Untersberg Hike in Salzburg, Austria

jana meerman untersberg hike salzburg austria (3)

To round out a delightful summer in Salzburg, a friend of mine and I undertook a very Austrian activity and tackled what we call an "after work" which is basically just a sweet way of saying "let's go on an afternoon hike after work!"

→ Check out all my other Austria hiking guides!

This has been a beautiful summer full of friendship, good food, plenty of movement - yoga, running, bike rides, icy cold swims and hikes, and intense summer mountain weather with heat waves and rainstorms alike. With my next trip coming up soon which will see me away for most of September, an "after work" in the mountains of Salzburg was the perfect way to kick off my last weekend at home.

The Untersberg is perhaps one of the most classic hikes around Salzburg, its poignant peak standing clearly against the skyline, visible from almost anywhere in the city. It's not an easy hike, with more than 1300m elevation with lots of ladders, but it's a really fun trek, with breathtaking panoramic views all around including Salzburg far below. You can also clearly spot Salzburg Airport from above and it's quite the experience to be above the planes as they come in for landing!

→ Follow along my Austrian adventures on Instagram @JanaInAustria!

Purchase my Ultimate Austria Map

Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Austria can be found in my Ultimate Austria Map!

This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite:

restaurants
places to stay
shops
photo spots and viewpoints
hikes
museums and galleries
beaches, lakes and rivers
ski hills
spas
AND SO MUCH MORE!

Each pin includes the exact location (plus the ability to open it directly in Google Maps), lots of photos for inspiration, detailed information to help you visit the spot plus a link to my relevant blog post to read lots more about it.

COMING SOON → Buy the Ultimate Austria Map!

How to Get to the Untersberg Hike

The Untersberg is located near Salzburg, on the border between Austria and Germany. The hike begins from the Parkplatz Rosittenstraße.

By car: The easiest way to reach the Untersberg is with your own wheels. Driving takes just 20 minutes from Salzburg.

By bike: A beautiful and easy way to get to the Untersberg is with a bike and takes just half an hour. Ride all the way along the Almkanal then turn off right where the river turns into the Rosittenbach.

By public transport: You can also get straight to the base of the Untersberg by bus form Salzburg; ride bus 21 from Salzburg Makartplatz to Glanegg Ortsmitte for 20 minutes. The bus stop is a 5-minute walk from the trailhead.

Where to Eat on the Untersberg Hike

The Untersberg is located just 20 minutes from Salzburg, so you could definitely head back into the city after your hike for a delicious meal. Salzburg is small but as it is a very touristy destination boasts many restaurants; way more than you'd expect from such a little city! Nearly anything you're craving, you'll probably find it here. Because I have been to so many cafes and breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, drinks and dessert spots in Salzburg, I've written a separate Salzburg Food Guide with all my recommendations:

→ Check out my complete Salzburg Food Guide!

Untersberg Hike Details

When: June to October when there is no snow

Where: hike begins from the Parkplatz Rosittenstraße

Difficulty: intermediate, with some harder steep sections and ladders

Length: from the Parkplatz Rosittenstraße, we did a one-way hike of 5.6km one-way hike took us two hours of moving time. We came back down with the gondola although it is possible to hike back the way you came.

Directions: there are a few different trails up the Untersberg but I recommend the trail from the Parkplatz Rosittenstraße. From here, follow the yellow signs to the Untersberg through the forest and out onto the meadows where you'll need to climb some ladders. You'll pass the Zeppezauerhaus about 15 minutes before the summit at the Untersberg Bergbahn (cable car station).

We took the gondola back down to the Grödig Untersbergbahn. From here, you can either take the bus 5 or 25 straight back to Salzburg or hop on bus 35 back to Parkplatz Rosittenstraße where you started to pick up your car or bike.

→ Check out my exact route on Strava!

Bathrooms: yes, at both the Zeppezauerhaus and the Untersberg Bergbahn

GET READY TO TRAVEL!

— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide

— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)

— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)

— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com

— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld

— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads

— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo

— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger

— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide

Discover more from Jana Meerman

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

This post includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you click a link and buy something I have recommended. It won't cost you any extra money, but helps keep this blog going!

Jana Meerman

Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.

Find me on: Instagram | Facebook

2 Comments

Ali
2 July 2025 / 9:34 am

I’m hoping to do this hike in a few weeks! Looks beautiful! If we did bike to the mountain, are there bike racks to lock up the bikes in the Rosittenstraße Parking lot?

- Jana Meerman
  Author
  2 July 2025 / 10:59 am
  
  Hi Ali! Have fun, it’s such a great hike. I biked to that parking lot and when we did this hike there were metal bike racks where I left my bike 🙂