Mürzsteg Alps Travel Guide to Hiking & Skiing

The Idyllic Austrian Hills

Located right in the middle of the suspected neighborhood of the Eastern Alps, Mürzsteg Alps are something that you’d expect from this region. Most the mountain range is located in Styria with some of the Eastern parts crossing the border with the Lower Austria.

Though Mürzsteg Alps are located closer to the tallest mountains of Austria, this part of the Alps is not as tall as the tallest mountains of the Lower Austria – Rax Schneeberg group. The roof of Mürzsteg Alps is Höhe Veitsch at 1,981m above the sea level.

Nevertheless, everything looks and feels much more Austrian authentic because Mürzsteg Alps are located, far away from Vienna or other big cities. The true culture of Österreich pours like water on every corner of this region. The mountains are separated by valleys, and the valleys are separated by mountains. Right in the middle of Austria, many people ant cattle find this idyllic landscape as their home. A lifestyle worth living.

Mürzsteg Alps Details

• Location: Austria
• Region: Styria
• Capital: Mürzsteg
• Distance from Vienna: 149km / 92.58mi
• Distance from Graz: 112.6km / 69.96mi
• Length: 40km / 25mi
• Parent range: Northern Limestone Alps
• Lat/Lon: 47°38′49″N 15°24′22″E
• Highest point: Höhe Veitsch (1,981m / 6,499ft)
• Good accomondation: Gasthof Ochnerbauer,
• Weather: Mürzsteg Niederalpl forecast
• Emergency number: 140 and 112

Map of Mürzsteg Alps

Geography of Mürzsteg Alps

Except for the Hochschwab mountains, Mürzsteg Alps are separated from its neighbors by Mürz valley, carved out by river Mürz. Throughout the ages this river carved out a 2km tall plateau, separating it to Scneealpe massif and Rax.

Neighboring Mountain Ranges

• East – Rax-Schneeberg Group
• Southeast – Fishbach Alps of Prealps of the Mur
• West – Hochschwab mountains
• North – Türnitz Alps
• Norteast – Gutenstein Alps

Hiking in Mürzsteg Alps

The best hub for hiking in this Styria mountain range is Mürzsteg, it is just southeast of the popular tourist and pilgrim destination – Mariazell. Mürzsteg is however not so easy to access. Mürzzuschlag – is the town to reach out to the journey into the realm of Mürzsteg Alps.

Kindberger Kalvarienberg – Bürgerwald Loop

The hike starts with Kindberg Kalvarienberg and continues on a ridge of mountain for about a half kilometer. Most of the hike goes through a forest with some beautiful openings toward Mürzsteg Alps. Once you reach Bürgerwald be sure to visit the viewpoint with a cross, and possibly take a rest, or dinner at Gasthof Ochnerbauer. Possible shortcuts on motor roads are available.

Hike Details

• Starting Point: Kindberg
• Distance: 11,4km / 7mi
• Ascend: 535m / 1,755ft
• Duration: 3h
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Brunnalm – Hohe Veitsch Circle

The hike starts at Brunnalm ski resort located on the slopes of Höhe Veitsch. The simplest and fastest way to climb the mountain is almost a straight line hike to northwest direction, towards the peak, through Sonnkogellift and Graf Meran Haus, taking about 2.5h. Optionally, take a walk on the mountain ridge to descend back to Brunnalm from the northeast direction. The hike is longer but more rewarding. It is also possible to climb Höhe Veitsch from the north, starting at Niederalpl, but the hike is harder and longer – 4h climb.

Hike Details

• Starting Point: Brunnalm
• Distance: 19km / 11,8mi
• Ascend: 990m / 3,248ft
• Duration: 4.5h+
• Difficulty: Intermediate/expert

Windberg – Schneealpe Climb

Though Schneealpe lacks just a couple of dozens of meters to top Mürzsteg Alps, it is the biggest, and probably the most iconic, massif in this mountain range. At 1,903m / 6243.5ft Windberg rises above all peaks of Schneealpe and it is the most popular hiking destination in the whole mountain massif. If you come by car, Parkplatz Kohlebnerstand makes the hike relatively easy.

