16 of Vienna's best parks

Vienna is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe, and this is one of the reasons why people think about vacationing here or moving to live here on a permanent basis.

That is why we have decided to prepare a list of the best parks in the districts of the Austrian capital, where residents can relax after a tiring day, or just spend time with their loved ones, enjoying the century old trees and vast amounts of shrubbery.

Rathauspark

The Rathauspark has an area of about 40,000 sq.m, and was intended to be a city park by Emperor Franz Josef I. The park was opened in 1873 in the 1st district, also known as Innere Stadt, and was divided into two symmetrical sections. The first one was adjacent to the University of Vienna, and the second one to the Austrian Parliament Building and Burg Theater.

Various events take place in the park throughout the year, including the Christmas market, the summer outdoor cinema and the annual First May demonstrations. The Rathauspark is full of woody plants, including exotic ones such as an old ginkgo, a Japanese pagoda tree, and there are two fountains.

Burggarten

The Burggarten is located in the Innere Stadt close to hotspots such as the Hofburg Palace, the Vienna State Opera and the Albertina museum. After the withdrawal of Napoleon’s troops, on the site of the bastion which was blown up in 1809 by the French, the Emperor’s garden (Kaisergarten) appeared here. It was the private area of the Imperial family, and only in 1919 after the demise of the monarchy the garden was open to the public.

Visitors like its perfectly manicured lawns, walking paths and flower beds. Moreover, in the Burggarten one can see monuments dedicated to Mozart, Emperor Franz Joseph, Franz I, as well as a fountain featuring Hercules and the Nemean Lion. At the edge of the Burggarten the Palm House (Palmenhaus) is where the Imperial Butterfly House is located. The price of entering the Butterfly House is EUR 7 for adults and EUR 5.50 for children.

Note: Those wishing to live in the heart of the Austrian capital can consider buying one of the 50 apartments or penthouse in the WERDER SIX complex. The complex which was built in 1876, has been completely renovated and offers many services and amenities for a comfortable stay.

The City Park

The City Park (Stadtpark) extends from the 1st to 3rd districts. The total area of the park is 65,000 sq.m. A great number of statues dedicated to composers, artists and writers can be found in the City Park. Among them are monuments dedicated to Emil Jakob Schindler, Hans Canon, Franz Schubert, Robert Stolz, as well as the gold plated bronze statue of Johann Strauss II. Due to the parkway which borders the Ringstraße the noise is reduced, which means you might even forget that you are in the center of Vienna.

Kursalon is one of the main sights of the City Park. This music hall was built in an Italian renaissance style between 1865 and 1867, and Johann Strauss II conducted his concert here in 1868. Now the building is used for concerts, balls, congresses and other events.

Note: The Austrian capital offers many options for buying and renting real estate. Areas such as Innere Stadt, Leopoldstadt, Margareten, Mariahilf, Hernals and Favoriten are particularly popular. ROI in these areas ranges from 2.3 to 5%, and rental prices for studios or small apartments vary from EUR 670 to 1,060 per month.

Prater

Wiener Prater is a large public park in Leopoldstadt, the 2nd district of Vienna. Within its territory is an amusement park which is known as the Wurstelprater. The main attraction of this park is the 64.75-metre Giant Ferris Wheel (Wiener Riesenrad) which was erected in 1897. Moreover, various rides, roller coasters and other attractions can be found here as well.

Chestnut blossom is one of the attractions of Prater which takes place in May. Walkers, cyclists and joggers appreciate this park, as well as families with children due to its wide range of children’s playgrounds, as well as a BMX and skating track which is ideal for teenagers.

Augarten

Augarten is located in the 2nd district. The area of this public park, designed in the French Baroque style, is 52.2 hectares, and was opened to the public in 1775 by Joseph II. The entrance to the park was guarded by soldiers, as the Palais Augarten is situated in the center of the park.

Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt were among the guests invited there for the opening. While walking around Augarten you can visit the Museum of Porcelain or the two anti-aircraft towers of World War II.

