WAB - Stage 10: Semmering - Prein

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15,43 km
Duration: 5:30 h
Ascent: 640 m elevation gain
Descent: 939 m elevation gain

The 10th stage of the Wiener Alpenbogen (WAB) trail takes us along the railway hiking trail in the best company of Semmering architecture. At the 20-Schilling viewpoint, you encounter a small lookout with a great panorama.

Starting point of the tour: Semmering, Passhöhe
Tour destination: Prein, Raxalpenhof

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15,43 km
Duration: 5:30 h
Ascent: 640 m elevation gain
Descent: 939 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:
4/6
Overall experience:
5/6
Scenery:
5/6

Lowest point660 m
Highest point1122 m

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Description

The Semmering railway, built by Carl von Ghega, marked a milestone in railway history and brought international fame to the once insignificant Semmering. The economic significance of the railway has been lost, but due to the varied landscape, magnificent villas, viaducts, and tunnels, its cultural importance is greater than ever. The Semmering railway was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. Particularly impressive is the view from the Doppelreiterwarte, which offers the observer a view over the idyllic landscape of Semmering. Along the trail, which partly runs along the railway hiking trail, you come to the legendary 20-Schilling viewpoint, overlooking the Kalte Rinne. The lookout on the rocky Luckerten Wand is an absolute insider tip.

Equipment Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes adapted to 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 From the roundabout at the border between Lower Austria and Styria, we briefly follow the pass road eastwards on the Lower Austrian side, but shortly afterwards leave it to the left onto the Hochstraße. We follow this road past Hotel Panhans and turn right at the elementary school towards Fürstenhof. We descend the path with a right hairpin to Südbahnstraße, which we cross halfway to the left and follow the narrow path towards the train station. However, instead of going right to the station, we immediately walk left on the gravel path above the railway tracks and the Ghega monument. Passing a playground, we go under the railway tracks and follow the school path to Wolfersbergkogel station. We walk uphill on the street and at a left curve continue straight on a sandy path. Ahead of us is the old Semmering Kurhaus, which today is used for cultural events. We go to the parking lot, cross it, and take the forest path uphill to the Doppelreiterwarte. The short climb to the scenic lookout is worthwhile.Back on the path, we go right past the lookout and return on the forest path in a left curve back to the parking lot of the Kurhaus. However, we do not reach it but follow the path in a right curve to the 20-Schilling viewpoint. Those who paid with a 20-Schilling banknote between 1968 and 1988 might find the view from this lookout familiar.We continue following the Wiener Alpenbogen to a fork, where we turn right towards Breitenstein. We stop briefly on the upcoming asphalt road but leave it before a right curve to the right into the forest. Shortly, we reach the road again, then turn right into Weberkogelstraße near the old steam laundry a few meters later. Hunger and thirst can be quenched at the Hinterholz 9 refreshment station. We hike down to the viaduct in the lower Adlitzgraben, walk under the viaduct, and examine old tools used in the railway's construction.We walk uphill on the road for several minutes, leave it again at a left hairpin into the forest. Initially slightly downhill, then uphill past a large book on the history of the Semmering railway. The forest path becomes steeper, and we follow a scenic high-level path. The hiking trail leads downhill again past the Ghega Museum (open May to the end of October on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from 10:00 a.m.) to the asphalt road at the Kalte Rinne viaduct. We follow Kalte-Rinne-Straße to the left and shorten a right curve over a forest trail leading uphill. Once back on the road, we cross it briefly, keep left, and take the rocky path past Falkensteinloch to Gaißkirchl. The well-marked trail now leads us steadily uphill west of Falkenstein through the forest to the Luckerte Wand viewpoint. After an enjoyable rest at the cliff ledge, we continue on the red-marked trail towards Prein. This leads us downhill to a forest road, which we follow briefly to the right and soon continue right on the marked trail. It leads us to the edge of a meadow at Haakogel above the Eselbachgraben; at the junction shortly thereafter, we keep left and hike downhill on a forest trail into the Hollensteingraben. We follow the road on the right past the sports field directly to the center of Prein at the Rax.
Parking Parking available at the valley station Zauberberg in Semmering.
Getting there Coming from Vienna on the A2, take the S6 towards Semmering/Bruck a.d. Mur/Neunkirchen West, leave the expressway at the Maria Schutz exit and follow the signs to Semmering. From Graz on the A9, take the S35 towards Peggau/Deutschfeistritz/Bruck a.d. Mur. Leave the expressway at the S6 exit towards Vienna and at the exit Spital a. Semmering and follow the signs to Semmering.
Public transport Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to Semmering station.More information can be found at www.oebb.at
Editor’s tip Combine your hike with a stay at the Hotel Zauberberg or at the Wellness Seminar Hotel Raxalpenhof.

Recommended period

Current weather on site

1° to 10°

Today, 05.03.2026

Mainly clear

Wind speed1,9 km/h

3° to 11°

Tomorrow, 06.03.2026

Mainly clear

Wind speed3,3 km/h

Also explore the connecting routes:

WAB - Stage 9: Feistritzsattel - Semmering

WAB - Stage 11: Prein - Habsburghaus

WAB - Regional Route N: Preintal - Habsburghaus

Vienna Alps in Lower Austria, www.wieneralpen.at, +43 / 2622 / 78960
Tourism Office Semmering, www.semmering.at, +43 / 2664 / 20025
Tourism Office Reichenau an der Rax, www.reichenau.at, +43 / 2666 / 5220625

Letzte Änderung: 25 Feb 2026