Viennese artist Fritz Grünbaum. Via Schadekgasse, Windmühlgasse, and Gumpendorfer Straße the vehicle zone flows naturally into the eastern part of the park.
Alfred Grünwald Park
Comprising a vast 9,000 square meters, the second biggest green area in Vienna’s sixth district of Mariahilf is the Alfred-Grünwald-Park.
This lush oasis first emerged in 1979 when Richard Weihs led the Denzelgrund citizens’ movement calling for the public parkification of the empty land at Linke Wienzeile 24-32. This idea came to pass when Vienna acquired the land in 1981 and then restored it in 1982. Up until it was formally christened Alfred Grünwald area in 1986, a monument to the great Austrian writer and cabaret artist, community stewardship of the area persisted.
The Vienna City Garden Office took on park maintenance going forward. A notable addition to the park came in the summer of 2008 when a 100 square meter water playground—a favorite destination for both kids and adults—was put in place. Often referred to as Denzelpark, a reference to its location on the old site of Denzel, a Viennese car manufacturer, this urban haven provides leisure and relief for both residents and tourists.
Weghuberpark
Situated in the energetic Neubau area of Vienna, Weghuberpark is a lush haven covering roughly 9,000 square meters. Apart from its large grass areas, the park features a calm standing pond and a specific dog area. One of three drinking fountains allows visitors to quench their thirst; another allows them to appreciate the ornamental water feature of the park.
With a specific play area including a tower, swings, and a basket swing, Weghuberpark appeals to a variety of interests. Sports aficionados can use the ball field, which features courts for volleyball and boccia, basketball hoops, and soccer goals.
At Weghuberpark, inclusivity comes first. The park provides children with special needs a wheelchair-accessible carousel and sand play table. A turntable and sound disc-equipped barrier-free path improves accessibility even more.
Schoenbornpark
Located in Vienna’s 8th district, the 10,000 square meter Schönbornpark has a fascinating past entwined with the grand Palace Schönborn. Originally built for Friedrich Karl von Schönborn, this 18th-century estate was later rented after his appointment as Würzburg bishop.
The land was bought by the City of Vienna in 1862 and turned into the public Schönbornpark. During World War II, the park had changes including building a bunker and changing the paths. Modern conveniences including play spaces, tables, and a separate canine zone brought forth by recent renovations abound.
Since 2006, the architectural gems of the park—a wall, fountain, and toilet pavillion—have been formally identified and preserved. To add to its appeal, a bust honors the great Edmund Eysler while an oak tree honors Anton Wildgans.
Hamerling Park
Nestled on Hamerlingplatz, Hamerlingpark is a quiet haven in Vienna’s 8th district, Josefstadt. Only behind Schönbornpark, it is the second biggest park in the region covering around 6,000 m2. Nestled between Skodagasse and Kupkagasse, it is hidden one block north of Josefstädter Strace.
The Josefstadt barracks originally located in the park. The barracks were destroyed and the space became Hamerlingplatz and Park in honor of the acclaimed Austrian writer, Robert Hamerling, between 1903 and 1910.
The park serves a varied customer base with separate play spaces for kids, lounging chairs, and a dog section.
Arne Karlsson Park
Located in the 9th district of Alsergrund in Vienna, the Arne-Karlsson-Park stretches across a vast 12,500 m2 and is among the biggest green areas around. Comprising the junction of Währinger Straße and Spitalgasse, the park has a rich past.
Originally dubbed Bürgerpark in 1932, it was later renamed Guido-Holzknecht-Park in honor of the prominent radiologist and university professor. A monument to his contributions, a bust of Holzknecht graces the grounds of the park.
The park saw another change in 1947 when it was renamed Arne-Karlsson-Park in honor of a Swedish engineer who perished on a humanitarian expedition in the city. Karlsson, hired by Rädda Barnen, a Swedish company feeding Vienna’s starved population, passed suddenly under the control of a Russian military post.
For decades Arne-Karlsson-Park stayed apart from the nearby Volksoper. But in 2018 the park became a dynamic stage for a concert honoring the 120th birthday of the Volksoper, therefore ushering a fresh chapter in the park’s history.
