Via Alpina Blue D4 4070329
The place
Binn - Rosswald
Why go
Lake Bled (Slovenia). Carinthian lakes (Wörthersee, Millstätter See). Berchtesgaden and Königssee (Germany). The Zugspitze glimpsed from the foothills. The micro-principality of Liechtenstein and its capital Vaduz, perched among vineyards and its castle. Alpine forests with abundant wildlife.
A bit of history
Approved under the Alpine Convention between 2002 and 2009 (see the Via Alpina Red route for the general context), the Via Alpina Blue was specifically designed as the more accessible counterpart to the Red itinerary, favouring valleys and low- or medium-altitude passes.
Getting there
Trieste: direct trains from Venice and Ljubljana. Vaduz: Sargans or Feldkirch (CH/AT) station, then bus. National sections accessible from their major cities: Ljubljana, Klagenfurt, Munich, Innsbruck.
Recommended gear
Waterproof hiking boots. Layered clothing. Trekking poles. Accommodation booking recommended on busy sections.
Best season
May to October for the lower sections. July to September for the alpine sections. Accessible earlier than the Via Alpina Red thanks to lower average altitudes.