March brings the first days with temperatures above 15 degrees Celsius, and half of Vienna is frantically trying to decide where to go on the weekend to soak up the sun and find the best sunset. Leave the crowded Danube Canal behind.
Podersdorf am See is just a 45-minute drive from the city center. Now, in spring, the place has a huge advantage: you have the area almost to yourselves. Here are the hard facts for your spring outing.
UNESCO World Heritage Site with a water depth of 1.5 meters
Before you take a walk along the shore, here are a few geographical basics: Lake Neusiedl is not a classic swimming lake, but the largest steppe lake in Central Europe. It has no natural outlet and is fed almost exclusively by precipitation.
With a maximum depth of just 1.5 to 2 meters, our beloved “Sea of the Viennese” resembles a gigantic pond in places.
The murky water and soft, muddy bottom are not dirt, but stirred-up suspended matter that is extremely rich in minerals. Incidentally, it was precisely this special flora and fauna that earned the region the UNESCO World Heritage title in 2001.
No reeds, but endless expanse
Podersdorf has a massive geographical advantage: it is the only municipality on Lake Neusiedl with completely reed-free access to the lake.
For you, that means a two-kilometer unobstructed view at PodoBeach. Only those who are completely immune to pain are currently jumping into the water, which has a cool temperature of 8 degrees Celsius. But you can walk for miles along the shallow shore, take a deep breath, and just relax without tripping over other people’s towels.
Between thick neoprene and spring sunshine
The days when it was completely deserted here in spring are over. The beach area is cleverly divided up:
- PODOactive: Water sports already reign supreme here. In March, the northwest wind often blows reliably. Podersdorf is the hotspot for kitesurfers who hit the board in thick wetsuits. Pretty cool to watch from the safe, dry shore.
- PODOplay: The area for families. The huge motor skills parks and climbing frames are ideal in spring because the kids can let off steam without burning up in the blazing heat.
- PODOrelax: Soak up the first spring sunshine on the wooden benches by the jetty.
Good to know: In March, you often pay no or only a greatly reduced admission fee to the PodoBeach area. Only from May (the official start of the swimming season) is the regular daily admission fee of around 12 euros payable.
The first spritzer of the year in an outdoor café
A trip to Burgenland without culinary delights is a wasted day. Podersdorf is surrounded by vineyards, and in March the first wine taverns and restaurants in the village awaken from their winter hibernation.
After your windy walk, grab a hearty Winzerweckerl (winegrower’s roll) and the first white spritzer of the season outdoors. If you find a spot sheltered from the wind by a house wall, March will feel like mid-May.
When to take the best lighthouse photo
The 12-meter-high lighthouse on the pier (built in 1998, by the way) is the absolute landmark of Podersdorf. In midsummer, you almost have to queue up for a photo. In March, the pier is yours.
Our tip for the perfect light: arrive exactly half an hour before sunset. As daylight saving time has not yet begun, the sun currently disappears behind the lake shortly after 6 p.m. Sit down on the large rocks on the jetty—the harsh spring light here in the early evening is absolutely unbeatable.
