Top 10 Reasons

Castle Schoenbrunn

We have collected the top 10 reasons to show you what Vienna offers while running the marathon...

Run amidst centuries of architectural history on Vienna’s Ring Boulevard.

Run past classic monuments like the Giant Ferris Wheel which might conjure up the feeling of the Third Man on your heels, or the golden Johann Strauss statue in City Park, the most photographed monument in Austria.

The many parks and gardens, the recreation areas of the Vienna Woods and the Lobau, the Danube Island and River are all perfect places for active relaxation.

It is this abundance of greenery in the city and its surroundings - coupled with an extensive public transport network - that enables the Austrian capital to offer such a wide diversity of activities: running, rollerblading and cycling, swimming, windsurfing, golf and tenni,...

Vienna offers running terrain for all skill levels: Places like Türkenschanz Park and the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace are ideal for a quick jog, as are the City Park and the promenade of the Danube Canal. Nearby recreation areas like the Prater and the Danube Island offer flat, "fast" routes to meet any training requirements. In the Lobau there are level gravel and sand paths for a longer relaxing jog. And the hiking trails in the hills of the Vienna Woods have some interesting climbs for mountain runners, too. Vienna runs like clockwork!

Outdoor fun and entertainment beyond the track: Some 2.5 million visitors make the Danube Island Festival held in June each year Europe's largest youth party. But the "island" has a lot else going for it, too: 27 miles of sand, beaches, bathing bays, a long water slide, (ball) playgrounds, level running and skating routes, boat, cycle and surfboard hire, bars, cafés and restaurants on Copa Cagrana.

Vienna and Austria overall is a paradise for nature and outdoor enthusiasts and environment conscious people – can you remember when you last swam in a lake with drinking water quality? Preservation of natural habitats and the environment in general are major concerns in Austria.

Vienna is also a paradise for running equipment shopping with brand name stores all over the inner city hill.

To gain and regain your strength sample some of the culinary delicacies Austria has to offer and spoil yourself!

Last but not least, it is comparatively inexpensive to travel to Austria and with airline connections from all major US airports very easy to reach.