How do we make Amsterdam’s bike tunnels less scary?
It involves all the five senses, apparently
As the days grow hotter, people are looking for ways to cool down and, luckily, the Viennese have got the Danube
Despite its location, far away from any coast, Vienna has a lot to offer when it comes to beaches. With the recently published European Environment Agency report on water quality, Austria ranks the highest with 97% of its bathing spots achieving the highest ranking.
At the same time, city authorities have been developing the Danube banks as a trendy beach spot since at least the 1970s and can now offer over 60 kilometres of free water access. This includes sandy banks, shady tree areas, shallow kid-friendly areas, secluded nudist lakes, pontoons, public bathrooms and even some great U-Bahn connections.
Furthermore, authorities are focused on opening more and more of the riverfront to bathers, as they continue to add new areas. Just last year, authorities inaugurated the Pirate Bay (Pirat Bucht), the largest sandy beach in the city, offering 3,500 square metres of sandy goodness.
The new Pirate Beach, Source: Donauinsel on Facebook
The trendiest spot on the Danube is by far Copa Beach – a strip of green banks, sandy beaches, tropical plants and hip restaurants. The Copa Beach has the added benefit of being super close to the city centre, with just a 15-minute U-Bahn ride.
Vienna's trendiest beach - The Copa Beach, Source: CopaBeach on Facebook
Another popular bathing spot is the waters of the Alte Donau, offering 1.6 kilometres of beaches. The artificially built canal is home to rich fresh-water flora, the so-called macrophytes. The area offers 11 larger jetties, equipped with loungers and chairs, as well as a pebble beach, sunbathing areas, green spaces and trees.
Tadpoles in the Alte Donau, a rich eco-system, Source: City of Vienna
Apart from the heavily urbanised riverbanks close to the heart of Vienna, the local area offers some frankly wild natural spots, in the Viennese part of the Donau-Auen National Park. One is the Panozzalacke – perfectly suited for children, because the water is quite shallow, while the wide sunbathing lawn offers plenty of space to relax and let off steam.
The lakes in Donau-Auen are a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Austrian capital, Source: Tourist Info Wien
The other one is the Dechantlacke – a small lake hidden in a dense forest. The lake has a small island in the middle and is particularly popular with nudists, as it is very secluded.
Dechantlacke is a very secluded spot and still so close to the city, Source: Tourist Info Wien
It involves all the five senses, apparently
Germany’s new approach has convinced hundreds of thousands of people to start using public transport for the first time
Drivers will be legally required to push their scooters manually in pedestrian areas and parks
Greece and Bulgaria are set to build one of the first 5G cross-border corridors in Europe
The feline registry is expected to start operating in 2026
The team presented the final report about a year, which was supposed to put the Luxembourgish city on the cultural map of Europe
It involves all the five senses, apparently
What you pay for having your car resting in the city will now depend on several different factors
Germany’s new approach has convinced hundreds of thousands of people to start using public transport for the first time
What you pay for having your car resting in the city will now depend on several different factors
Fredensborg Municipality is inviting residents to take the bikes for a spin…lasting up to 3 months
After all, sleeping carriages are basically hotels on wheels
The practical art objects are competing for one of the 2023 New European Bauhaus Prizes
Cast your vote before 24 May and do your part in promoting the NEB values
The new itineraries are part of the DiscoverEU programme, which lets 18-year-olds travel by train between important European sites
An interview with the president of the European Federation of Journalists
A talk with the head of Mission Zero Academy on the benefits for municipalities if they go the zero waste way
A talk with Nicolae Urs, one of the key figures behind the city's new data platforms and online services strategy