Lake Neusiedl lies south-east of Vienna in the border triangle between Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. The flat steppe lake is surrounded by flat puszta in the east and fertile low mountain ranges in the south and west. It is possible to cycle around the lake on the largely flat Lake Neusiedl Cycle Path. This runs (apart from one section in Hungary) mainly off the road and is well signposted. The slopes of the Leitha Mountains offer a view over the lake, but are hilly.
Journey
By train (EC, bicycle reservation required) from Munich to Vienna and on to Bruck an der Leitha or Neusiedl am See. Total journey time from seven hours; due to construction work at Vienna railway station in 2010, it was necessary to change trains several times in Vienna. Easier alternative: cycle through the city to the Ostbahn railway station. Return journey from Vienna. http://www.bahn.deCyclist hotline 0180/5996633
Stages
Stage 1: Neusiedl am See - Podersdorf On the Lake Neusiedl cycle path to Podersdorf. Length approx. 19 km, flat
Stage 2: Podersdorf - Frauenkirchen - St. Andrä am Zicksee - Apetlon - Ilmitz From the lakeshore along the Lackenradweg through the national park. Length: approx. 53 km, flat
Stage 3: Illmitz - Pamhagen - Fertöd - Fetörakos - Mörbisch. In Hungary partly on the (low-traffic) road. Length: approx. 50 km, approx. 200 metres in altitude
Stage 4: Mörbisch - St. Margareten - Rust - Donnerskirchen - Neusiedl From Mörbisch uphill into the vineyards with the best view of the lake. Length: approx. 50 km, approx. 400 metres in altitude.
Stage 5: Neusiedl - Hainburg - Danube cycle path - Vienna approx. 80 km, mostly flat
Information
Lake Neusiedl: Neusiedler See Tourismus GmbH, telephone 0043/2167/8600; http://www.neusiedlersee.com
Vienna: Vienna Tourist Office, telephone 0043/1/24555; http://www.wien.info
Accommodation
Accommodation is available in every town, with guesthouses starting at just 20 euros per night. We particularly liked these two mid-range hotels:
Hotel Johannes Zeche, Florianigasse 10, 7142 Illmitz, phone 0043/2175/2335; http://www.johannes-zeche.at
Hotel Das Schmidt, Raiffeisenstraße, 7072 Mörbisch am See, phone 0043/2685/8294; http://www.das-schmidt.at
Worth seeing
Neusiedl: The chic restaurant at the end of the Mole West and its surroundings are the perfect place to sit at sunset. http://www.mole-west.at
Illmitz/St. Andrä: Birdwatching in the Lacken area of the Lake Neusiedl National Park. Rare wading birds within reach of binoculars, information centre in Illmitz.
Fertöd: Esterházy Palace is not to be missed. The magnificent building is open to visitors.
Rust: listed historic town centre with many storks on the roofs. Filming location for the TV series "Der Winzerkönig".
Literature / Maps
Bikeline cycle tour book Lake Neusiedl Cycle Route, 9.90 euros; http://www.esterbauer.com
The tour book in practical cover pocket format with 1:50,000 scale maps is not really necessary for orientation. However, it does contain interesting additional information. Lake Neusiedl cycle tour map, produced by Neusiedler See Tourismus GmbH, scale 1:100,000, 1 euro. Advantage of this map (apart from the price): It reaches as far as the Danube cycle path to Vienna.
