Austria is a beautiful country full of breathtaking landscapes and picturesque beauty at every turn. If you live in Vienna, or if you’re just on holiday and looking for a day excursion out of the city, you’ll be surprised to find many opportunities to hike and get out in nature! While Upper Austria has amazing pre-Alps, lakes, and alpine villages, there are still some equally beautiful experiences to be had in Lower Austria. First of all, Lower Austria has many lovely places to hike and explore and many are family and kid-friendly.
Here is our guide to the top 10 hiking day trips from Vienna with your family.
Top 10 Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids by KidsLoveVienna Community
Sparbach Nature Park
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Naturpark Sparbach is Austria’s oldest nature park and a top excursion destination for the whole family. Designed during the Biedermeier period, the park features rolling meadows and gigantic ancient trees. The Sparbach nature reserve, nestled in the Vienna Woods, is conveniently located a few kilometers from Vienna and boasts gorgeous flora and fauna. You’ll find adorable animals to admire in the enclosed petting areas as well as a variety of wildlife throughout including boars, mouflons, and deer.
Highlights for families: There is over 355-hectare areas for visitors to explore through nature walks. Stop by the visitor center that has a gift shop and purchase snacks and souvenirs on your journey. The kids will also enjoy stopping by the small animal enclosure where they can see donkeys, rabbits, sheep, and goats. You can also shuffle down to the Lenau pond, which usually has ducks swimming in the water. The Sparbach Nature Park also has barbecue areas you can rent out, so pack a picnic lunch for you and the kids and enjoy lunch outside surrounded by natural beauty. There´s also a great adventure playground with a treehouse, a motoric activity park, and a water playground.
Myra Waterfalls (Myrafälle)
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Enjoy an escape to the whimsical and magical forest and water cascades of Myrafälle. Just a short drive will bring you to this cool oasis where you can walk through wooden walkways to the beautiful roaring water of the waterfalls and play in the cool and shady forested trees. Don´t expect a huge waterfall but rather a series of idyllic smaller cascades and falls. The pathways, bridges, and stairs are well maintained, and the hiking signs are clearly visible so you won’t get turned around. There are several walking trails in the area depending on how long you want to walk, and a popular option is to combine the tour of the Myrafälle waterfalls with the Steinwandklamm gorge into one hiking tour of about 4 hours. The hike of the Myrafälle falls itself is relatively short, it might take you about 30 minutes (with young kids probably longer), and it will bring you just below a nice meadow next to the Karnerwirt guesthouse.
Highlights for families: Since there are so many stairs and pathways, the trail is not suitable for strollers, but children ages three and up should be fine conquering the Myrafälle trail. There is a great forest playground for the kiddos at the entrance of the waterfalls where they can play on the seesaw, splash at a cool water playground, climb on the climbing structure, and go for a swing on the swings. At the end of the Myrafälle trail, near the Karnerwirt guesthouse, there is another nice forest playground, that is full of fun structures to play on and explore, including a cool flying fox.
Local tip: Since it gets busier on the weekends, try coming during the weekdays. Without the crowds and selfie sticks, you will be able to enjoy all the peaceful natural scenery properly.
Nature Park Hohe Wand
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Take a walk on the adventure side at the Naturpark Hohe Wand. As the highest plateau in Lower Austria (1,135m), Naturpark Hohe Wand offers many opportunites to hike, climb and have some adventure on a skywalk! Take a walk on the wild side and venture out onto the skywalk observation deck where you can look out from the 18 meter-high tower and get amazing views of the surrounding countryside. For adventurous families, Naturpark Hohe Wand is a true climbing paradise – there are around 1,000 routes of different grades of difficulty so there´s something for everyone in the family.
Highlights for families: Naturpark Hohe Wand offers a family-friendly “enclosure tour” – it´s a 2kilometer long trail where you and your family can observe wild animals in their natural habitats such as roe deer, ibex, and deer. It’s approximately a one-hour tour and perfect for families with young kids. On the children’s forest adventure trail, colorful stones show the way to get to adventure and possibly the secret of the Witches’ Forest. There are also longer and more challenging trails, such as the circular hiking trail, which is about 8 kilometers long. It will take you about three hours, and it´s perfect if you have teens or school kids who can walk that far. Don´t forget to take a long break at the playground and stop by the petting zoo – some furry friends like alpacas or goats are waiting for your visit. Walks with alpacas are available as well! There are several restaurants and gift shops along the trail, so stop in and get a snack and a sweet treat.
Local tip: The children´s Forest Adventure trail also offers a nature treasure hunt! Get your free treasure map in the nature park shop. Along the path, there are many hints and wow-experiences, but only the right combination of numbers opens the treasure chest at the end.
