It’s time to take the dinner table to the park! Grab yourself a picnic basket, lay out a blanket, lie back and spot the shapes in the clouds – ’that one’s a donkey, that one’s a mother relentlessly pushing her child towards academic achievement.’
Vienna has a range of pleasant parks where to watch a sunset, have a picnic, a drink, or fly a kite. Check out our list of our 8 favourite parks to picnic in Vienna.
Burggarten in 1010
The Burggarten is a beautiful place to picnic, mostly because of the rich historical frameset that surrounds you. Looking up from your book or magazine, you’ll see the back of the mighty Hofburg, the national library, and the well-known building in secessionist-style, the Palmenhaus. Even a statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is chilling in the park. And although it’s located in Vienna’s city center, directly on the main boulevard “the ring,” the Burggarten always feels surprisingly laid back and like a peaceful green escape.
Perks: it’s central location makes it a perfect urban escape. Topless men and bikini-clad women are common here.
Closest Würstelstand beer? directly in front of the entrance to the park.
Closest supermarket? SPAR Markt, Babenbergerstraße 9 1010 Wien
Augarten in 1020
This wonderful park located in the 2nd district of Vienna is another favourite of ours when it comes to going for a picnic. Either sit on the grass or on one of the many benches and enjoy the surrounding nature and don’t be creeped out by the flak towers watching over you. Don’t forget to bring a frisbee to work off your delicious picnic food.
Perks: It’s close to the Donaukanal if you fancy going for drinks straight after your picnic 😉
Closest Supermarket? There’s a Spar at Taborstraße 87, or a Hofer at the Obere Augartenstraße 5
Closest beer? There’s plenty of beer at the various Würstelstände neighbouring the park
Prater in 1020
This is the behemoth of all of Vienna’s parks – the Prater. Just the sound of the word conjures thoughts of being swallowed by this beautiful, big green beast. It’s like to Vienna what central park is to New York, or like what Yellowstone is to Wyoming. OK, maybe we’re exaggerating a little. But it is a bloody incredible green space. The 6-million square meter park (think 2,420 football fields) has plenty of green meadows for you to lay down your blanket, or your lover, and there’s also a small forest to get lost in.
Perks: You can enjoy the many faces of the park here, from the sport center, to the vast meadows, and the fairgrounds.
Closest Supermarket? BILLA, Praterstern train station, 1020
Closest beer? If you’re in the Jesuitenwiese, there are two cabin-like beisls (pubs) – one at the entrance to the park which leads on from the Rotundenbrücke, and another at the end station of the 1 tram line. They both sell beer for cheap. otherwise, there are plenty of options at the Praterstern train station if you’re closer to this end of the park.
Stadtpark in 1030
This one may or may not be the most famous of the parks, and definitely has a lot going for it! You can spend an entire sunny day at this park feeding the ducks by the pond, climbing on a statue of Mozart to take some really good selfies, getting coffee at the coffee cart, Espresso Mobil, or even joining the yogis that always seem to be twisting and bending in a little relaxing session on the grass. Stadtpark is perfect for having lunch on a bench.
Plus: the beautiful river, the Wienfluss, which runs through the park is the cherry on top of this beautiful park
Perks: It’s central, incredibly beautiful, and this large park is perfect for a long picnic session in the grass.
Closest Supermarket? Spar on Wollzeile 39, 1010
Closest beer? There’s plenty of beer at the various Würstelstände neighbouring the park
Steinhofgründe in 1140
More than 70 years ago, the Steinhofgründe area was part of the Otto Wagner Spital psychiatric institution, and it was used for planting fruit trees. Then the city discussed whether or not it should develop the 45 hectares of green located in the 14th district – but the Viennese people clearly stated “No, thanks!” in a ballot held in 1981. With its grassy meadows – often overgrown – this park owns a sense of wilderness and is a satisfying alternative when one wants to properly escape the city. You can even look down on the city from here and wonder what all the stress was about when you were back down there on its streets.
Perks: how big the park is and it’s feeling of wilderness. We once even saw a deer here!
Closest Würstelstand beer? No chance of finding a Würstelstand here, but there is a pretty little Heuriger (wine tavern) nearby on the bordering Johann-Staud-Strasse if you’re really desperate.
Closest supermarket? You’ll be hiking quite a while to find a supermarket so be a good scout and come prepared.
Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark in 1180
It’s one of Vienna’s largest and oldest parks, with origins dating back to the 13th century – we’re talking the Pötzleinsdorfer Schlosspark, located in the 18th district. It’s well-known for its large playground at the entrance, and the even larger meadow where you can sit in the grass, play ball games or work on that tan. The deeper you go, the quieter it all gets. You can still find smaller buildings from the romantic era strewn across the park, and if the sun’s too hot, we suggest you take a slow walk through the shady woods aligning the meadow. You may even spot a deer, or a deranged naked person (warning: that may be one of us on our morning walk)!
Closest supermarket? Neuwaldegger Straße 1, 1170 Wien
Türkenschanzpark in 1180
This big and beautiful park is a great spot for an innocent picnic. There’s plenty of shady trees, lovely walking paths, and a variety of settings to lay your picnic blanket down. You can actually find plenty of spots where you’ll have some privacy for you and your picnicking buddy where it will be just you, and the squirrels.
Perks: there’s plenty of private little tucked away spots that you can be found throughout the park
Closest Supermarket? Billa at Gentzgasse 164, 1180
Closest beer? Meierei Diglas im Türkenschanzpark
Himmelwiese am Himmel in 1190
A picnic am Himmel (in the sky) – do we need to say more? Probably not, but we will, anyway. The overgrown grass on the rolling hills, a forest at your back, vineyards at your front and a view of Vienna down below – this park, or more accurately, meadow, is a very romantic spot for a picnic.
This park is quite the hike out of town; however don’t hesitate to venture out here. Especially if you’re trying to impress and charm that girl, or guy. Try to make it here for sunset.
You’re most likely to be on your own here with only the odd murmurs heard from the nearby Oktagon restaurant and the odd person seeking out their birth tree amongst the 40 that make up the Lebensbaumkreis “The tree circle of life” located in the park (On Sundays you’ll hear classical music played here). There is also a forest playground for the kids.
Perks: the seclusion, the view, the adventure in getting there.
Closest supermarket? you’ll have to plan ahead for this one as there are no supermarkets nearby.
Closest beer? Once again, no Würstelstand in these parts, but if you run dry and still could do with another beer, just take a seat at the neighbouring OKTAGON restaurant.
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