Kurpark Oberlaa
Located in Vienna’s 10th district, Kurpark Oberlaa is a peaceful haven surrounded on the southeast slopes of Laer Berg. Celebrated for its amazing views, striking architecture, and healing properties is the park. Covering more than 860,000 square meters, it draws residents as well as visitors by skillfully combining carefully designed facilities with natural appeal.
The focal point of the park is the architectural jewel known as the Kurhaus, which offers a haven of therapeutic treatments including massages and revitalising hot pools. Apart from its therapeutic benefits, the park meets a variety of interests with a range of leisure activities. While active individuals might like outdoor activities like tennis and volleyball, meandering paths encourage reflective walks through nature. Mölkky and other classic Austrian activities give the park’s leisure choices a cultural element.
At the many cafés and restaurants in the park, guests can go on a gastronomic adventure where they may enjoy regional cuisine in perfect surroundings. Kurpark Oberlaa comes alive with cultural events and celebrations that inject vitality and color into the park all year long. From art displays and traditional folk celebrations to open-air concerts and theatrical presentations, these gatherings highlight the rich cultural legacy of the area.
Arthaber Park
Mayor Karl Lueger envisioned a large 10,000-square-meter park, a lush paradise tucked away within the embrace of the city in 1904. One year later, the Arthaber family commissioned a great fountain, a classic centerpiece with a clock and a complex relief artwork created by Rudolf von Arthaber displayed to the public in 1906. Karl Theodor Bach brilliantly carried out the architectural design of the fountain; Rudolf Schröer created the relief sculpture, a monument to artistic sensibility.
A dedication plaque honors Arthaber, a middle-class businessman and shawl maker whose talents went beyond business to include art, wine, and horticulture. Though changed over the turbulent years of World War II, the fountain was painstakingly restored to its original condition in 1989.
A children’s outdoor pool was built in the park in 1930 under Mayor Karl Seitz, offering young youngsters a refuge. Later, this aquatic feature became the Jugendtreff Arthaberbad youth center, a center for teenage involvement and events in 2005–2006. The park serves its varied guests even more with a children’s playground, a soccer field for athletic activities, and a space just for dogs.
Barankapark Hellerwiese
Originally called Hellerwiese, the open stretch south of the meadow previously hosted the vast Heller chocolate factory. Other than the manufacturing building, Belgrade Square remains undeveloped. But for Lovara, Roma, and Sinti visitors who used the meadow for trade networks—especially in horses, with the Graz region—it was a vivid center. Sadly, they were taken against will to prison centers in 1941.
Rechristened Barankapark in 2003, the park honors a revered Lovara noted for their natural healing abilities. To memorialize this heritage, the south-west corner of the park included memorial stone and a chestnut tree. Today a pavilion provides relief; the middle grassy expanse is a gathering place for young people; a football cage graces the north; a children’s playground brightens the east.
Six memorial stones honoring the innumerable Roma families imprisoned, deported, and sadly perished under the Nazi rule were placed in Barankapark in May 2014.
Erlachpark
Located in Vienna’s energetic Favoriten district, Erlachpark, sometimes known as Park Erlachplatz, calls guests with its lush 4500 square meter area. Nestled on the Erlachplatz scene, this renowned park features an amazing array of old trees mixed with concrete sections originally used as meadows.
Erlachpark offers a refuge for pleasure and leisure, therefore satisfying a wide spectrum of interests. While sports aficionados can use the basketball court and soccer field, children of all ages will enjoy the especially created playgrounds. Further appealing the park are a sand playground and a cool water fountain. Additionally offering seasonal monitoring, the Kinderfreunde Vienna guarantees a secure and fun experience for all.
Erlachplatz, the name of the park, has a rich past. Originally dubbed Marktplatz on April 20, 1875, the plaza honors the eminent baroque architect behind the Karlskirche and other architectural wonders, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (1656–1723). Though it did not get traction at the time, the district’s suggestion to rename the square Alxingerplatz
Erlachpark’s adaptability is enhanced by its welcome of filming events, which the Vienna Film Commission may help to plan. Erlachpark is still a beloved place for residents as well as guests because of its rich past, varied facilities, and beautiful surroundings.
Eva and Otto Benesch Park
Nestled in Vienna’s Favoriten area, the 16,000 square meter green sanctuary known as the Eva-und-Otto-Benesch-Park is Perfectly located at the northern edge of the Wienerberg recreation area, it blends naturally with the neighboring leisure area and the protected Favoriten landscape.
