City Break Waidhofen an der Ybbs

You will find hidden favourite spots in Waidhofen, especially along the Ybbs river and on the Buchenberg. A special insider tip is the picturesque riverside trail Ybbsuferweg from the Ybbsturm to the Florianibrücke bridge: a narrow path right by the water, past gardens and small houses, where the Ybbs river flows quietly and appears almost crystal clear. Here, the city shows its quiet, natural side - ideal for an evening stroll or a short break in between.

The city's parks also invite you to take a deep breath, such as the small Schillerpark on the edge of the Buchenberg Nature Park. From there, paths lead up to the local mountain with the chapel as a scenic resting place and the animal park Tier-Erlebnispark Buchenberg. Here you shouldn't miss feeding the raccoons.

The most beautiful lookout point in Waidhofen an der Ybbs is at Schloss Rothschild - more precisely in the glass cube on the castle tower, an architectural symbol of the "City of Seven Towers". From here, there is a sweeping view over the old town, the Ybbs river and the rolling hills of the Mostviertel region, which is particularly atmospheric at sunset.

Those who prefer to be out and about in the countryside will find one of the most beautiful panoramic views in the region at the Krautberg lookout point above the town. From there, the view stretches far across the Ybbstal valley to the Alps, ideal for photo opportunities or simply to pause for a moment.

A must-see is the castle Schloss Rothschild with its 5 Elements Museum, which brings the forces of fire, water, earth, wood and metal to life in an exciting way.

An important part of the history of Waidhofen an der Ybbs comes to life in the Erlebnismuseum FeRRUM in Ybbsitz, 12 kilometres away - here the world of iron becomes a glowing adventure. You can get even closer to the fire at blacksmith Schmied Sepp Eybl: when the gates are open, visitors are welcome to take a look inside the workshop.

Those who prefer a quieter pace can enjoy coffee and cake in one of the charming city centre cafés, such as the bakery Feinbäckerei Matthias Krenn or the Hartner patisserie, where regional ingredients and craftsmanship take centre stage.

And those looking for relaxation will find it in the brine bath “Ybbstaler Solebad Göstling”, approx. 30 minutes away - warmth, water and tranquillity in the midst of the Mostviertel countryside.

Yes, the town can be reached via the railway Westbahn stop Amstetten with regular regional trains. From Vienna or St. Pölten, Waidhofen can be easily reached by taking the Railjet to Amstetten and then changing trains. A well-developed local bus network provides good connections to all districts and neighbouring towns in the region.

There are numerous excursion destinations around Waidhofen an der Ybbs that combine nature, craftsmanship and history.

It is particularly worthwhile delving deeper into the “Eisenstraße Niederösterreich”, one of the oldest iron industry regions in the world. In Ybbsitz, show forges, old hammer mills and the FeRRUM Museum tell of the world of iron and the long tradition of metal craftsmanship. When the gates to the workshop of Eybl Hammer are open, visitors are very welcome and those interested can take a look inside and chat to blacksmith Sepp Eybl.

Nature enthusiasts are drawn to the Buchenberg, which attracts visitors with its hiking trails, viewpoints and adventure park with wildlife enclosure. Lunz am See is also worth a visit - with its natural lake and the exhibition at “Haus der Wildnis”, which introduces visitors to the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal UNESCO World Heritage wilderness area, the largest remnant of primeval forest in the entire Alpine region.

It is also not far from Waidhofen an der Ybbs to the “Moststraße” - the largest contiguous pear tree area on orchards in Europe with over 100 different varieties of cider pears and pure pear cider. Finely curated travel tips for the region can be found in our culinary journey to the Mostviertel cider pear.

In spring, the orchards around the town blossom, and walks along the Ybbs river or hikes on the Buchenberg show the Mostviertel from its gentler side. In summer, Waidhofen becomes a paradise for active people: the Ybbstal Cycle Tour invites you to enjoy leisurely tours with stops for a dip in the river.

Autumn is all about cider and crafts - ideal for a stop at a tavern (so called Mostheuriger) where homemade cider and must are served or a visit to the blacksmiths along the iron road “Eisenstraße”.

In winter, the Flammende Lichterweihnacht (flaming christmas lights) enchants visitors with atmospheric old town lighting, handicrafts and regional delicacies. The ice skating rink brings young and old together and you can also go skiing around 50 minutes from Waidhofen. Göstling an der Ybbs is home to the Hochkar ski area, the highest and most snow-sure ski area in eastern Austria.

In short: Waidhofen an der Ybbs is always a good idea - whatever the time of year.