Viena Austria Sports and activities
There are plenty of opportunities for active leisure, Viennese sport complexes can attract those who participate in sports as well as those who only watch. Horse racing has long traditions in the city.
There are three racetracks, but the oldest and the most venerable is Rennbahn Freudenau, at Trapprenbahnplatz on the grounds of the Prater. It was established in 1836 for Viennese noblemen and given comprehensive infrastructure in 1867, which is being updated to the latest standard each few years. It operates from April to November, in late June attracting flock of fans on Vienna Derby, one of the most celebrated events of the kind.
Rennbahn Krieau, located on the opposite site of the Prater fairgrounds, rivals with the previous in terms of popularity, though it does not feature imperial architecture and style and has more modest dimensions. The races arecheld every week of the year, in July and August they move to the nearby resort of Baden for a short, two-month season.
Magna Racino, the newest of all, is significantly influenced by modern architecture. Austrian Derby is held there in the late June. Along with racing tracks it has the whole entertainment complex with casino, several restaurants, cabaret shows.
Football in Austria might be not such a nationwide passion as in Germany of Italy, but there are some powerful, top-level clubs. Rapide-Wien plays at Hannappi Stadion, Keisslergasse. Austria-Wien (Österreichische National Team) is based at the Horr Stadion, Fischhofgasse. Ernst-Happel-Stadion hosts international matches.
There are numerous gyms, sports clubs, cycling tracks. The Danube provides opportunities for sailing, rowing, windsurfing and water skiing. Swimming can be practiced on many beaches along the river as well as indoor and outdoor pools.