The best hiking routes in Austria

Austria offers distinct walking landscapes depending on whether you head east or west. In western regions like Tirol and Vorarlberg, paths are defined by steep limestone climbs, scree slopes, and high-altitude meadows where cattle graze in July. Underfoot, you will mostly encounter rocky trails and exposed roots. These mountainous areas require steady footing and are best suited for those seeking significant elevation changes.

In contrast, the eastern provinces of Burgenland and Wenen present a flatter, more open terrain. Here, the paths turn to packed earth, gravel, and sandy vineyard tracks. Walking in Burgenland means navigating reed beds and shallow steppe lakes, where the ground is level and the walking is physically undemanding. It is a landscape of wide agricultural fields rather than dramatic peaks.

Between these extremes lie Salzburg, Karinthië, and Stiermarken, where forested hills gradually transition into alpine pastures. In these central regions, you will walk on a mix of soft pine-needle paths and gravel forestry roads. The terrain is rolling rather than sheer, making it easier to choose between gentle valley walks and longer ascents to grassy ridges.