7 Culinary Hiking Trails in Austria

Hiking is fun, no doubt. But not everyone aims to conquer a three-thousander during their holiday – or head on a challenging multi-day tour through the Alps. In Austria, we love moving our bodies in the great outdoors, but we equally cherish indulging in traditional culinary delights afterwards (or in between). And we’re clearly not the only ones. Every year, new culinary hikes are opening all around the country, allowing guests to enjoy the best of both worlds.

These trails are typically easy to moderate hikes that just take a few hours to complete, making them accessible even for complete beginners – or those who haven’t managed to get their fitness level back in time for the holiday season. Most are also kid-friendly. The culinary hikes lead to some of the best traditional mountain huts in Austria, and hikers can often pre-book their meals, ensuring they don’t have to worry about anything once they start off with their boots, poles and backpack.  

Let us show you five top culinary hiking trails in Austria below!
 

THE 3-COURSE-TOUR IN KITZBÜHEL 

In Kitzbühel, sports and pleasure go hand in hand, and this culinary hiking trail is a perfect example. The 3-Course-Tour starts and finishes at the Bichlalm chairlift valley station right in the heart of town. Hikers kick off their adventure at the restaurant of the same name with the first course (homemade cream cheese on crispy salad) before hopping on the lift. The main course and dessert are enjoyed at two different mountain huts along the way. The final stop is an alpine hotel where homemade granola awaits as an energy-boosting snack. The trail is classified as moderate with a total walking time of 3.5 hours.
Costs: €69 pp (approx. £60).

THE GESÄUSE HUT LOOP

Styria offers a 7-day culinary hiking tour through its Gesäuse National Park, known for its wild waters, steep rocks and picturesque peaks. It’s a red trail, so some hiking experience and a moderate fitness level are required. The tour can be done in one go, but hikers can also choose to just walk one stage at a time, each taking 5 to 7.5 hours to complete. Since 2025, there’s also a vegan version of the trail!
Costs: €840 pp (approx. £725) for the whole tour including accommodation and food.
 

SCHMANKERLWEG CULINARY TRAIL IN ZILLERTAL 

Zillertal is known as a family-friendly destination and this culinary trail for all ages perfectly fits in. It starts at the Rosenalm cable car station in Zell am Ziller, from where foodies will embark on a one-hour hike past forests and pastures to the Schmankerlhütte hut. There are boards along the trail, teaching hikers more about the culinary delights of the region. After a hearty lunch, head back the same path or change onto hiking trail no. 12a, leading back to Zell via the Gerlosberg mountain.
Costs: Lift ticket and food at the hut.

THREE-DAY CULINARY TOUR AT THE DACHSTEIN 

Four days, three nights and plenty of regional food experiences: The circular Mountain Delight Trail starts and finishes in Filzmoos, about half an hour from Schladming, and is a moderate hike with 3.5 to 6 hours walking time per day. The package deal includes accommodation for three nights with alpine breakfast at a hotel and two huts as well as half board (restaurants and huts). Highlights apart from the foodie experiences include 360-degree-panoramas of the Dachstein and a chance to spot marmots.
Costs: €399 pp (approx. £344).
 

TRAIL FOR FOODIES IN THE ARLBERG REGION

Holidaymakers in St. Anton am Arlberg can easily fit in a day trip to experience the stunning landscapes and delights of Warth-Schröcken on a 5.5.-hour culinary hiking trail. Just 40 minutes away from St. Anton, this trail takes them to three different huts: They start with a hearty breakfast buffet at Wolfegg Apartment-Café-Bistro in Warth, then take the chairlift up to the mountain station at 1.884 metres. The next stop is the Körbersee Mountain Hotel at the idyllic Lake Körbersee, where lunch is served. The trail then continues to the Salopferkopf mountain and includes a tasty dessert at the Hochalphütte hut before a leisurely walk back to Wolfegg, Arth.
Costs: €62 pp (approx. £53).
 

CULINARY HIKES IN BREGENZER WALD 

Bregenzer Wald in Austria’s westernmost province Vorarlberg has six dedicated culinary trails, taking hikers through different parts of the region famous for its stunning peaks, romantic river valleys and postcard-perfect plateaux. These culinary hiking trails differ in length and required fitness level and take 3 to 5.5 hours to complete. Hikers receive a map as well as vouchers for breakfast, lunch and dessert at three different mountain huts.
Costs: €47-62 pp (approx. £40-55).
 

HIKE TO THE ANGERER ALM IN ST. JOHANN IN TIROL

Holidaymakers in St. Johann in Tirol can walk up the Angerer Alm hut, popular for both its culinary delights and large wine cellar (6,000 bottles!). The culinary hiking trail starts right at the tourist information centre and leads to the Harschbichlbahn cable car, then all the way up to the mountain hut. After a hearty lunch (or early dinner), hikers can either walk back down or just hop on the cable car. The total walking time is 2:45 hours.
Costs: Food at the hut.

   

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