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  • The long-distance hiking trail E5 near Vent in Tyrol / Austria
    The long-distance hiking trail E5 near Vent in Tyrol / Austria Photo: Sabine Hortebusch, Adobe Stock

Long-distance hikes in Austria

Europe

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Distance hiking or long-distance hiking is once again enjoying great popularity and Österia offers the best opportunities for this with its many long-distance hiking trails. The variety of trails is also impressive: in addition to famous alpine crossings, there are also exciting trails in the north and east of Österreich without many metres of altitude. Maybe this summer is the time to pack your rucksack and set off to experience the magic of long-distance hiking?

Hiking in Austria
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The 10 Most Beautiful long-distance hikes in Austria

View from Seescharte, on the right the peak Silberspitze
Long-Distance Hiking
Alpine crossing on E5 – From Oberstdorf to Meran
PremiumPremium content Difficulty difficult Multi-stage route
60
173.9 km
36:00 h
8,255 m
8,943 m
The classic alpine crossing: 6-day tour on the route E5 from Oberstdorf to Meran through the beautiful alpine terrain.
Outdooractive Premium
Rifugio Viel dal Pan
Long-Distance Hiking
Dream Path Munich-Venice (whole route)
PremiumPremium content Difficulty difficult
1
578.4 km
192:05 h
24,998 m
25,483 m
The over 550 km long "Dream Trail" is one of the most famous long-distance hiking trails in the Alpine region. It connects two European cultural metropolises - Munich and Venice.
Outdooractive Editors
Etappe 4: Im Hafen von Lindau.
Long-Distance Hiking · Bodensee
Lake Constance circular trail
PremiumPremium content Difficulty moderate
3
271.3 km
90:00 h
1,525 m
1,524 m
Der Bodensee Rundweg führt einmal komplett um den See und erschließt dabei zahlreiche Sehenswürdigkeiten an den Ufern von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz.
Outdooractive Premium
From the highest point of the plateau we have a view of the Arberhütte and Lam.
Long-Distance Hiking · Fichtelgebirge
The Goldsteig - The Northern Route
PremiumPremium content Difficulty moderate
1
405.9 km
124:00 h
10,238 m
10,452 m
The Goldsteig trail extends to the edge of the Upper Palatinate Forest and then splits into two variants. The southern route runs across the charming mountain ranges of the Bavarian Forest as far as Passau. The northern route described here strings together summit after summit, leads through the National Park, along the Bohemian border, to the Dreisessel and from there on to Passau.
Outdooractive Premium
Ötztaler Alpen vom Saykogel
Long-Distance Hiking
Alpenüberquerung vom Walchensee zum Iseosee - L1 Variante "L1S"
Toprecommended route Difficulty difficult Multi-stage route
2
405.7 km
170:00 h
28,200 m
28,800 m
Anspruchsvolle Tour voller landschaftlicher Höhepunkte und überwiegend abseits der ausgetretenen Pfade. In 27 Tagesetappen von Bayern über Tirol und Südtirol in die Lombardei.
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Faszination Schobergruppe, hier nahe des Abzweigs zur Hohen Gradenscharte
Long-Distance Hiking · Schober Group
Wiener Höhenweg
Toprecommended route Difficulty difficult Multi-stage route
5
45.7 km
26:30 h
3,950 m
3,030 m
Der Wiener Höhenweg zieht sich zwischen dem Iselsberg nahe der Alpengroßstadt Lienz und dem Glocknerhaus am Fuß des höchsten Bergs Österreichs durch eine einzigartige Hochgebirgslandschaft, die geprägt ist von schroffen Gipfeln, steilen Karen und tiefblauen Bergseen.
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Trekking mit Kindern
Long-Distance Hiking · Gailtal Alps
Lienzer Dolomiten Rundwanderung durch Laserztal und Kerschbaumtal
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate Multi-stage route
2
15.2 km
8:00 h
1,400 m
1,400 m
Osttirols blütenreiche Bergwelt – 4 -Tagestour für Kinder ab ca. 12 Jahren.
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Der Hochwurzen Höhenweg führt immer sanfter werdend bis zur Hochwurzen Bergstation
Long-Distance Hiking · Schladming Tauern
Ursprungalm - Lungauer Kalkspitze - Giglachseen - Hochwurzen Höhenweg
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate closed
1
22 km
10:00 h
1,836 m
1,588 m
Wunderschöne und aussichtsreiche 2-Tages-Rundtour in den Schladminger Tauern, mit gastfreundlichen Hütten, malerisch gelegenen Bergseen, reicher Flora und dem augenscheinlichen Gegensatz von Granit- und Kalkgestein.
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Lienzer Talboden
Long-Distance Hiking · Gailtal Alps
Osttirol 360° Skyline Trail
Toprecommended route Difficulty moderate Multi-stage route
3
327.7 km
150:45 h
26,310 m
26,310 m
Osttirol 360° AUSTRIA SKYLINE Trail Auf dem größten durchgehend begehbaren Hochgebirgskreis der Alpen verläuft der hochalpine Weitwanderrundweg Osttirol 360° Austria Skyline Trail. Bergpfade führen überwiegend auf Nationalparkgebiet zu den landschaftlichen und geographischen Höhepunkten (Großglockner und Großvenediger) der Ostalpen. Auf dem etwa 360 km langen Rundweg wandert und steigt man auf aussichtsreicher "Skyline" von Hütte zu Hütte. Tagsüber nahe 2.500 m, nächtigt man durchschnittlich auf 2.200 m. Aufgrund der Dimension dieses Weitwanderweges ist es ratsam die Begehung abschnittsweise zu bewältigen. Mit größtmöglicher geologischer Vielfalt und Ursprünglichkeit, einer geschlossenen Gebirgs- Wege- und Schutzhüttenkette, ca. 360 km und ~26.000 hm, 9 Gebirgsabschnitten, 34 Bergwander- und 15 Bergsteigervarianten, 45 Schutzhütten am Weg und 12 im Nahbereich bietet Osttirol 360° ein in den Alpen einzigartiges Wander und Bergsteigererlebnis das in seiner landschaftlichen Vielfalt und alpinistischer Herausforderung einzigartig ist! Viel Freude im Bergraum Osttirol!
alpenvereinaktiv.com
Blick von Kühroint hinüber zum Watzmannhaus auf dem Falzkopf
Long-Distance Hiking · Berchtesgaden Alps
Die Watzmanntour - Die vielleicht schönste und vielseitigste Wanderung von Hütte zu Hütte im Nationalpark Berchtesgaden
Toprecommended route Difficulty difficult Multi-stage route
4
52.6 km
20:02 h
3,868 m
3,868 m
Die vielleicht schönste und vielseitigste Wanderung von Hütte zu Hütte in den Ostalpen - Vom Königsee bis auf die Gipfel des Watzmanns führt uns diese Vier-Tages- Wanderung von Hütte zu Hütte im Nationalpark Berchtesgaden.
alpenvereinaktiv.com
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The great diversity of long-distance hiking in Austria

