An activity I thoroughly enjoyed last summer was hiking near Vienna – in particular, trekking along the various city hiking trails. This is an experience not many visitors know about. The different routes lead through very local and remote parts of the city. Sometimes you end up ascending steep hills, sometimes it takes you through vineyards or sometimes the route is so rural that you won’t meet another soul for hours. This experience lets you connect intimately with the place. Plus the more city hiking trails Vienna you cover, the higher the chance to take home a special souvenir. Sounds like a Win, Win to me!
Table of Contents
About the City Hiking Trails Vienna
Hiking near Vienna and in the centre of it is a great activity to build a meaningful connection to the city. The initiative and motivation for the city hiking trails Vienna is unfortunately not often promoted enough via the Tourism Board, so not many visitors know about it. I came across it one summer when I spotted an information board at Prater amusement park. I returned in 2022 and started investigating and hiking straight away.
The city hiking trails became institutionalised in the 80s. Back then, the initiative started with 5 city hiking trails. There are now 14 official routes in and around Vienna. The trails are of different lengths averaging around 15 km. The shortest route is 4 km and the longest counts 23 km. There is also a circular route for hiking near Vienna on an outer ring covering 120 km.
The city hiking trails shouldn’t be a challenge for any skilled and experienced hikers. They are indeed more of a city walk than a proper hike, but then anything with the term “hiking” usually sounds way more attractive, right?
Viennese Hiking Passport
The city administration published a hiking passport and organises the city hiking trails similarly to the Camino network. The passport contains all routes including a detailed map and highlights important sights along the way. On the hike, you are encouraged to stop at various checkpoints and collect a stamp. There is one stamp per hiking trail. Once you start collecting these stamps and fill your passport, there is a chance to receive a special souvenir at the end. The first three hikes will get you a silver hiking pin; seven the golden hiking pin and all 12 award you a platinum pin. Pick up your rewards at the city information centre.
Where can I pick up my Hiking Passport?
You can download or fetch a free paperback copy at the city information centre at the town hall, entrance Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz. The physical brochure, for now, is in German only, but I was told an English version is in the works. You can also consult the online version of the hiking paths in and around Vienna (in English). Information is correct as of October 2022.
My Top Tips for Hiking near Vienna
- Study the route before you start. The map for each hiking route in the passport is in small print and you may not get all of the directions correctly
- Don’t forget to bring the passport along in case you get lost. The instructions contain street names for your orientation. Each route also has waymarking but these are irregular and sometimes you have to check a map for directions
- All stamp collection points are accessible 24/7 and don’t require any further assistance
- If you happen to leave the passport at home or a stamp checkpoint is faulty, you can always track your hike with Strava and provide the session later as proof
- Explore with a hiking pole. Some hiking near Vienna leads through the last foothills of the Alps, therefore the territory can be steep and challenging
- All city hiking trails are accessible by public transport but can add additional time to your exploration. Therefore treat hiking near Vienna on many of these trails as a day trip
My Hiking Experience in Vienna
I embarked on a hiking adventure in Vienna and managed half of the routes. Gotta keep the remaining city paths for another visit. Here is my experience of trekking along and exploring the Viennese surroundings and recreation areas.
To give you authentic feedback on my experience, I included the following considerations for you:
- Why you may like this particular city hiking trail
- Picturesque: was the landscape engaging?
- Waymarking: what was the state of giving directions?
- Level of Easiness: km, territory
- Time: how long did the hike take?
- ROI: was the city hiking trail worth my efforts?
- Would I hike it again?
Please note: all explorations use Hauptbahnhof (HBF) as a starting point.
City Hiking Trail Vienna 1 & 1a: Kahlenberg & Leopoldsberg
Both routes lead through gorgeous landscapes, think dramatic valley views over the Danube (the Viennese Gate), vineyards and spectacular foliage if you happen to hike it during autumn. The hike offers many points of interest that engage and make you forget the painful ascend easily.
Waymarking: about 12km, waymarking is sparse and sporadic.
Territory: Nasenweg is quite a steep ascent. You will hike approximately 480m above ground.
City hiking trails 1 & 1a start in District 19 (Döbling). Take tram line D and alight at the second to last stop “Nußdorf”. The start of the trails is easy and leads along the Danube River. Nußdorf itself is quaint and idyllic.
