Nature & Alps

The Eastern Alps shape Austria's topography: From the Großglockner (3,798 m, Austria's highest mountain) over the Ötztal, Stubai, and Zillertal Alps to the gentler foothills in Styria — the country is one vast panorama. Around 62% of the national territory is alpine.

The Austrian Alps can be roughly divided into zones:

• High Alps (over 2,500 m) — glaciated peaks, rock, and ice. The Pasterze glacier on the Großglockner is the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps, but shrinking dramatically
• Alpine Meadows (1,500–2,500 m) — the alpine region with its flower meadows, herders, and alpine huts. In summer, cows graze here, in autumn they are driven down to the valley during the Almabtrieb
• Mountain Forests (800–1,500 m) — dense spruce, larch, and beech forests, crisscrossed by hiking trails and forest roads
• Valleys and Basins — the Inn Valley, Salzach Valley, Drava Valley, and Mur Valley are the lifelines, along which cities, villages, and transport routes run

East of the Alps, the land opens to the Pannonian Plain: The Vienna Basin, Marchfeld, and Burgenland have a mild, almost steppe-like climate — the Puszta practically begins at Vienna's gates. The Neusiedler See, Europe's second-largest steppe lake, is the scenic highlight here.

The Großglockner High Alpine Road (48 km, opened in 1935) is one of Europe's most spectacular mountain roads. 36 hairpin bends lead to an altitude of 2,504 m — with breathtaking views of the Großglockner and the Pasterze. Toll required (about €40 per car), but worth every cent.

Austria has over 25,000 lakes — from tiny mountain lakes to extensive bathing lakes with Caribbean-clear water. The water quality is almost consistently of drinking water quality.

The Most Beautiful Lakes

• Wörthersee (Carinthia) — Austria's "Riviera," 20 km long, turquoise blue, up to 26 °C warm in summer. Klagenfurt, Velden (castle hotel from the TV series "Ein Schloss am Wörthersee") and Pörtschach on the shore. Perfect for swimming, sailing, and strolling
• Wolfgangsee (Salzburg/Upper Austria) — Salzkammergut jewel with St. Wolfgang (famous pilgrimage church), St. Gilgen (Mozart's mother was born here), and Strobl. Take the historic cog railway up the Schafberg for a 360° Alpine panorama
• Hallstätter See (Upper Austria) — the lake where Hallstatt is located, the "most beautiful village in the world" (Instagram-famous). Fjord-like between steep rock walls. UNESCO World Heritage Hallstatt-Dachstein-Salzkammergut
• Achensee (Tyrol) — "Tyrolean Sea," the largest lake in Tyrol, emerald green, surrounded by peaks over 2,000 m. Cold, but wonderful for swimming, surfing, and sailing
• Neusiedler See (Burgenland) — Europe's second-largest steppe lake, UNESCO World Heritage. Only 1.8 m deep, surrounded by reeds, a paradise for birds and surfers. The Hungarian border on the eastern shore
• Millstätter See (Carinthia) — deep, warm, less touristy than Wörthersee. Crystal-clear water and the medieval Millstatt Abbey
• Grundlsee, Toplitzsee, Kammersee (Styria) — the three lakes at the end of the Totes Gebirge, lined up, increasingly wild. Allegedly, Nazi gold treasures and counterfeit plates still lie in Toplitzsee

Austria has six national parks, reflecting the diversity of landscapes — from high mountains to floodplain forests to steppe.

Hohe Tauern National Park

With 1,856 km² the largest national park in the Alps and one of the largest in Europe. Includes the Großglockner, the Großvenediger, and over 300 peaks over 3,000 m. 342 glaciers, 551 mountain lakes, countless waterfalls — including the Krimml Waterfalls (380 m drop, the highest in Europe). Golden eagles, bearded vultures (reintroduced!), chamois, ibex, and marmots are native here. Hikes of all difficulty levels, glacier tours for the experienced.

Gesäuse National Park

The "wildest" national park in Austria: The Enns breaks through the Northern Limestone Alps in a dramatic gorge here. Steep rock walls, roaring rapids, alpine primeval forests. Less developed than other parks, but offering more solitary hikes. White-water rafting on the Enns is a highlight. The Admont Abbey Museum (at the entrance to the Gesäuse) houses the largest monastic library in the world — a baroque book hall that takes your breath away.

Neusiedler See – Seewinkel National Park

Completely different: Steppe, salt lakes (Lacken), and reed belts. One of Europe's most important bird sanctuaries — over 340 bird species have been recorded here, including spoonbills, avocets, and white-tailed eagles. A paradise for ornithologists. The observation stations at Illmitz and Apetlon offer guided tours.

