Living in Donau City — what is it like?
Short and honest: you live in a high-rise district on a platform over the motorway, between the UN City and the New Danube, with the U1 five minutes on foot away and the water at the door. The trade-off: it is windy, the streets between the towers feel empty, and what is being built is expensive.
Living Snapshot — why there is no number here
There is no Grätzl of its own for Donau City in Vienna Living Map, and the nearest lies more than two kilometres away across the Danube. A number from there would say nothing about this place — so there is none here.
What shapes daily life
Where Donau City stands today, there used to be a landfill and an informal settlement. The Expo 95 world fair was planned here — Viennese voters rejected it in a referendum in May 1991, with 64.85 per cent against. Since 1991 the WED has been developing the area; it controls 18.5 hectares. It is built on the “Donauplatte”, the platform covering the A22 motorway.
The towers shape the picture: the Mischek Tower (110 metres, 2000), the Hochhaus Neue Donau (150 metres, 2002), DC Tower 1 (around 220 metres, opened in February 2014) and the Danube Flats (a good 175 metres, 48 storeys, completed 2024) with around 600 freely financed owner-occupied and investment flats. DC Towers 2 and 3 are under construction. There are schools and churches in the district, and the Donauinsel is right next to it.
What works surprisingly well
The U1 is close: Kaisermühlen-VIC station is about five minutes on foot from the middle of Donau City, six stops from Stephansplatz.
The water is at the door: the New Danube and the Donauinsel are right by the district, and the Alte Donau is one U1 stop further. And if you live high up, you look out over the city.
What you consciously accept
It is windy: between the towers, the comfort threshold of 20 kilometres per hour is exceeded in places on around 120 days a year. The streets also feel empty — many buildings serve a single purpose, and the ground floors see little life.
What is built is expensive: the Danube Flats are freely financed owner-occupied and investment flats; that these rather than affordable flats were built here was the main criticism of the project. And the motorway runs beneath the platform.
20 minutes of everyday life
Four stops, one evening after work — every observation is true exactly here, not everywhere.
- U1 Kaisermühlen-VIC 18:00
Getting off by the Vienna International Centre, six stops from Stephansplatz. - DC Tower 1 18:05
Around 220 metres, since February 2014 the tallest building in Donau City. - Danube Flats 18:09
A good 175 metres, 48 storeys, around 600 flats, completed 2024 — on the New Danube. - Mischek Tower 18:14
The residential high-rise of 2000, 110 metres tall, at the northern edge of the district.
Who is it for?
For anyone who wants to live high up, with the U-Bahn and water at the door and a wide view — and who accepts wind and a quiet, rather empty street life. If you are looking for a Grätzl with Beisln, markets and life on the street, you will not find it here.
Check the light per floor
In a tower, the floor and the side decide: on the tenth floor the neighbouring towers may be in the way, on the fortieth hardly any more. The light check calculates, for the address and floor, when direct sun reaches the windows — on 21 June and 21 December, with the official heights of the neighbouring buildings. The preview for one room is free. To the light check →
Open this place in Vienna Living Map →Living at the Alte Donau · Kagran · Living near the Danube Tower · Donaustadt district · Karl-Marx-Hof · Arsenal
Method & sources
History, buildings and criticism: Wikipedia, articles “Donau City” and “Danube Flats” (read on 30 September 2026). There is no Grätzl for Donau City in Vienna Living Map, and therefore no Living Snapshot. Walking minutes: straight line from the middle of the district × 1.3 at 80 metres per minute.
Frequently asked
What is Donau City?
A high-rise district in the 22nd district between the Reichsbrücke and the UN City, built on a platform over the A22 motorway. It used to be a landfill and an informal settlement; the planned Expo 95 was rejected in a referendum in 1991, and since then the WED has been developing the area.
How tall are the Danube Flats?
A good 175 metres with 48 storeys; completed in 2024, with around 600 freely financed owner-occupied and investment flats. Only DC Tower 1, at around 220 metres, is taller in Donau City.
How windy is Donau City?
Noticeably: in places the comfort threshold of 20 kilometres per hour is exceeded on around 120 days a year.
How is Donau City connected?
By the U1: Kaisermühlen-VIC is about five minutes on foot from the middle of the district, six stops from Stephansplatz; Donauinsel station is at the Reichsbrücke.
What is it like to live in Donau City?
High up, close to the water and quickly in town — but windy, with little life on the street, and the new flats are freely financed. Donau City has no Living Score: Vienna Living Map measures Grätzl, and the nearest lies across the Danube.