Note: Vienna consists of 23 districts, where one of the best areas to live in is Leopoldstadt (2nd district). The cost of an apartment with 2 bedrooms here starts from EUR 850,000. The area is attractive to many foreigners and students because it is located close to the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

The Belvedere’s Garden

The Belvedere’s Garden (Gartenanlage des Belvedere) is located in Landstraße, which is the 3rd district of Vienna. The Belvedere historic complex was built as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy. On the territory, one can also find two palaces called the Upper and Lower Belvedere, as well as the Orangery, and the Palace Stables.

The layout of the Belvedere boasts symmetrical geometric lines of alleys. The garden is full of trees, fountains with cascades of waterfalls, and sculptures including nymphs, muses, angels, tritons and monuments showing scenes from Greek mythology.

The Österreichische Galerie Belvedere also offers the largest collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The ticket price for Upper and Lower Belvedere is EUR 25, and admission for children is free if you buy online.

Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna

In 1754 the Empress Maria Theresa founded a Pharmaceutical Garden for the Medical Faculty of Vienna University. Now the Botanical Garden is attached to the Faculty Center (Institute of) Botany at the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Botanischer Garten der Universität Wien boasts a unique plant collection of about 1,500 plant species from six continents which includes endangered species. It’s located between Jacquingasse and the Belvedere in the 3rd district of Vienna. The admission is free all year round, but you can always get a guided tour, which costs EUR 5 for adults and EUR 3 for children.

Note: International students that are interested in pursuing higher education in Austria will be pleased to learn about the state's top 7 internationally recognized universities.

Sigmund Freud Park

The Sigmund Freud Park, located between the main university of Vienna and the Votivkirche in the 9th district of the Alsergrund, offers a relaxing environment on the landscaped lawns or one of the 100 free sun loungers.

In the park a unique monument in the form of a granite table and ten chairs commemorating the accession of ten countries in the European Union in 2004 can be found.

Kurpark Oberlaa

Kurpark Oberlaa is situated in the 10th district, quite a distance from the heart of the city. The park appeared in 1974 during the preparations for the Vienna International Garden Show 74 (Wiener Internationale Gartenschau 74). The area of the green oasis is about 608,000 sq.m, and the park is full of ponds with fountains, exotic trees, flower labyrinths and an abundance of lush greenery.

The Japanese Garden (Takasaki Park) was the contribution of Japan to the Vienna International Garden Show 74, which was reconstructed in 1990 by Ikeda Tadashi. The Love Garden (Liebesgarten) is popular for wedding ceremonies. On the territory of Kurpark Oberlaa, one can visit a spacious playground, a zoo with farm animals, and a skateland with an area of 1,800 sq.m.

Note: Austria attracts those who want to invest in commercial properties including hotels, tenement houses, offices and retail stores. The country welcomes foreign investors to Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Carinthia, as well as some of the suburbs of Vienna. Even those who don’t have a residence permit still have the right to purchase Austrian real estate on behalf of a company.

The Gardens Of Schönbrunn Palace

The Gardens of Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) operate from 6.30 am util 9 pm, and anyone can enter the Palace Park free of charge. One of the most popular sights of The Gardens is the Neptune Fountain, as the design of the gardens was commissioned by Maria Theresa in the 1770s. In the 19th century trees appeared behind the fountain to make the figural group look more effective. In the center of the object stands Neptune with his trident in a shell-shaped chariot, which is surrounded by a nymph, sea-goddess Thesis, Tritons and sea-horses. Moreover, visitors can enjoy endless flower compositions, mythological statues, fountains, as well as Gloriette, the structure consisting of a triumphal arch and semi-circular arches.

Note: In order to visit the Schönbrunn Palace, the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden, the Maze, the Palm House, the Desert House, the Gloriette which offers breathtaking views of Vienna, and the Zoo, can purchase a Classic Pass Plus – Schönbrunn, which will cost EUR 57 for adults and EUR 39.50 for children.

Lainzer Tiergarten

The Lainzer Tiergarten has an area of 24.5 sq.km and is a wildlife preserve located in the 13th district of the Austrian capital, which dates back to the 16th century when Ferdinand I created a fenced-in hunting ground. The preserve was opened to the public in 1919.

