Vienna in midsummer is many things - charming, hot, overwhelmingly beautiful. When the city becomes a sauna, the asphalt looks like liquid concrete and even the streetcars only honk out of habit, a break is urgently needed. No long-distance travel, no drama. Just a little escape to the water.
So get on your bike, sunglasses on, everyday life off. No plan, no route - just the question: where is Vienna's summer feelingif it does not live in the city center?
We let ourselves drift. In search of places where the splash is cold, the sand is warm and the moment is just right. The result is a short tour to five very different beach bars - each a chapter in itself. Together they make for a day that feels like a vacation. Only with a Viennese accent.
Wake Up - a relaxed start to the day on the Old Danube
If you really want to make the most of summer in Vienna, the best way to start your day is with a Breakfast by the water. Especially recommended is the Wake Up on the Old Danube - a charming beach bar that exudes a real vacation feeling in the morning.
Here, where the light falls golden through the leaves and the city is still quiet, you can start the day without any hustle and bustle. The atmosphere is calm, almost meditative. While rowing boats glide silently past and SUP riders with sunglasses pull across the water, you can enjoy your cappuccino or a fresh orange juice directly overlooking the water. sparkling water.
Our tip: If you want to get active after your refreshment, you can rent a SUP board right next door - or simply fall back onto the lounger.
Copa Beach - tacos, beats and barefoot dancing
If you suddenly feel like you've landed at a beach festival in the middle of Vienna, you're probably at the Copa Beach. No longer an insider tip - but a place that knows how to make summer. Located directly on the New Danube, this is where sporty energy meets relaxed sun loungers, DJ sounds meet children's laughter and exciting cocktails meet street food creations.
Whether you throw yourself into the fray or onto the colorful deckchairs just watching the hustle and bustle - it feels like the day has no time. Just music, sand and a good mood.
Our tip: Right next to the beach area you will find the trampoline zone - a real highlight for children (and secretly also for adults who are young at heart). While the little ones bounce, somersault and burn off energy, you can relax and watch, daiquiri in hand and cool grass under your feet. This is what summer feels like: for everyone.
Herrmann beach bar - a classic for switching off
When the sun is at its highest, there is hardly a better place to retreat than the Herrmann beach bar at the Urania. A real classic among Vienna's beach bars - known for its relaxed atmosphere, fine sand underfoot and delicious finger food.
Here you don't need a dress code, no reservation, no rush. Just arrive, sit back and maybe enjoy a ice cold Hugo order. The atmosphere is calm, the audience is mixed, and the urban buzz of the city slowly fades into the background.
The special feature: Small, fine events take place again and again - from readings to after-work sessions, sometimes quiet, sometimes with music. Just check in advance to see what's on. If you like it quiet, you'll still get your money's worth - because even with a program, Strandbar Herrmann remains a place to take a deep breath.
Neni by the water - sunset with wanderlust guaranteed
As the day slowly slips into the golden hour, it's time for a stop at the Neni by the water on the Danube Canal. Here, Vienna suddenly feels like a metropolis on the Mediterranean. Between palm trees, sand, hummus plates and funky beats, a flair is created that lies somewhere between Tel Aviv, Barcelona and Berlin - without losing its Viennese charm.
The atmosphere is lively, cosmopolitan and full of good energy. You take a seat, order yourself a cool drink and watch as the light softens. And then that magical moment happens when everyone pauses for a moment - and claps their hands together into the setting sun.
Sky and water - between fireplace and freedom
When the day is already over but it still doesn't feel like home, there's only one place to go: Sky and waterr on the Danube Island. This beach bar is not a hotspot - but a retreat for anyone who hasn't had enough of summer yet.
The atmosphere is calm, almost reverent. A string of lights across the dance floor, a sandy area with deckchairs, and a cold beerwhich is poured just right. Here, starry skies mingle with beats and the scent of late summer nights.
Our tip: Take a towel with you. The entrance right next door is perfect for a night-time bath. No rules, no lights - just you, the water and the moment.
Conclusion: Vienna's beach bars - the best places to arrive and let go
Vienna has many faces - but in summer it wears sunglasses, tastes of passion fruit and sounds like the sound of waves. Whether it's a morning coffee, an Aperol in a deckchair or a night swim under the stars: these beach bars show you the city from its lightest side.
They are not just places to drink or dance - they are Breaks from everyday life. Little escapes to the water that make you forget for a moment that you are actually still in the middle of Vienna.
And maybe that's where the magic lies: that you don't have to go far to feel far away.