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Rax
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Enjoy easy hiking with top views on a mountain where Vienna´s tap water comes from! The Rax (2,007m) is an alpine mountain massif located about 80km south of Vienna, at the border of Lower Austria and Styria. It´s considered one of Vienna´s local mountains, and it´s a favorite weekend and day trip destination of the Viennese, especially families with kids. It´s not too surprising, given the fact that Rax allows you to experience beautiful mountain views and enjoy pleasant alpine hikes with the whole family – and that with little to virtually no effort if you wish so.
Since it´s a high-altitude plateau, and you can get there comfortably by a cable car, you´re guaranteed to get a breathtaking panoramic overview of the Vienna Alps without sweating- provided the weather collaborates, that is. Several family-friendly hiking routes start here, and some of them are also suitable for off-road buggies. Alternatively, you can carry your littlest one in a child carrier; if you need one, you can rent it at the Talstation valley station of the Rax cable car. The trails will lead you over many different types of terrain, such as lush fields, gravel paths, and the beautiful rolling hills.
Highlights for families: The Rax cable car, which happens to be Austria’s first cable car, is an attraction in its own right. It will bring you to the plateau of the mountain at 1,546m in 8 minutes. The table has a 34 sqm surface, and besides the views, it boasts impressive alpine flora. A particular attraction is a 4,000sqm alpine garden with over 200 plant arts located under the Ottohaus alpine hut. The hiking trail from the Rax cable car mountain station to the Ottohaus is one of the most popular family hiking courses; it takes about 45 minutes and is very easily doable by even the youngest kids since the hight difference to climb is only about 100m. The route isn´t comfortable with a stroller, though, and it´s only feasible with an all-terrain model.
Another popular family-friendly trail is the 1. Vienna waterpipe trail. The 4-kilometer route starts in Hirschwang an der Rax and ends in Kaiserbrunn, where you can visit the Water supply Museum. It´s a one-hour hike through a wonderful valley between Rax and Schneebergs.
Local tip: Make the Rax hike an exciting adventure with the help of newest technology! You can now download a free interactive app for kids packed with audio play stories and puzzles to accompany the Rax hike. In a fun, interactive way, the kids will learn plenty of interesting things about animals, plants, and geology in the alpine nature.
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Schneeberg
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Take a trip out to the highest mountain peaks in Lower Austria (2,075m) full of alpine charm, adventure, and breathtaking beauty. You will find plenty of hiking opportunities on a variety of hiking trails with different skill levels and lengths. One of the most beautiful routes is the Panoramaweg panoramic trail, in which you will find some of the most picturesque views of the Lower Austria area. While spring, summer, and fall offer these beautiful views, in the winter Schneeberg is a popular family ski destination and a ski-touring paradise. For a fun experience, your family can ride an old-fashioned cog train.
Highlights for families: One unique experience is to take a ride on the Schneebergbahn panorama train. You can choose between a nostalgic historical cog train which only operates on Sundays in July and August, and a modern hybrid Salamander train which runs daily. Both will bring your family to 1,800 meters to Hochschneeberg – Austria´s highest railway station where a range of hiking trails begin. For families with young kids, the circular Paradies der Blicke (“Paradise of Views”) hiking trail is ideal since it´s very kid-friendly; it leads to several viewpoints offering fantastic views. It´s only 2,4km long with little hight difference, and it is relatively easily doable in about one hour even by kids aged 3 or 4. The kids will have a great time playing at the Kinder-Bergwelt Children’s mountain world – the highest alpine children’s play world in Austria with 5,000 square meter play area, allowing you to sit and relax for a bit.
Local tip: Don´t forget to try the iconic Schneeberg-Buchteln, a sweet speciality made from yeast dough with a jam filling. You can buy these at the guesthouse Berghaus Hochschneeberg or the Baumgartner Station on the Schneebergbahn railway route; the train stops at the station for a few minutes so people can get off and buy fresh Buchteln at this small family operation.
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Semmering
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Semmering has long been known as a high-altitude health resort and spa and a favorite meeting-place of wealthy circles. Even the late monarchy traveled to the region for its healing powers and relaxing atmosphere. The Semmering climate is often compared to that of Davos, and you can enjoy its positive effects on respiratory disorders even today. That said, today, Semmering is better known for its slopes, beautiful hiking routes with breathtaking views, and a plethora of cycling trails. The famous Bikepark Semmering is a top attraction for bike fans during the summer months. In the winter, the magic mountain Zauberberg Semmering has the right slope for everyone, from complete beginners and kids to experienced skiers and snowboarders. The offer ranges from the family slope to the FIS World Cup Panorama slopes up to the Freeride Area (eastern slope).
The Simmering area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the Semmeringbahn railway, which encompasses beautiful viaducts, tunnels, and railway buildings.
Highlights for families: Semmering offers excellent activities for your family year-round. You can enjoy skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and sledding during the winter, and hiking, cycling, playing golf, and climbing in the off months. There is a range of hiking trails to fit for your family, whether you’re looking for an easy shorter hike, or a more advanced medium-range hike for your teenagers. Particularly beautiful is the Bahnwanderweg hiking path leading along the historical Semmering railway route. The medium-difficulty course is about 9km long, provides excellent views such as the legendary 20-Schilling-Blick, and will take you about 3,5 hours (adult pace).
