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The Austrian Alps are a great destination for a holiday, offering a wide range of activities all year round. In winter, it is one of Europe's top skiing destinations, with some of the best ski slopes on the continent. In summer, the mountains, meadows and valleys open up to hiking, climbing and biking routes, as well as beautiful lakes for swimming. The region is also home to thousands of animal species and over 1,000 plant varieties, which can be discovered on themed hiking tours. The Austrian Alps are easily accessible by train or road, with distances across the country rarely exceeding six hours of travel time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Transport | Car, train, cable car |
| Attractions | Hohenwerfen Fortress, Eisriesenwelt ice cave, Grossglockner, Pasterze Glacier, Old Town Innsbruck, Golden Roof, Christmas Market, Berg-Leben Grossarl Hotel, Hotel Roslehen, Rax alpine mountain hiking area, Schneeberg mountain |
| Activities | Hiking, skiing, swimming, horseback riding, yoga, sightseeing |
| Food | Kaspressknödel, gröstl, Vorarlberger Alpkäse, Montafon Sura Kees |
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What You'll Learn
Hiking trails in Grossarl
Grossarl in the province of Salzburg is extremely popular with hiking fans, thanks to its inviting alpine pastures and panoramic peaks. The region offers many impressive peaks, with the choice of hikes ranging from easy to difficult. Here are some of the top hiking trails in Grossarl:
Grossarl Trail of the Senses
The Grossarl Trail of the Senses is a loop near the Gehwolfalm based on the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Each station represents an element and its corresponding sensory organ, offering interactive experiences for all visitors. On the way to Modereggalm, you will discover the scenic theme trail "To the Alm", with information boards on both sides discussing the topic of "togetherness" and harmony with nature.
Nature Trail
The Nature Trail starts from the Hüttschlag valley head (Gasthof Talwirt), passing by the Kreealm waterfall and continuing into Schödertal. There are approximately 50 display boards providing insights into the natural history, folk medicine, and history of Grossarltal. It takes about 2 hours to hike as far as Schödersee.
Chapel Trail
The Chapel Trail is approximately 17.5 km long. It starts at the end of Grossarltal, at the Hüttschlag valley head, and features various stations from the Old and New Testaments. This includes the Way of the Cross, painted in the 18th century by Josef von Führich, which is amongst the most renowned worldwide. The trail culminates at the life-sized Calvary, with display cases in the huts containing Bible stories.
Gamskarkogel
At 2,467 meters, Gamskarkogel is the highest mountain in the municipality of Grossarl and the highest grass mountain in Europe. The historic Gamskarkogelhütte mountain hut is located almost directly at the summit. The summit hike to the Schuhflicker is a less strenuous alternative, with the starting point, the Aualm at 1,800 meters, reachable by car.
Ellmautal
The Ellmautal is a quiet side valley of the Grossarl Valley, with the Grund hiking car park serving as a starting point for many hiking trails. From here, you can choose from several mountain huts and continue your hike to one of the peaks.
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Cable car to the Rax alpine mountain
The Rax cable car is one of the leading operations in the Viennese Alps in Lower Austria. It has been awarded the quality seal "Best Austrian Summer Cableways" and the stamp of "Top Tourist Attractions in Lower Austria". The cable car ride takes under eight minutes to climb 1,000 metres in altitude, opening up to a hiker's paradise on the Alpine high plateau. The Rax plateau can be reached in 70 minutes from Vienna by public transport. The valley station in Reichenau an der Rax can be reached via the Semmering motorway or by train and bus via the Südbahn railway line via Wiener Neustadt.
The Rax cable car carries nature lovers and hikers up to the Rax plateau, where they can enjoy the mountain restaurant and unique views. The mountain station at 1,546 m offers a variety of hikes with up to seven managed huts. For families and beginners, the route to Jakobskogel is recommended, while experienced hikers may prefer the round tour to the Neue Seehütte. Those seeking a challenge can try the Raxüberschreitung to Preiner Gscheid. In winter, the Rax plateau can be explored with snowshoes, which can be rented at the mountain inn.
The Rax cable car has a rich history, dating back to the turn of the previous century when the Raxalpe was conquered through muscle power or Swiss alpine fauteuil carriages drawn by mountain horses. The idea of creating technical ascent aids was born, and "The Green Queen" cable car was established, conveying guests up to the Raxalpe for almost a hundred years. The Rax has been a popular destination for notable figures such as Sigmund Freud and the Habsburgs, who had a summer residence there.
The Rax cable car experience can be enhanced with the use of the nature and adventure trail app, offering an interactive "audio game adventure" to discover the Rax mountain range. The area boasts breathtaking views, challenging rock formations, and a fascinating botanical diversity. With its convenient location, quick ascent, and abundance of outdoor activities, the Rax cable car is an excellent choice for those seeking to explore the beauty of the Austrian Alps.
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Cycling in Kitzbühel
For endurance and stamina testing, the Kitzbüheler Horn, the steepest bike mountain in Austria, is a must-do. It has a continuous gradient of up to 22.3% over a distance of 7.1 to 10 kilometres and an altitude of 876 to 890 meters. This challenging route includes 18 hairpin bends and is only recommended for trained road cyclists.
