The idyllic town of Podersdorf is the most popular spot for surfers on Lake Neusiedl, which has become a mecca for Vienna’s surfing scene because it’s just an hour’s drive from Vienna.

Every year at the end of April, kitesurfing and windsurfing competitions are held at the summer opening event on Podersdorf Beach. There are plenty of free parking spaces, and the wide, kilometer-long beach with access to the lake is divided into swimming and surfing areas.

With an average depth of less than two meters, Lake Neusiedl is a paradise for beginners and pros alike. Currently, the water level is relatively low, which makes sports like sailing difficult, but for kitesurfing, the low water level is actually an advantage. It helps you learn even faster.
The prevailing wind direction is northwest. During the summer months, winds from the southeast to the southwest are also common. Thunderstorms can develop suddenly, especially on hot, humid summer days, and the wind can pick up at any time during a storm, often reaching 6 to 10 Beaufort within a few minutes.

Most storms occur after a southerly airflow, which then quickly turns into a strong northwesterly wind. Visual storm warning systems (orange flashing lights) are in place around the lake.

The Leitha Mountains, located to the west of Lake Neusiedl, act as a barrier against the meteorological west. This location gives the region a continental climate, which is reflected in the longest duration of sunshine in all of Central Europe and the highest average temperatures in Austria.

The water temperature is usually 25° in the summer. In the spring, the lake warms up very quickly due to its shallow depth. Thermal conditions play no role at Lake Neusiedl; it is purely a frontal area. Southeast winds prevail during the fall and winter months. Starting in March and April, western weather fronts increasingly move across the lake, which usually results in strong winds.

Generally speaking, the northwest wind dictates conditions on the water. However, when the weather is bad south of the main Alpine ridge (Föhn conditions in the Alps), the wind usually comes from the southeast.

Lake Neusiedl (Hungarian: Fertő-tó; “fertő” literally means “marsh”) in Burgenland is, like Lake Balaton, one of the few steppe lakes in Europe. Lake Neusiedl lies on both Austrian and Hungarian territory.

In terms of the area of the Austrian portion, it is also Austria’s largest lake (Austria’s share of Lake Constance, which is otherwise larger, is very small). It is characterized by its reed beds, its shallow depth, and its mild and windy climate.

The unique flora and fauna are highlighted by the two national parks—Neusiedler See-Seewinkel and Fertő-Hanság—and the designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name “Fertő/Neusiedler See Cultural Landscape.”