Neusiedl Lake

Once again, we decided to spend our vacation in Austria. Similar prices, better services. This time, we chose the largest steppe lake in Central Europe. The journey from Vienna takes just 45 minutes. From there, you can continue around the lake by train on both shores, with one of the railway lines even extending into Hungary. We continued by bus to Podersdorf am See, which turned out to be a great decision. It gave us several options for exploring the area further, with both buses and ferries available.

By bus, we explored the surrounding villages: Illmitz (mineral spring, national park, and harbor), Frauenkirchen (the thermal spa St. Martins Spa & Lodge), Weiden am See (beach), Donnerskirchen (outdoor swimming pool), and Mönchhof (the Dorfmuseum).

We also took the ferry to Rust (beach, swimming area, and storks) and Mörbisch am See (beach and swimming area).

We spent plenty of time at the beaches in Podersdorf as well, especially Podo Play and Podo Relax. The lake has very shallow entry points almost everywhere, so our little one had no trouble getting into the water. The only downside was the visibility. Since it's a natural lake, the water is quite murky. That certainly didn't stop us from enjoying a swim, though.

Without a doubt, the best way to get around the lake is by bicycle. The entire region is crisscrossed with cycling paths, and you'll find all the facilities you need along the way.