Ice Skating in Austria

Vienna Ice Dream at the Town Hall Square

Every year from January to March, the square in front of Vienna's City Hall turns into an over 9,000 m² (96.875 sq ft) large ice rink, a paradise for skating fans. During the Vienna Ice Dream, there are four large ice rinks and ice paths, offering different routes winding through the romantically illuminated City Hall Park, the beautiful facades of the City Hall and the Burghtheater always in sight. The "Sky-Rink", an ice skating rink on the "second floor", accessible by a ramp, is unique in the world. Punch and tea will warm you up before and after your laps, while numerous outdoor vendors and the caterers at the rustic alpine hut will spoil you with culinary delicacies, mainly from Austria. In the evening, the entire square is transformed into a colourful sea of lights. The mirror-smooth skating playground is open every day.

Wiener Eislaufverein

The rink of the ice skating club (Website in German only) between the Konzerthaus and the Stadtpark is a great spot for nighttime rides over the ice as well: Skaters can take extensive turns on the 6,000-square-foot (557 m²) rink. Themed evenings and events ensure you won't get bored and transform the ice rink into a dance floor several times a week.

Kunsteisbahn Engelmann

At the artificial ice rink Engelmann (Website in German only), you can master your laps high above the city on the roof of a building, while enjoying fresh air and a great view of the city. Opened over 100 years ago, it is considered to be the first open-air rink in the world.

Wiener Stadthalle

Hall C of the Wiener Stadthalle is a large ice rink where you can take your laps all year round (Tuesdays and Saturdays during the summer). There are courses for beginners and advanced skaters available.

Old Danube

Although the Alte Donau is not always frozen, when it is, it is perfect for ice skating or playing ice hockey as there is hardly any snow on the ice. Since it is a natural ice rink, make sure to take some precautions: It is recommended to never skate alone and to stay away from bridges - the spots beneath usually only have a thin layer of ice. The area between Gänsehäufel, Kaiserwasser and Angelibad (1.6 km² (0,62 sq m) is especially popular. It is suitable for ice skating, ice hockey or even ice hiking.

Note: Natural ice rinks are partly not cleared - ice skating at your own risk!

SalzburgerLand

The 4.5 square kilometre large Zeller See is popular with skaters in SalzburgerLand. Equally worth noting is lake Irrsee, which turns into one of the largest ice skating areas in Austria each winter, suitable for all kinds of ice sports (ice skating, ice sailing, curling, walking). On the illuminated Ritzensee near Saalfelden-Leogang outdoor enthusiasts can skate until 10 PM. Every couple of years, Lake Fuschlsee and Hintersee also freeze up, allowing skaters to glide between the mountains - a particularly wonderful experience.

Tirol

In the Alpbach Valley, the many small lakes freeze up quite quickly and offer mirror-like ice surfaces. At the foot of the Lienz Dolomites, Lake Tristach offers a romantic winter setting for gentle outdoor sports. The ski bus, which runs several times a day to the Hotel Tristacher See, serves as a free shuttle. More than 7,000 square meters of ice skating surface await at the bathing lake in Ried in the Tyrolean Oberland, where guests can glide on runners until midnight thanks to the floodlight system. A special experience is the magnificent natural ice arena at Lake Piburg in the Ötztal: on a two-kilometre-long and four-meter-wide ice rink (snow-free and swept), nature and winter sports enthusiasts can practice their laps. And if you want to warm up, the inns in Piburg are just a stone's throw away. Skating on the natural ice rinks is free of charge.

Vorarlberg

In the Bludenz Alpine Region, the Badesee Brand natural ice rink is open from mid-January to the end of February. You can rent skates and enjoy Austrian food at the Alpensteakhaus before or after your rounds. Night skating and curling is possible. In the Arlberg region, the ice skating rink in Zürs awaits with panoramic mountain views, campfire romance and mulled wine.

Note: Natural ice rinks are partly not cleared - ice skating at your own risk!