The route then follows Nasenweg, a very steep uphill path conquering Leopoldsberg. In parts, I walked it up backwards and used every bench for a rest to avoid overheating. It took me 1h for the 425m but along the way, I was rewarded with stellar views over the Danube and picturesque autumn colours. The Nasenweg was planned in the 18th century and is Austria’s only designed path that uses architectural elements such as benches, viewing platforms and memorials.
Once atop, there is the St Leopold’s church which has been there since the 13th century. On a clear day, you can see the church from afar. Leopoldsberg is connected with the recreation area Kahlenberg, which lies at 484m. Both are the last parts of the Alp foothills. So be prepared it’ll be busy up there.
There are all sorts of leisure facilities, including a tree-top climbing park, restaurants, an abbey, a private university, the Stephanienwarte and a terraced viewing platform at Skyline Lounge. And that’s before all the vineyards on your way back down. This city hiking route is packed with lots of impressions, activities and extras.
More Info on the Stephanienwarte (1887)
The 22m high observation tower offers 360-degree views over the Viennese woods. Archduchess Stephanie von Belgien, the wife of crown prince Rudolf, donated the tower. The building has two separate staircases, each comes with 125 stairs. It was purchased by the city during the 80s and extensively restored in the early 90s and for the 130th jubilee in 2017.
Stephanienwarte is totally worth the climb. The observation tower is open on weekends and during nice weather only and costs 1€.
Was the 1 & 1a city hiking trail Vienna worth my time and would I hike it again?
This was an incredible day out and the numerous sights along the way kept me engaged and interested in the trail. Not gonna lie, the Nasenweg was a hell of a challenge for me, but I’m not a skilled hiker and fairly unfit. The views over Vienna are spectacular and even though the area atop is a bit crowded, this is a place mostly visited by locals. I doubt many visitors know of it. Walking down past all the vineyards was a delight. I’m not a drinker but I enjoyed the atmosphere and friendly vibe of other hikers and day trippers relaxing amongst the grape designation.
Yes, I would totally hike this trail again and maybe bring some more time to explore the tree top climbing experience or check the opening times of the church.
Similarly to city hiking trails 4 and 4a, you can cross over and do both routes in one hike. If you started your day really early, you could possibly tick off city hiking trail 2, too.
City Hiking Trail Vienna 4 & 4a: Hütteldorf & Ottakring
These two routes lead along a well-maintained hiking network through picturesque parts of the Viennese Woods. Highlights include the recreation area of Dehnepark in District 14 (Penzing), views from the Jubilee Tower, a stop at Castle Wilhelminenburg and a descent through more vineyards back into District 16 (Ottakring).
Waymarking: on this 12 km long hike, waymarking is sparse and at times freestyling is required. There are lots of crossovers with other hiking trails the further up you get into the Viennese Woods. Do check on your phone, especially on the descent into Ottakring. There are no signs and orientation is purely by map with instructions and street names given in the hiking passport.
Territory: you’ll ascend approximately 280m into the Viennese Woods. The initial ascent is steep but manageable.
The starting point for this city hiking trail Vienna is in Hütteldorf, only four stops away by train from the HBF. Hütteldorf is part of District 14 (Penzing) and seems to be worth having a look around. First recorded in 1170 as “Utendorf”, modern Hütteldorf has several Renaissance and baroque villas and parks. Worth mentioning here are e.g. the Ferdinand Wolf Park with the Europahaus, a former hunting castle used as an events location today. Nearby is the Ernst-Fuchs Villa, an art museum founded by artist Fuchs who established the Viennese School of fantastic realism.
You’ll find the first way marker a short walk from the train station away, afterwards the marking is quite lax and freestyling is required. The first area to cross is the Dehnepark.
This 2.000 hectare parkland was laid out in 1791 as a landscape park. In 1851 local confectioner Dehne bought it and gave it his name before the city took over in 1973 and opened it to the public. The parkland is a recreation area and extends into the Viennese Woods. The city prides itself on the care and maintenance of its nature reserves as a contributor to the high quality of living. Keep an eye open for the Ruinenvilla, which was originally used as an orangery.
Take a rest at Silbersee before you ascend to the Jubilee Tower. This viewpoint was built in 1898 as a wooden construction. Since then it has been completely redesigned and is now a modern build. However, the top is quite wobbly, so I didn’t make it all the way up. Next to the tower is the Forest School Ottakring, an educational centre for schools. It is only open for visiting school classes and has become one of the most popular centres in Vienna. Go fetch your stamp!
