Austria is one of Europe’s most popular walking holiday destinations, and understandably so, with its magical combination of stunning alpine vistas, varied pastoral landscapes, a fascinating history, picturesque villages and an unerring warm welcome from the locals. Many walkers claim that Austria really takes them ‘away from it all’, with its clear mountain air and breathtaking scenery.
Austria’s well-marked walking trails cover more than 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles), from the Wachau Valley near Vienna, where baroque beauty meets pastoral pleasures, to the snow-capped peaks of the Tyrol region and the lakes and hills of the Salzburger Land, and so much more in between. This is a land where you could lose weeks, if not months in exploration.
One of the major drawcards in Austria is the excellent network of ‘hut to hut’ walking trails, where walkers can enjoy roaming some of the most remote mountainous areas for days on end, without having to worry about carrying a heavy load, as basic accommodation and food is provided at one of these many ‘huts’. The term ‘hut’ is actually something of a misnomer, as most of these buildings are really rather attractive and spacious – and, naturally, set in the most stunning of locations. Perhaps the most famous of these hut-to-hut treks is the Stubaier Höhenweg (Stubai High Route, also known as the ‘rucksack route’), in the Stubai Alps, which is widely regarded as one of the best walks in the Alps.
Touchingnature.co.uk is run by people who, like you, love walking and the great outdoors. Each of the below walking regions has been fully researched and personally hand-picked by our team who are all regular visitors to Austria. We recommend each of these regions for their superlative scenery and walker-friendliness.
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Burgenland
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Carinthia
Bordering on Italy and Slovenia, Carinthia boasts an exceptionally warm and sunny climate. Four mountain ranges, two national parks and 1,270 pristine lakes offer endless opportunities for outdoor activities.
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East Tyrol
East Tyrol, a dream come true for walkers: 400 peaks over 3,000 metres (9,842 ft), Austria’s two highest mountains, the National Park Hohe Tauern and some of Europe's most heart-stoppingly glorious Alpine scenery.
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Salzkammergut
Described by Franz Josef I as “earthly paradise”, this is Austria’s quintessential lakes and mountains region. Located east of Salzburg, the stunning alpine scenery and impressive expanses of water provide a picture-perfect playground for hiking and watersports.
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Salzburger Land
Enchanting villages and splendid cities – including the Baroque capital of Salzburg - lie nestled among the stunning lakes and mountains scenery of this popular walking region. Picturesque landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for hikes through varied terrain.
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Steiermark/Styria
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Tyrol - Central Tyrol & Innsbruck
Enjoy a rare combination of culture and activity in Innsbruck, the natural splendour of the Stubaital Valley and the winter sports mecca of Seefeld – all of which sit within the alluring region of Central Tyrol.
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Tyrol - North-Eastern Tyrol
If you're looking for classic Austrian Alpine grandeur, then look no further than this region's picture-postcard scenery. Dominated by the Kitzbüheler Alps and the Zillertaler Alps, North-Eastern Tyrol is a region where walking and hiking takes centre stage.
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Tyrol - Western Tyrol
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Upper Austria
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Vorarlberg
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Wachau Valley & Krems
The stunning Wachau Valley offers walkers a heady mix of beautiful scenery and exquisite food and wine. What’s more, the area is tantalisingly close to the cultural temptations of Vienna and the atmospheric old town of Krems.
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