Slovakia, Austria: Day 17 - From Bratislava to Vienna, dip in Alte Donau river

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 17.

14/8 Day 17: Train from Bratislava to Vienna Hbf (main station). Departed 9.50am and arrived 10.46am. Took a dip in Alte Donau river. 

Cost

(1) Train ticket from Bratislava to Vienna EUR16,20

(2) Train ticket (80 minutes) from Wien Hbf to Pilgramgasse station EUR3

(3) Train ticket (80 minutes) from Pilgramgasse station to Alte Donau station EUR3

(4) Train ticket (80 minutes) from Alte Donau station to Vogartenstrasse station EUR3

Accommodation

(1) Austria Trend Hotel Ananas Wien, 1 night (from Booking.com) - Shared room EUR93,96 for 3 persons, EUR31,32 per person

Food
(1) Breakfast at Naglreiter Cafe - Sandwich with ham, cheese and salad leaf EUR2,70. Cappucino EUR2,45.

(2) Lunch at Stöger, Vienna - today's lunch garlic soup and grilled chicken in salad EUR13,80. radler 500ml EUR5,90

(3) Coffee at Wildkaffee cafe, Vienna - cappucino EUR4,10

(4) Radler 500ml at Drunter & Druber bar opposite the place we took a dip - EUR4,50

(5) Dinner at Schweizerhaus in Prater amusement park - sausage with sour cabbage and boiled potatoes EUR11,50, radler 500ml EUR5,90

The Story

14082026: Our stay in Slovakia ends today. From Bratislava, we took the train to Vienna. There were no direct flights from Bratislava to Stockholm. The flights that I checked had a stopover at Vienna. So, I decided that we fly back from Vienna instead. Plus, there are hourly trains from Bratislava to Vienna! It takes also less than an hour to arrive in Vienna. How convenient! 

We had breakfast at the same place that we had two days ago. Not many cafes are opened at 8am. I had the same breakfast - sandwich and cappucino. 

Then, we made our way to Bratislava train station. There is no allocated time on the ticket. The ticket is valid for three days from the planned travel date. That is so great!

We arrived at the train station at 9.45am and thought that we will not be able to catch the next train at 9.50am. We decided to go to the platform and saw that the train has not left. It was 9.51am. So, we went onboard! Plus, I still had time to take a photo. No problem in getting a seat in the train. 

We arrived at Wien Hbf at 10.46am. Oh, it was even hotter here.

I booked a hotel to stay in Vienna. No Airbnb this time because it is just for one night. I had to choose the sort-of affordable hotel that is near to a train station. 

Check-in time at the hotel is 3pm. They allowed us to store our luggage in the hotel so we could have our lunch. We found a restaurant that had today's lunch which included soup. I had chicken salad. It was tasty. There were not many customers in the restaurant and the waiter was friendly. Radler here is expensive. Well, we are in Vienna. Everything is expensive now.

Then, we looked for a cafe. It was only 1pm. It was really hot outside - 38 degrees so we had to find a place to sit inside. Unfortunately, the Wildkaffee cafe's airconditioning was not working and the doors were opened. So hot. My travel companion chose this place as the coffee had good review. I thought it tasted just like any other cappucino. The places were fully seated and also, most of the coffee cups were empty. I think everyone is avoiding the heat by sitting here. 

We finished our coffee within half an hour and decided to go back to the hotel where there is airconditioning in the lobby. We waited 1,5 hours in the lobby as the staff is very strict on checking in at 3pm. Gosh. We sat on the sofa and enjoyed the cold air. So, we checked in at 3pm. The hotel's airconditioning was not fully functional. We will survive one night. My travel companions suggested to go to Alte Donau river to take a dip. One travel companion has been here and he said that there is an entrance fee. I said no immediately. I am not paying EUR8 to take a dip in the waters. I was already dissatisfied paying EUR6 at Lake Zlate Piesky in Bratislava. So, I searched online and found out that there is a place that is free. It is a few metres away from the fenced outdoor pool (Strandbad Alte Donau). I told my travel companions that I am going to the free spot and they can pay their EUR8. In the end, they followed me.

We took the train from Pilgramgasse station to Alte Donau station. Looks like the town trusts the passengers to buy their tickets and validating the tickets before entering the ticket zone.

From the Alte Donau station, we walked towards the outdoor pool but walked past all the entrances until we reached the end of the fence.

Ta-da, the end of the fence. And looks like we are not the only people here. 

We found a shady spot, put our things on the ground, took turns to watch over our things and dipped ourselves in the warm water. I could see the floats that marks the barrier for the outdoor pool. Well, my plan to swim to the outdoor pool did not materialised. Of course, there is a barrier in the waters. The water is shallow in the river. Well, I did not go to the middle of the river. 

We left the place from another exit to go to a bar opposite us.

Drunter & Druber bar takes only cash. Luckily, I had cash. I got my cold radler. Quite affordable here at EUR4,50. Cheaper than the one I had at lunch (paid EUR5,90).

Time for dinner. My travel companions wanted to have pork knuckle since we are in Austria. Pork knuckle is a local dish in Austria and Germany. So, we took the train again and alighted at Vogartenstrasse station. We went inside an amusement park, Prater. I was surprised that it is free entry into the park. I have never been to an amusement park without entrance fees. So, one pays per ride. I checked that the carousel ride costs EUR4 today for an adult and kid. The amusement park, Gröna Lund in Stockholm costs SEK495 for entrance fee now during autumn with unlimited rides. I wonder which is worth it. Probably the one in Stockholm.

The Prater Tower. EUR10. 

The restaurant is in the amusement park, hence, why we were here. It is a beer garden and there were so many customers! We sat inside which was quite warm. Should have sat outside but we could not find any places. I had sausages with sauerkraut (sour cabbage) while my travel companions had a large pork knuckle. They could not finish it. It was 1kg. They overestimated themselves. I offered to share but they declined. 

As the travel companions were extremely full, we walked back to the hotel. It took us 1 hour 12 minutes. It was a lovely walk. 

We walked along the Danube canal, on a walkway called Henritte-Fahrbach Promenade. By the way, a promenade is also a place and an action in English as well as a verb. I saw many groups of people and individuals along the canal. There were music and it was so lively.