Hike to Bad Mitterndorf

The spa hotel is located about three kilometres outside of Bad Mitterndorf. If you're looking for the direct route, just follow the main road – it’s the fastest, but not particularly scenic and always in the sun.

Much nicer are the small hiking trails that wind their way through the landscape and lead to various parts of town depending on your destination.

On a particularly hot day, I wanted to go into the centre to run a few errands.

So I chose the shady forest path.

The entrance is located directly behind the hotel, right by a narrow stream that accompanied me with its gentle gurgling.

Time and again, the path opens up to reveal wide meadows where cows graze peacefully – a picture-perfect scene. The atmosphere was calm and almost romantic.

Along the way, there are plenty of benches inviting you to rest.

For the most part, the trail is very flat, with occasional short inclines, followed by gentle descents.

It definitely doesn’t require any special skills – anyone can walk it.

After a slight climb up some steps, you reach a cow pasture. A few metres later, the path splits.

If you turn left, you reach the main road again in about 10 minutes and the hotel about 20 minutes later.

It’s a wonderful circular route, also ideal to walk during breaks between treatments.

Depending on your pace, it takes around 40 to 50 minutes. One should, however, be cautious after heavy rainfall, as the forest floor can become very muddy and slippery.

But if you don’t turn off and keep following the trail, you eventually reach another junction. Straight ahead takes you to the district of Neuhofen, while turning right leads to Zauchen.

I chose the path to Neuhofen, as that part of town lies closer to the centre.

The trail continued through dense forest, occasionally interrupted by lush meadows.

In the distance, the peaks of the Salzkammergut mountains rose up – a sight that makes every hiker’s heart beat faster.

The scenery in this area is uniquely beautiful.

At some point, the forest ends and offers a gorgeous first view of Bad Mitterndorf.

The trail then leads across a meadow, with no shade to be found. The sun was blazing in the sky.

Eventually, you reach the quiet suburb of Neuhofen. From there, you walk a short stretch along the main road until you finally spot the charming church.

Behind the church is the centre of this idyllic village, with numerous shops. I bought a few coffee capsules – the reason I had come. In the shop window of a store, I spotted a pretty dress. I decided to try it on – and ended up leaving the shop with three dresses.

At the supermarket, I picked up milk, beer, and cake for the weekend.

Fortunately, I ran into a couple from the hotel, who kindly offered to give me a ride – an offer I gladly accepted.

Two days later, I set off again for Bad Mitterndorf. This time, I was heading to the train station, where Gerhard was arriving from Vienna to visit me for the weekend.

This time, I took the main road, since I wanted to get to the station as quickly as possible.

Basically, you just follow the road – it’s impossible to get lost. Along the way, you pass a few lovely wooden cottages, and the road runs past lush green meadows.

In the background, you can see the ever-present mountains that make this area so beautiful and perfect for hiking.

After about 30 minutes, I reached Bad Mitterndorf.

The train station wasn’t far now.

Ten minutes later, the train from Vienna rolled in.

We walked back to the hotel along the same route. This time, it only took us about 30 minutes – walking in pairs is often faster. Plus, I didn’t stop all the time to take photos.

Now the weekend could really begin!