Austrian Alps: Experience the Magic of Europe’s Most Spectacular Mountain Range

After a stunning 12 days in Poland, it was time to move on and head towards the Alps.

My journey took me through Slovakia, before heading to Austria and back to some familiar destinations.

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Slovakia

I stopped for the night in a wild camping spot just below Lietava Castle in Slovakia, so headed out for a morning walk up the hill to explore the ruins. The castle is situated on the Amber Road, a trade route between Asia and Europe, and was considered unconquerable due to its position on the cliff.

I then popped into Bratislava on my way to Austria, mainly cos I wanted an ice cream 🍦

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Grüner See & Vordenberg

First on my Austrian list was Grüner See, which translates as Green Lake due to its emerald green clear water. The lake dries up in winter and fills in spring with the crystal-clear melt water from the snow. I had timed my arrival perfectly to catch the beautiful alpine lake.

The following day, I headed out on a hike up Eisenerzer Reichenstein, which is a 2,165m peak in the Styrian Alps.

There were stunning 360 panoramic views of the surrounding mountains pretty much all the way up, until I got to about 2,000m and the fog came in 😂 I popped into a hiking lodge at the top for a drink, but it still didn’t clear so I didn’t quite get the summit selfie I was hoping for!

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Almsee & Hallstatt

I’d parked for the night near Almsee, which is another alpine lake in the region, so I headed out for a small hike up the adjacent hill.

Later that day, I headed to the most beautiful Austrian town – Hallstatt. Fliss and I visited Hallstatt in November 2021, so I decided to go back in a different season to take in its beauty once more.

Hallstatt is a picture-perfect town that looks like something straight out of a fairytale. In fact, it is supposed to have inspired Disney’s town of Arundelle in Frozen.

After a wander round the town, and another ice cream, I stopped at Wolfgangsee for a paddle in the sunshine before finding another gem of a spot for the night.

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The Eagle’s Nest

Last time I was in this area with Fliss, much of our itinerary centred around historically significant landmarks from the Second World War. However, the Eagle’s Nest was closed for winter, so we didn’t get to go. So this time, I wasn’t missing the opportunity.

The Eagle’s Nest (or Kehlsteinhaus in German) is a mountain retreat at the summit of Kehlstein in southeast Germany, and was used exclusively by members of the Nazi party. It was a symbol of power and is one of the few remaining monuments of Hitler’s reign.

It required 3,800 workers to build the road up to it, working for 18 months (including through the harsh winter) through constant rock falls and avalanches. Throw in the carved tunnels through the mountains and the golden elevator, it’s the absolute definition of unnecessary. You’d think they had better things to do during that time 🤔

Anyway, the views from the top were unreal and it was pretty eerie standing in the sunroom looking at photos of Hitler stood in the exact same spot that you are now 😳

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Zell am See

Another place I visited with Fliss in 2021 was Zell am See, a beautiful town located on Lake Zell. In the winter, it’s a popular ski destination, but in the summer it offers a plethora of hiking options.

It was a beautiful sunny day, and I set off up Schrambachkopf, which is a 1,865m peak with a ski lodge at the top. After a very sweaty hike up, I stopped at the lodge for a coffee and some apple strudel (when in Austria).

After my hike, I headed towards Großglockner High Alpine Road and parked up for the night.

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Großglockner High Alpine Road

One of the top experiences in Austria is driving the Großglockner High Alpine Road, which is a 48km route from Fischer to Heiligenblut through the highest mountains in Austria.

The highest drivable point on the road, which consists of 36 twists and turns, is 2,571m and from here you can view over 30 three thousand metre mountains, including Austria’s highest Großglockner which is 3,798m.

It took me all day, mainly because I kept stopping every 100m to take photos, but also I stopped for a hike to the glacier.

After what happened right at the start of the trip, before I’d even set off, it was a miracle to see Reggie high up there in the mountains, not a care in the world 🥰

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Well, I can very much confirm that the hills are indeed alive with the sound of music 🎶

It’s been an absolute delight to be back in the Alps, with so many beautiful places to explore.

You may all be bored by now of photos of the lakes and mountains, but I could carry on like this forever (stupid Brexit).

The next part of my trip takes me to Italy, and back to the Dolomites (sorry, more mountains!).

Peace out, and as always, Live Laugh Love ✌🏼

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Travel Stats

• Days: 60
• Countries: 14 (🇫🇷🇧🇪🇳🇱🇩🇪🇩🇰🇳🇴🇸🇪🇫🇮🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵🇱🇸🇰🇦🇹)
• Distance driven: 7,081 miles (11,395 km)
• Distance hiked: 171 miles (275 km)
• Half marathon PBs: 1 🏅