Hirschgstemm and Rohrhaus restaurants, an observation tower called Hubertuswarte with a height of 508 m offering 360-degree views of Vienna and its surroundings, as well as Hermesvilla which was commissioned by Franz Josef I for his wife, which now serves as a museum, are all located here. Visitors can meet hares, deer, alpine newts and other animals on the territory of the Lainzer Tiergarten.

Note:Gobergasse 17 is located in Hietzing and offers exquisite apartments with 1-4 bedrooms and a garden house. This is a great place for couples and those who value privacy.

Setagaya Park

This little Japanese park was created in 1992 by Japanese landscape gardener Ken Nakajima. It became a sign of the cultural exchange between Doebling, the 19th district of Vienna, where the park is located, and a suburb of Tokyo called Setagaya. The park is extremely popular in spring during the cherry and magnolia blossom season.

Breathtaking landscape, exotic plants, ponds with lilies and Koi fish, as well as a teahouse, several stone sculptures, and other other typical Japanese garden elements will make you feel like you are in Asia. The park is open from March until November.

Note: If you are wishing for privacy, you might be interested in purchasing a 2-5 bedroom villa from the Bellevue 74 collection, located between the vineyards and the Vienna Woods. Heated floors, wood-aluminum windows with triple glazing, a video door entry system, and a swimming pool are all offered to future residents. The project plans to be handed over in Q4 2022.

Vienna Woods

The Vienna Woods (Wienerwald) were designated to the Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. They cover about 9,900 hectares and encompass seven districts of the Austrian capital such as Hietzing, Währing, Döbling, Hernals, Penzing, Ottakring, and Liesing. The Vienna Woods is a habitat for 150 bird species and 2,000 plant species.

Walking and jogging paths, cafes and restaurants, as well as observation decks can be found on its territory. The Liechtenstein Castle, which is a 40-minute drive from the center of Vienna, is also located in the Vienna Woods.

Note: Those wishing to make an investment and get a stable income might be interested in purchasing a home in Vienna. Over 1 million apartments are in the housing stock of the city with about 630,000 of them occupied by tenants. The 16th and 17th districts have attracted the highest number of buyers in the last few years.

Kahlenberg Forest Rope Park

The Kahlenberg Forest Rope Park is also located in the 19th district, and Kahlenberg is the most popular mountain in Vienna. Here one can enjoy climbing, swinging and hanging on 17 courses with 3 different degrees of difficulty. The total length of the courses are 1.8 km. It’s worth noting that the Vienna Woods Biosphere Park didn’t suffer during the construction of the Rope Park because of the secure location of stations on the trees which avoid damaging them. The price of experiencing the 150 exercises and obstacles is EUR 30 for adults and from EUR 12 to EUR 22 for children, depending on their height. The cost of tickets allows 4 hours of climbing time.

Danube Park

Danube Park (Donaupark) is located on the northern bank of the Danube River, in Donaustadt, 22nd district of Vienna. Visitors of the park, which is considered to be one of the biggest in the city, can enjoy several themed gardens which include lily, rose and moorland gardens. There are beaches, tennis courts, bike paths, a miniature train and a small zoo.

The park is open daily and is free of charge. You will need to pay only for additional activities. The famous Danube Tower offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the city from a platform height of 150 m is also located here. It’s considered the highest sight in Austria. The price of a ticket is EUR 16 for adults and EUR 9.60 for children. The 170 m high Turm Restaurant, which rotates constantly, is also located here.

Note: In Donaustadt one can purchase a unit in the Zachgasse 4/01-06 Townhouses development. The project offers 4-bedroom townhouses with an area of 126 sq.m. Each unit is provided with a private garden, a lift, underfloor heating and many other amenities.

Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens

Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens (Blumengärten Hirschstetten) with an area of 60,000 sq.m can be found in the 22nd district. This park boasts a wide range of flowers and plants located in one of the several special locations such as Mexican Garden, Indian Garden, the Palm House and The Wedding Garden which is full of pink, blue and white flowers. Hirschstetten Botanical Gardens is open from March 19th to October 13th. In the winter months only the Palm House is open.