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The spectacular Austrian train routes you can take with the Klimaticket

Austria's KlimaTicket allows the bearer to travel around the country using local and regional trains - some of which travel the country's most spectacular lengths of track.

The spectacular Austrian train routes you can take with the Klimaticket
Austria's Klimaticket can grant you access to some of the country's most spectacular scenery. Photo: Pixabay / trainspotterflo

For €1,095, the annual KlimaTicket connects ticket holders with the ÖBB and a wide host of local transport partners across the country. With Austria being a country of soaring peaks and spectacular countryside, this means you can get five star views for around €3 per day. 

Here’s a list of some of our favourite train journeys accessible via the KlimaTicket. As always, it’s always a good idea to check the ÖBB journey planner to avoid any delays or disappointments when setting off. 

Semmeringbahn (Mürzzuschlag – Gloggnitz)

The world’s first alpine railway is a great place to start when discussing scenic rail journeys.

Between 1848 and 1854, thousands of workers were brought to the ‘biggest construction site in Europe’ to construct 42 kilometres of track between Mürzzuschlag in Styria and Gloggnitz in Lower Austria.

Passengers on this rail line cross sixteen viaducts and pass through fifteen tunnels as they wind around and move through peaks of the Rax mountain range.

How to get there: Ideal for daytrippers from Vienna, you can catch a direct train from Vienna-Meidling to Mürzzuschlag (approximately 1.5 hours travel) and continue on any of the OBB trains heading towards Gloggnitz (taking about an hour).

One of the viaducts taking trains through the Rax mountain range on the Semmeringbahn. Photo: Pixabay / Mario Eppinger

Salzkammergutbahn (Bad Ischl to Halstatt)

The roughly 21km section of the Salzkammergutbahn between the spa resort of Bad Ischl and the lakeside town of Hallstatt is described as one of Austria’s most beautiful track sections.

Stretching across parts of Upper Austria, Styria and Salzburg, the ‘Salzkammergut’ region has been home to salt miners for thousands of years, making it prosperous. This is reflected in the luxurious surroundings of Bad Ischi and the picture book village of Hallstatt, which attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.

How to get there: Salzburg is close enough that this is an excellent day trip for those visiting the city. Catch the Westbahn from Salzburg to Attnang-Puchheim and another OBB train to Bad Ischl (approximately 2 hours travel). The section of track between Bad Ischl and Hallstatt takes about 25 minutes.

The village of Hallstatt, one end of the spectacular Salzkammergutbahn track between Bad Ischl and Hallstatt. Photo: Pixabay / Holdi2017
 

Unterinntalbahn/Giselabahn (Innsbruck – Salzburg)

Many commuters who wish to travel between Innsbruck and Salzburg take a train that passes through Germany. Arguably, this avoids one of Austria’s most scenic train rides. Those who opt for a longer route catch the Unterinntalbahn along the Lower Inn Valley, then switch trains in Schwarzach-St. Veit onto the Giselabahn towards Salzburg, which grants spectacular views of castles, monasteries, and some of the country’s most fabulous ski resorts.

How to get there: From either end, catch regional trains towards Schwarzach-St. Veit and change there towards your ultimate destination. This will take approximately 2.5 hours, depending on the time of day. About fifteen trains per day run via each of these routes.

Trains departing Innsbruck towards Schwarzach-St. Veit travel along the scenic Unterinntal. Photo: Pexels / Niklas Jaromin
 

Mittenwaldbahn (Innsbruck – Seefeld)

Part of the Mittenwaldbahn that connects Innsbruck to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany and to Munich, this 20-kilometre track has to climb over half a kilometre in altitude. It passes by the domineering Martinswand (St Martin’s Wall), a sheer rock face and makes for some genuinely spectacular shorts if you’re a photographer. It’s also a frequent commuter route, and locals will highlight the best landscape snap opportunities.

How to get there: Trains depart Innsbruck for Seefeld every thirty minutes. The trip itself takes around forty minutes.

From Innsbruck, the Mittenwaldbahn climbs over 650 metres to the alpine plateau containing Seefeld. Photo: Region Seefeld
 
Got a hot tip for a spectacular rail journey? Let us know!

