The Grey Heron Round

A perfect running circuit which is very centrally located and yet offers a lot of peace, nature and variety.

Distance: 12,19km

Route: Flat

Starting point: Start at any place possible because of circular route

Easy to reach by public transport: U1 Donauinsel, U1 Alte Donau, U2 Donaustadtbrücke or by bus 93A station Schillwasserweg

The Schillwasser

My round started at the 93 bus station Schillwasserweg. After a very short piece on the road you walk over a small wooden bridge over the Schillerwasser, you are immediately in the middle of nature and no longer believe that you are really still in Vienna. On the water you can see pretty water lilies, depending on the season. If you make a short stop and dare to look down from the bridge, you can also observe large fish or dragonflies. During my run I was very lucky and could even spot a gray heron there.

New Danube

Then you cross Raffineriestraße and find yourself on the path right next to the new Danube. Although it goes for a while stubbornly straight ahead and some runners find this kind of routing very demotivating (me included), it is always exciting there. Besides the people you can observe doing various water sports, the path is also varied. From small self-catering gardens that are lovingly tended, various pubs that you can remember for a nice evening or skate parks where you can watch skillful tricks - it never gets boring at the new Danube. Part of the track is in the sun which can be tough in the heat. Fortunately, however, there are plenty of drinking fountains on this stretch.

Donaupark

After a few kilometers along the New Danube, we turn into the beautiful Danube Park. There we walk on small paths and cross wide meadows and beautifully arranged flower beds. The Donaupark offers a lot of variety and at the end near the large playground is the next drinking fountain if you need a little refreshment break.

Old Danube

After leaving the Donaupark behind, we walk along next to the Arbeiterstrandbad, cross Wagramer Straße and then come to my favorite part of this route - the Old Danube. This place is one of my favorites in Vienna. You could photograph the Old Danube at any time of the year and it would always be a "postcard photo". It is picturesquely beautiful - from the little boats that sail around there, the reeds that surround it, to the quaint little houses that border the Old Danube - there is something magical about this place. Fortunately, on this side of the Old Danube, you can walk right next to the water for the most part and marvel at this beauty all the time.

And back to the starting point

Arrived at the last tip of the Old Danube, it goes up again to the New Danube. A short piece straight ahead again, another drinking fountain for refreshment for the final sprint and finally you are back in the middle of the Schillwasser. I hope that you can catch a glimpse of the exciting animal life there before you arrive at the starting point of this route, the Schillwasserweg.

Have fun with your experience!