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Vienna celebrates: 3rd Man Tour” delights 250,000 visitors in the canal!
The “3rd Man Tour” under Karlsplatz in Vienna celebrates 250,000 visitors and offers exciting insights into film history and sewers.
Vienna celebrates: 3rd Man Tour” delights 250,000 visitors in the canal!
On June 16, 2025 the time had finally come: The “3rd Man Tour” in Vienna celebrated its 250,000th anniversary. Guest welcomed. This special tour through the mysterious canal world under Karlsplatz is not only a homage to the legendary film “The Third Man” from 1949, but also an integral part of Vienna's tourism. Climate City Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky (SPÖ) welcomed the celebrated guest and provided a special surprise: 20 visitors were able to enjoy free entry and delicious Viennese Mannerschnitte, as meinbezirk.at reports.
The “3rd Man Tour” not only offers participants an exciting insight into the original filming locations of the cult film, but also into the fascinating history of the Vienna sewers. The tour impressively combines the stories of sewer workers with important information about Vienna's sewage system and the film-historical significance of the work, which brought Vienna and the melodic sounds of Anton Karas' zither music into the international spotlight. The tour lasts about an hour and takes visitors up to seven meters below Karlsplatz.
A look into the canals of Vienna
The sewage system in Vienna is a remarkable 2,500 kilometers long and transports half a billion liters of wastewater every day. With a connection rate of 99.8%, Vienna is one of the pioneers in wastewater disposal. The first attempts to divert wastewater in the capital date back to the Middle Ages, when house builders were asked to abandon their cesspits and connect to the city's sewers. The system has continuously developed over the centuries, also thanks to questionable impulses such as a cholera epidemic in the 1830s, which resulted in the construction of Vienna river collection canals, reports geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at.
Visitors to the “3rd Man Tour” have the opportunity to experience part of this impressive history up close. Tours take place every hour between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with the last tour beginning at 7 p.m. The English-language tours, which are offered daily at 3 p.m. or take place upon request, are particularly popular. Due to the high demand, advance reservation is highly recommended, as the tours attract around 19,000 curious people every year who want to experience the interplay of the city's history and film culture presse.wien.gv.at.
Cultural pearls and film historical heritage
The “3rd Man Tour” starts opposite the Café Museum in the Esperanto Park on Karlsplatz and is therefore easily accessible for tourists and locals. In addition to the tour itself, Vienna also has other cultural highlights to offer in connection with “The Third Man”. The BURGKINO shows the film regularly and the DRITTE-MANN-MUSEUM at Pressgasse 25 houses the largest private collection of film historical heritage. Film fans can also take part in a two-and-a-half-hour guided tour of the film's filming locations, offered by WALK.
Overall, the “3rd Man Tour” is not only an experience for film fans, but also an exciting adventure that tells the history of Vienna in a unique way. A great opportunity to discover the fascinating city and its underground secrets!