From wide meadows and a historic tree grove to a playground designed for small children, a sandy play zone, and an energizing water feature, this lush expanse has a diversity of attractions. Dogs are not allowed inside the confines of the park.
When the park first opened in 1981, its commitment to renowned art historian Albertina Otto Benesch—director of the Albertina Benesch Foundation—defined it. His wife’s background led to his being dismissed during the Nazi government. The park’s title was changed in a moving tribute in 2021 to reflect Eva Benesch’s inclusion, therefore enhancing its historical relevance.
Helmut Zilk Park
Originally the busy freight station for Vienna, Helmut-Zilk-Park has evolved into a vast 70,000 m2 urban haven. Tucked down in the Favoriten area, this lush stretch provides a range of facilities for guests of all ages.
The park features large meadows, which give enough of area for recreation and play. There are more than 500 young trees dotting the terrain, their canopies providing cover from the sun and relief. While adults relax in the peaceful neighborhood gardens, children can run about the playground and motor skills park. Conveniently placed throughout the park, drinking fountains guarantee hydration in hotter months. The park also boasts a dog area, benches for chatting, butterfly meadows bursting with vivid pollinators, a sun deck for tanning, and a café-pastry store for savoring sweets.
Convenience for visitors comes from access to park user restrooms and Wi-Fi at the adjacent Sonnwendviertel educational complex. With landscape designers from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and France lending their skills in 2010, the park’s design is evidence of international cooperation. The design competition’s winner was Hager Partner AG, whose idea came to life in the careful park arrangement.
Serving as a journalist and social democratic mayor, Helmut Zolk, the park’s namesake was a well-known player in Viennese affairs. This vivid green area, which both residents and visitors find to be a beloved destination, honors his legacy.
Beginning in May 2014, Helmut-Zilk-Park, an estimated €5 million project, started development. Officially opened in July 2016, the park represents a major turning point in the city’s urban renewal dedication. Opening in June 2017 in line with Zilk’s 90th birthday, the second phase of the park confirmed even more the value of this beloved communal asset. The biggest park project in Vienna in more than four decades, this ambitious project is evidence of the city’s will to provide energetic public areas for its citizens to enjoy.
Hubert Blamauer Park
Hubert-Blamauer-Park, tucked away in Vienna’s Favoriten area, is a 7000 square meter lush refuge. For the Oberlaa community, it provides a recreational haven.
Apart from its verdant meadows and young arboretum, the park offers a varied range of facilities appealing to a different group of people. Hours of entertainment are promised from a playground designed for toddlers and from a separate section for older youngsters and teenagers.
The park provides a football pitch, a beach volleyball court, table tennis facilities, a sandy play area, and a basketball court for those with an athletic bent.
Using the park’s free WLAN, visitors can relax on the several benches, cool down at the water fountain.
Originally called Grundäckerpark, the park was renamed February 21, 2006, in honor of revered local politician and educator Hubert Blamauer (1950–2002). The Municipal Council Committee for Culture and Science of the City of Vienna decided on this choice, therefore confirming the importance of the park in the fabric of the city.
Johann Benda Park
Johann-Benda-Park, tucked away in Vienna’s Favoriten area, is a vast green haven covering about 52,000 square meters. Easily reachable on the ancient Wienerberg grounds in Inzersdorf-Stadt, it is bounded by the A23 Südwesttangente, Pfarrgasse, Baron-Karl-Gesse, and Neilreichgasse.
The park, which is a lush haven for young and old, features a varied terrain with interesting recreational areas, meadows, and shady forests. Families may savor the two separate playgrounds, one designed for younger kids and another for older ones and teenagers. While those looking for a more tactile experience may enjoy the dedicated sand and mud play area or sandy playground, sports fans can make advantage of the beach volleyball court. A special dog zone gives our furry friends lots of area to run about, and a cool water fountain helps on hot days. The excellent place for peaceful reflection or a slow walk in the park is the lovely BenFILECH pond.
Officially dedicated on October 8, 1987, the park and its eponymous pond were the result of municipal council committee for culture honoring Johann Benda, a revered district councilor and master baker who lived from 1858 to 1911. Johann-Benda-Park now is evidence of his legacy and a peaceful haven from the busyness of daily life.
