The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Illmitz

The Zicklacke (also called Illmitzer Zicksee) near Illmitz is one of the best-known and largest salt lakes in the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park. These shallow bodies of water are characterized by their high salt content and regularly dry out during hot summer months, leaving behind characteristic whitish salt efflorescences. They serve as an essential habitat for rare, salt-adapted plants (halophytes) and as a central resting and breeding ground for numerous protected bird species, making them a popular destination for nature observations from viewing towers.

The picnic area at Oberen Stinkersee is located in the municipality of Illmitz near the Hölle district, in the middle of the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park. The idyllically situated rest stop is equipped with benches, a table, and information boards, offering an ideal intermediate stop for hikers and cyclists alike. Thanks to the excellent view of the typical salt lake landscape, it is perfect for quietly observing rare water birds and the region's protected flora.

The information center of the Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park is located on the outskirts of Illmitz and serves as a central point of contact for exhibitions, expert advice, and information about the region's unique habitats. It offers interactive insights into the species-rich birdlife, the typical salt pans, and the reed belt of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Furthermore, it is the ideal starting point for guided excursions, nature experiences, and bike tours through the cross-border national park.

It serves as an ideal observation point for the rich birdlife and, thanks to an accessible ramp, also accommodates visitors with prams or wheelchairs. Due to its location directly on regional cycle paths and hiking trails, the tower is a popular stopover for nature observation in the Seewinkel.

The observation tower is located directly on the saline soda lake of the Lower Stinkersee and is situated immediately on the cycle path between Podersdorf and Illmitz. It serves as an excellent vantage point for observing rare waders and water birds such as pied avocets, black-winged stilts, or common terns in their natural habitat. Directly next to the wooden structure, a rest stop with a publicly accessible drinking water fountain offers an ideal refreshment opportunity for cyclists and hikers.

The Fürst Paul V. Esterházy Observation Tower (often simply referred to as the Sandeck Cycle Path Observation Tower) is a modern viewing platform near Illmitz. The platform was built as part of the cross-border nature conservation project PaNaNet and blends harmoniously into the flat Pannonian landscape with its wooden architecture. The tower stands on stilts, thus avoiding any soil sealing during its construction.

The Austro-Hungarian Baroque Donkeys (also called Goldschimmel) are a very special attraction and an important part of nature conservation in the national park. After the decline of the monarchy, the animals were almost extinct. It was only at the end of the 20th century that the rescue of the breed began. Today, there are only a few hundred specimens worldwide again, making them continue to be among the highly endangered domestic animal breeds.

The Przewalski horses are the last true wild horse species on Earth. In the national park, they play a central role in the conservation and grazing concept. The animals graze in the so-called “Przewalski-Koppel” in the siltation zone south of the Unterer Stinkersee. Through their hard grazing and hoof impact, they keep reeds, bushes, and grasses short in order to preserve the open steppe landscape for rare wading and water birds.