This article has been updated in May 2019
Looking for a rewarding but not too strenuous hike close to Vienna? You don’t even need a car to reach one of the nicest trails of Lower Austria and you even get to see a UNESCO heritage site. The popular Bahnwanderweg is best reached by train and the hiking trail takes you along impressive railway structures, forests and beautiful viewpoints. As the railway pass has been completed in 1854 you can imagine how hard the working conditions must’ve been without modern machines (building 14 tunnels and 16 arches!) Today the track serves as the main rail connection between Vienna and many other parts of Austria. To experience its whole beauty it’s advisable to do an easy one-day-trip from Vienna: Get off at station Semmering and follow the well marked path until one of the other stops along the train line (in my case I hiked 9 km to Breitenstein) – hop on the next train and get back to where you started!
Along the trail you’ll find lots of viewpoints overlooking the region’s most famous landmarks like the Semmeringbahn, the Rax and Schneeberg.
This famous lookout is called 20-Schilling-Blick as it was printed on the old 20-Schilling banknotes. The view is spectacular!
Directions:
The starting point is about 1 hour travel time by car from Vienna, but for the scenic route it’s advisable to take the train: The fastest trains take only 1 hour 12 minutes to Semmering and run on the historic tracks. From there you can hike as long as you feel like to the following stations: Breitenstein (9 km), Klamm (15 km), Payerbach (21 km) or Gloggnitz (23 m) and take a local train back to Semmering. Look up schedules and tickets here.
See also the following article for more great hiking near Vienna:
35 Comments
den wollte ich letztes jahr im herbst schon wandern, weil ich davon uuunbedingt ein foto machen möchte, am liebsten natürlich mit buntem herbstlaub 🙂 da hat es nicht geklappt, aber die nächste chance steht ja quasi vor der türe ^.^
Ohja mit Herbstfarben stelle ich mir das unglaublich schön vor!
What a gorgeous day-out for you! The beauty around is simply superb!
Thank you, yeah I’m glad I went out that day 🙂
The Semmering area is really beautiful and you captured it very well.
Thank you, until that day I didn’t know HOW beautiful it really was!
I DO love hiking. OMG! Those photos looks surreal. 🙂 Feels heartwarming when looking at it. Mother nature.
It does right? Glad you enjoy hiking as well 😉
Wenn ich diese Bilder sehe, bekomme ich sofort Lust, mich hier im Schwarzwald auf den Weg zu machen.. Aber ich bin wirklich eine schlechte Wanderin und muß mich dazu eigentlich immer überwinden. Danach freue ich mich dann über die Bilder und das Entschleunigen und sogar über den Muskelkater. Aaalso, der Schwarzwald ruft!! 😉 GLG Heike
Überwinden muss ich mich auch fast immer, aber es hat sich auch immer gelohnt bisher 😉
What a beautiful place…! You really brought it alive!
Thanks so much Julie!!
so schön! tolle idee-kommt gleich auf meine liste!
Hehe, das freut mich 😉
Looks like a great hike and a beautiful day!
I think I have never heard of this trail but I definitely need to check it out if it is easily reachable per train 🙂
I actually knew about this trail quite a while but never made it there, although it’s quite close… The journey via train is so relaxing too!
What a wonderful day out Julia, gorgeous scenery – really beautiful.
Thank you Sue, I was so lucky with the weather too! Loved it!
Wonderful scenery!
https://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr
It really was, thank you for stopping by!
The view is incredible from the look out, I love all the lush scenery! I would love to visit this spot someday and hike there. Have a wonderful week 🙂
Eden | Mint Notion
Thanks so much Eden, I’ve been admiring your fantastic hiking adventures!
I didn’t use to be very much into hiking, but in recent years I’ve started to appreciate the beautiful views you get along the way. I’m even considering climbing Mt. Fuji next year:) Looks like a beautiful hike, but taking the train through those scenic surroundings also feels tempting:)
Ohhh Mt. Fuji must be amazing! I rode the train there many times and loved it already. Finally I got to see its full beauty 🙂
So beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us this amazing place! I love going hiking at the mountains so I’ll definitely keep in mind this! 🙂
Lisa | http://www.fromdreamtoplan.net/
Thanks Lisa, I’m so happy you liked it 😀
It’s so beautiful! I’ve only been there during winter, but I think I might want to re-visit for the summer xx
Oh really? Winters are awesome there too!
I love hiking! And this looks like so much fun, not to mention the fact that the scenery is absolutely stunning! Hopefully I’ll get the chance to do this one day x
With views like that (and good weather), hiking is actually very enjoyable 😉 Thanks Chiara!
Looks beautiful! I like that there’s the option of getting on the train after a hike. I’m not the most athletic, outdoorsy person, but living in Portland and hiking photos like this have started to inspire me to get into it more. 😉
I guess you’re living in hiker’s paradise now 😉 The great sceneries are the best reward of such an hike!
Müssen wir bei unserem nächsten Wien Aufenthalt unbedingt einplanen. Klasse Eindrücke!
Vielen Dank! Ja, es ist eine ideale Tagestour von Wien aus!
Hört sich super an! Vielen Dank für die tollen Eindrücke und den Bericht 🙂