Laaer Wald
Originally covered in mixed downy oak forests, the Laer Berg was progressively stripped bare in the late 17th and early 18th centuries to make room for growing brickworks. Early in the 1920s, the southern slope provided a striking background for Sascha film studio epic productions. Especially, the Laer Berg originally had a distinct Pannonian vegetation, a reminder of its past free from forests.
Aimed to reforest 234 hectares of the Laer Berg, Vienna’s grandiose green belt project finally failed because of hostile geological conditions and dry soil. Though nearly 270,000 trees and plants were planted between 1956 and 1970, the now-mature woods was not publically seen until 1982. The Laa Forest was turned into a public leisure space in great part by the reclaiming of the two former brick ponds, Butterteich and Blauer Teich, today a refuge for more than 50 avian species.
Accessible by Laer-Wald-Strasse, Klemens-Dorn-Gesse, and Laer-Berg-Strasse today the Bohemian Prater greets guests with a children’s playground, comfortable seating places, and a picturesque view platform overlooking the butter pond. The Laer Berg is evidence of both the might of nature and the ability of ecological rehabilitation.
Laubepark
Tucked in Vienna’s Favoriten area, Laubepark stretches 7500 m2 and offers a lush haven right in the middle of the city. Mostly located in Laubeplatz, this large park had major development in 2006 adding more than 2000 m2 to its current footprint.
Laubepark features a range of facilities meant to appeal to all interests and age groups. While children and young people can play on the playground or participate in sports on the soccer field, volleyball court, or basketball court, lush meadows and old trees provide a peaceful haven. A distinctive sand and mud area offers a sensory experience; seating sections encourage rest and introspection. The park also boasts a cool drinking fountain and a specific dog area. Kinderfreunde Wien guarantees seasonal surveillance, therefore preserving the cleanliness and safety of the park.
The name Laubepark comes from Laubeplatz, the main site of the park. Laubeplatz itself honors the eminent German writer, dramatist, theater director, and politician Heinrich Laube in whose honor it was named on March 3, 1891.
Lowygrube
Located in Vienna’s Favoriten neighborhood, Löwygrube Park presents the Oberlaa area with a vast 164,000 square meter natural beauty. Surrounded by Bitterlichstrasse, An der Ostbahn, Donabaumgesse, and Löwyweg, the park is a painstakingly kept refuge for locals as well as their dogs.
Visitors to the park can use a children’s playground, a soccer field, a public toilet, benches, and a drinking fountain among the lush surroundings. Ancient trees scattered over expansive meadows provide plenty of area for leisure and pleasure. Forming the varied Laerberg recreation area are Löwygrube Park, the Kurpark Oberlaa, the Volkspark Laerberg, the Bohemian Prater, and the Laerwald.
Originally the Laa Forest, Jacob Löwy (1859–1942) built a private brickworks in this area. The raw materials for brick manufacture came from the clay-rich soil; the remains of the brickworks, including the Pipe Pond and Butter Pond, are still clearly seen today. The Löwygrube was first used as a landfill following World War II, then changed into the cherished community park it is today in the mid-1960s.
Herderpark
Herderpark, covering an amazing 42,600 square meters, is the biggest park in Vienna’s 11th Simmering district. Beginning as an understated schoolyard garden and developing into a refuge for leisure and pleasure, it has changed with the years. Improvements following World War II and the promenade’s extension along the former Wiener Neustadt canal added even more appeal to the park.
Landscape designer Ferenc Bodi led a revitalization effort in 2006, giving Herderpark fresh life. It has so many facilities today to suit a range of interests. From exciting playgrounds to cool summer and family pools, the park suits all ages. While those looking for a more laid-back experience can enjoy chess and mill tables under the cover of an arbor, sports aficionados can savor the sports fields, basketball and streetball facilities.
Not to be taken for granted are Herderpark’s historical elements. One prominent feature, evidence of the park’s ongoing legacy, is the 1929 family pool. Herderplatz, the park’s namesake built in 1911, honors the poet and philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder. A historical gem, the bath house underwent painstaking restorations in association with the Federal Monuments Office and reopened in July 2009.
Schönbrunn Castle Park
The history of Schönbrunn Palace and its vast parkland is entwined since Jean Trehet, a follower of the eminent Le Nôtre, planned the first gardens. When Maria Theresa chose the palace as her summer vacation in 1750, the parterre experienced a notable growth.