„I'm off then!“ Long-distance hiking is one of the last great adventures in the Alps. There is probably no better way to leave your everyday life behind for days or weeks and to get completely involved with nature and yourself.

Österreich is a real paradise for long-distance hikers – here you can choose from a huge range of long-distance trails. Depending on the time available, you can hike for the long weekend or even for several weeks. A large part of the long-distance hiking trails in Austria run in the alpine region, but there are also some trails that run through the pre-Alpine area and are therefore also suitable for those who prefer to walk on flat terrain.

There are ten official long-distance hiking trails in Austria. In addition, there are a large number of regional long-distance trails, many of which are only known to a small number of long-distance hikers.

  • Klafferkessel lake plateau - Schladminger Tauern mountain range
    Photo: Gerhard Pilz, Tourismusverband Schladming - Gerhard Pilz
  • Sudetendeutsche Hütte
    Photo: Jörg Stein, DAV Sektion Böblingen
  • Biosphärenpark Nockberge
    Photo: Alexandra Rieger, Alpe-Adria-Trail

The 10 Austrian long-distance hiking trails

In Austria there are ten official long-distance hiking trails on which you can experience the beauty and diversity of the Alpine countryside. The Northern Alpine Trail, which runs 1260 km from the Vienna Woods to Lake Constance, has the trail number 01. The Central Alpine Trail is marked with the number 02 and is even more alpine. Along the southern border of Austria runs the fantastically beautiful Südalpenweg 03 from Bad Radkersburg to Sillian. The Voralpenweg 04, which runs from the Vienna Woods via Bavaria to Lake Constance, is not quite as high.

  • Long-Distance Hiking · Karwendel
    Weitwanderweg 01 - Nordalpenweg
  • Long-Distance Hiking · PreAlps East of the Mur
    Weitwanderweg 02 - Zentralalpenweg Ostteil
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Zillertal Alps
    Weitwanderweg 02 - Zentralalpenweg Westteil
  • Long-Distance Hiking
    Weitwanderweg 03 - Südalpenweg

For those who want to cross Austria from north to south, the Weitwanderweg 05, the North-South Long Distance Trail, is the right choice. The Weitwanderweg 06 actually consists of several paths that lead to Mariazell from all directions. The Grenzlandweg 07 makes an arc through eastern Austria and is only alpine in sections. The Eisenwurzen-Weitwanderweg 08 runs from the northernmost to the southernmost point of Austria. The Salzsteigweg (09) and the Rupertiweg (10) also run from north to south.

