250,000 visitors: anniversary of the legendary 3rd man tour in Vienna

250,000 visitors: anniversary of the legendary 3rd man tour in Vienna

On June 15, 2025, the "3rd Mann Tour" celebrated a remarkable anniversary in the Vienna sewer system: the 250,000th guest was welcomed. Climate Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky personally presented an award to the lucky visitor, while 20 other guests with free tickets and Viennese man -cuts were considered by the sewer workers. The famous tour, which is based on the film classic "The Third Man", attracts around 19,000 tourists every year and is an integral part of the Viennese cultural heritage.

The one-hour tour of the Viennese underworld begins on the star cover directly vis-à-vis from the Café Museum in the Esperantopark on Karlsplatz. The canal workers who lead the tour vividly tell about their everyday work and convey exciting stories about the city's sewage system. Since the tours take place especially from May to October, reservations are highly recommended and possible via the website of the tour.

insight into the history of the sewage system

The Viennese sewage system is not only known for "the third man", but also for its impressive history and technical developments. With a total length of around 2,500 kilometers, it transports half a billion liter wastewater every day. It is astonishing that 99.8% of Viennese households are connected to this modern wastewater system. Early measures for wastewater release in Vienna go back to the Middle Ages when the wastewater still culminated in open watercourses such as the Danube Canal.

First legal requirements for the sewage system date from 1706 when the government called for the connection of lowering pits to urban channels. With the commissioning of Maria Theresia in 1753 for the construction of main channels, a comprehensive development began, which was also accelerated by the cholera epidemic of 1831/1832. As a result, essential collection channels were created to improve hygiene in the city. In the following decades, the sewer network was continuously expanded.

The popular tour and your times

Guided tours of the "3rd Mann Tour" take place from Thursday to Sunday between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., the last tour starts at 7:00 p.m. English -language tours are offered at 3 p.m. and by appointment. The minimum age for the participants is 12 years. Before the tour, a visit to the castle cinema is recommended, where the film is regularly shown. In addition to this, the third-man museum at pressgasse 25

While the tours are well attended, access to tickets is only possible on site during opening hours. Interested guests can also find information on the terms and conditions, security information and house rules in the menu of the website of the tour. Thus, the "3rd Mann Tour" not only remains a unique experience, but is also a living piece of history of the city of Vienna, which was immortal through the film by Carol Reed.