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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.

Published: 28 November 2023 16:09 CET
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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How to spend a summer afternoon in Austria like a local

Practice Fingerhakeln, prepare some Gurken salat, go hiking or try swimming in a lake. Here are the best ways to enjoy a hot summer afternoon like a true Austrian.

Published: 12 June 2024 15:34 CEST
Updated: 15 June 2024 09:08 CEST
How to spend a summer afternoon in Austria like a local

Summer is here, and while in Austria, you might want to experience a summer afternoon in true Austrian spirit.

Here, we will tell you what you should consider doing to enjoy the sunny weather like a typical Austrian.

Enjoy traditional Austrian games in parks

During hot summer days, spending time in a park can provide some shade and lower temperatures. 

It is also a perfect place for exploring some true Austrian traditions.

For example, you can enjoy practicing the traditional Austrian sport Fingerhakeln. Here, you need two participants to hook their middle fingers into a leather strap and then they need to try to pull the other competitor over a marked line. While this sport is more common at traditional events, it is also an activity that you can enjoy in a park with friends.

Nageln is the name of another traditional game that you can play in a park, although it demands higher motivation since you have to carry some heavy things to the park.

In this game, participants take turns hammering nails into a wooden log using the narrow side of a hammer. The person using the lowest number of hits wins. The game is usually played during traditional festivals but can also be a fun challenge in a park.

While not a game, the traditional Austrian folk dance Schuhplattler is still a perfect afternoon activity in a park. To perform the dance you need to rhythmically stomp your feet and slap your thighs, knees, and soles of your shoes with your hands. You can find a tutorial here.

You can often see people practicing the dance in parks during festivals or cultural events, and then you can just ask to join in.

Fingerhakeln – Finger hooking is an old alpine strength training, mainly in Bavaria and Austria. Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
 
 

Enjoy a picnic with Austrian delicacies 

Even though typical Austrian delicacies such as Germknödel (dough with butter and jam) and Hirn mit Ei (brain with egg) might not be the most suitable options for an afternoon picnic, other Austrian typical snacks definitely are. 

Pretzels and Schinken-Käse-Toast (toast with ham and cheese) are probably the most easily prepared ones, and both are very typical Austrian. If you instead want something healthier and fresher, it is a good idea to make a typical Gurkensalat with thinly sliced cucumbers, onions, and dill, tossed in a light vinegar dressing.

If you have a grill nearby, why not grill yourself a Käsekrainer? This Austrian sausage is filled with cheese, and if you put some mustard on top of it, you have a classic Austrian treat in your hand.

In case you want some comfort food on the picnic, Erdäpfel Salat or Käsespätzle, which is similar to macaroni and cheese, might be your best solutions. These two dishes are also perfect for sharing.

If you search for something more fancy to put on your picnic table, you can create a charcuterie board with Austrian cured meats, such as Speck (smoked ham), Landjäger (dried sausage), and Blunzen (blood sausage). Add some pickles, olives, mustard, and crusty bread, and you can feel like a true Austrian.

 
 
 
 
 
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READ ALSO: Seven ‘weird’ foods in Austria you need to try at least once

Visit a beer garden

Spending summer afternoons at traditional Austrian beer gardens is a must for many people in Austria.

Beer gardens are social hubs where people of all ages come together to relax and enjoy the warmer days. Here, you can have fun in a lively atmosphere and sometimes even listen and dance to Austrian traditional live music.

Austrian beer gardens are great places to spend time with friends and meet new people over a shared appreciation of Austrian beer and snacks such as different sausages, salads with pumpkin oil, bread, and maybe some Leberkäse.

Many beer gardens also offer opportunities to try different brews while learning about Austria’s brewing traditions.

Enjoy a hike 

Hiking has a long tradition in Austrian culture, dating back centuries. It was historically a means of transportation and exploration in the rugged terrain of the Alps. 

When you live in Austria, you are likely to live close to some mountains or at least some hillier areas. This gives you a great opportunity to enjoy a sporty afternoon exploring your beautiful surroundings.

Austria is a country offering hundreds of indicated hiking tracks, even if you live in the less mountainous regions, such as in Vienna and Burgenland. 

Since the summer tends to be hot in Austria, and especially in Vienna, hiking in some forested area can provide shade and lower temperatures.

And remember, even if Austrians like their beer, they also like doing sports.

Hiking can be a good idea to avoid the summer heat. Photo by Jake Melara on Unsplash

Go to a ‘coffee house’

Since Austrian summers tend to be hot, it can be necessary to seek relief in cooler places during the afternoon. This gives you the perfect opportunity to experience the traditional coffee culture.

Inside most coffeehouses,  especially in Vienna, you can find a wide range of classical coffee options prepared by skilled baristas.

Whether you prefer a creamy Wiener Melange (espresso with steamed milk), an Einspänner (espresso with whipped cream), or a refreshing Eiskaffee (coffee with ice), there is usually something to suit everyone’s taste.

READ NEXT: Caffeine, war and Freud: A history of Vienna’s iconic coffee houses

Show your swimming skills at a nearby lake

Do not be surprised if you see sporty Austrians performing intensive freestyle (front crawl) swim training in a nearby lake.

If you cannot swim confidently, then taking up open water swimming can open doors to friendships with the locals. Watch some videos, hire a trainer, or ask someone to show you the techniques.

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