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Donauinselfest 2024: What to know about Austria’s biggest open-air festival

On Friday June 21st, Austria's largest open-air festival starts in Vienna. Here's what you need to know about the free event and how to get there.

Published: 17 June 2024 12:05 CEST
Updated: 21 June 2024 09:14 CEST

Donauinselfest 2024: What to know about Austria's biggest open-air festival

The Donauinsel during the Donauinselfest 2023 ((c) Alexander Müller)

The Austrian Donauinselfest is known as the largest free open-air music festival in Europe. It happens yearly on Vienna’s Danube island and attracts around three million visitors over three days, from Friday the 21st until Sunday the 23rd.

The festival has been happening yearly since 1983 on the 21.1-kilometre river island. According to the official website, this year, it has several different areas and 14 stages. Visitors can expect more than 700 hours of the program.

The large festival stage offers a mix of music: The line-up includes Austropop legend Wolfgang Ambros & No. 1 vom Wienerwald, Christina Stürmer, Ronan Keating, Provinz, Juju, Alice Merton and Wanda.

On the rock stage this year, visitors can listen to acts such as Skindred, Madsen, Voodoo Jürgens, Der Nino aus Wien & die AusWienBand, PÄM, Emil Bulls, Itchy and Kontrust.

Dance and party at the OBI / kronehit electronic music stage to acts such as Twocolors, Tita Lau and Lumix. Other stages include the Schlager & Austrohits, which features classic Austrian music and culture.

Sports and dance programme

A varied sports and dance program spans all three days and offers exercise sessions for all generations. Yoga, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, dance workshops, other sporting activities, and hands-on stations await you!

“The Donauinselfest is more than just a music festival. It is a place where people from all districts of Vienna and far beyond come together. They want to celebrate and have fun together, participate in sporting activities, learn about various topics and use different services directly on-site. This colourful mix of art and culture, as well as fun, action, sports, design and consulting services, will be offered all day long on the festival grounds this year,” said Matthias Friedrich, project manager of the event.

How do I get there?

The best way to reach the festival is by public transportation. From the Handelskai (U6), Neue Donau (U6) and Donauinsel (U1) metro stations, it takes just a few minutes to get directly to the festival grounds.

Wiener Linien shortens the intervals between subway trains to three minutes in the evening to make it easier for visitors to leave. The best way to get there by bus or streetcar is to take lines 25, 26, 31, and 29A—the intervals are shortened here on Friday and Saturday nights.

You can also get to the festival site by WienMobil bike. Three temporary stations will be set up for this purpose, where bikes can be rented and returned around the clock. The stations are at Floridsdorfer Brücke, at the Handelskai main entrance and Reichsbrücke. The exact locations can be found in the nextbike app.

What am I allowed to take?

Bags and rucksacks up to A3 size are permitted – anything larger is not. If you have a container with you that is larger than A3 format, the security service deployed is entitled to deny you access to the festival grounds. Any large and bulky objects, including folding chairs, are also not allowed (there are several benches and tables on site)

Umbrellas are not allowed for safety reasons – this also applies to toddlers, so please bring a rain poncho if you have one. In case of rain, rain ponchos will also be distributed on-site by the festival organisers and numerous sponsors while stocks last.

Animals are not allowed at the festival – except for guide and assistance dogs.

You’re also not allowed to bring cans and glass bottles, alcoholic drinks or any drugs. You can bring non-alcoholic drinks in PET water bottles or drinking bottles with a size of up to 0.5 litres. If you need to carry larger quantities of liquid for medical reasons, please contact the responsible security service on site. There are also numerous free water dispensers throughout the festival site. People cannot bring meals, only small snacks such as protein bars or fruits.

Of course, weapons of any kind or objects that could be used as weapons. Drones, pyrotechnic articles and laser pointers are also banned.

Finally, the festival also forbids entrance with any “propaganda” or “advertising” material, including “simply political or religious or racist, xenophobic, national socialist, sexist, etc”.

What else do I need to know?

The festival is free, but anything you consume there, such as food and beverages, is paid for. You can pay with cash or a card. The festival has numerous water dispensers free of charge, so it’s worth it to take a water bottle to refill (up to 0.5 litres is allowed).

Toilet facilities are in place throughout the festival site. A visit to a toilet in a fixed facility or a toilet container costs 0.50 cents – use of the porta-potties is free. If you plan to stay longer at the Danube Island Festival, you can buy an #allyoucanheisl band at a fixed facility or a toilet container (EUR 2.50 for one day, EUR 5.00 for all three festival days).

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10 things you definitely should know if you cycle in Vienna

If you use a bike to get around in Vienna, it is important to be aware of a few rules and key tips so you stay safe, warm, dry and out of trouble with Austrian police.

Here are 10 things that you should think about before jumping on your bike in Vienna.

Autumn and winter weather can be tough – but so can summer

Vienna weather’s can be brutal sometimes both in the winter, and summer.

During autumn and winter, you will experience rain, wind, and sometimes even snow, although it usually does not last for long. This means you might need to prepare yourself for whatever comes during your ride.

A good idea is to always keep a waterproof and windproof jacket in your backpack and a cap that you can wear under your helmet in case of rain.

