Danube Tower

The Donauturm is the place to understand Vienna's geography in one look. Built for the international garden show of 1964 in what became the Donaupark, it rises 252 metres, making it the tallest structure in Austria, and it stands on the north bank of the Danube in the 22nd district, a short ride from the old town but with a completely different view of the city. Express lifts climb to the top in well under a minute. The open-air viewing platform, at about 150 metres, wraps all the way around the shaft, with an enclosed, glass-walled level for bad weather. From up there the whole city is laid out: the Danube and its long, thin Danube Island, the Old Danube lake with its bathing beaches and boats, the glass towers of the UNO City and the Danube City business district right below, and beyond the river the historic centre, with the spire of St Stephens Cathedral, the Giant Ferris Wheel in the Prater and the green line of the Vienna Woods and the Kahlenberg rising behind. On clear days the views reach far into Lower Austria. Above the platform, a revolving cafe and restaurant turns slowly so that over the course of a coffee or a meal you see the full panorama without moving. The design is pure 1960s, which is part of the charm, and the tower is one of those places Viennese families have been taking visitors for generations. At its foot, the Donaupark itself is free to explore, a large green space with lawns, a lake, play areas and a small park railway, which makes a visit an easy half-day outing with children.

How to visit: the tower is at Donauturmplatz 1. The simplest route is the U1 to Kaisermuehlen VIC or the U6 to Neue Donau and then bus 20A, or a pleasant walk through the Donaupark from the U1 at Alte Donau. Tickets are sold for timed or open entry; a skip-the-line ticket bought online saves time in summer and at weekends, when the lift queue builds. The tower opens daily from morning until late evening, with last entry shortly before closing. Allow an hour for the platform, and add time if you plan to eat in the revolving cafe or restaurant, which charges separately.

When to go: choose a clear day, since the whole point is the long view; haze and low cloud can hide the Vienna Woods completely. Sunset is the most popular slot, with the city lights coming on below, and the late opening means you can also go up after dark for a night panorama, which is quieter. Wind can be strong on the open platform at any time of year, so take a layer. The ticket page also lists a newer paid extra, a slide attraction, sold separately from basic entry.

Who it suits and what to pair it with: families, who can combine the tower with the playgrounds of the Donaupark and, in summer, a swim at the Old Danube; couples looking for a sunset view and a dinner with a moving panorama; and first-time visitors who want the big picture of the city at the start of a trip. The Danube Island, the long recreational island in the river, is a short walk away for cycling and walking, and the Prater and its Giant Ferris Wheel are a few stops back towards the centre on the U1.