From here, you can switch your hike to the 4a trail if you want or follow the signs to Castle Wilhelminenburg. The castle built in 1785 is now a hotel and events location. The views over Vienna are pleasing and you may want to have some lunch or coffee & cake on the terrace, too. When you exit the hotel, keep to the right. Follow the signs for city hiking trail 4a to descend. The way back into town leads you through secluded vineyards always to the backdrop of Vienna’s spectacular skyline.
Was the 4 & 4 a city hiking trail Vienna worth my time and would I hike it again?
Yes, this was a lovely day out and took me to a part of Vienna, which I wouldn’t have engaged with otherwise. I enjoyed the views from the Jubilee Tower and the meal at Castle Wilhelminenburg. Both are easily visible from Vienna’s centre, too, so it’s kinda cool when you see a sight in the distance and can say “I’ve been there!”.
City Hiking Trail Vienna 9: Prater
This city hiking trail Vienna leads across the wild corners of inner-city parkland Prater. You’ll start at the west-end and work your way through to the east-side. The parkland has numerous maintained paths and is an equestrian heaven. There are lots of stables here and you will meet more riders than hikers. Watch out for Vienna’s wildlife including European pond turtles, common deer and hares.
Waymarking: the route is approximately 13km long and takes 2 1/2h to complete. The signs are clearly visible and continue regularly along the way. I never felt lost.
Territory: flat, easy and a mix of paved pathway, natural ground and shaded
Prater is not only the amusement park, which opened in 1766 to the public, but refers to the centrally located parkland. It’s similar to Tiergarten in Berlin – left mostly natural with well laid out paths perfect for hiking and horse riding.
The city hiking trail starts at the north-west end and leads along the Hauptallee for a good while. Then the trail follows through several quiet park sections via the idyllic Konstantinsteg past sports grounds, a golf course and beer garden. You will meet dog walkers and riders. This was one of the easiest hiking trails in Vienna. Not only because it was quickly accessible, it is also very calming to walk through the nature reserve. There are no challenges along the way and I would do this hike again.
City Hiking Trail Vienna 10: Breitenlee
The city hiking trail 10 requires some effort to get to. Its starting point lies in the northeast outskirts of Vienna. The route is a new addition and commemorates the district manager Franz-Karl Effenberg (1948-2005).
Waymarking: the 7km long route has several signs and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete
Territory: the circuit leads over natural flat ground and is a popular dog-walking route. There are no ascents or challenging obstacles.
This time you’ll explore District 22 (Donaustadt). From the HBF take the U1 to Kagraner Platz. You can then take the bus in the direction of Breitenlee and get off at the cemetery. The journey to the starting point will take around 30 minutes.
Once you’ll start the route, you’ll walk past a quiet residential area until you’ll find yourself in an industrial estate surrounded by the rural outskirts of Vienna. It’s not the most attractive hike, to be honest. Highlights along the way are a huge waste dump which is home to a population of Pinzgauer goats – a rare and local variety. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any.
The second part of the hike leads through the Norbert-Scheed forest, a small nature reserve. The city must be aware that this trail is not the most attractive route and has installed several picnic areas. The hike scores with tranquillity and easiness, so this is an ok-ish route for locals walking their dogs or horse riding. Overall I doubt I will specifically travel to this hiking trail again. It was unspectacular and didn’t justify the travel time in comparison to the walking time for me.
City Hiking Trail Vienna 11: Urban Community Buildings
Back in central Vienna, this easy route leads through District 10 (Favoriten) and District 5 (Margareten). You’ll walk along the Ring road and hopefully pay attention to Vienna’s complex community buildings.
Waymarking: desirable and often non-existent. Best to study this 4km route online and use your own research as guidance
Territory: urban, flat and easy
The Viennese community buildings are huge complexes made to provide affordable housing across all social levels. They are the biggest protected living habitats in Europe. Not only are these buildings huge and an architectural reflection of various decades, but they also have their own small ecosystems.
Once you’ve walked past the art décor of Amalienbad, the next building to pay attention to is the Julius-Ofner Hof. Often, you won’t be able to go inside the complex, as this is for residents only, but you can get a good feel for these complexes along the way. Several information boards (in German) draw attention to the diverse flora and fauna created by these closed communities.
