When the summer heat is oppressive and the longing to escape the present for a moment grows, this place is perfect for you. A day on the sandy island of Gänsehäufel is a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s. (The cover photo takes you even further back in time: That was Gänsehäufel in 1932!)
Rebuilt in 1950, Vienna’s second-most-famous island offers modernist architecture, local wit, and a great nudist culture. (And if you want to delve even further into the past on your way home, we recommend a journey through time at the Immersive Center Donauturm.)
The Gänsehäufel is a sandy architectural icon
As you stroll through the striking main entrance with its clock tower, the pastel-colored, airy architecture immediately transports you back to the years of the economic miracle. The iconic central building and the huge wave pool are the perfect photo backdrop, exuding charm and a spirit of optimism.
Analog life reigns on the Gänsehäufel: Kabanen culture and Viennese charm
The guardians of ’60s nostalgia are the tenants of the famous “Kabanen.” These tiny, highly sought-after cabins are often passed down through generations in Viennese families.
People play cards, snack from Tupperware containers, and exchange gossip over the chain-link fence. Between the scent of classic Tyrolean nut oil sunscreen and the murmur of the Old Danube, time stands still in this place.
The quintessentially Viennese soundtrack of summer
It’s precisely this quintessentially Viennese, unpretentious flair that makes the “island rabbits” (as the regulars are called) so damn proud of their turf. In their swimwear, an apprentice and a court councilor are barely distinguishable from one another. And when it comes to nudism, even more so!
The Gänsehäufel is a place of equality—and ice cream. After all, what goes better with sand between your toes and the cheerful lapping of the water than a popsicle?
From the Gänsehäufel to the grand finale at the Donauturm!
The Gänsehäufel is the analog filter for modern Vienna. Here you’ll find a dose of 1960s-style relaxation. But when you pack up your beach bag again in the late afternoon, the journey doesn’t have to end.
On your way back to modern Vienna, we recommend a detour to the neighboring Donaupark. There, at the Immersive Center Donauturm, you can bridge the gap perfectly: thanks to state-of-the-art technology, you’ll experience a journey through time up close . Machu Picchu, ancient Egypt, or perhaps the dinosaurs?