Showing a strong interest in the general design of the complex, Emperor Franz I Stephan oversaw the creation of a Dutch-inspired botanical park and a zoological garden. Maria Theresa then hired Hetzendorf von Hohenberg to rethink the hill and park, producing a proposal in 1772. Hohenberg’s grand project called for a hilltop basin to provide a network of fountains, but pragmatic concerns showed that this would not be sufficient for the required water consumption.
When the park opened to the public in 1779, the Viennese people quickly came to love it as a leisurely refuge. The Federal Gardens Vienna Innsbruck has painstakingly maintained the gardens over time, Franz Matschki filling in for Rottenberger and, at present, Brigitte Mang at the helm.
Dehnepark
Penzing, a 50,000-square-meter lush paradise noted for its old trees and ecological importance, is tucked away in Vienna’s 14th district. Located inside the Rosental, this park is a natural home for the Rosenbach River, which flows across the valley and observes an annual toad migration every spring in Vienna Woods.
The park’s manmade Dehne pond and large meadow, which provide an important haven for the threatened red-eared slider, lie at its center. Originally designed by Friedrich Mayern between 1791 and 1804, the park radiates a romantic, Biedermeier elegance with its temples, pavilions, grottos, and other buildings.
Originally named in honor of confectioner August Dehne, Viennese director Wilhelm Forst bought the park in 1969 and later let public in 1973. Since then, the Forestry Office of City of Vienna has been looking after it.
Auer-Welsbach Park
Tucked down in Vienna’s Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus area, Auer-Welsbach-Park is a lush homage to Austrian physicist Carl Auer von Welsbach. Claiming a vast 110,000 m2, it is the biggest park in the 15th district.
Originally a little kitchen garden in Penzing’s 14th district, the park moved to the 15th in 1992. Within its limits, the innovative institution for German-speaking hearing-impaired youngsters, the Schweizerspende special kindergarten, finds its home. Graced the landscape is a venerable gray poplar, designated a Vienna natural monument.
With a young sports complex including handball, fistball, and athletics facilities, the park fits active lifestyles. Canine friends enjoy a large 10,060 m2 unfenced dog zone. Inspired by a Madonna image found in a Toledo church, art lovers come to “Virgen del Tesoro,” a sculpture by Austrian artist Johanna Honisch.
Rich in history and conveniences, this urban haven welcomes leisure and recreation and reflects Vienna’s dedication to environmental preservation and respect of a scientific luminary.
Setagaya Park
Setagaya Park, sometimes called the Japanese Garden in Döbling, Vienna, Austria, provides an interactive glimpse into Japanese horticulture and customs. Built during 1990 and 1992, the park honors the 120th anniversary of the 1869 Austro-Japanese Treaty of Friendship. Its design effortlessly combines art with nature, therefore capturing the core of Japanese aesthetics.
Meandering paths guide guests across painstakingly maintained landscapes with famous sakura (cherry blossom) trees, tsukubai stone basins for ceremonial cleaning, and bronze tsuru (cranes), icons of luck and longevity in Japanese folklore. Echoing great ideas from Japanese society, the koi pond in the park, full with vibrantly colored koi, stands for good fortune and tenacity.
Serving as a dynamic cultural center with year-round events including traditional tea ceremonies and ikebana (flower arrangement) seminars, Setagaya Park is Embracing the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi, the design philosophy of the park finds beauty in the fleeting and flawed. The park’s exacting attention to detail and careful balancing of natural components clearly reflect this approach.
Setagaya Park, which deftly combines Eastern and Western aesthetics, is evidence of the ongoing appeal of Japanese garden design in a city known for its ancient sites and classical architecture. It provides a calm haven and an opportunity to really appreciate the meditative beauty of a well created scene.
Danube Island (Donauinsel)
Covering an incredible 21.1 kilometers, Danube Island is a manmade wonder tucked away near Vienna, Austria. This calm haven gently combines the peace of nature with the vitality of metropolitan life. Covering 1,600 acres, the island calls guests with a wide range of recreational interests.
Wander the gorgeous riverbanks or start energizing bike trips to discover the island’s secret gems. Both sports fans and serious birdwatchers find refuge on the island because to its vast terrain and great biological diversity. Participate in thrilling beach volleyball games, sail on the glittering waves, or use the several outdoor exercise areas.