All along the Margaretengürtel, the community buildings are from several decades ago – mostly 1920s, 30s and 50s. Their structure follows a similar outline: I noticed the entrance is usually rather basic but impressive as they impress with a bulky Eastern European style. Often there are arcaded gangways. Inside the complex is a yard with a small greenery, fountains or pergolas. Again, please note these are residential areas and not really open to the public. Please be respectful when you explore and observe from the outside.
I’ve walked the route several times as part of my walk back to my temporary home, so I’m familiar with the route and have paid attention to the various community complexes along the way. You’ll find these initiatives all over Vienna, and it is a part that I really like about the city. They try to integrate people from all walks of life into the city structure and expose them to one another. It’s along the Margaretengürtel where you can find the most iconic buildings, so if you value cultural and historical significance and get a feel for local living then this route will be a delight.
Making of “Hiking Trails Vienna”
Here are some insights into my work and research when I compiled this post:
- Test lived in Vienna for 3 months at my own expense
- Invested time & hiked half of the city trails for research
- Researched directly at the City Information Centre (Town Hall)
- Researched, processed and included general information on the hiking trails through local newspapers
FAQs about the City Hiking Trails Vienna
I understand this is quite a lengthy post and you may have some quick questions about hiking near Vienna and the city hiking trails Vienna. You can, of course, always come back to any section of my post and read in more detail what you’d need for your trip. If you have questions or need help, please get in touch and I’m happy to assist.
How easy is hiking near Vienna?
Super easy, no further training is required. The hikes are more casual walks on manageable paths. Some require a hiking pole as they are steep, but shouldn’t be an issue if you are in generally good shape and health.
Top 3 Things I need to know about the city hiking trails Vienna
- Pick up your free passport with all routes from the city information centre at the town hall.
- Start exploring, it’s good fun!
- Enjoy getting to know new parts of Vienna and take home a souvenir you worked for.
What can I learn when hiking near Vienna?
The 14 city hiking trails Vienna lead you to parts of the city that you would probably not actively seek out when visiting. They are a great way to connect on a more “local” level with the city. Not all routes have information boards along the way, but each route follows a specific topic and introduces you to a part of Vienna that makes the city so liveable and adds quality to the high living standard.
Thanks so much for reading,
If you’ve enjoyed my post on the city hiking trails Vienna, you can always support my research via Buy Me a Coffee.
Till next time,
Carolin
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- 10 Leipzig Activities to make you feel like a Local
- 6 Quick & Easy Day Trips from Vienna by Train
- How Authentic are Coffee Houses in Vienna Today?
- Everything You Need to Know About the Hiking Trails in the Cies Islands
- A Quick Camino Frances Itinerary For a 5 Day Hike
19 Comments
Carina | bucketlist2life
16 May 2023 at 4:46 pmWhat a great idea. We really got into city hiking in Berlin during the pandemic. It’s nice to learn that Vienna organised the city hiking trails and even hands out hiking passports. A shame though that not all routes are clearly signposted. I love how these trails allow you to get to different vantage points and view points.
Peggy Zipperer
5 June 2023 at 6:49 pmI love the idea of a hiking passport. It seems that Vienna has really put some effort into this system of trails (even if not well advertised). I’m not sure we will have time to try any of these when we visit but I would love to try!
RJ
16 May 2023 at 9:18 pmInteresting post, ill have to look up a few of these when we return to give Henry a good run out. Prater one seems handy given oour other plans…
Mitch
17 May 2023 at 8:55 amLove this! We really enjoy walking and city breaks so a chance to combine the two would be fantastic. How great that there is a Viennese hiking passport and you can collect stamps and eventually get a reward. The trails and views from the vantage points look great and it’s lovely to explore some of the less well-known areas. I’ll just have to remember my reading glasses to make sure I can read the small print.
Barry
17 May 2023 at 4:39 pmI have never associated Vienna with hiking so this post came as a revelation and interesting to read.
I like the idea of the passport schema, it would incentivise to do it. Also I like that most of the trails pass by castles, churches, viewing towers etc as just seeing trees and fields for hours on end might not engage me for long.
It sounds great to be able to combine an urban adventure seeing places in the city with the rural adventure of the countryside and nature inspired areas.
Jan
18 May 2023 at 1:51 pmI have heard of the great Viennese outdoor before but couldn’t find relevant information about it. The only clues I had were the vineyards and retreating to the ccountryside was once a favorite past time of Sigmund Freud and family. It’s so nice that you were able to blog about Vienna’s idyllic countryside Carolin – makes me want to expereince and sign up for the hiking trail and rediscover some of Freud’s countryside obsessions.
