hikes in Austria

Are you looking for the best hikes in Austria? We’re here to help! Austria is a mountain playground for hikers, and a popular destination for outdoor holidays. The Alps make Austria one of the best hiking destinations on earth. There is so much hiking to explore, you could easily spend years exploring all the wonderful hiking Austria has to offer.

Austria has charming mountain towns that you can base yourself at to explore the local hiking trails. While normally packed in winter, summer is low season in most of these towns. This translates to lower prices and a great time to explore such legendary locations as St. Anton, Mayrhofen, Sölden, Zell-am-See, Kitzbühel, and of course, Innsbruck.

Find the best hikes in Austria using our guides below. Our guides to the best hikes for Austria cover the best Innsbruck hikes and the best hiking in the Zell am See region. In Innsbruck, plan your trip to take in the highlights of this wonderful town and explore the surrounding mountains on foot. For the Zell am See region, our list of best hikes helps you plan a family-friendly holiday to the area, exploring Zell am See and Kaprun.

15 Greatest Hikes in Austria

Immerse yourself into the best hiking culture in the Austrian Alps! This is the ultimate outdoor adventure playground for hikers with heart pounding summits and rolling green hills. There are countless trail options, chances are you’ll need to visit a few times to hike them all! Within the Austria Alps, you’ll discover some unique geological features, such as Ice Age valleys, verdant heaths and alluvial cones. Grab your hiking boots and hit the trails!

• Halltal: Prepare for a challenging and strenuous hike on this incredible mountain. Offering panoramic views, the hardships are worth the reward once you reach the summit!
• Goetheweg: This trail offers some of the most stunning aerial views of Innsbruck. Follow the path around the slopes of the Nordkette Mountain to observe Innsbruck and the Inntal.
• Kellerjoch Loop: Set off on a relatively easy hike that takes you to the peak of Kellerjoch. Perfect for those who want panoramic views, without too much of a challenge, Kellerjoch is ideal.
• Sellraintaler Höhenweg: This is one of the most beautiful, challenging and rewarding hikes in the Innsbruck area. Walk through the valley of Sellrain for incredible views and few crowds.
• Berlinerhütte over Mörchnerscharte: Explore a section of the famous “Berliner Höhenweg,” which is part of the annual Steinbockmarsch challenge on this epic hike.
• Zittauer Hütte: This moderately challenging hike brings adventurers alongside a faded glacier, past a pristine lake and finishes with incredible views.
• Ahornspitze: Step off from the Ahornspitze lift and enjoy the gentle ascent up to Edelweißhütte. Continue to push onwards to take in the exposed summit of Ahornspitze.
• Tristner: For one of the most challenging hikes in the Mayrhofen area, try the Tristner hike. If you can make it to the top, you’ll be rewarded with epic views over the Zillertal.
• Imbachhorn: This is one of our favourite hikes in the Zell am See area. Prepare for a long, strenuous hike, but at the top, you’ll get amazing lookout points over Zell am See, Zeller Lake, and the Glockner group.
• Schwalbenwand & Schönwieskopf: Set out on an amazing hike conquering two incredible mountain peaks on one hike. Though no huts or restaurants on route, pack a lunch and plan for an incredible full day.
• Glacier lake & Geiβstein: Tackle the two unique areas in the high alpine above Kaprun. Hike past a glistening mountain lake, pass the Kitzsteinhorn ski area and enjoy a pint at a traditional mountain hut.
• Kapruner Loop: Our absolute favourite in the Zell am See area, the Kapruner Loop explores the mountain village of Kaprun, while also offering views over Zeller Lake and the surrounding mountain peaks.
• Kemater Alm: Explore one of the most naturally stunning places on this easy hike––Kemater Alm. Walk past verdant, rolling meadows, incredible mountains and a quaint farmers village.
• Wolfsklamm: Follow the trail to an ancient pilgrimage site, passing through narrow canyons and past a trickling river along the way.
• Plauener Hütte: Enjoy views of the pretty Zillergrundl reservoir, then continue onwards to the Plauener Hutte for a delicious lunch with beautiful mountain views.

When is the Best Time to Hike in Austria

Our favourite month to hike in Austria is July, thanks to the pleasant temperatures with a warm breeze. The average temperature during the month is 21 degrees Celsius, offering plenty of sunshine and cooler nights. Autumn is also a fantastic time to visit, with quieter hiking trails and moderate temperatures. Autumn also offers some incredible fall foliage and leaf peeping opportunities.

Best Regions to Hike in Austria

When people think of hiking in Austria, most immediately think of Innsbruck. This stunning area is certainly a popular destination for both summer and winter activities. Considered the Capital of the Alps, this is a great starting point for hiking the Austrian Alps and building stamina up in the mountains. Explore the quaint mountain town of Mayrhofen for breathtaking alpine hikes and incredible local flora and fauna. Mayrhofen is a wonderful example of traditional Austrian architecture and design and you’ll be dazzled by the local charm. If it’s glacier mountain hiking you’re after, head to Zell am See and Kaprun, which is known for its glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn mountain. This is the ultimate family-friendly destination with a wide range of hiking trails available, including plenty of quick day hikes for little ones.

Other Activities in Austria

Few people think to hop on two wheels in Austria, but it’s an incredible destination for cycling, especially on the Drauradweg cycling path. This trail stretches over several countries for 227.0mi and takes riders past picturesque towns and incredible mountain faces. Another fantastic adventure option is to hit the water for a rafting experience. The River Isel and River Drau are both popular destinations to get the adrenaline pumping on a white water rafting trip.

Austria's Adventure Tours

Prepare for some unforgettable thrills on one of 10Adventures tours in Austria. From learning how to rock climb up the famed Austrian Alps to peddling around town to take in the heart of Austria from two wheels, our 10Adventure tour options are guaranteed to be epic and worry-free.

How to Plan a Trip to Austria

Ready to lace up those boots and hike the stunning Austrian Alps? Let us take the stress and worry out of planning all the details with our complete trip planning guides––whether you want to visit Innsbruck, Mayrhofen, or Zell am See - Kaprun––we’ve got the 4-1-1.