Vienna by Ship and Boat (2024)

Sightseeing and themed rides with DDSG

Vienna can be explored in comfort from the water: From April to October, the DDSG Blue Danube offers sightseeing tours on the Danube Canal and the Danube on six boats. On board, the crew pampers guests with delicacies of Viennese cuisine. Tip for cool days: The Danube Canal tour (City Cruise) can be enjoyed 365 days year on board the comfortably warm MS Blue Danube. In addition, there are also special themed trips with live music and buffet from April to December. The Heurige Tour with Vienna Songs presents Vienna from its musical and culinary sides.

Have you ever wanted to try your hand at being the captain? From April to October, you have the chance to be the helmsman on the MS Admiral Tegetthoff: after some technical training and a tour of the engine room, you can take over the controls for 15 minutes and then fill up on energy with a delicious skipper's snack. The boat of DDSG Blue Danube moor either at the Reichbrücke, in Vienna Marina or the "Vienna City" landing stage on the Danube Canal. The new Twin City Liner is also waiting for you here. This fast shuttle service takes you on the fast water route from Vienna to Bratislava between March and October.

To the National Park by Boat

From the urban jungle to the "jungle of Vienna"? Traveling along the Danube Canal from May to October, the National Park Boat will bring you directly to the Lobau, which is part of the original and wild nature landscape of the Donau-Auen National Park.

Vienna boat taxi and Yellow water taxi

The first Vienna boat taxi is available for personal boat rides daily from 2.00 pm to 12.00 midnight (rides, parties, romantic evening rides) or for taxi rides between Schwedenplatz and the wine tavern town of Nussdorf. Also available at the same landing stage is the "Yellow Water Taxi", which also takes you from the city center direct to the Viennese wine in 30 minutes all through the day. Full information and prices of the special tours: www.bootstaxi.com

A boat for rent

The company offers guided sightseeing tours along the Danube and Danube Canal, allows you to charter your own motor boat (including captain, who can take the helm if desired) or offers water sports enthusiasts the possibility to glide over the Danube with wakeboard, water ski or tube. Full booking information: www.viennaboatcharter.at

Up to 49 people can be accommodated on board the MS Carnuntum, which plies the entire Danube including the Danube Canal. The boat operated by Event-Schifffahrt Haider can be chartered the whole year round for different events – even with a catering or drinks service on request. www.event-schifffahrt.at

Nostalgic rides on a vintage boat

The historic, motorized diesel steamer "Josef" can be rented for private trips to Nussdorf, Greifenstein, Tulln, Orth or for a tour of the Danube Canal. The boat is licensed to carry 12 guests. For more information, go to www.donauschifffahrten.at

Rowing and kayaking

In theory you can rent a boat from eleven companies on the Old Danube. Especially recommended for lovers is a romantic boat ride in the moonlight to explore the mysterious Old Danube. On the four evenings of full moons in the summer, all boat rental agencies organize "Full Moon Trips" with a boat of your choice. There are also a few companies on the Old Danube that offer evening boat rides until 11 p.m. in nice weather from mid-July to the end of August. The rides have names like "Moonlight Party", "Moonlight Ticket", and "Boat Picnic".

If you fancy a paddle tour, a kayak trip is the right option for you. From the Old Danube via the New Danube, followed by a short stop on Danube Island, the tour continues to the Danube Park, where we finish by going up the Danube Tower. Further information on the English-language guided kayak tours is available at www.venturevienna.com

National Park Boat

Further information about the Danube

The Danube (Working Community of the Danube Countries: ARGE Donau)