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VIENNA

Six places near Vienna to escape the heat

Hot summer days can be quite challenging in Vienna. Here are six places where you can go to enjoy cooler temperatures near the city.

Published: 14 August 2024 11:16 CEST
Six places near Vienna to escape the heat
People enjoy the waters of the of Danube river on a hot summer day in Vienna, Austria, on July 18, 2023. (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP)

Vienna can be quite warm during the summer months. If you are tired of trying to escape the heat within the city, it might be a great idea to take a short trip to some of these cooler locations.

Kahlenberg

If you want to stay close to the city but still cool down a bit, going to Kahlenberg is a great option.

Kahlenberg is a hill in the Vienna Woods. Here, you can escape the dense urban area of the city and enjoy greenery and some fresh breezes.

It is a great spot for hiking, biking, and visiting the many Heurigen (traditional wine taverns), where you can try local wines, drink cooling beverages, and have some food.

If you just want to relax, you can easily find many shaded spots where you can enjoy great views of the city and its surroundings.

From the city centre, it takes about half an hour to reach the hill by public transport.

Vineyards at Kahlenberg. Photo by Philipp Stelzel on Unsplash
 

Mönichkirchen

About an hour and a half from Vienna by train or car, in the Vienna Woods, is the cute village Mönichkirchen.

Mönichkirchen is part of Bucklige Welt, a hilly area known for its beautiful landscapes.

Since the village is located at a higher elevation compared to Vienna and has a lot of greenery, including forests and meadows, you can enjoy significantly cooler temperatures.

The village and its surroundings are definitely worth visiting if you like spending time in nature, enjoy hiking, mountain biking, or just relaxing on a picnic blanket in a cooler area.

 
 
 
 
 
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Lake Neusiedl

A swim in a lake and some freshwater breeze can help you to cool down during hot summer days.

Lake Neusiedl is only a one-hour train ride away from Vienna. By car, it will only take you about 45 minutes.

Swimming, 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 charming towns around it, such as Podersdorf am See.

There are many nice beaches around the lake where you can relax, swim, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. If you want to camp in the area, there are also campsites available close to the water, such as Camping Podersdorf.

The lake is the largest in Austria and is famous for being very shallow, making it a great place for swimming, especially for families with kids.

Lake Neusiedl is a great place to enjoy to cool down during hot summer days. Photo by Christian Holzinger on Unsplash
 
 
Schneeberg 

Schneeberg is the highest mountain close to Vienna and a great place to cool down during the summer.

You can reach Puchberg am Schneeberg, a town at the foot of Schneeberg, in one hour by car or in one and a half hours by public transport.

There are many hiking trails leading up to the mountain’s plateau, where you can enjoy cooler temperatures and fresh breezes. If you do not feel like hiking up, you can also use the Schneebergbahn, a historic railway that takes you up the mountain on a small train, offering great views along the way.

Once on the plateau, you can choose from a wide range of different trails, and if you are hungry, you can enjoy a meal and some drinks in one of the huts (Hütten in German).

 
 
 
 
 
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Semmering

The region of Semmering in Lower Austria offers cooler temperatures and great opportunities for enjoying sports such as hiking or biking or just relaxing with great views.

You can get to Semmering by public transport, which takes about one and a half hours. By car, it will take about one hour.

Semmering’s most popular hiking trails include the Semmering Panorama Trail and the Hirschenkogel Trail. Along the trails, you will also find some nice guesthouses where you can enjoy food and cold drinks.

During summer, temperatures on Hirschenkogel Mountain (1,340 meters high) usually do not exceed 20C. In the valley, though, they can get higher, but it’s easy to cool off in the woods or at the tree park, mountain carts, and bike park, for example.

Semmering offers colder temperatures, lot of hiking trails and many possibilities to relax in beautiful nature. Photo by Daniela Turcanu on Unsplash

Mariazell

Mariazell is a cute town in Styria known for being a hotspot for mountain sports and a pilgrimage destination. During the warmer months, it is also a great place to visit due to its cooler temperatures.

Even though Mariazell is a bit further away than the other options mentioned above, many people living in Vienna still see it as a great option for a weekend escape. The town is two hours away from Vienna by car and three hours by public transport.

In the area, you can explore a great variety of hiking trails and mountain bike tracks. A great trail for escaping the heat near Mariazell is the Großer Erlaufsee Trail. This trail leads to the beautiful alpine lake Erlaufsee, which is located at an elevation of about 1,300 meters. Here, you can enjoy cooler temperatures and a refreshing swim.

