Der Löffler
What to order: a slice of the house cake on the sunny terrace, or breakfast.
May to October, Thursday to Sunday · Closed in November
geocalia
Day itinerary · 47.63° N · 15.83° E
The Semmering in a day from Vienna, ride up by train and walk down beside the track.
Ride up on Europe's oldest mountain railway, have breakfast in the village and walk down beside the track past the viaduct viewpoints to Payerbach, from where you return by train.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Viena fromBarcelona 2 h 30Palma de Mallorca 2 h 30Alicante 3 hMadrid 3 hValencia 3 hMálaga 3 h 30Fuerteventura 5 h 15Gran Canaria 5 h 30Tenerife Sur 5 h 30
Add to my trip
Total time11 h
By car1 h 15 each way
TrainFrom Wien Hauptbahnhof or Meidling
Route20.2 km · 5 h · 450 m ascent, 852 m descent
DifficultyHigh because of the length
Cost€45–70 pp
Best timeMay – October
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Vienna 1 h 30 by train
southern line from Wien Hauptbahnhof or Meidling · get off at Semmering
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1
Der Löffler
breakfast on the terrace · Thursday to Sunday, May to October
Hochstraße 20, 2680 Semmering
Café €€Book - 15 min on foot
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2
Bahnwanderweg, from Semmering to Payerbach beside the railway
you leave the station · diverted section as far as Wolfsbergkogel
- 1 h 30 on foot
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3
Doppelreiter and 20-Schilling-Blick viewpoints
the Kalte Rinne with the Rax and the Schneeberg behind
- 1 h 15 on foot
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4
Ghega Museum in Breitenstein, beside the Kalte Rinne
at track-keeper's house 167 in Breitenstein · packed lunch
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Back home 1 h 30 by train
after about 2 h 30 more on foot, train from Payerbach-Reichenau to Vienna
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Bahnwanderweg, from Semmering to Payerbach beside the railway
In 1854 the Semmering line was Europe's first great mountain railway, and it is still in service. This plan experiences it twice: you ride up by train past its stone viaducts and walk down beside the track on the Bahnwanderweg, from station to station, watching the trains pass over the Kalte Rinne. It is a long day of walking; if you don't fancy the 20 km, you can cut it short at any station and go back by train.
The day, hour by hour
7:30 · Train to Semmering. On the southern line from Wien Hauptbahnhof or Meidling: do not leave from Wien Mitte while the closure of the central S-Bahn section lasts (until October 2027). Some Railjets stop at Semmering every two hours; with the regional train, change at Wiener Neustadt or Gloggnitz.
9:15 · Breakfast at Der Löffler. Coffee and homemade cake on the sunny terrace on the Hochstraße, Thursday to Sunday.
10:00 · Bahnwanderweg. Go back to the station and start the path. At the moment the first stretch to Wolfsbergkogel is diverted along the Südbahnstraße and the Adlitzgrabenstraße.
11:30 · Doppelreiter and 20-Schilling-Blick viewpoints. The view of the Kalte Rinne and the framing of the old 20-schilling note. Wait for a train to pass.
13:30 · Ghega Museum. In track-keeper's house 167 in Breitenstein, beside the viaduct. Bring a packed lunch: there is nowhere to eat on the path.
17:30 · Return from Payerbach. After about two and a half more hours of descent, you reach Payerbach-Reichenau station and go back to Vienna by train.
If you don't want to walk so much
Take the train up to Semmering, walk down to Wolfsbergkogel station past the viewpoints and return by train: about three hours in total. With children, swap the route for the Hirschenkogel gondola and its playground.
Distance20.2 km
Ascent450 m
Time5 h 11
Change the route
If you don't fancy walking 20 km: go up and down by train, stopping at Wolfsbergkogel for the viewpoints:
The Semmering railway, Europe's first mountain line
With children, the gondola and the playground instead of the hike:
Hirschenkogel in summer: gondola, swings and mountaincarts
If you stay in the village, have dinner at the Sporthotel:
Grand View, the Sporthotel restaurant
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Panoramarestaurant Liechtensteinhaus
What to order: something hot from the menu on the terrace after the playground or the last toboggan run.
Open on gondola days · Closed between seasons
Grand View, the Sporthotel restaurant
What to order: the evening four-course menu; on Saturdays, with live music.
Every day from 12:00 to 21:00 · In low season it may close some days
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Semmering
May to October, with long days and a dry path. The Café Der Löffler is open Thursday to Sunday from May to October; in November it is closed. In winter the plan changes to skiing or sledging on the Hirschenkogel.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Bring food and water
Between Semmering and Payerbach there is almost nowhere to buy anything.
- 2Check the last train
Note the return timetable from Payerbach before you set off.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Bahnwanderweg take?
About 5 hours for the 20.2 km from Semmering to Payerbach, not counting stops.
Can it be cut short?
Yes, at Wolfsbergkogel or Breitenstein, and return by train.
How much does the day cost?
Between €45 and €70 per person with train and lunch.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/austria/lower-austria/semmering/itineraries/ghega-railway-and-bahnwanderweg
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.