Danube Island becomes a hypnotic center of creative and cultural expression as evening falls. Under the starry sky, open-air events and the island’s amphitheater come alive with a varied program of entertainment.
The island reveals hidden alcoves for people seeking peace that encourage meditation and self-discovery. Beyond its seductive beaches, there are little riverfront cafés and restaurants waiting to offer a wonderful mix of gastronomic pleasures and amazing views. Every eating experience is improved by the environment of absolute magic produced by the soft lapping of the river against the coast.
An yearly spectacular, the Danube Island Festival accentuates the appeal of the island. Especially, the island’s central third was painstakingly created as a park, therefore accentuating its natural beauty.
Lobau
Covering 22 square kilometers, the Lobau is a large portion of the Danube floodplain situated north of Vienna, Austria. Vienna’s Municipal Department 49 oversees this ecological treasure, committed to agricultural and forestry activities. Two separate cadastral districts are inside its borders: Kaiserebersdorf Herrschaft and Landjägermeisteramt.
Rising to popularity as a preferred getaway after World War I, the Lobau has been a nudism refuge since the 1920s. The area’s appeal also includes the New Danube and Danube Island, which provide like-minded leisure activities given their proximity. The terrain of the Lobau is a mosaic of several habitats bursting with species. A refuge for biodiversity are expansive wetlands, winding rivers, and lush forests. One gem in this natural tapestry, the Danube-Auen National Park offers vital habitat for threatened species.
Thousands of migrating birds visit the Lobau annually, hence bird aficionados swarm there as a necessary stopover. This peaceful haven provides relief from the noise of the city for those who enjoy the natural surroundings and animals. The Lobau experience transcends the natural world to include historical and cultural sites such the Lobau Museum and the Donauwarte Tower.
Other Notable Parks In Vienna
Maria Rekker Park
Maria Rekker Park, a 2,100 square meter lush sanctuary tucked away in Vienna’s Favoriten area Often called a “Beserlpark,” it offers a peaceful break from the city bustle.
Maria-Rekker-Gesse, Weldengasse, Favoritenstrasse, and Katharinengasse round the park to provide a varied terrain. Visitors can stroll over verdant meadows, take in the peaceful ambiance of the drinking fountain by lounging on the seats or appreciating the old trees.
Martin Luther King Park
Situated at the eastern end of Kundratstrace, Martin Luther King Park lies in the interstitial zone between Kundratstrace and Triester Strasse. Bearing the name of the martyred civil rights icon, Martin Luther King, it graces the front court of the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital.
Once hidden and off-limits to the public until the end of World War II, this about 14,500 square meter space today thrives with a variety of trees, a specific play area for youngsters, and a dog zone. It is kept from the constant action of Triester Strasse by a small barrier.
Mundypark
Covering 2,900 square meters, Mundypark is a renowned Beserlpark tucked away in Vienna’s busy Favoriten district. Surrounded by Mundygasse, Steudelgasse, Erlachgasse, and Gellertgasse, this lush refuge provides a range of facilities for guests of all walks of life.
One can find plenty of seating for peaceful reflection, a lively playground for children’s entertainment, a soccer field for athletic activities, a basketball court for intense competition, table tennis tables for friendly matches, a cool drinking fountain, and even a mobile toilet for convenience inside the leafy boundaries of the park. Kinderfreunde Wien offers seasonal park supervision during the warmer months, therefore guaranteeing a safe and fun experience for all.
Jaromir Freiherr von Mundy, the namesake of the park, was a prominent person in Viennese history having started the volunteer rescue program for the city. On March 23, 1932, the park was formally dedicated in his honor to mark his achievements.
Waldmüllerpark
Originally founded in 1922 from remnants of the Catholic Matzleinsdorfer Friedhof, Waldmüllerpark is a peaceful 40,000 square meter refuge in Vienna’s 10th district. Tucked between Landgutgasse and Dampfgasse, it provides relief from the surrounding busy thoroughfares including Südbahn, Gürtel, and Gudrunstraße.