Jan – https://flyingbaguette.com/
Rob + Ann @TravelLatte
18 May 2023 at 11:10 pmGotta admit, when planning out what to do in Vienna, hiking never popped up. It has now! Thanks for the details and great ideas! Looking forward to seeing more of the countryside and nature now. 🙂
Pam
19 May 2023 at 10:27 pmI haven’t heard of a city hiking trail, but that’s pretty cool that there are 14 different routes! I’ll look for these more when I travel to cities. It looks like a great way to get off the beaten path while staying in the city – discover new places! The pins are just an added benefit (free souvenir anyone?) haha
Lyn (aka Jazz)
20 May 2023 at 5:04 pmI love city hikes and had no idea that Vienna had such a great system. What a good way to explore the city and see more of the area outside of the more common tourist destinations. Your descriptions are fabulous and very helpful for deciding where to focus my hikes when I go to Vienna. I’m thinking 1/1a would be my favourite.
Emma
21 May 2023 at 10:53 amI like the idea of the hiking passport. More places should do that – what an excellent way to keep track and reach for goals of crossing more off. They look like lovely trails, especially where you can see the city. I find that really interesting as it reminds you how close some hiking trails really are to the urban areas. The view and lunch from the castle looked amazing, that would be my first choice
Ryan Biddulph
21 May 2023 at 4:19 pmSeeing no one for hours on city outskirts is 100% up my alley. I love this rural hiking thing, especially so close to the city. I had no idea one enjoyed borderline remote hikes by Vienna. What a gorgeous place. Excellent post Carolin.
Ryan
James Fahey
22 May 2023 at 6:39 amI found the post for hiking in Vienna useful should I want to plan a trip here. An interesting idea too is the hiking passport. Sounds like it would give people a nice challenge to get the souvenir at the end. I’ve never been to Vienna but it seems like a very outdoorsy place worth exploring to connect with nature. Good to have such a detailed account of Vienna hiking trails and a summary at the end of what you learned.
Kelly Francois
22 May 2023 at 5:04 pmIt’s a shame that cities don’t promote its own hiking tails more, as hiking has become so popular amoung tourists. Vienna has always been a place I’d like to visit and this guide comes in super handy. Hopefully the brochures will be in english by the time I go. I love that there are so many interesting things to see along the various routes. If I stopped for lunch at the castle, I would have wanted to stay there, the views are so beautiful.
Melanie
24 May 2023 at 9:12 pmI just read an article in the New York Times about Vienna’s impressive public housing. With this post about its hiking trails, I’m wondering if it’s a sign that I need to get to Vienna! Hiking these trails does sound a good way to get to know the city better, I love the idea of collecting stamps for each trail.
Angela
26 May 2023 at 11:09 amHow cool is it to have a hiking passport! I think it’s a spectacular idea. All these trails look quite nice and a great way to make a little getaway from city life.
From what you can see in the photos, the views are spectacular on some trails. Another interesting activity to do, among so many that have been shared by you here on the blog before!
Ibti
9 June 2023 at 10:48 amI didn’t know there were so many hiking trails in and around Vienna and wish I did one or two instead of sightseeing the city which I didn’t like. I like the idea of having a hiking passport! the trails sound really lovely and different. I love hikes with elevations so the Kahlenberg & Leopoldsberg route would be my favourite I think but also the 4a trail for the views from the castle. Glad I read this because I want to revisit Austria and would definitely do this if I stop in Vienna.
Chalkandcheesetravels
13 June 2023 at 10:19 amInteresting I had never had Vienna down as somewhere you would go to hike but these city hiking trails and the idea of a hiking passport are a great idea. It adds a whole new dimension to a city break.
I like that the trails all seem to have a focal point like a castle or a lookout tower etc.
For someone who knows very little about the city of Vienna its great to hear a city so connected with its rural side not only the hikes but even connecting such places like vineyards. I’m sold on this one
Alison
13 June 2023 at 8:13 pmThis sounds right up my street – especially collecting stamps and getting a reward for walking! I still have Vienna on my wish list and now I’ve got more reasons to go!
Paul (Paul Passing Through)
22 August 2023 at 4:25 amFantastic post as I felt like I got to experience some of these trails that I missed out on through your pictures and words. I really want to do a couple of these but because it was winter and we just didn’t have enough time anyways, we had t to skip them. Next time, though!