The best walks and hikes around Bezirk Neusiedl am See

The Podersdorf am See lighthouse was built in 1998 as part of the redesign of the lido and, with its characteristic red-and-white paint, is one of the southernmost inland lighthouses in the German-speaking world. In addition to its function as an optical orientation aid and light storm warning system for water sports enthusiasts, the approximately 12-meter-high metal tower serves as a striking landmark. Today, it is a well-known landmark of Burgenland as well as a popular excursion destination and photo motif on the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl.

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 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 basic lake at Podersdorf am See consists of two idyllic bodies of water directly on the cycle path, which have been leased and are managed by the local sport fishing association. In contrast to the protected, periodically drying salt lakes of the National Park, this is an artificially created, up to eight-meter-deep pond complex with carp, pike, and sturgeon stocks. It serves regionally as a sport fishing area (with day tickets) as well as a popular resting point on cycling and hiking routes, although swimming there is strictly forbidden.

The Vogelturm Lange Lacke (often also referred to as Aussichtsturm Lange Lacke Süd) is located directly on the southern shore of the Lange Lacke near Apetlon. It serves as an optimal observation point for undisturbed viewing of the species-rich birdlife and the typical Pannonian lake landscape from above. Due to its location on the well-known Lackenradweg cycle path and on circular hiking trails, the wooden tower is a popular destination for cyclists, hikers, and ornithologists.

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.