Hiking in the Austrian Alps
If you grew up watching The Sound of Music like me, scenes of the Austrian Alps are forever imprinted in your mind along with the songs of Edelweiss and Do Re Mi.
Sometimes the reality of a place doesn’t match the reverie. Luckily, the Austrian Alps will far exceed your expectations, however high they are.
From the Alm culture in Salzburg to the Hüttenleben in Vorarlberg (mountain hut life), hiking in the Austrian Alps is as much about culture and cuisine as it is about mountains and landscapes.
If you’re ready to be seduced, let’s venture together to the most beautiful hiking destinations in the Austrian Alps. About 60% of Austria is mountainous and there are three principal mountain ranges that run through the country: the Northern Limestone Alps, Central Alps, Southern Limestone Alps. Each principal range comprises 15-25 sub-ranges.
Below, we’ve outlined our favorite places to hike in the Austrian Alps to date. This list will keep growing, year after year. So, you may want to bookmark this page for future reference.
When to Hike in the Austrian Alps
The best months to hike in the Austrian Alps are July, August, and September. It’s definitely possible to hike in June (at lower elevations), though you may encounter snow.
October is promising for day hiking, though conditions will vary depending on the weather and snow conditions.
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Austrian Alps Trip Planning
If you’re thinking about going on a multi-day hike, read our Austria hut to hut hiking guide.
If you’re planning a hiking-themed road trip, use these itineraries for inspiration. In these routes, we’ve linked together our favorite hiking destinations and alpine experiences in the Austrian mountains.
- 7 Day Austria Road Trip starting in Salzburg, or Munich
- 14 Day Austria Road Trip starting in Vienna
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps and Tyrolean Alps Road Trip starting in Munich