Vienna Woods: Hiking, wine and culture

The Vienna Woods reveal a different side of themselves in every season: in spring, blooming vineyards and the Thermenregion Wine Festival beckon, in summer, the cool forest air and cultural festivals, in fall, the “Gourmet Mile” and colorful deciduous forests. Even in winter, walks and forest bathing experiences in the tranquil landscape are delightful.

During Wine Spring, don’t miss the Thermenregion Wine Festival.

A summer filled with countless cultural experiences: from regional artists to internationally renowned singers and actors; from traditional operettas to modern summer movie theaters, from classical concerts to legendary open-air festivals. The program of the Wienerwald Cultural Summer is diverse and is rounded out by the La Gacilly-Baden Photo Festival and the Floating Salon at the Vöslau Thermal Baths.

On the first two weekends in September, the “Genussmeile”, the world’s longest food and drink promenade invites visitors to stroll and sample culinary delights along Section 2 of the 1st Vienna Aqueduct Hiking Trail between Mödling and Bad Vöslau. 

Thanks to its proximity to Vienna, the Vienna Woods are easily accessible by train and bus. Many hiking and biking trails start right at train stations, the return trip is convenient via the S-Bahn or regional trains.

Along the limestone ridges between Mödling and Bad Vöslau, there are wonderful lookout points known as the “Towers of the Vienna Woods.” Whether you hike the loop trails (Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3) or the entire tour, you’ll make your way through shady forests to castle ruins and historic lookout points.

Selected lookout points:

• The Mödling Castle Ruins offer a beautiful view of the town of Mödling.
• The Husarentempel impresses with its neoclassical architecture and provides a wonderful panoramic view of the Föhrenberge Nature Park.
• The Theresienwarte offers a magnificent panoramic view of Baden, Bad Vöslau, and Sooß.
• The Kaiser-Jubiläumswarte on the Eschenkogel is the landmark of the Anningers and delights visitors with a view of Vienna and the Vienna Basin. 

When the weather is bad, you can escape the rain by visiting museums, abbeys, castles, and palaces.

The following are especially worth a visit:

• the singing monks at Heiligenkreuz Abbey,
• the Karmel Mayerling hunting lodge, the setting for a tragic love story,
• Liechtenstein Castle,
• Klosterneuburg Abbey, which is also one of Austria’s oldest wineries,
• the Gugging Museum, the birthplace of the Art Brut movement,
• and the Arnulf Rainer Museum, which was transformed from a bathhouse into an art museum.

The region is known for its indigenous grape varieties, Zierfandler and Rotgipfler.

The menus feature game dishes from local hunts, as well as mushroom and herb specialties. On any trip to the Vienna Woods, you simply must stop at a Heuriger at least once to treat yourself to regional sausage and cheese specialties, spreads, eggs, bread, roasts, and dishes made with seasonal vegetables.

Summer is berry season in the Vienna Woods. The fruits of the large-crowned service tree are processed into brandies, liqueurs, jams, and other specialties. What’s more, the service tree has been designated as Austria’s first Slow Food Presidio product!

If you’d like to taste the flavors of the Vienna Woods, your best bet is to book a “WienerWaldGenuss” tour. On these two-hour walks led by nature guides, you’ll discover the flavors of the forest—from wine aged in oak barrels and cheese with a beechwood aroma to the famous “Alpengummi,” made from pine resin using traditional pitch-making techniques.