If snow is still on the ground, waiting a while before jumping on your bike is better, given the streets may be slippery. Since snow tends to melt quickly in Vienna, you will probably not have to wait long.

Cycling in extreme heat during summer—as heatwaves become longer, harsher, and more common—is also not advised. On days when temperatures are forecast to go over 30C, it might be better to leave the bike at home.

Don’t forget your lights

In Vienna (and Austria in general), you must use front and rear lights when riding during darker hours and during times of reduced visibility, such as fog or heavy rain.

If you do not use bike lights, you put yourself at risk and face a fine of over €20 if caught. Some Vienna police officers are especially vigilant about catching bikers breaking the rules.

Look for the bike lanes

While biking around Vienna, you often ride alongside cars, trams, and buses. Many cycle lanes are available, but they are not everywhere, and sometimes, you may need to take a longer route to your destination if you want to avoid sharing the road with cars.

A good idea is to check where the bike paths are located and plan your route ahead of time to stay on dedicated paths as much as possible.

Although most car drivers in Vienna tend to show respect to cyclists, complex situations can take place on busy streets, especially during rush hours (mornings and late afternoons after work).

Exploring Vienna by bike during quieter times, such as Sunday mornings, is a good idea to get to know the city, its biking paths, and different roads better.

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Do not leave your bike outside overnight

Vienna is not known for being a city where bikes are often stolen, but it can definitely happen. According to the VCÖ, an Austrian public welfare organisation specializing in mobility and transport, 6,328 bikes were stolen in the Austrian capital last year, a decrease of almost seven percent from the year before but still the highest number in Austria in absolute figures.

A good idea is to always bring your bike into your basement, inner yard, or even your flat during the night.

Always lock your parked bike, even if you only go into a shop briefly, the VCÖ says. When locking up, ensure the frame and lock are attached to a bicycle bracket.

“If only the front wheel is attached to the bike stand, there is a risk that the bike will be removed and the rest of the bike stolen,” explained VCÖ spokesperson Christian Gratzer.

The organisation adds that people should replace the quick release on the saddle and front wheel with safety bolts and use a high-quality bicycle lock.

Always bring some tools with you

While riding around, it is not unlikely that something sometimes breaks, falls off, or starts causing problems. Therefore, it is important to always carry a small kit of the most essential tools with you, such as small screwdrivers and a compact bike pump.

The city has spots with bike pumps in some places, but since you never know when you might need one, it’s a good idea to bring your own.

If you don’t know how to repair minor issues with bikes, such as fixing a flat tire, watching YouTube videos can help.

Watch out for the electric scooters

You are likely to sometimes consider electric scooters as your worst enemies.

They move quickly, can be very quiet, share your lane, and are often ridden by people in groups. Many electric scooter riders tend to change speed quickly.

However, as long as you notice them in time, it should not be a bigger problem.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol

Just like with driving, cycling while under the influence of alcohol is not allowed in Austria. So, you will be fined if you are caught over the limit.

In fact, cyclists are only allowed up to 0.4mg of alcohol per litre of breath. If a breathalyser detects more alcohol in your system, you will be fined based on how much you have consumed.

From 0.4mg: €800 to €3,700 fine
From 0.6mg: €1,200 to €4,400
From 0.8mg: €1,600 to €5,900
Refusal to test: €1,600 to €5,900

As well as a fine, cyclists can lose a driving licence if caught cycling while drunk. According to the federal government, this is because “riding a bicycle while intoxicated can be an indication of a lack of traffic reliability”. Because of that, authorities may determine that you are not fit to drive and, therefore, revoke your driver’s licence.

Do not use a bike with thin tyres

Since Vienna is a city filled with tram lanes, using tyres that fit well into them can be dangerous.

In the city, it is almost unavoidable not to ride where you have to cross tram lanes or ride next to them.

Using slightly thicker tyres can make your trip safer. But if you absolutely want to ride your racing bike with thin tires, that should also be safe, as long as you always watch where you go.

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Vienna is sometimes hilly

Vienna is not completely flat; if you go higher up in districts such as Ottakring, Hernals, and Währing, you might feel like you are getting a bit of a workout.

During Viennese hot summers, this workout might make you arrive somewhat sweaty at your destination. If you want to avoid this, it is important to plan to wear breathable clothes, bring an extra set, or bike so slowly that you barely start sweating.

Also, it is good to remember that you are allowed to take your bike on the metro outside of rush hours.

Pedestrians share paths with bikes

In many parts of the city, such as along the Ringstraße surrounding the inner district, bikers share paths with pedestrians, sometimes leading to stressful situations.

Many pedestrians do not watch out for bikes, change their walking patterns, or might be listening to music. It is therefore very important to pay attention to your surroundings when you ride in this part of the city.

Take the red lights into consideration

If the light is red, you are not allowed to go through it, even if there are no cars or pedestrians crossing your route.

Another important thing regarding traffic lights is that, if you are unlucky, you might have to wait for the green light multiple times during your bike trip, which could make you arrive later than expected.

A good idea is to start a little earlier to avoid arriving late if you are going somewhere important.

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