The best hiking routes in Lower Austria

Lower Austria offers walkers a transition between flat river plains and steep, forested river valleys. If you prefer walking on flat, soft ground under a canopy of deciduous trees, the Nationalpark Donau-Auen preserves one of Europe's last remaining large wetlands along the Danube. Here, the paths are mostly level dirt tracks and gravel dikes where you will notice the constant presence of standing water, side channels, and fallen logs rotting in the damp soil.

For those who prefer deep valleys and rocky terrain, the northern border region offers a completely different experience. In the Nationalpark Thayatal and the adjacent Národní park Podyjí, the Thaya river has carved deep loops into the granite bedrock. Walking here means navigating steep, narrow paths on forest soil, often mixed with loose stones and exposed tree roots, leading to rocky outcrops that overlook the river bend below. These valleys are densely wooded with beech and oak, keeping the paths shaded and cool even in the middle of summer.

This region does not have high alpine peaks or dramatic mountain passes, but rather a quiet contrast between wide river floodplains and steep, forested river cuts. The well-known viewpoints in the river loops can attract more visitors on weekends, while the deeper forest trails remain much quieter. Your choice depends on whether you want a flat, watery walk along the Danube or a hilly, rocky hike through the dense forests of the northern border.