Guesthouses Neuer Strand: a tiny house overlooking the reeds of Lake Neusiedl

Location: an hour from Vienna, a whole world of its own by the water

Breitenbrunn on Lake Neusiedl sits right on the B10 between Vienna and Eisenstadt. By car, you’re here in 55 minutes from Vienna. Also easy: Breitenbrunn/Neusiedler See train station, just a ten-minute drive from the resort. EV charging stations are, of course, available on site. With the Burgenland Card, which you get free from your first night’s stay, you travel free on buses and trains right across the province.

Accommodation: 45 tiny houses, four views, one concept

The first impression as you step out of the car is unusual: no busy hotel lobby, no reception desk on a marble floor. Instead, a narrow path leading to a free-standing wooden house set between reeds and water. Open the large sliding door inside, and at first you hear nothing at all. Listen again, and there it is: reeds, wind, birds. Nothing else.

Four guesthouse types are on offer, depending on what you’d like to see first thing in the morning: Birdwatcher (right in the middle of the reed belt, binoculars included in the house), Lake View (the classic, the star of the show), Leitha Hills View (for hill lovers) and Reed View (wheelchair-accessible).

Every house shares the same DNA: a wind-sheltered terrace, a private outdoor sauna, an open-plan kitchen-living area with a dining table, a pull-out sofa, and in some houses even a separate children’s room. Inside, the design leans on lots of wood, clean lines and high-quality furniture, and you can tell in every detail that a design team really poured their love of materials into this. On top of that, solar panels on the roof (fully self-sufficient in energy on sunny days), automatic shading, and stilts instead of a concrete foundation — sustainably built throughout, in coordination with the design advisory board of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

For kids: the reeds rustle right outside the door

What kids especially love about this place? That they have everything they need, and parents don’t have to chase after anyone. In front of every house, a patch of lawn with a view over the reeds; five minutes to the swimming beach with a playground, sunbathing lawn and volleyball court. Anyone keen on water sports is right in the middle of it: SUP, surfing, pedal boats, all available on site.

Food: Asian meets Burgenland

The in-house restaurant Libelle brings two worlds together: Asian-inspired cooking and Burgenland classics. Tom kha gai meets Backhendl, both done well, both served in a relaxed atmosphere with a lake view. If you’re after something simpler, head to the beach bar (open April to October) for chips with truffle aioli or a spritzer. And if you suddenly run out of baby food at nine in the evening, or need wine before movie night: the in-house Greißlerei corner shop is open around the clock. Handy, right?

Wellness: your own outdoor sauna, five steps from the lake

The private outdoor sauna is a lovely extra: while the kids are asleep inside or watching a film, you can sit outside, work up a bit of a sweat, and listen to the reeds rustling. If you feel like it, jump straight into the lake afterwards, just a few steps away. With a bit of luck, you’ll catch one of those golden Burgenland sunsets that still have you reaching for the camera, even on the third evening in a row.

Nearby: ferry, treasure hunt, UNESCO world

The ferry to Podersdorf on the eastern shore departs right from the grounds, with or without bikes on board. That saves you the 60-minute drive around the lake and turns 30 minutes on the water into a fun little boat trip for the kids. From the eastern shore, the Bike Buddies Rally sets off (a 44 km family treasure hunt through the Seewinkel). From there, you can also go on a safari through the Neusiedlersee – Seewinkel National Park. Or visit our favourite spot, Bio-Landgut Esterhazy, in Donnerskirchen. If you’re after more action, the Familypark in St. Margarethen is a great choice.