Kids and teens will have a blast on the 5,000 square meter Leopark-Fun Bikepark. On the Bikepark Semmering, adults and children from 8 years of age ride on monster scooters with disc brakes and balloon tires over waves, seesaws, and wide gravel roads down into the valley. If you want to develop a feeling for the first drifts, you should try out the new mountain carts. The downhill scooters are exclusively for teenagers from 16 years of age. The ride up to the start is a comfortable ride on the eight-cabin gondola. Besides, there are other fun and adventure activities at Semmering, such as a summer toboggan, minigolf, Golf Club Semmering, or the Adlitzgräben climbing park.
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Johannesbach Gorge (Johannesbachklamm)
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Johannesbachklamm is a 60-meter deep gorge that has a kid-friendly walking path to explore. Disconnect from technology for a bit and enjoy the cool, refreshing breeze.
Highlights for families: The Johannesbachklamm is very accessible with secured pathways, structured steps, and constructed bridges leading your path as you appreciate the bounty of nature. The area is full of lush greenery and rich fauna. Have the kids keep their eyes peeled for a lizard or a salamander along the way. At the end of the gorge, there is even a playground for the kids to explore!
Hagenbach Gorge (Hagenbachklamm) and Eichenhain Nature Park
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
Located between the Klosterneuburg and St. Andrä-Wördern lies the 3,800-hectare Eichenhain Nature Park with its central attraction, the Hagenbach Gorge. The very easy circular hike will lead you from the entrance to the heart of the Eichenhain Nature Park, and back towards St. Andrä. The Hagenbach Gorge is located in the Eichenhain Nature Park, which consists of part of the Vienna Woods.
Highlights for families: The path leading to this exciting gorge landscape crosses over the stream several times by bridges. Your kids will love playing in the steam and wading in the shallow water and playing in nature. In the end, when you reach the gorge, make sure to look up where you will find Europe’s largest bird of prey breeding stations with 300 birds of 30 species. The Nature Park Eichenhain has many highlights such as these trails, a fruit-themed adventure learning trail, a 7-kilometer cross-country skiing trail, and mountain biking opportunities.
Steinwand Gorge (Steinwandklamm)
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Steinwandklamm is at nearly 550 meters above sea level and is one of the more adventurous trails in Lower Austria. The hike will lead over a variety of bridges and footbridges as well as rocky terrain, stairs, and ladders. The trek provides a cool, shady, and leady green canyon to walk under providing some reprieve from the summer sun.
Highlights for families: Your adventurous kids will get a kick out of passing through the ladders and stairs and into the Turkenloch cave! Make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp as there is a portion (albeit very small) of the hole in complete darkness. If you’re carrying one of your kids in a carry pack, it may not fit through the cave, so you will have to take it off and carry it with you to get past. This hike is definitely something every adventurous family will love!
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Peilstein Adventure Trail (Erlebnisweg Peilstein)
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids
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Peilstein is more famously known as being a climber’s paradise. However, for several years there´s also a family-friendly Peilstein Adventure Trail, starting in Nöstach, with a variety of climbing-themed stations. The trail was even awarded the “Theme Trail of the Year“ in 2014. Now, the nearly-natural path is about a 5,5-kilometers round trip, and it will take you and your family approximately 3 hours to complete all the stations.
Highlights for families: Visit the climbing-themed trail for families which stretches from Nöstach to Peilstein with 16 adventure stations (some of them interactive) in between. At the Peilstein summit, there´s the Schutzhütte mountain hut of the alpine club, which boasts an alpine playground and is an excellent option for you to get snacks or food before continuing your adventurous trip. Although family-friendly, this trail is not suitable for prams and is not barrier-free, so bring a child career to transport your littlest one. Make sure you and everyone in your family have the proper gear, especially sturdy hiking shoes.
Make it a two-day trip.
Interested in further exploring the area? Choose some of the nearby family attractions and kid-friendly accommodations and enjoy an action-packed family getaway!
Best Hiking Day Trips from Vienna with Kids: Conclusion
We hope our list of Top 10 hiking day trips from Vienna to experience with kids provides some inspiration to get out and explore outside of Vienna. Grab some hiking shoes, plenty of water, snacks, and other hiking essentials (check our family hiking packing list so you don´t forget anything), and hit the road to explore the great outdoors right in your own backyard.
It’s amazing to think with only a short drive from the Vienna City Center you can experience rock climbing, waterfalls, whimsical playgrounds, and ranger led walking programs that provide both beauty and education.
To find more tips and suggestions, check out our family directory. Here you can find more hiking destinations and day trip tips. You can filter by your preference or activity such as hiking, cycling, animals, cultural activities, outdoor adventure, fun & play, and more and even further narrow your search by your children’s age, distance, and what weather is best suited. Enjoy your hiking adventure!