Other National Parks

• Kalkalpen National Park (Upper Austria) — the largest contiguous forest area in the Eastern Alps, ancient beech forests (UNESCO World Heritage), lynxes, and Ural owls
• Thayatal National Park (Lower Austria) — on the Czech border, a deeply incised river valley with one of Austria's last wildcat populations
• Donau-Auen National Park (Vienna/Lower Austria) — the last large floodplain forests in Central Europe right at Vienna's doorstep. Glide through the old arms of the Danube by inflatable boat, observe white-tailed eagles, kingfishers, and beavers

Austria is a skiing nation — with over 400 ski resorts, 7,000 km of slopes, and an infrastructure unmatched worldwide. Skiing here is not just a sport, but an identity: Austrian children are on skis before they can walk, and names like Hermann Maier, Marcel Hirscher, and Anna Veith enjoy hero status.

Top Ski Resorts

• St. Anton am Arlberg — Cradle of alpine skiing (Hannes Schneider invented modern skiing techniques here in the 1920s). 305 km of slopes, challenging terrain, legendary après-ski. For experts and advanced skiers
• Ischgl (Silvretta Arena) — 238 km of slopes extending to Samnaun (Switzerland), notorious for après-ski excesses and top-of-the-mountain concerts. Modern lifts, wide slopes
• Kitzbühel — Glamorous ski resort with the infamous Streif, the most dangerous downhill in the World Cup circuit. The Hahnenkamm race in January is a major social event
• Sölden (Ötztal) — Glacier ski area up to 3,340 m, World Cup opener every October. Three peaks over 3,000 m accessible. Snow guarantee from October to May
• Ski Amadé (Salzburg/Styria) — Network of 25 ski resorts, 760 km of slopes, one ski pass. Schladming, Flachau, Zauchensee, Wagrain — ideal for families and group trips
• Zillertal — Four major ski areas (Mayrhofen, Hochzillertal, Zell am Ziller, Hintertux Glacier), together over 500 km of slopes. The Hintertux Glacier offers year-round skiing
• Lech-Zürs — Exclusive, snow-sure, connected to the Arlberg. Nobility and celebrities. Perfectly groomed slopes and fantastic freeride terrain

Prices & Tips

Day passes cost €60–75 (adults) in the major areas, multi-day passes are significantly cheaper. Children under 6 ski for free in most areas. The season runs from December to April, glacier areas partially year-round. Ski equipment rental costs from about €30 per day.

Austria has over 50,000 km of marked hiking trails — from leisurely valley walks to high alpine via ferratas. The markings are uniform: red-white-red for mountain trails, blue-white for alpine routes that require surefootedness and a head for heights.

Long-Distance Hiking Trails

• Adlerweg (Tyrol) — 413 km in 33 stages across Tyrol, named after the eagle, whose silhouette the route traces on the map
• Alpe-Adria-Trail — 750 km from the Großglockner through Carinthia to the sea at Muggia near Trieste. Three countries, three cultures, spectacular landscape changes
• Salzburger Almenweg — 350 km through 120 alpine pastures in the Salzburg region, with overnight stays in serviced huts
• Lechweg — 125 km along the last wild river of the Northern Alps, from Formarinsee to the Lechfall near Füssen

Hut Hiking

The Austrian hut system of the Alpine Club (ÖAV/DAV) is unique: Over 500 serviced huts offer accommodation, warm meals, and drinks — some at over 3,000 m altitude. You sleep in a dormitory (mattress dormitory, hut sleeping bag required) or in a room. Half-board costs for Alpine Club members from about €40–50 per night. Reservation in the high season (July/August) is strongly recommended.

Flora and Fauna

The alpine fauna is rich:

• Ibex — reintroduced in the Hohe Tauern and Ötztal Alps, best observed at dusk
• Chamois — common, often on steep grassy slopes
• Marmot — the favorite of all hikers. Their piercing whistle warns the colony of danger (eagle!)
• Golden Eagle — Austria's heraldic animal, soaring with a wingspan of over 2 m above the peaks
• Bearded Vulture — reintroduced since the 1980s, the largest bird of prey in Europe with a wingspan of up to 2.9 m
• Brown Bear — a few individuals roam through Carinthia and Styria (immigrated from Slovenia), extremely rare
• Lynx — reintroduced in the Kalkalpen National Park, but so shy that it is hardly ever seen

The flora of the Alps ranges from the Edelweiss (Austria's national symbol, strictly protected!) to the Gentian (deep blue, used to make schnapps), Alpine Roses (rhododendrons that turn the slopes pink) to Arnica and Alpine Cyclamen.