Uniquely for a European capital, Vienna boasts around 600 hectares of vineyards within its city limits. These can be explored year-round, but the city holds a special event each year to allow visitors to experience its wine culture over a single weekend.
This year, the annual Vienna Wine Hiking Day takes place on September 28-29, offering a unique opportunity to discover some of the city’s 170 vineyards, located in Kahlenberg, Nussberg (both in the 19th district), Bisamberg (21st district) and Mauer (23rd district). Along the way, winegrowers provide tastings from their cellars and kitchens at numerous stops, known as Heurigen – traditional wine taverns.
There’s no single ticket for any of the activities; visitors need to pay for all food and drink consumed. There’s also no one set starting point. Instead, visitors need to choose which route they want to take (see below).
– Route 1 leads from Neustift am Walde to Nussdorf. En route, you’ll pass through Sievering, the Vienna Cobenzl winery, and Grinzing – all legendary locations steeped in Viennese wine and tavern culture. The hike is gentle, offering ample opportunity to savour some excellent wines and take in the breathtaking views.
– Route 2 stretches from Strebersdorf to the renowned wine tavern village of Stammersdorf. The walk can be as long as 9.6 kilometres, depending on your chosen path. Wine taverns are plentiful along the route, and families might enjoy stopping by the children’s farm at Magdalenenhof on Bisamberg.
– At just 2.4 kilometres, Route 3 is the shortest and follows the Paulinensteig, passing Wilhelminenberg Castle. Here, too, you’ll find refreshments and wine along the way.
– New this year is Route 4, a 4.6-kilometre trail through Mauer. Ideal for those who have already walked the other routes, this path leads to popular wine taverns and takes in the architecturally striking Wotruba Church – well worth a visit.