# Day trip to the Schneeberg from Vienna: the rack railway from Puchberg to 1,800 metres

Train via Wiener Neustadt, the Schneebergbahn up to 1,800 metres, the easy loop across the plateau, lunch at the Berghaus and a walk down from the Hengsthütte.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/austria/lower-austria/puchberg-and-schneeberg/itineraries/rack-railway-from-vienna · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:00 · Salida: 1 h 45 by train (southern line from Wien Hauptbahnhof or Meidling and regional train from Wiener Neustadt; at weekends, direct train)
- 10:30 · The Schneebergbahn, the rack railway from Puchberg to 1,800 metres (Salamander train at 10:30 · €45 return · buy the ticket online) · Niederösterreich Bahnen, From €45 per person
  - 45 min by train
- 11:15 · Paradies der Blicke, the easy loop from the upper station (easy one-hour loop from Hochschneeberg station, next to Elisabeth church)
  - 5 min on foot
- 12:30 · Berghaus Hochschneeberg restaurant (Tafelspitz with alpine sorrel · open daily from May to November) · Berghaus Hochschneeberg restaurant, €€
  - 15 min by train
- 13:45 · Hengsthütte (get off at the Hengsthütte stop · coffee and cake · open Thursday to Sunday, cash only) · Hengsthütte, €€
- 15:00 · Vuelta: 1 h 15 on foot (walk down through the forest to Puchberg)
  - 1 h 45 by train (regional train to Wiener Neustadt and southern line to Wien Meidling or Hauptbahnhof)

The Schneeberg is the highest mountain in Lower Austria and one of the classic excursions of the Viennese: train to Puchberg and, from the same station, a rack railway that has climbed to 1,800 metres since 1897. Up top, an easy loop across the plateau, lunch with a view and, to finish, the walk down through the forest from the Hengsthütte. All by train and without hurry, designed for a Sunday from May to October.

## The day, hour by hour

8:00 · Train to Puchberg. Southern line from Wien Hauptbahnhof or Wien Meidling to Wiener Neustadt and a regional train to Puchberg; at weekends there is a direct train. None of this uses the central S-Bahn section, closed until October 2027.

10:30 · Schneebergbahn. The Salamander train climbs in 40 minutes to Hochschneeberg station. Buy your ticket online: places are limited.

11:15 · Paradies der Blicke. The easiest waymarked loop on the plateau, one hour, with views towards the Rax and the church of Empress Elisabeth next to the station.

12:30 · Lunch at the Berghaus. Next to the station, the Tafelspitz with alpine sorrel and, for dessert, a Schneebergkrapfen.

13:45 · Train down to the Hengsthütte. The 13:45 train stops at the Hengsthütte, at 1,012 metres: coffee and cake at the hut, which is open Thursday to Sunday and takes cash only.

15:00 · On foot to Puchberg. A little over an hour through the forest to the village, and train back to Vienna.

## If you go with children or it rains

With small children, stay up top with the one-hour loop and go down by train to Puchberg; the train is already the big attraction. If the weather is bad up top, go only as far as the Hengsthütte on the train and eat there: the plateau in fog is no fun and can be dangerous.

## Cómo llegar

### Without a car
Train to Puchberg and rack railway. It is the way this plan is designed.

### By car
About 90 km on the A2 to Wiener Neustadt-West and the B26. It lets you catch the first train at 9:00.

## Consejos

### Bring a coat
At 1,800 metres it is cold even in summer and the weather changes quickly.

### Cash for the Hengsthütte
They don't accept cards.

### Check the last train
In 2026, the last descent from Hochschneeberg left at 16:45.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the day cost?
Between €80 and €120 per person with trains, rack railway and lunch.

### Can it be done in winter?
No: from November to April the rack railway runs only special trips to the mid-mountain.

### Is the walk down difficult?
It is a mountain path of a little over an hour; with suitable footwear anyone who walks regularly can do it.