Railway hiking path in winter: Panorama Route Breitenstein-Klamm

©Wiener Alpen in Niederösterreich

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6,96 km
Ascent: 117 m elevation gain
Descent: 221 m elevation gain

Breitenstein Train Station via Karl-Schubert-Straße - Gasthof Polleres - Althammerhof to Klamm Train Station

Starting point of the tour: Breitenstein Train Station
Tour destination: Klamm Train Station

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6,96 km
Ascent: 117 m elevation gain
Descent: 221 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
4/6
Overall experience:
4/6
Scenery:
3/6

Lowest point687 m
Highest point914 m

Nice views
With refreshment stops
Accessibility by train and bus
Suitable for families and children

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Description

From Breitenstein to Klamm via the panoramic route

The railway hiking trail offers a wonderful view of the Semmering railway, a World Heritage Site. From the stop in Breitenstein, you hike along Karl Schubert Straße and the Kreuzberg towards the gorge. To be rewarded with impressive views, you can take a short detour from the path and hike up the Weinzettelwand, where you can already see towards the gorge.During the panoramic route over the Kreuzberg, you can stop off at the Polleres or Althammerhof inns (during the set-out dates). The trail runs along roads with little traffic or wide forest paths, which is why it is suitable in winter.

History of the trail

In the beginning, it was a path that led over the Semmering Pass - there has been evidence of this since the Middle Ages. Then, in the early 18th century, Emperor Charles VI had a road built with a gradient of up to 17 percent, over which horses and their loads laboriously struggled. Finally, in 1841, the order was given to build a railroad line from Vienna to Trieste to meet the transport needs of the beginning industrialization. Finally, in 1844, "only" the gap between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag over the Semmering had to be closed. Under the direction of Carl Ritter von Ghega, 20,000 workers finally built Europe's first full-track mountain railroad, which has only undergone a few changes to this day. Trains travel over 16 viaducts, 100 bridges and through 15 tunnels on the 41 km long line. Since 1998, this "outstanding technical solution to a major physical problem in the construction of early railroads" has been a UNESCO World Hert Hert site.

Equipment Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes appropriate for the route, bring sun and rain protection as well as water and a small snack. Take your mobile phone and save the mountain rescue emergency number: 140
Route description The hike begins at the Breitenstein Train Station. From here, follow the signs continuously towards Klamm Train Station. Initially, the path leads downhill along the road to the municipal office. At the intersection, turn left into Lindenstraße, which becomes a forest path. At the next fork in the path, you reach a paved road again, which you follow uphill. On the right is a children's playground with a locomotive. The route continues along Untere Bahnstraße, which later turns into a forest road.At the end of this forest road, there is an option to turn right over a meadow to Weinzettlwand. Here, two viewpoints offer impressive views of Klamm, Breitenstein, Semmering, and the famous Semmering railway. (Sure-footedness required)Then follow Karl-Schubert-Straße to the “Blue Cut.” Here the path also continues along the road. If desired, you can turn right and follow the railway hiking path along the tracks. The signposts point towards Kreuzberg/Gh. Polleres, Althammerhof, and Klamm stop.The path continues to an intersection where you turn right. Here the road turns into a gravel path. On the left is the Gasthaus Polleres – a good opportunity for a break.The hike continues towards the Althammerhof, which soon appears on the left side. From there, it goes downhill towards Klamm. At the end of Althammerhofstraße, turn right and soon reach the point where you can decide: either hike further towards Gloggnitz or Payerbach or end the route. In this case, it is about a 10-minute downhill walk to Klamm Train Station.
Parking Parking is available at Breitenstein Train Station.
Getting there From Vienna, take the A2 South Motorway onto the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Gloggnitz exit. Continue straight towards Schottwien and via Adltzgräben to Breitenstein. From Graz , take the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Spital/Semmering exit. Drive on the federal road to Semmering and from there towards Breitenstein.
Public transport Travel comfortably with the Southern Railway to Breitenstein Train Station, where the hike also begins.Alternatively, book an individual ride with the RUFbus Semmering-Rax.The following RUFbus stops lie along the route:BR11 Breitenstein Train StationBR12 Municipal Office BreitensteinBR9 Lower/Upper BahnstraßeBR8 Blue CutBR1 Gasthaus PolleresBR2 AlthammerhofBR3 Eichbergstraße KlammBR4 Klamm Train StationReturn journey:You can return either by RUFbus Semmering-Rax to the starting point of the railway hiking path or by train back home.More information: www.oebb.at or www.vor.at
Editor’s tip Short worthwhile detour to the Weinzettlwand (sure-footedness required!)Break at the Gasthof Polleres

Recommended period

Current weather in Breitenstein

1° to 10°

Today, 12.02.2026

Light rain shower

Wind speed1,2 km/h

-1° to 8°

Tomorrow, 13.02.2026

Light rain shower

Wind speed4,3 km/h

Options for breaks:

Further information:

Tourism Association Semmering-Rax-Schneeberg, +43 660 900 88 22