I think Hainburg an der Donau is ideal for a short trip from Bratislava. By car you’re there in about half an hour, and parking is no problem. What surprised me was how many Slovaks shop and work here. If you come in summer, make a note of the open-air pool: it’s heated by nothing but the sun.
- Without a car
- Bus 901 from under the SNP Bridge (Most SNP), or by bike along the Danube from Lafranconi Bridge
- Heimenburg Castle
- About a 10-minute walk from the car park below the castle, with views of Hainburg and Bratislava
- My tip
- Take a picnic up to the castle courtyard; I was so content there that I fell asleep in the grass
- Worth it
- I liked the Danube promenade more than the town centre, and I ate at the Donaucafe there
- Braunsberg viewpoint
- With a Celtic watchtower; go by car or by bike, because on foot it’s a proper climb
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I wrote this article in 2017. Prices, opening hours and connections may have changed since then, so check them before you go.
What to see in Hainburg? Good question. I’d been planning a trip to Hainburg for a few years. The trouble was that it’s right on my doorstep, and as usual, the closer something is, the longer you put it off. I’d passed through Hainburg dozens of times, but only ever on my way to Vienna airport. This time, though, I decided to make a proper trip of it and take a good look at the town up close.
What to see in Hainburg an der Donau
Things that surprised me
- You hardly hear any German here.
- A great many people from Bratislava come here to shop.
- The shops employ Slovaks who commute from Bratislava every day. Jobs in Hainburg clearly pay well.
- It’s not as expensive as you’d expect for Austria.
How to get to Hainburg from Bratislava
By car it takes about half an hour, and parking really isn’t a problem. I used the large car park by the shopping centre in the middle of town.
By bus it’s quick and easy. Line 901 leaves from under the SNP Bridge (Most SNP) and also stops at Einsteinova. A single ticket costs €2.50 from the driver or in the IDS BK app, which covers public transport in the Bratislava region. Slovak Lines buses to Vienna airport and Vienna itself haven’t stopped in Hainburg since 2019; they take the motorway instead. I’ve also written an older guide on how to buy a ticket to Vienna for one euro.
By bike you follow the Danube, and the views are lovely. Just ride down off Lafranconi Bridge on the Petržalka side of the river and keep going straight.
By boat you leave from the passenger port in Bratislava. It takes two and a quarter hours to get there and an hour and a quarter to get back. The LOD boat company doesn’t sail to Hainburg every day, though: in 2026 it ran on only eight selected dates between May and September.
Hainburg day trip from Bratislava
The Danube promenade in Hainburg
To be honest, I found the town centre pretty but nothing special. A restaurant here and there, and flowers everywhere. I liked the promenade and the walk along the Danube far more. I met lots of Slovaks there who had cycled over from Bratislava. Along the river there’s a café and a great restaurant, where I stopped to eat. It’s called the Donaucafe.
What else would I order in Austria but a schnitzel? The only thing I didn’t like was that they didn’t take cards. The schnitzel and an excellent salad came to €10.
Heimenburg Castle above Hainburg
You can’t drive up to the castle, so you’ll have to walk. There’s a handy car park below it, though, and from there it’s about 10 minutes to the top. I don’t know whether I was just tired or some magical historical forces were at work, but I felt wonderfully content in the courtyard. So content that I fell asleep in the grass. From the castle there’s a great view over the whole of Hainburg and across to Bratislava. It has stood here since 1050, and admission is free.
TIP: I’d definitely pack some sausages, or whatever you fancy. The castle courtyard is a great spot for an all-day picnic.
The Braunsberg viewpoint and the Celtic watchtower
Hainburg is all hills, and every one of them has something worth seeing. Not a bad place for viewpoints, then. My last stop, with a fine view over Austria, was the viewpoint on the Braunsberg hill, which also has an old Celtic watchtower. So you can play at being a Celt and keep watch over Hainburg. I’d go up by car or by bike, because on foot it’s a proper climb.
Bergbad, the outdoor pool in Hainburg
Hainburg has a well-known outdoor pool, the Bergbad, right below the Braunsberg. In 2017 an adult ticket cost €5.50. In the 2026 season it costs €10, or €5 from 4pm. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. The 50-metre pool is heated by the sun, so the water is only ever as warm as the weather.
You might also like my seven tips on where to go in Austria.
A Slovak travel blogger who has been getting Slovaks out of their office chairs since 2013. Author of the book Influencer and founder of the Bez Mapy blog.
