Page 233 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

ENTER T AINMENT IN VIENNA  231

Sport and Dance Horse Racing
The Prater offers a wide range
Famed for its waltz, it’s no surprise that one of Vienna’s of activities (see pp164–5),
favourite pastimes is dance and many of the city’s dance including trotting races at
schools hold special waltz classes during the Carnival season the Krieau.
(see p67). Ice-skating is hugely popular and open-air rinks are
well-attended, as is the rink at the Stadthalle, which also Dancing and Dance
boasts bowling alleys and a pool. Vienna is home to the Schools
nation’s two most successful football (soccer) teams, the bitter During the Carnival season (see
rivals Austria Vienna and Rapid Wien. Their matches against p67) many balls, and some fancy
each other are particularly lively. Horse racing in Vienna is dress dances, are held in Vienna.
perhaps less raucous than in some other countries. Venues include the Hofburg, the
Neues Rathaus (see p132) and
the Musikverein (see p150). The
Ice-Skating
shallow pool to be watched grandest event is the Vienna
Outdoor ice-skating is very by the attendants. Beach huts Opera Ball (see p141), which
popular in Vienna. Locals make on the Alte Donau coast can takes place on the Thursday
good use of the open-air rinks be hired daily from Strandbad before Ash Wednesday. The
at the Wiener Eislaufverein and Gänsehäufel or Strandbad opening ceremony includes
Vienna Ice Dreams (see p234). Alte Donau, where you can perfor mances by vocal soloists,
also hire boats. Strandbad the orchestra and the ballet
Gänsehäufel has a beach, a company of the Vienna State
Swimming
heated pool, table tennis and Opera. An invitation is not
Vienna can be very warm Punch and Judy shows. needed, you just buy a ticket.
in summer and has many Donauinsel water park is The Kaiserball is held at the
outdoor pools, including run by the city and is open Neue Burg on New Year’s Eve
the Schönbrunner Bad in the 24 hours, with free admission. (see pp67 and 97). A special ball
Schönbrunn Palace park (see calendar is issued by the Vienna
pp174–7). The Krapfenwaldbad Football Tourist Office (see p238).
has wonderful views over The Summer Dance Festival
Vienna, and the Schafbergbad The Viennese are enthusiastic (see p65) runs from July to
is pleasant for families. The football fans, and there are two August. Dance classes for all
Therme Wien is a privately covered football stadiums in the ages and in all styles are popular
owned thermal spa; it is city. The Ernst Happel Stadion, among locals and tourists
sometimes known as Oberlaa. the national stadium, is in alike. There are a number of
The Familienbad Augarten (see the Prater and the Hanappi schools, such as the Elmayer-
p234) is popular with children, Stadion, home to Rapid Vienna, Vestenbrugg dance school,
and they can be left in the is at Hütteldorf. which also teaches etiquette.
DIRECTORY
General Swimming Strandbad Alte Football
Donau
Stadthalle Donauinsel Arbeiterstrandbad- Ernst Happel Stadion
Vogelweidplatz 15. U1 stop – Donauinsel. strasse 91. Tel 2636538. Meiereistrasse 7.
Tel 7280854.
Swimming pool Tel 40008042. Open May–Sep: Hanappi Stadion
Hütteldorferstrasse 2h. 9am–8pm Mon–Fri, Kaisslergasse 6.
Tel 8901764890. Krapfenwaldbad 8am–8pm Sat & Sun. Tel 9145519.
Open 8am–9:30pm Mon, Krapfenwaldgasse 65–73.
Wed & Fri, 6:30am–9:30pm Strandbad Horse Racing
Tel 32015010.
Tue & Thu, 7am–9:30pm Gänsehäufel Krieau Prater
Sat, 7am–6pm Sun & Open May–Sep: Moissigasse 21. Trotting stadium
Nordportalstrasse 247.
public hols. 9am–8pm Mon–Fri, Tel 2699016. Open May– Tel 7280046 (see pp66 &
8am–8pm Sat & Sun. Sep: 9am–8pm Mon–Fri, 164). ∑ krieau.at
Ice-Skating 8am–8pm Sat & Sun.
Schafbergbad Dancing and
Wiener Eislaufverein Josef-Redl-Gasse 2. Therme Wien Dance Schools
Lothringerstrasse 28. Kurbadstrasse 14.
Tel 4791593. Elmayer-Vestenbrugg
Tel 7136353. Tel 680099600. Bräunerstrasse 13.
Open Nov–Feb: 9am– Open May–Sep: Open 9am–10pm daily Map 5 C4.
9pm Tue–Fri, 9am–8pm 9am–8pm Mon–Fri, (from 8am Sun & public Tel 5127197.
Sat–Mon & public hols. 8am–8pm Sat & Sun. hols). ∑ elmayer.at

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