Hike Details

• Starting Point: Parkplatz Kohlebnerstand
• Distance: 10.5km / 6.52mi
• Ascend: 460m / 1,509ft
• Duration: 3h45
• Difficulty: Intermediate

Best Skiing Resorts in Mürzsteg Alps

Skiing Brunnalm/​Hohe Veitsch

• Location: Brunnalm, Veitsch
• Ski slopes: 9km / 5.59mi
• MaxDescend: 400m / 1,640ft
• Ski lifts: 4
• Operating times: early December – late March
• Opening times: 09:00 – 16:00
• Price: adult – € 34 , children – € 17.50
• Weather: Hohe Veitsch forecast
• Webcams: Brunnalm
• Accommodation: Veitsch

Skiing Niederalpl – Mürzsteg

• Location: Niederalpl
• Ski slopes: 12km / 7.46mi
• Max Descend: 240m / 787ft
• Ski lifts: 5
• Operating times: early December – late March
• Opening times: 09:00 – 16:00
• Price: adult – € 34 , youth – € 26, children – € 20
• Weather: Niederalp forecast
• Webcams: Niederalp
• Accommodation: Mürzsteg & Neuberg an der Mürz

Ski resort Lammeralm

• Location: Langenwang
• Ski slopes: 8.8km / 5.46mi
• Max Descend: 250m / 820ft
• Ski lifts: 3
• Operating times: December – late March
• Opening times: 08:30 – 16:15
• Weather: Lammeralm – Langenwang forecast
• Webcams: –
• Accommodation: Langenwang & Mürzzuschlag

How to get to Mürzsteg Alps

By train

Fastest way: RJ train from Vienna will bring you straight to Mürzzuschlag just in one hour and a half.

Cheapest way: starting at 2, groups of people can travel cheaper with Einfach-Raus ticket for €35. From Vienna take a train going to Payerbach-Rax, and from there to Mürzzuschlag. From this town, you can reach most of the less habited parts of Mürzsteg Alps.

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By bus

From Mürzzuschlag the journey deeper through Mürzsteg Alps could be continued with bus 195. This is the only way to reach town Mürzsteg by public transport.

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By car

Out of Vienna seek A2 – south autobahn – after Wiener Neustadt keep going west on road S6. At Mürzzuschlag go towards the north on road 23 to access deeper layers of Mürzsteg Alps.

Good Hotels in Mürzsteg Alps

Gasthof Ochnerbauer ★★★ – Kranzbauernviertel 17, 8650 Kindberg – Located on the edge of Mürzsteg Alps and Fishbach Alps, this family ran guesthouse is a pleasant surprise to any wander-seeking soul. Situated on a mountain rising 900m above the sea level, Gasthof Ochnerbauer has truly awe-inspiring views.

If you ever wanted to visit the idyllic landscape of green hills and Milka cows grazing the grass, covered in complete silence, except their necklace bells echoing throughout the valley surrounded by mountains – this is a good place to do so. Gasthof Ochnerbauer even has some highlander cows grazing the hill down below the guesthouse.

• Hotel-Restaurant-Café Krainer ★★★★ – Grazer Str. 12, 8665 Langenwang – The 4-star hotel offers breakfast, has a terrace, SPA area, free Wi-Fi and, as the name suggests, the hotel has a restaurant & café. In terms of amenities, could be the best hotel in the area.
• Kinderhotel Appelhof ★★★★ – Mürzsteg 4, 8693 Neuberg an der Mürz – Technically, Kinderhotel has even more facilities, but to be fair it is more for your children than yourself. Nevertheless, it is all-inclusive 4-star hotel offering play areas for kinds, a petting zoo, 2 pools and a restaurant.
• Freinerhof & Wellness ★★★ – Frein an der Mürz 2, 8694 Frein an der Mürz – A cozy hotel a bit further from the heart of Mürzsteg Alps, but closer to Mariazell and Türnitz Alps. Freinerhof has all the required basic amenities plus sauna and SPA area.
• Lambach Villa – Lambachstraße 24, 8680 Mürzzuschlag – A truly classy Bed & Breakfast in Mürzzuschlag with an option to rent a full apartment. Recommended for those, who love to travel in style.

Good Restaurants in Mürzsteg Alps

• Gasthof Ochnerbauer – besides the views, the restaurant maintained in this guesthouse is the best thing it can offer. The quality of the dishes served, and the service itself, are one of the kind you have to pay well in Vienna. In Gasthof Ochnerbauer you get it relatively cheap and with the same breath-taking views