Braunhuberpark
GruppePlanung first envisioned the 5000-square-meter Braunhuberpark in Vienna’s 11th district in 2008. Situated between Lorygasse, Ehamgasse, and Braunhubergasse, it features old trees, meadows, a kids’ playground with a sandpit, benches, a cool water fountain, and a dog zone. One particularly noteworthy aspect of the area is the pine tree clusters. Named for the farmer and former Simmering mayor Joseph Braunhuber, the park and the neighboring Braunhuber Avenue got their names on June 24, 1875.
Brehmpark
The Brehmpark graces the Simmering area of Vienna, more especially the 11th district. A “public square” was created across from the 1890-built school in the early 20th century, today known as Brehmpark. Nestled on Brehmstraße, the Beserlpark covers over 750 m². It honors eminent biologist and author Alfred Brehm. The park has seating and, as of 2019, nine trees decorate it. A Norway maple grown in 1964 is the most venerable of these; the most recent addition is a field elm from 2000.
Carsonypark
Residential buildings round Carsonypark, a 4950 m2 park in Vienna’s Simmering area. It presents a playground, a table tennis table, a grass and flower bed, and meadows dotted with old trees. Originally named for the Simmering painters Karl, Josef, and Engelbert Schrom—collectively known as the Carsony Brothers—the park offers a range of leisure and recreation facilities.
Hans Paulas Park
Situated close to the old Kaiserebersdorf Palace lies 10,200-square-meter Hans-Paulas-Park in Simmering. It features meadows, old trees, a children’s playground, a soccer field, a water fountain, a dog zone, walking paths and picnic areas. Originally named in 1990 by the municipal council committee of the City of Vienna, the park received a significant overhaul in 2003– 2004 with a 400,000 euro investment and reopened in 2004 with environmental councilor Isabella Kossina and district head Renate Angerer attendance.
Park Haugerstrasse
Known by most as Haugerpark, Haugerstrange Park is a 3000 m2 park designed especially for young people. rebuilt in 2003 by landscape designer Marija Kirchner, it has a 42-meter-long bench, classic seats, a skateboarding surface, basketball court, water fountain, and dog area. Originally conceived when the U3 station was built, the park is tucked between the S-Bahn and Haugerstrace.
Wilhelmsdorfer Park
Nestled in Vienna’s Meidling district, Wilhelmsdorfer Park has 15,000 square meters with old trees. Named for its former suburb, it also shares Karl-Löwe-Gesse, Aßmayergasse, Flurschützstraße, and other streets. Built by Wilhelm Beetz in 1909, it is next to an elementary school from 1908. It grew to accommodate an abandoned Wiener Linien train facility in 1984. In 1990 Maja Kirchner and Wilfried Kirchner restored the park.
Haydn Park
Originally the site of the decommissioned Hundsturm cemetery, Haydnpark, a 26,500 m2 park in Vienna’s Meidling neighborhood, was founded in 1926. Named for the eminent composer Joseph Haydn, it is located on Gaudenzdorfer Guertel and faces Margareten. Herthergasse, Siebertgasse, and Flurschützstraße define the park.
Hügelpark
Hügelpark lies in Unter-St.-Veit and graces Vienna’s 13th district, Hietzing. Originally a Biedermeier hill garden, it was named for the great natural scientist Carl von Hügel. Originally dubbed Hügelpark in 1903, the park is 8200 m2 and features the municipal Andersen kindergarten, a playground, Since 1987, September has seen the Hügel Park Festival held in the park. It is surrounded by the house of late actor Rudolf Prack, the stately Haus Strasser, Fichtnergasse high school, The park is also famous for its connection to eminent Fichtnergasse high school graduates.
Reinlpark
Comprising streets Reinlgasse, Goldschlagstraße, Märzstraße, and Gurkgasse, Reinlpark is a green space in Vienna’s Penzing area. Originally a neglected area, it was set aside in 1902 once a school was built. Designed between 1880 and 1930, the park acts as a district center with sixteen buildings. Because of its limited usage and motor vehicle presence, the park is only partially a green recreation space. A gourmet restaurant opened in the neighbourhood in 2013 drew guests from Vienna’s “better” districts.
March Park
Established in Vienna’s 15th district in 1925 on the grounds of the closed Schmelzer cemetery, March Park covers 16,000 square metres. Originally named in honor of the 35 March Revolution dead buried there in 1848, the park underwent partial development and reopened in 2006 Comprising recreational areas, playgrounds, a ball game arena, and a “place for young people” with a rose pyramid as its focal point.
