Railway Hiking Trail: Panorama Route Breitenstein-Klamm
Hiking tour Starting from Breitenstein Train Station
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 5,91 km
- Ascent: 115 m elevation gain
- Descent: 167 m elevation gain
This stage of the railroad hiking trail is an alternative route from Breitenstein to Klamm and leads past Gasthof Polleres and Althammerhof, where you can stop for a bite to eat between hikes.
- Starting point of the tour
- Breitenstein Train Station
- Tour destination
- Klamm - Intersection "Eichbergstraße"
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Distance: 5,91 km
- Ascent: 115 m elevation gain
- Descent: 167 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:3/6
- Overall experience:3/6
- Scenery:3/6
- Lowest point746 m
- Highest point911 m
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
- Accessibility by train and bus
- Suitable for families and children
Description
From Breitenstein to Klamm via the panoramic route
The railway hiking trail offers a wonderful view of the Semmering railway, a World Heritage Site. From the stop in Breitenstein, you hike along Karl Schubert Straße and the Kreuzberg towards the gorge. To be rewarded with impressive views, you can take a short detour from the path and hike up the Weinzettelwand, where you can already see towards the gorge.During the panoramic route over the Kreuzberg, you can stop off at Gasthof Polleres or Althammerhof. In Klamm, at the Eichbergstraße junction, the path rejoins the railroad hiking trail and you can continue along the path to Payerbach or Gloggnitz.
History of the trail
In the beginning, it was a path that led over the Semmering Pass - there has been evidence of this since the Middle Ages. Then, in the early 18th century, Emperor Charles VI had a road built with a gradient of up to 17 percent, over which horses and their loads laboriously struggled. Finally, in 1841, the order was given to build a railroad line from Vienna to Trieste to meet the transport needs of the beginning industrialization. Finally, in 1844, "only" the gap between Gloggnitz and Mürzzuschlag over the Semmering had to be closed. Under the direction of Carl Ritter von Ghega, 20,000 workers finally built Europe's first full-track mountain railroad, which has only undergone a few changes to this day. Trains travel over 16 viaducts, 100 bridges and through 15 tunnels on the 41 km long line. Since 1998, this "outstanding technical solution to a major physical problem in the construction of early railroads" has been a UNESCO World Hert Hert site.
- safety instructions Your hikes in the Vienna Alps should be a thoroughly enjoyable and safe experience.Please therefore observe the following:Make sure the route you choose matches your mountain experience and fitness level. Check the weather forecast in advance. The weather in the mountains can change unexpectedly quickly. Therefore, always set out properly equipped (appropriate footwear, rain protection). Check if the huts and snack stations you want to visit on the way are open. Inform someone about your route choice and your planned return before you set off. Stay on marked trails and avoid shortcuts. Due to dryness, meadows and forests are easily flammable. Handle fire with respect and report any possible fire immediately to the fire brigade (122). Do not throw waste into the landscape and dispose of it properly.Some sections of the path run along pasture areas. Stay on the marked paths and keep a respectful distance from the grazing animals.
- Equipment Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes appropriate for 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 The hike starts at Breitenstein Train Station. From here, follow the signs continuously towards Klamm Train Station. Initially, the path leads downhill along the road to the town hall. At the intersection, turn left onto Lindenstraße, which transitions into a forest path.At the next fork, you reach a paved road again, which you follow uphill. On the right side, there is a playground with a locomotive. Continue along Untere Bahnstraße, which later turns into a forest road.At the end of this forest road, there is the option to hike right across a meadow to the Weinzettlwand. There, two viewpoints offer impressive views of Klamm, Breitenstein, Semmering, and the famous Semmering railway. Please show respect for the grazing animals when crossing the meadow.Then follow Karl-Schubert-Straße to the “Blue Cut”. Here the path continues along the road. If desired, you can turn right and follow the railway hiking trail along the tracks. The signposts point towards Kreuzberg/Gh. Polleres, Althammerhof, and Klamm stop.The path continues to a crossroads where you turn right. Here the road turns into a gravel road. On the left is the Gasthaus Polleres – a good opportunity to stop for refreshments.The hike continues towards Althammerhof, which is soon on the left side. From there, it goes down towards Klamm. At the end of Althammerhofstraße, turn right and you will soon reach the point where you can decide: either continue hiking towards Gloggnitz or Payerbach, or end the route. In this case, it is about 10 minutes downhill to Klamm Train Station.
- Parking Public parking at Breitenstein Train Station.
- Getting there From Vienna take the A2 South Motorway to the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Gloggnitz exit. Go straight towards Schottwien and over Adltzgräben to Breitenstein. From Graz take the S6 Semmering Expressway and take the Spital/Semmering exit. Drive on the federal road to Semmering and from there towards Breitenstein.
- Public transport Travel comfortably with the Southern Railway to Breitenstein Train Station, where the hike also begins. Alternatively, book an individual ride with the RUFbus Semmering-Rax.The following RUFbus stops are along the way:BR11 Breitenstein Train StationBR12 Municipal Office BreitensteinBR9 Lower/Upper BahnstraßeBR8 Blue CutBR1 Gasthaus PolleresBR2 AlthammerhofBR3 Eichbergstraße Klamm(BR4 Klamm Train Station) Return Journey:Return either with the RUFbus Semmering-Rax to the starting point of the railway hiking trail or by train back home.TIP: Simply use the Postbus Shuttle App or call the hotline +43 660 900 88 22.Further information and timetables can be found at fahrplan.oebb.at and anachb.vor.at.
- Editor’s tip Refreshments at Gasthaus PolleresRefreshments at AlthammerhofChildren's Locomotive Breitenstein
Recommended period
Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes appropriate for 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
Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026