Pier 22 — neue Freizeitoase, Donauinsel (ehemals Sunken City)
- The file
- The practical details Claire checked before this went into the index.
- When
- 1 June 2026 – 30 September 2026
- Where
- Pier 22, Donauinsel, 1220 Wien — the 22nd (opposite Copa Beach, near Reichsbrücke)
- Price
- Free entry (grounds); restaurants at bar prices
- Outdoor
- Free entry
- Barrier-free
- Swimming
- Sports
- 22nd district
The Sunken City was Vienna's most chaotic and beloved summer spot for decades. It was a place where the rules didn't quite apply, where you could spend an entire afternoon on a concrete slab with a beer and no one would ask you to move. When the city decided to rebuild the site in 2023, there was real worry that the new version would be sanitized, corporate, lost.
Pier 22 is not that. It's more organized—the platforms are designed, the seating is intentional, the water access is actual infrastructure. But the core idea remains: a free public space on the water where you can lie down without buying anything.
What's There
Barrier-free bathing platforms extend over the water with planted islands. There are shaded seating areas scattered throughout, free lying grounds, and a fitness area with equipment. Showers, toilets, and a shallow water zone for children. Three restaurants on site if you want to eat—bar prices, nothing fancy. The whole thing is 13,000 square meters of open parkland.
The Name
Pier 22 takes its name from two things: the postal code (1220, the 22nd district) and the location on the Neue Donau. It's a straightforward name for a straightforward space. No marketing, no branding energy.
Getting There
U1 to Donauinsel station. The site is directly opposite Copa Beach, near the Reichsbrücke. It's accessible and fast.
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- Where
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- When
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- Where
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