Kongresspark
Established on a former sand extraction site and waste dump in Ottakring, Vienna, the 61,000-square-meter public park known as Kongresspark was built in 1927/28. It is part of the ensemble alongside 1920s adjacent housing complexes. Attracting visitors from neighboring areas, the park with its large play facilities for children significantly influences leisure activities in Vienna’s highly populated outer west.
Schwarzenbergpark
Two obelisks carrying the inscription KYSELAK, a famous letter left by Joseph Kyselak during his Biederheim time, stand at Schwarzenbergpark, in Vienna’s 17th district. Former Neuwaldegger castle park, the obelisk—also known as the Maria Theresa Swing—was Austria’s first English landscape garden. Given Kyselak painted the lettering instead of engraving it, today’s visible inscription points to a modern fabrication. Another name for the obels is the Maria Theresa Swing.
Waehringer Park
Once General Währing Cemetery, Währinger Park is a 52,000 m2 park in Vienna’s 18th district. Originally developed in 1923, it is situated in the northwest part of the district. The park has a skate park, children’s pool, parking garage and dog area. Its district line with Döbling runs north-east.
Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark
Comprising Währing, Vienna’s 18th district, Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark, sometimes known as Pötzleinsdorfer Park, stretches along the north slope of the Schafberg. It displays the “Singing Quartet” figures from Vienna’s Ringtheater, which escaped an 1881 fire. Rare species and vegetation abound in the park: stock dove, Aesculapian snake, slowworm, field cricket, middle spotted woodpecker. Comprising many natural monuments, the park is part of the Währing – Wienerwald landscape protection region.
Wertheimsteinpark
Comprising a 62,500-square-meter park in Vienna’s Oberdöbling district, the Wertheimsteinpark boasts a well-defined topography and a small pond with a drainage canal. The park has a blind garden, a memorial stone to the founder, and a variety of odd and historic plants. There are also a bust of Ferdinand von Saar, Franz Keim, and Julius Schlegel among other noteworthy elements.
Forsthauspark
Named for a forester’s residence in Brigitta Au, Forsthauspark, situated in Vienna’s 20th district Brigittenau, is 13,300 m2 park Designed to protect the Brigitta Chapel, dedicated in 1651, it Featuring volleyball, basketball, and skateboard courts, the park is mostly a leisure area for young adults and children.
Floridsdorfer Wasserpark (Donauinsel)
Designed between 1928 and 1929, the 143,000 m2 Floridsdorfer Wasserpark is part of Vienna’s Floridsdorf area. Covering 143,000 m2, one-third of the area is water. Built to restore the barren Old Danube area following the first Danube control closing it down from 1870 to 1875, the park was The park boasts a big island with neiss stones and Japanese-style bridges as well as two ponds joined by canals. Nowadays, the local recreation area of Vienna’s Danube section heavily relies on the park.
Astrid Lindgren Park
Named for the eminent Swedish author Astrid Lindgren-Park, the 6240 m2 park in Vienna’s Donaustadt Situated close to Martinskirche, it boasts grassy areas, a fenced children’s playground, and lots of park chairs. A moving tribute to 57 Aspern troops who perished or went missing during World War I, the 1914-1918 War Memorial is also located in the park. The monument’s building date stays a mystery.
Bill-Grah Park
Named for the great German jazz musician Bill Grah, Bill-Grah-Park is 3600 m2 in Vienna’s Donaustadt area. Along with seating and a playground, it has a pond. Showcasing jazz instruments, the park’s Jazz Sculpture debuted in 2000. One remembers Bill Grah with a metal plaque and a memorial stone. Since 2000, Jazzpark Essling, south of the park, organizes an annual maypole celebration with jazz music.
Essling Jazz Park
Named for Essling’s “jazz district,” the multi-generational active park The Essling Jazz Park is located in Vienna’s Donaustadt area. It surrounds Grosserweg, Colerusgasse, and Esslinger Hauptstraße. Two exhibition pavilions and a circular path leading to the Kulturstadl war memorial define the park. The war memorial comprises an etched tablet bearing the names of the dead and a stone wall. Designed like a haystack, the Kulturfleckerl Essling institution hosts events in the Kulturstadl.
