Voralpenweg 04 (West: von Wilhelmsburg bis Salzburg)
The place
Long-distance trail from Vienna to Salzburg
Why go
Bregenz Forest (traditional farmhouse cheese culture). Salzkammergut (Bad Ischl, UNESCO-listed Hallstatt). Kremsmünster Benedictine Abbey. The Vienna Woods and its hiking trails. Hainburg with its view over the Danube.
A bit of history
The Voralpenweg was laid out by the ÖAV as part of the ten-stage Austrian long-distance trail network. The pre-Alpine zone offers insights into the cultural landscapes that shaped life in the transitional areas between the high Alps and the Danube plain — saltworks, alpine pasture farming, baroque monasteries.
Getting there
Bregenz: train station (Zurich 1h, Munich 2h30). Hainburg: Vienna S-Bahn (50 min). Vienna: international airport.
Recommended gear
Mid-height hiking boots. Rain gear. No glacier sections.
Best season
April to November. Spring and autumn are especially recommended.