Floating swimming pool in the centre of Vienna

Would you be surprised if I tell you that in the old city Vienna you can find the swimming pool floating on the Danube Canal? Well I know I would be if I didn’t know it better. Since 2006 Viennese and the tourist as well have an opportunity to swim at the outdoor swimming pool which is conveniently located directly in the city centre just few steps away from Schwedenplatz one of the busiest squares and the traffic hub where lines U4 and U1 meet. The pool floats on Danube Canal or in German Donaukanal, which is a Canal of the river Danube flowing directly in the city centre where it meets the river Wien. Its length through the city is around 17 kilometres. Donaukanal has been neglected for a long time, but in the past few years Viennese started to use it as recreational area and it became a hot spot for summer relaxation. Here you can find some of the best beach bars in Vienna such as Herrmann Strandbar or Tel Aviv. During the summer months there are summer stages, music festivals and flea markets. The Vienna terminal of the Twin City Liner, fast ferry service that links the two capitals Vienna and Bratislava is also here.

Let´s get back to the swimming pool. The swimming pool is actually a ship that consists of two converted push barges, which were formerly used on European inland waters mainly on Rhine-Main-Danube canal system. These barges were then rebuilt to what is called Badeschiff or in English “Swim ship”. The result is a zone of approx. 3,000 m² for drinking, eating, sports and recreation, of which 1,000 m² are floating on the Danube Canal. The smaller barge is used only for swimming. It is 33 m long, 8 m wide and 1,6 m deep, the water is of course heated. In order to offer their customers full service, next to the small barge the twice as long barge is added. The longer barge has several levels. The central level is the gastronomy heart of the ship; here you can find the restaurant with space for 750 people. Upper deck is the focal point for sun-seekers, where you can lie down in the deck chairs and enjoy cocktails, ice cream or have a barbeque. The lower deck is disco, were you can continue partying until early hours. It is also equipped with the bowling lanes.

Nowhere else will the summer feeling and urban lifestyle get together as on a hot summer day at the Badeschiff. It is one of those places in the city centre where you can literally dive in the summer day or night.

Badeschiff Wien

Franz-Josefs-Kai 4, 1010 Wien, Austria