Hohe Tauern National Park Travel Guide - Free Web & App

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Hohe Tauern National Park
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Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria combines Grossglockner peaks, Krimml Waterfalls, glacial valleys, wildlife, alpine villages and year-round hikes.

Mountain Landscapes and Natural Heritage

Hohe Tauern National Park stretches across the central Austrian Alps, covering parts of Salzburg, Tyrol and Carinthia. Its protected landscape encompasses the country’s highest summits, extensive glaciers, deep valleys, alpine meadows, rushing rivers and some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Austria. The Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain at 3,798 metres, dominates the central range, while the Großvenediger, the Venediger Group, the Glockner Group and the Ankogel Group give the park its broad alpine character. Glacial features such as the Pasterze and major waterfalls including the Krimml Waterfalls reveal the continuing influence of ice, rock and water.
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Villages, Wildlife and Alpine Culture

The park is not an empty wilderness but a living cultural landscape shaped by centuries of seasonal farming, transhumance and mountain communities. Villages such as Heiligenblut, Kals am Großglockner, Matrei in Osttirol, Mallnitz, Neukirchen am Großvenediger and Rauris provide gateways to different valleys and mountain groups. Golden eagles, bearded vultures, marmots, chamois and ibex inhabit the wider protected environment, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Alpine huts, hay meadows, traditional pasture landscapes and local farming practices remain part of the region’s identity.

Exploring the Park

Experiences range from valley walks and panoramic viewpoints to demanding high-alpine routes, guided nature excursions, glacier observation and mountaineering. The Nationalparkzentrum in Mittersill introduces the park’s geology, wildlife and cultural landscape, while visitor facilities in places such as Mallnitz provide further interpretation. Because the park is geographically extensive, journeys between valleys can be substantial; choosing a gateway carefully is central to planning a visit. Regional cuisine reflects Alpine traditions, with farmhouse products, bread, dairy produce, trout and hearty mountain dishes appearing in village restaurants, inns and mountain huts.

When is the best time to visit Hohe Tauern National Park?

Best: June–August · 24–26°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January270
February260
March560
April1250
May1850
June (best)2440
July (best)2640
August (best)2540
September1950
October1360
November870
December370

Getting to and around Hohe Tauern National Park

How to get there

Hohe Tauern National Park has no single entrance or central transport terminal, so arrival depends on the valley and attraction selected. Rail services reach gateway towns including Zell am See, Mallnitz-Obervellach and Lienz, with onward regional connections into several park valleys. Mittersill, Uttendorf, Mallnitz, Matrei in Osttirol, Heiligenblut, Rauris and the Krimml area are among the useful bases, although services vary by valley. Salzburg, Innsbruck and Klagenfurt are the principal larger airports for different approaches, followed by rail, bus or car travel. Visitors driving should plan the approach carefully, as mountain roads may be narrow, steep or seasonally affected by snow.

Transportation

A car is often the most flexible way to connect the park’s widely separated valleys, viewpoints and trailheads, but public transport can be practical for selected bases and valley excursions. Regional buses and rail services link gateways such as Mittersill, Zell am See, Mallnitz and Lienz with surrounding communities, while local valley buses may serve particular hiking areas during the season. Walking routes range from accessible valley paths to remote high-alpine trails; they should not be treated as a single connected network across the whole park. Check local timetables, road conditions and seasonal access before travelling, especially when visiting mountain roads or trailheads.

Best attractions in Hohe Tauern National Park

Hohe Tauern National Park’s attractions are spread through a series of distinctive valleys rather than concentrated around one visitor centre. The Grossglockner and the Pasterze glacier form the best-known high-mountain landscape, approached from the north through the Großglockner High Alpine Road or from the south around Heiligenblut and the Möll Valley. In the northwest, the Krimml Waterfalls descend in three major stages and are among the region’s defining sights. The Rauris Valley combines alpine scenery with traces of its former gold-mining history, while the valleys around Kals, Matrei and the Großvenediger provide access to viewpoints, pasture landscapes and high mountain routes. Mallnitz is associated with the Mallnitz and Seebachtal valleys and offers a strong base for nature interpretation and walking. Mittersill’s Nationalparkzentrum presents the park’s wildlife, geology and cultural heritage, helping visitors understand the landscapes they encounter outdoors.

