Vienna-Bratislava

Section 1 of the Sultans hiking Trail runs from Vienna to Bratislava. This section is relatively short, 110 km. It follows the right bank of the Danube river in ‘Niederösterreich’, partly following the Leitha river through what is called ‘Burgenland’. The banks of the Leitha river offer shade in the summer and its valley is like a wind tunnel driving the many wind turbines and cooling the hiker.

At Hainburg the Danube takes a sharp bend to the right, and so does the trail. From there the trail follows ‘der Treppelweg’ (towpath) towards Bratislava, its white square castle growing bigger and bigger as one approaches.

The landscape is relatively flat, agricultural land, with occasionally a field of wind turbines.

Accommodation

The villages along this stage of the trail provide for the daily shopping needs. Recent government regulations make it difficult for accommodation owners to survive. Some close, others focus on migrant workers, which means that they are fully booked during the week, and closed in the weekends.

Local winegrowers organize in turn ‘Heuriger‘, at which food and wine is served. The heuriger-calendar is locally known.

Special places

Vienna, of course, is worth a visit. The prologue of the Sultans Trail takes you to the Kahlenberg, where during the last Ottoman siege, the final battle was fought. The trail starts at the Stephansdom, in the heart of the ancient city and passes the imperial summer palace Belvedère, with its famous art collection, including works of Gustav Klimt, and the Military Historical Museum. It also passes the huge central cemetery where so many famous people are buried.

Outside Vienna, Carnuntum stands out. In Roman times larger and more important than Vienna, located at the crossroads of the Limes, along the border of the empire and the Amberroute, which connects the Baltic Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

A bit further we find Hainburg a/d Donau, a medieval city, still fully enclosed by city walls. The Sultans Trail enters the city through Fisherman’s gate. And, in the Danube bend, across the river, we find medieval ruins of Devin before we get to Bratislava.

How to get there

Vienna International Airport (IATA code: VIE) is located 18km south-east of the city in Schwechat and is frequented by ca.100 international airlines, including low-cost carriers, providing regular connections to a wide variety of European destinations.
Vienna airport also serves as a gateway to Bratislava.
The airport is well connected to the city by public transportation.

Bratislava International Airport (IATA code: BTS), Letisko M. R. Štefánika, is located north-east of the town and has a regular bus connection to the city centre. See www.bts.aero/en/
Bratislava is also served by Vienna International Airport with which it has a frequent bus connection.

Between Vienna and Bratislava is a regular bus connection.

Both Vienna and Bratislava own good train and bus connections to many major cities in Europe.

The villages along the trail are serviced by a train and bus.

Map