Hike along the Semmering Railway: From Semmering to Klamm
What's waiting for you
The hike from Semmering to Klamm along the historic Semmering Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a fascinating mix of nature and technical history. Over 15.5 km you will experience impressive views of viaducts, cross dense forests and enjoy the famous twenty-shilling view. The path is well signposted and leads you through one of the most beautiful railway landscapes in Austria.
Arrival and start of the hike
Your hike starts at Semmering train station, which you can easily reach by train from Vienna Meidling Trains run almost every hour, and an early arrival at 9:13 a.m. gives you plenty of time to enjoy the route in peace. You can decide for yourself how far you want to walk. There are several return options along the route:
– Semmering train station – Wolfsbergkogel train station: 1.5 km
– Semmering train station – Breitenstein train station: 9.5 km
– Semmering train station – Klamm train station: 15.5 km
– Semmering train station – Payerbach train station: 21 km
– Semmering train station – Gloggnitz train station: 23 km
The first section of the hike takes you from the train station along a paved winding path up to the historic Südbahn Hotel. Even if the abandoned hotel is closed when you visit, the small detour is worth it to see the impressive architecture.
The first section along the Semmering Railway: Southern Railway Hotel and Sculpture Park
After a short detour to the Südbahn Hotel, the tour continues past the Semmering Sculpture Park, which features works of art by the artist Ignaz Semlitsch. The sculptures are made of various metals and acrylic and some are available for purchase.
The path continues straight through the forest (follow the yellow signpost) towards Zwanzig-Schilling-Blick, which we reach about 1 hour after arriving at the train station.
The twenty-shilling view
A highlight of the hike is the twenty-shilling view. From this vantage point you have a breathtaking view of the "Kalte Rinne" viaduct, which was depicted on the back of the old 20-shilling banknote. The place invites you to take a short rest and take a photo before you continue on your way.
Continue to Breitenstein and the Ghega Museum
The next section of the route takes you further towards Breitenstein train station. On the way you pass the Golfhouse Geiger and hike through beautiful forests, also past the “Untere Antlitzgraben Viaduct”.
At 12:00 you will reach the Ghega Museum, which is dedicated to the engineer Carl Ritter von Ghega. Here you can view models, plans and historical documents that provide insights into the railway history of the 19th century. A snack station next to the museum offers refreshments and snacks (sausages, bread and butter and various small dishes) so that you can fortify yourself for the rest of the journey.
The Kalte Rinne Viaduct and the Klamm ruins
After a refreshment, continue downhill to the road where you will see the impressive Kalte Rinne Viaduct. This double-height viaduct is a remarkable example of 19th century engineering. With a length of 184 meters and a height of 46 meters, it is one of the outstanding structures on the Semmering Railway. The viaduct consists of several arches and impresses with its stable yet elegant construction, which blends harmoniously into the alpine landscape.
From here you continue towards the gorge. The walking time is given as around 2 hours and 10 minutes. In Breitenstein you turn left towards the gorge “ruins and church”. The path leads you through the forest up to the Breitenstein train station, where you have to turn right to reach the gorge station. On the way you pass the old stone house and see a sign pointing towards the “Weinzettlwand-Tunnel photo point.” A short detour to the right takes you into the forest where you reach the photo point. Although this is less spectacular, it still offers a beautiful view.
The route continues through beautiful forest and flower meadows until, after a short rest, you can enjoy the view of the ruins and the church in Breitenstein. The Klamm ruins are characterized by their picturesque location and the use of the uneven, rocky building site. They are located on the Heubachkogel and offer a great view of the surrounding area. The ruins themselves are well preserved and partially restored, which underlines their historical charm.
Finally, you will reach Klamm station at 2:45 p.m., from where you can take the train back to Vienna Meidling at 3:08 p.m.
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