Follow the Danube
Follow the Danube. One of the basic elements of Vienna’s charm & a main pillar of its formation through the ages is its relation with the Danube. Today there are all kinds of boat trips on the Austrian Danube that come in all shapes and colors.
Whether you choose a themed joy ride with an excursion ship of the DDSG Blue Danube company such as the barbecue/brunch tour the Beethoven tour, a two-hour trip to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, just an hour away from Vienna with one of the high-speed hydrofoils traveling along the Danube is definitely worth it.
You could take the boat to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Wachau Valley where the Medieval crusader King Richard Lionheart was held in prison, Duernstein castle, and the Heurige ruin (winery), an attraction even at times of Maria Theresia that is still a highlight.
You could also take one of the most scenic river tours in Europe that lasts just 30 minutes, to the National Park Lobau (Departure 9:00 a.m, Salztorbrücke, take off from Franz-Josefs-Kai, May 2-October 26, daily), part of the wild natural landscape of the Donau-Auen National Park, where you can also travel by boat from May to October, or even by renting a romantic rowing boat http://www.alte-donau.info/ from mid-July to the end of August until 11 p.m in order to enjoy the summer moonlight magic…
You can even rent a boat taxi or yellow water taxi available until midnight for a ride, a party, a romantic evening ride, or a ride between Schwedenplatz & the town of Nussdorf. As you can see getting on a Danube boat from Vienna won’t be so hard and the choices are abundant. So enjoy.