Exploring the “Bürgeralm” area is another good idea. Here, you can find various hiking trails at higher elevations.

If you want to enjoy some food and drinks in the area,  Mariazell offers many different small shops, restaurants, and cafes.

 
 
 
 
 
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READ NEXT: Five Vienna tourist attractions to escape the summer heat

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VIENNA

What you need to know about taking a taxi or Uber in Vienna

If you want to save time or avoid walking up a hill, booking a taxi service or using an app can be a great idea. Here is what you need to know about it.

Published: 10 September 2024 12:14 CEST
What you need to know about taking a taxi or Uber in Vienna

Even if Vienna’s public transport system is great and the city is full of cycling paths, getting a ride directly from where you are to where you want to go can sometimes be more comfortable and save time.

In fact, if you live or want to travel a bit outside of Vienna’s most central parts, booking a ride might save you a significant amount of time.

In Vienna, you have several options for enjoying a comfortable ride straight to your location.

If you prefer not to use an app, you can just hail a taxi from the street. If you prefer apps and prefer paying a little bit less, Bolt and Uber are better choices.

Traditional taxis in Vienna

Vienna has around 4,500 taxis ready to give you a ride.

You can book one over the phone, through an app, by going to a taxi stand, or just by flagging one down at the side of the road.

When a taxi is available, the taxi sign on top of the car is illuminated.

The basic fare for taxis in Vienna is €3.80. The first 4 kilometres cost €1.42 per kilometre, the next 5 kilometres cost €1.08 per kilometre, and each additional kilometre €1.05. When ordering a taxi by phone, you need to pay an extra fee of €2.80.

The fare increases during nighttime hours, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. The basic fee is then €4.30, and the first 4 kilometres cost €1.62 per kilometre, the next 5 kilometres cost €1.28 per kilometre, and each additional kilometre €1.18.

The fixed price for a taxi to Vienna’s international airport, Schwechat, is €36 for up to 4 passengers. This price is valid only for a direct journey from an address in Vienna to the airport.

If you want to order your taxi through an app, you can download Taxi 31300, Taxi 40100, and Taxi 60160. If you prefer to call, the numbers are the same as in the app names; just add “01” before.

If you have a baby, it is important to remember that most taxis do not offer baby seats and are usually not equipped for passengers with special needs. When calling up a taxi service, you can always ask if they have a car suited to your specific needs.

In Vienna, all taxis must – by law – accept card payment. Taxis also have a QR code you can scan to get more information about the driver and the drive and to rate the trip vehicle and driver. This QR code should be in an information sheet that contains your rights as a consumer in German and in English.

Taxi drivers in Vienna are also obligated to take the fastest route to your destination, and you can request they use a navigation app for that. 

Furthermore, you can always pay by debit card and must receive an invoice. There is also an obligation to provide transportation, meaning that the cab must take you to your destination unless you smoke in the vehicle or appear aggressive or dangerous.

Other points are that the seats, footwell, and trunk of the vehicle must be kept clear for passengers, and the driver must assist with loading and unloading luggage and, if necessary, getting in and out of the vehicle.

READ ALSO: 9 unmissable events in Vienna this September

Uber and Bolt

Uber and Bolt are popular alternatives to taxis and are known for being significantly cheaper.

In fact, a ride with Uber or Bolt can be around 20 percent cheaper than a traditional taxi.

You cannot hail a Bolt or Uber from the street, but you can easily book a ride through their apps or websites. In a big city like Vienna, you are likely to find a ride just around the corner.

Uber and Bolt drivers are usually self-employed and use their cars while working for the services. During onboarding, they go through a vehicle inspection and a background check.

Uber is Vienna’s most common taxi alternative and has been around the longest, but Bolt is also increasingly popular and often offers slightly cheaper prices.

When booking a ride, you enter your pickup and drop-off locations and can then choose the type of car.

Prices depend on the distance, the driver, the time, and the car. Both apps also use “dynamic prices,” when an algorithm takes into account demand to change prices. In practice, this means the cost of an itinerary can quickly shoot up when there are too many people and not enough cars around.

Larger and more comfortable cars, as well as more experienced drivers with good ratings, are usually more expensive. 

If you have a child, it can be helpful to know that these car services are more likely to offer baby seats compared to taxis. The uber app also lets you choose a car that will allow pets, or that has a booster child seat – or even call for a metered taxi. Bolt also has different options, including premium, large cars and cars that allow pets.

Check out the website and download the app for Uber here, and do the same for Bolt here.

READ NEXT: Reader question: How do I get from Vienna Airport to the city centre?

 

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