  • Long-Distance Hiking · Austria
    Weitwanderweg 05 - Nord-Süd-Weitwanderweg
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Upper Austrian PreAlps
    Weitwanderweg 06 - Salzburger Mariazellerweg
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Waldviertel
    East Austrian Borderland Trail (07)
  • Open
    Long-Distance Hiking · Gesäuse
    Eisenwurzen Trail 08 through Styria
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Dead Mountains
    Österreichischer Weitwanderweg 9 (Salzsteig)

Other fantastic long-distance hiking trails in Austria: E5 and Alpe-Adria-Trail

In addition to the official network of long-distance hiking trails, there are many other long-distance hiking trails in Austria with very different levels of difficulty. There are trails with only three stages, but also trails with almost three stages, such as the famous Alpe-Adria Trail.

The E5 long-distance trail from Oberstdorf to Merano is one of the best-known long-distance trails across the Alps and is considered one of the most impressive in Austria. In seven stages, you hike through the Tyrolean Alps and cross the main Alpine ridge to South Tyrol.

The Alpe-Adria Trail has become increasingly popular in recent years. The reason for this lies in its scenic versatility, as it takes you from alpine Carinthia to the Adriatic Sea. In between, you hike through the untouched border region of Italy and Slovenia.

Tip: Filter our tour search for long-distance hiking trails and get an overview of the numerous possibilities, from a tour with three stages to a week-long tour!

Nationalpark Hohe Tauern
Recommended route Alpe-Adria-Trail overall tour
Recommended route Alpine crossing on E5 – From Oberstdorf to Meran

The most beautiful high-altitude trails in Austria

Hiking trails are the best way to discover the alpine landscapes of Austria. As the name suggests, they usually run at high altitude without descents into the valleys. In terms of length, they are therefore usually shorter than classic long-distance hiking trails, but all the more impressive for that.

The most beautiful hiking trails in Austria are the ones with the most beautiful views.

One particularly beautiful hiking trail in Upper Austria leads over the Tote Gebirge. The Wels Hiking Trail crosses the largest mountain plateau in the Eastern Alps in five daily stages. Another highlight is the Wiener Höhenweg, which leads through the Schobergruppe in Carinthia in six stages.

Other classics among the hiking trails are the Stubai Hiking Trail and the Berlin Hiking Trail.

  • Long-Distance Hiking · Dead Mountains
    Welser Höhenweg - Totes Gebirge in 5 Tagen
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Schober Group
    Wiener Höhenweg
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Stubaital
    Stubaier Höhenweg (Variante 1: Starkenburger Hütte - Innsbrucker Hütte)
  • Long-Distance Hiking · Zillertal Alps
    Berliner Höhenweg - Zillertaler Runde gegen den Uhrzeigersinn

How do I prepare for a long-distance walk?

Without preparation, a long-distance hiking trail is often not very enjoyable. Here are four important points for your preparation:

  • Physical preparation: It is no fun to suffer on the first day's stages. It is true that you will feel better with time, but it is advisable to prepare for a long day's hike.
  • Planning: Good planning makes it much easier to complete a multi-day hike. The daily stages and nights should be planned as precisely as possible in advance. This applies especially to heavily frequented paths.
  • Test and optimise your equipment: check your shoes, pack your rucksack properly, test your rain gear – get to grips with your equipment before the tour!
  • Tip for planning daily stages: If you want to plan your stages yourself, you can proceed as follows: Upload the entire track and display it in the trip planner „My Map“. This way you can trace the individual stages and find the best places to stay!
Explore our Travel Guide for Austria
Accommodation Places to eat & drink huts Great places to visit with the family Dog-friendly hiking Accessibility Ideas for bad weather Wellness and spa retreats

Reviews

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Nibelungengau long distance trail 1: Sarmingstein - Persenbeug by Cornelia
Today · Community
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When did you do this route? June 07, 2023
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ST18 AAT: Arriach - Gerlitzen Alpe by Margarete
Yesterday · Community
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ST 01 AAT: Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe - Heiligenblut by Anna
2 days ago · Community
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When did you do this route? June 02, 2023
Photo: Anna Riedmüller, Community
Photo: Anna Riedmüller, Community
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Find long-distance hikes in neighboring regions

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Discover other long-distance hikes within Austria

Burgenland Carinthia Lower Austria Salzburger Land Styria Tyrol Upper Austria Vienna Vorarlberg

Similar activities in Austria

hikes Pilgrim walks nature trails city walks

Localization

Parts of this content were machine translated using German as the source language

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