Long-distance hikes in Austria
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?
The most beautiful long-distance hikes in Austria
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„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 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.
What long-distance hiking trails are there in Austria?
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.
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.
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!
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 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.
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 yourself 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!
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