The River Danube cuts right through the city and can be inviting for a paddle during the summer, although wintertime brings out the best Vienna has to offer, with world renowned ski resorts within reach and the Wiener Eislaufverein ice skating rink near the city centre. Boating: visitors can take a boat tour of the Danube, although hiring a boat and going it alone is a far better experience. Unfortunately for much of the year the Danube isn’t as blue as one might imagine going through the city, yet An der Obere on the Danube is pleasant and there are kiosks with boats and canoes for hire. Ice skating: the Wiener Eislaufverein on Lothringer Strasse 22, located near Am Stadtpark to the southeast of the city centre, is a public rink and gets busy with skaters when it is open between October and March. The rink is easy to get to by public transport and skates can be rented from nearby kiosks. Skiing: the Alps, to the southwest of Vienna, are within reach and there are many fine ski resorts in the region. The ski season goes roughly from November to March where hundreds of slopes are open to skiers and snowboarders, as well as cross-country (Nordic) skiers. During the summertime, many ski lifts remain open to ferry hikers to remote spots. Several shuttle companies offer ski packages from hotels and guesthouses in the city or you could go it alone by bus or hire car. | 
