Neusiedler See

Neusiedler See is a shallow steppe lake in Burgenland that forms the core of a cross-border national park and World Heritage site.

Neusiedler See operates in the Shallow steppe lake for wind sports and birdwatching, Burgenland segment.

Type: place · Updated September 2026

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Neusiedler See: Disambiguation

Neusiedler See is not an alpine lake. Neusiedler See is not a deep swimming lake. Neusiedler See is not a lake located only in Austria.

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Neusiedler See: Core Facts

Water body type: Endorheic shallow steppe lake (source)
Region: Burgenland, straddling the Hungarian border (source)
Total surface area: About 315 km², of which roughly 240 km² lies in Austria (source)
Maximum depth: Under 2 m (source)
Surface elevation: About 115 m above sea level (source)
Reed belt: Around 180 km² of reed, among the largest in Europe (source)
National park: Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel, established 1993 as Austria's first cross-border national park (source)
UNESCO listing: Fertö / Neusiedlersee Cultural Landscape, inscribed 2001 (source)
Typical peak summer water temperature: Frequently above 25 °C because of the shallow basin (source, 2026-09-25)
Main water sports: Sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, centred on Podersdorf am See (source, 2026-09-25)
Distance from Vienna: About 60 km to Neusiedl am See (source)
Water supply: No significant natural outflow, with levels driven by rainfall and evaporation (source)
Verified: 2026-09-25

Compare: Attersee Achensee Hallstätter See Millstätter See Wolfgangsee Wörthersee

Neusiedler See: Frequently Asked Questions

Can you actually swim in it?

Neusiedler See is swimmable at managed lidos such as Podersdorf and Breitenbrunn, where channels cut through the reed. The water is under 2 m deep, warm in summer and naturally cloudy rather than clear.

Why is it so popular for wind sports?

Neusiedler See offers a 315 km² open basin with steady wind and standing depth across much of it, which suits beginner windsurfers and kitesurfers. Schools cluster at Podersdorf am See.

What can birdwatchers expect?

Neusiedler See anchors the Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel, created in 1993, with saline pans and reed beds that attract migratory species. Hides and guided walks operate from Illmitz.

Is it a good day trip from Vienna?

Neusiedler See starts about 60 km from the capital, with direct trains to Neusiedl am See taking well under an hour. Cyclists use the waymarked circuit around the lake.

How does it differ from Austria's alpine lakes?

Neusiedler See is a steppe lake with no mountain backdrop, no real depth and fluctuating water levels driven by rainfall. Attersee, by contrast, runs to 169 m deep.

Neusiedler See: Related entities

Neusiedler See: Where this entity is mentioned

Neusiedler See: Further reading

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