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Best landmarks in Hohe Tauern National Park

The Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain, is the park’s commanding natural landmark, while the nearby Pasterze provides a striking example of a valley glacier and the effects of changing climate. The Großglockner High Alpine Road is both an engineering achievement and a celebrated route through the central mountain landscape, with views towards the Glockner Group. At the opposite end of the park’s northern valleys, the Krimml Waterfalls are a major landmark where the Krimmler Ache plunges through a steep valley in successive cascades. The Großvenediger and the ridges of the Venediger Group define the skyline around Neukirchen, Prägraten and the eastern valleys. Human landmarks include historic village churches, alpine farms, mountain huts and mining traces in areas such as Rauris, reflecting the long relationship between settlement, pasture and high-mountain resources.

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Explore Hohe Tauern National Park on the map

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Best restaurants in Hohe Tauern National Park

Dining in and around Hohe Tauern National Park follows the character of its valleys, with most full-service options found in gateway towns and village settlements rather than beside remote trailheads. Traditional inns and mountain huts commonly serve substantial Austrian dishes such as soups, dumplings, schnitzel, goulash and Kaiserschmarrn, alongside bread, dairy products and other produce associated with alpine farming. Local menus may also feature trout from regional waters and seasonal ingredients, while farm shops and small producers offer cheese, cured meats, bread, honey and spirits. Mittersill, Neukirchen, Krimml, Rauris, Mallnitz, Heiligenblut, Matrei and Kals provide different concentrations of restaurants, cafés and inns. Mountain huts are important for walkers, but their food service is seasonal and their opening arrangements vary, so remote-day itineraries should not depend on finding a meal en route.

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Best bars in Hohe Tauern National Park

Evenings in Hohe Tauern National Park are generally quiet and village-based rather than centred on clubs or a large nightlife scene. Traditional inns, hotel bars and local pubs in places such as Mittersill, Matrei, Mallnitz, Heiligenblut, Rauris and the Krimml area provide opportunities for a drink and conversation, with the atmosphere often shaped by residents, walkers and seasonal visitors. Some larger gateway communities may host occasional music, cultural events or seasonal festivities, but programmes and venues change. After dark, the valleys offer a more natural form of entertainment: clear mountain air, dramatic silhouettes and, away from settlements, dark skies. Visitors staying in remote accommodation should expect limited late-night transport and should confirm evening dining and drink options locally rather than assuming resort-style opening hours.

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Best nightclubs in Hohe Tauern National Park

Evenings in Hohe Tauern National Park are generally quiet and village-based rather than centred on clubs or a large nightlife scene. Traditional inns, hotel bars and local pubs in places such as Mittersill, Matrei, Mallnitz, Heiligenblut, Rauris and the Krimml area provide opportunities for a drink and conversation, with the atmosphere often shaped by residents, walkers and seasonal visitors. Some larger gateway communities may host occasional music, cultural events or seasonal festivities, but programmes and venues change. After dark, the valleys offer a more natural form of entertainment: clear mountain air, dramatic silhouettes and, away from settlements, dark skies. Visitors staying in remote accommodation should expect limited late-night transport and should confirm evening dining and drink options locally rather than assuming resort-style opening hours.

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Best shops in Hohe Tauern National Park

Shopping within Hohe Tauern National Park is concentrated in gateway towns and villages, with opportunities centred on practical supplies, regional food and locally made goods rather than large commercial districts. Mittersill, Matrei, Lienz, Mallnitz, Heiligenblut, Rauris and other valley settlements have shops for everyday provisions and outdoor equipment, while smaller communities may have only limited retail facilities. Farm shops and direct-sale producers offer products such as mountain cheese, honey, bread, cured meats, herbal goods and locally made spirits, although availability varies by season and business. Visitors may also find woodwork, woollen goods, ceramics, artwork and traditional craft items connected with the wider Alpine region. The Nationalparkzentrum in Mittersill and other interpretation centres can provide context for locally produced goods, but visitors should not expect extensive shopping inside remote mountain areas.

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Hohe Tauern National Park essentials