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IN PICTURES: Austria’s five most impressive waterfalls

Austria's many dramatic waterfalls offer a perfect escape during the warm summer days.

IN PICTURES: Austria's five most impressive waterfalls

Austria not only offers mountains and crystal-clear lakes but also many dramatic and tall waterfalls worth exploring.

On a hot summer day, visiting a waterfall to enjoy cooler temperatures and natural beauty can be a great idea.

Krimml Waterfalls

These are Austria’s largest and most famous waterfalls. When combined, they have a total height of about 380 meters.

You find the falls in High Tauern National Park, where you can reach them via a well-maintained hiking trail.

The hiking trail leads you through a beautiful alpine landscape with dense forests and rugged cliffs. Along the way, you will find many viewpoints where you can rest on benches and enjoy stunning views of the region.

The best time to visit the waterfalls is during the summer months when the water volume peaks due to snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. It is also an ideal time to visit if you want to escape hot temperatures elsewhere.

Many people also spend time by the waterfalls due its believed health benefits. The high volume of water and cascading nature of the falls produce fine aerosols known to have a positive effect on respiratory health.

You can read more about the falls here.

Krimml waterfalls are a great place to visit if you want to cool down during the warmer months. Photo by Abdulrhman Alkhnaifer on Unsplash

Stuibenfall

Stuibenfall is Tyrol’s largest waterfall and is located in the Ötztal Valley. It drops over several levels, with a total height of about 159 meters.

The waterfall drops from a steep cliff and creates a cascade of water that can be heard and felt from long distances. During peak flow periods, such as in spring or after heavy rainfall, the waterfall is known to show its full force.

Ölztal Valley is famous for its beauty, high mountains, deep valleys, and alpine meadows. The valley offers many different hiking trails and great viewpoints.

You can start your hike up to the waterfall from the cute nearby village Umhausen.

Stuibenfall is Tyrol’s largest waterfal and a popular place to enjoy the nature. Photo by Jaakko Kemppainen on Unsplash
 

Golling Waterfall

This famous waterfall is located in the region of Salzburg. It is about 75 meters tall and cascades down in two main drops from a rocky cliff.

You can get to the waterfalls by a hike starting in the small town of Golling an der Salzach. From there you can explore a well-marked trail through a beautiful alpine landscapes with views of the Salzach Valley.

The waterfall is a popular spot, especially during summer, where you can enjoy the refreshing temperature and calmness of the nature around. 

The town of Golling also offers a lot to experience. Here you can visit the historic Golling Castle (Schloss Golling) and enjoy a walk or a picknick in Bluntautal Valley (Bluntautal).

While visiting Golling waterfall you can also enjoy the many hiking trails in Salzach Valley. Photo by Diane Theresa Hendrick on Unsplash

Liechtensteinklamm Waterfall

You find this beautiful waterfall near the small town St. Johann im Pongau in the region of Salzburg.

There is an official path to the waterfall which leads you through the narrow Liechtenstein gorge. Along the way, you will pass several other smaller waterfalls until you reach Liechtensteinklamm Waterfall, the largest one.

The gorge is one of the longest and deepest in the Alps, with ravines that are around 300 meters deep.

The hiking path to the waterfall will take you through many smaller waterfalls, impressive mountain peaks, steep cliffs, and of course, a lot of thundering water.

From the entrance of the gorge, the hike will take you about one and a half hour (roundtrip). The great thing is that the return path is not the same as the one to get there.

 
 
 
 
 
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Kesselfall 

Kesselfall is a series of waterfalls located in a beautiful gorge near the town of Kaprun in the region of Salzburg.

The falls are part of a popular hiking route, Kesselfall Almweg, which goes alongside the rushing waters of the waterfall. The path offers beautiful views with water flowing through a landscape of rocks and forests.

Apart from the hiking path to the waterfall, you can explore a wide range of other well-marked trails in the area. You can find trails of all levels for both hiking and biking  The region is known for its beauty, high mountains, meadows, and forests.

 
 
 
 
 
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READ MORE: Four Austrian national parks worth paying a visit

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