For a family-friendly option, the Flow Trail is an excellent choice. Starting at the mountain station of the Fleckalmbahn, it leads over the Hahnenkamm and down into the valley. The blue flow trail on the Hahnenkamm is the longest in Tyrol and features easier key sections and playful elements suitable for all ages.
Kitzbühel also offers electric bicycle rentals, with over 300 electric bikes available at 80 rental shops and 60 charging stations. The electric bikes cater to all fitness levels, allowing for exploration of the mountain landscape at your own pace. The area boasts 1,000 kilometres of cycle paths, including gently rolling tracks and amazing trails with play features suitable for the whole family.
With a variety of routes, from leisurely rides to endurance challenges, cycling in Kitzbühel is an excellent way to experience the beauty of the Austrian Alps.
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Climbing in Schladming-Dachstein
Schladming-Dachstein is a climber's paradise, with a plethora of options for both beginners and experienced mountaineers. The region has a long tradition of via ferrata, a demanding sport that requires climbers to navigate beautiful yet rugged nature.
For those new to the sport, the Sattelberg in Ramsau is the perfect starting point. Here, you can learn the basics of via ferrata climbing with certified mountain guides who will teach you essential skills like checking the weather forecast and choosing the right equipment. Ramsau, with its sunny plateau stretching from 1000 to 3000 meters above sea level, offers 30 via ferrata routes and mountaineering tours, including two designed for children and three for teenagers.
The Burgstall climbing garden in the east of the region boasts over 180 climbing routes, while the west offers varied climbing gardens with multi-pitch climbing tours near the valley station of the Dachstein cable car. The oldest via ferrata in the Eastern Alps, the "Randkluft", leads to the top of the Hoher Dachstein and, when combined with the "Anna" and "Johann" routes, forms the daring "Dachstein Super Ferrata", one of the longest and most challenging routes in the Alps.
For those seeking a more extreme adventure, alpine climbing in the wild beauty of the Dachstein mountains is an option. Many of these tours require the safe handling of crampons and ice axes, as well as glacier knowledge and experience. The "Steinerweg", first climbed in 1909 by the Brothers Steiner, is still considered one of the biggest and most classic climbs in the Limestone Alps.
With so many options, Schladming-Dachstein truly offers something for everyone looking to test their mettle against the majestic backdrop of the Austrian Alps.
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Skiing in St Anton
St. Anton, part of the largest connected skiing area in Austria, is known for its abundant natural snowfall and is considered one of the best ski resorts in the world for advanced and expert skiers. The Arlberg ski area offers 85 lifts and cable cars, more than 300 km of slopes, and 200 km of open terrain.
The skiing in St. Anton takes place on both sides of the valley. To the south, Rendl is a small and uncrowded area of skiing ideal for all levels of skiers. The area sits both above and below the treeline on mostly north-facing slopes, which retain decent snow quality in warmer weather. The bulk of St. Anton's slopes are on its north side, which is split into three areas: Gampen, Valluga, and Galzig. These mostly south-facing slopes are accessed by several different lifts both close to the village centre and further down the valley. This side is also home to most of the resort's legendary off-piste, with some of the best and most famous routes located in the Valluga/Schindler Spitzer sector. From Galzig, you can also ski over to Stuben, which then provides an onward link to Lech-Zürs.
St. Anton has several beginner slopes at valley level, which are included in a special beginners' lift pass. Further beginners' slopes can be found up the mountain at both Gampen and Rendl, but to access these, you will need a standard ski pass. Gampen also has an easy run back to the village, but otherwise, St. Anton offers little in the way of easy intermediate terrain for beginners to progress to. St. Anton is a good resort for confident intermediates, with options in all sectors of the ski area, but less so for timid ones, as the easy blue runs tend to be quite isolated.
For advanced and expert skiers, St. Anton offers numerous black runs dotted around, the steepest of which is the Fang piste below Gampen. More serious off-piste possibilities abound well away from the main ski area, including routes from the top Valluga cable car station down to Zürs, which are only suitable for true experts accompanied by a guide.
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Frequently asked questions
The Schneeberg mountain is easily reachable by public transport. Take a train to "Puchberg am Schneeberg" from the Hauptbahnhof station in Vienna, changing once in Wiener Neustadt. The whole trip takes around 90 minutes. The Schneebergbahn rail service takes you up to 1800m above sea level, with walking trails leading to the summit at just over 2000m.
You can also take a cable car up to the Rax alpine mountain hiking area, which is around 1600m above sea level. The cable car operates most days and takes around 70 minutes from the Payerbach-Reichenau station, which is reachable direct from Hauptbahnhof.
The Austrian Alps offer a variety of activities during summer and winter. In the winter, it is one of Europe's top skiing destinations. In the summer, you can go hiking, climbing, biking, or swimming in the lakes. You can also try cycling in Kitzbühel, paragliding in St Anton, or visit the nature park in Zillertal.
The Schladming-Dachstein region is known for its water, with over 300 lakes and 100 waterfalls. The Dachstein Mountain, at 2995m high, offers majestic views and is reachable by cable car. The town of Grossarl, located 86 km south of Salzburg, is another popular destination, with 400 km of signposted hiking trails.
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