Currency and Payment
Austria uses the euro, written as EUR or €. Cards and contactless payments are common in hotels, larger restaurants, transport offices and visitor facilities, but smaller alpine huts, farm businesses and remote rural establishments may have limited payment options. Carry some cash for mountain areas and keep enough for food, drinks or local transport if card acceptance cannot be confirmed. Cash machines are more readily available in gateway towns than in high valleys or isolated settlements. Visitors should also be aware that mobile reception and payment connectivity can be inconsistent in remote mountain locations.
Safety
Mountain conditions can change quickly in Hohe Tauern National Park, with storms, fog, cold, snow and strong winds possible even in summer at higher elevations. Paths may be uneven, steep, exposed or difficult to follow in poor visibility, while glacier terrain and fast-flowing mountain water require particular caution. Check forecasts and local trail information, allow adequate time and choose routes appropriate to your experience and equipment. Keep clear of cliff edges and unstable ground, do not approach wildlife or livestock, and remember that mobile coverage is not guaranteed in every valley. Conditions on marked routes can still vary with season and weather.
Emergency Situations
In Austria, dial 112 for the European emergency number, 144 for an ambulance, 122 for the fire service, 133 for police and 140 for mountain rescue. Give responders the valley, trail, hut, landmark or mapped location, and describe the nature of the problem and the number of people involved. In remote terrain, conserve phone battery and do not leave an injured person alone unless necessary to obtain help. Mountain rescue access depends on weather and location, so prevention, route planning and carrying suitable clothing, food, water and navigation equipment are particularly important.
Do's and Don'ts
Stay on marked paths where requested, close gates behind you and give livestock and wildlife plenty of space. Do not pick protected plants, disturb animals, leave litter or enter restricted conservation areas. Keep dogs under control and follow local rules, particularly around grazing animals and wildlife habitats. Treat mountain huts, churches, farms and villages respectfully, and remember that many apparently quiet roads and tracks are working routes. Do not assume that camping, fires, swimming, fishing, boating or off-path travel is permitted in every part of the park; check local regulations before undertaking these activities.
Local Tips
The park is best understood through its valleys: Mittersill and the Krimml area suit visits to the northern side, while Mallnitz, Heiligenblut, Kals and Matrei provide access to different southern and eastern landscapes. Allow extra time for mountain roads and do not plan a distant valley excursion as a short detour. Visitor centres such as the Nationalparkzentrum in Mittersill can help explain local geology, wildlife and route choices. Early starts are useful for longer walks, while shoulder seasons offer quieter trails but a greater likelihood of restricted services or unsettled mountain conditions.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloServus[sair-voos]
GoodbyeAuf Wiedersehen[ouf vee-der-zay-en]
YesJa[yah]
NoNein[nine]
Please/You're welcomeBitte[bi-te]
Thank youDanke[dahn-kuh]
Excuse me/SorryEntschuldigung[ent-shool-di-goong]
How are you?Wie geht es dir?[vee geht es deer]
Fine. And you?Gut. Und du?[goot oont doo]
Do you speak English?Sprechen Sie Englisch?[shpre-khen zee eng-leesh]
I don't understandIch verstehe nicht[ikh fer-shtay-uh nikht]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseIch würde gerne die Speisekarte sehen, bitte[ikh vur-deh gehr-neh dee shpy-zuh-kahr-teh zay-en, bi-teh]
I don't eat meatIch esse kein Fleisch[ikh es-se kine flysh]
Cheers!Prost![prohst]
I would like to pay, pleaseIch möchte bitte bezahlen[ikh mehrk-teh bi-teh beh-tsah-len]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Hilfe![hil-feh]
Go away!Geh weg![geh vehg]
Call the Police!Rufen Sie die Polizei![roo-fen zee dee poh-lee-tsay]
Call a doctor!Rufen Sie einen Arzt![roo-fen zee i-nen artsht]
I'm lostIch habe mich verirrt[ikh hah-buh mikh feh-rirt]
I'm illIch bin krank[ikh been krank]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ich möchte kaufen...[ikh mehrk-teh kow-fen]
I'm just lookingIch schaue nur[ikh show-eh noor]
How much is it?Wie viel kostet es?[vee feel kohs-tet es]
That's too expensiveDas ist zu teuer[dahs ist tsoo toy-er]
Can you lower the price?Können Sie den Preis senken?[kur-nen zee den prees zehn-ken]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wie spät ist es?[vee shpayt ist es]
It's one o'clockEs ist ein Uhr[es ist ine oor]
Half past (10)Halb zehn[halb tsehn]
MorningMorgen[mohr-gen]
AfternoonNachmittag[nahkh-mit-tahg]
EveningAbend[ah-bent]
YesterdayGestern[geh-stern]
TodayHeute[hoi-teh]
TomorrowMorgen[mohr-gen]
1Eins[ines]
2Zwei[tsvai]
3Drei[dry]
4Vier[feer]
5Fünf[fuenf]
6Sechs[zeks]
7Sieben[zee-ben]
8Acht[akht]
9Neun[noyn]
10Zehn[tsehn]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wo ist ein/der...?[vo ist ine/dehr]
What's the address?Was ist die Adresse?[vas ist dee ah-dreh-seh]
Can you show me (on the map)?Können Sie mir zeigen (auf der Karte)?[kur-nen zee meer tsey-gen (ouf dehr kahr-teh)]
When's the next (bus)?Wann kommt der nächste (Bus)?[vahn kohmt dehr neh-khs-teh (boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Eine Fahrkarte (nach ....)[i-ne fahr-kahr-teh (nahkh)]

History of Hohe Tauern National Park

A Landscape Shaped by Ice and Uplift

The Hohe Tauern range belongs to the Eastern Alps and developed through the long geological processes that formed the Alpine mountain system. Uplift, erosion and repeated glaciation carved the high valleys, cirques, ridges and broad glacial troughs visible today. The park’s glaciers, including the Pasterze below the Grossglockner, remain important records of changing climate and alpine geology. Rivers descending from the mountains have continued to reshape valley floors and link the high country with settlements and agricultural land below.

Early Settlement and Alpine Pastoralism

People have used the valleys and lower mountain slopes of the Hohe Tauern for many centuries, while seasonal movement of livestock to high pastures became a defining feature of alpine life. Hay meadows, mountain pastures and scattered farmsteads reflect this long relationship between communities and the terrain. The high mountains were also crossed for local trade and communication, although routes were demanding and strongly influenced by snow and weather. This cultural landscape remains visible around villages and summer pastures on the park’s margins and within its inhabited valleys.

Mining, Trade and Mountain Communities

The Hohe Tauern was historically associated with mining, particularly the search for gold in parts of the range. Gold mining took place in areas including the Rauris and Gastein valleys and contributed to regional economic development during the late medieval and early modern periods. Mineral extraction, pastoralism, forestry and trade all shaped settlements such as Rauris, Heiligenblut and the communities of the Matrei and Isel valleys. Although mining declined, traces of this working mountain history survive in local heritage, place names and interpretive sites.

The Alpine Age of Exploration

From the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, scientific interest and mountaineering gradually brought the high Hohe Tauern to wider attention. The first ascent of the Grossglockner in 1800 marked an important moment in the development of Alpine exploration, and later routes, mountain huts and improving roads made the range more accessible. The Großglockner High Alpine Road, opened in 1935, connected the northern and southern sides of the central massif and became a major scenic route, while tourism increasingly complemented farming and traditional mountain industries.

Protection and the National Park

Modern conservation grew from concern for the distinctive glaciers, peaks, forests, wetlands, alpine meadows and wildlife of the range. Hohe Tauern National Park was established in stages from the 1980s, beginning in Carinthia in 1981 and expanding through Salzburg and Tyrol. It is now Austria’s largest national park and one of the country’s major protected landscapes. Conservation operates alongside farming, settlement and responsible tourism rather than excluding all human use, making the relationship between natural processes and traditional land management central to the park’s modern identity.

Hohe Tauern National Park in Photos

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Hohe Tauern National Park

Discover the best of Hohe Tauern National Park with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and activities
  • Rich descriptions, images, local tips, maps, and contact details
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets, and experiences
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Explore Hohe Tauern National Park with Evendo, your free, comprehensive travel guide. Discover attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more with ease.

  • History of Hohe Tauern National Park
  • Travel essentials and curated local advice
  • User-friendly navigation
  • 'Near me' feature to discover nearby attractions
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Embark on an unforgettable journey through Hohe Tauern National Park with Evendo, your ultimate travel companion. This app-based travel guide is designed to ensure you make the most of your trip by providing detailed information on the park's top attractions, landmarks, restaurants, hotels, tours, and activities.

Imagine standing in awe at the foot of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak, or exploring the majestic Krimml Waterfalls. With Evendo, you'll have access to rich descriptions, stunning images, and local tips for these and other iconic landmarks. Discover hidden gems like the picturesque village of Heiligenblut, renowned for its charming alpine architecture and vibrant local culture.

Foodies will delight in the curated list of restaurants, such as the Alpengasthof Paletti, where you can savor traditional Austrian cuisine, or the elegant Schloss Mittersill, offering a gourmet dining experience in a historic castle setting. The app also highlights popular bars and nightclubs, ensuring you experience the vibrant nightlife of the region.

Planning your visit has never been easier. Use Evendo to book hotels, tours, tickets, and other experiences directly through the app. Whether you're looking for adrenaline-pumping activities like paragliding or serene nature walks through lush valleys, Evendo has it all in one convenient place.

Stay organized with travel essentials, historical insights, and curated local tips to navigate the park like a pro. The 'Near me' feature allows you to discover nearby attractions and amenities, enhancing your travel experience. Best of all, Evendo is entirely free to use, with no hidden costs or in-app purchases.

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