Krimml Waterfalls - Highest waterfalls in Europe

Walking in the Austrian Mountains near Krimml

Krimml Waterfalls  claim to be the highest waterfall in Europe, and allegedly the 5th largest oner in the world, they are located in the splendid Hohe Tauern National Park, about 150 km south west of  Salzburg and directly west from the scenic resort lakeside market  town of Zell am See.  The falls are next to Austrian village of Krimml  of the same name.

Krimml Waterfalls are 380 m high. They are  split up into 3 parts, the first section is 140 metres high, the  middle section is 100m long and the upper section is  a further 140 metres in climb. The total drop is in total  380 metres. The  noise of the roar of falling water can be heard in its immediate vicinity,  and from the path that climb up the west side of the cascade  up a large and picturesque pine forested wooded valley. 

Krimml waterfalls view  from the bottom

Krimml Waterfalls are easily accessible by local train from Zell am See, it is also possible to put bikes on the train up to Krimml station and cycle back down the valley.  

The  waterfalls from  are accessible by paying a small entrance fee of  around 2 Euro. There are facilities, next to the pay point:-  restaurant, toilet and shop.  There is a  good  wide walking track  leading up to the top of Krimml Waterfalls. With plenty of places to stop take in the views and to sit.  After a walk of around half a hour there is an excellent Austrian restaurant / hostelry where its possible to have a meal / hot chocolate or something a little stronger.  Fit walkers may want to walk further  up the mountain trail to the top.  

In 1967  the waterfalls  were nominated by the European Council as an excellent example of conservation of nature,  but for many years  the Krimml waterfalls have been  a popular  tourist holiday destination.  So if you are in the area, it well worth the effort to take in the sights.  On sunny days you are guaranteed to see rainbows a plenty enjoy.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area please consider the option of Kaprun and Austria-holiday-apartment.com. which can sleep from 3 to 9 persons in comfort.

Kaprun apartment rental, lots to see and do in and around the area.

Who visits Zell am See and Kaprun?

Kitzsteinhorn glacier ( note the snow!)  where it is possible to ski  throughout the year.

 Kaprun and Zell am See are popular tourist destinations within Austria.  With the opening of Tauern Spa Kaprun, the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, a 36 hole championship golf course,  winter sports,  cycling and the lake at Zell am Zee the area is seen very much as an all season all destination what ever the time of the year you visit.
Around 2 million visitors  holiday in the area in each,  with slightly more than half of these visiting in the November through to April ski season.

A great place to visit

 Winter Visitors

For this six month period taking advantage of the winter sports and the extended ski season with the glacier on the Kitzsteinhorn, around a quarter of visitors are from Germany, followed closely at arpound 15% of the total being Dutch guests, after that around 10% are Austrian and another 10% visitors from the United Kingdom, closely and in more recent years an increasing number of Polish and Rumanian visitors, followed by Scandinavian visitors.  English is widely spoken across Austria, and Austrians are famous for their hospitality.

Visitors come for the winter sports, Christmas markets, wellness breaks, culinary experiences and just to relax unwind and to soak up the scenery


Summer Visitors

In the months from  May through to October around 900,000 take advantage of the area in and around Kaprun and Zell am See booking accommodation.  Again unsurprisingly German visitors are most popular about a third of the overall total. Next most popular at about 1/8th  of visitors is the home market for Austria, with the British taking up around 10%  with the Dutch taking in excess of 7% of the accommodation.

Krimml waterfalls awe inspiring

Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of visitors to the area. With the new spa complex opening in Kaprun in November 2010, at a cost in excess of 85 million, and the extended ski season allowed by the Kitzsteinhorn glacier, it  it is expected as a driver to confirm Zell am See and Kaprun as an all year resort.

The area has been marketed as the Europa Sports Region, and the name sums up the abundance of sporting activities which includes :-wild water rafting, canyoning, golf, cycling, walking  and numerous water sports on the lake at Zell am See, and summer skiing also a possibility on the glacier

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in the area  for 3-9 people? With the benefit of three bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms. Please consider staying at  www.austria-holiday-apartment.com ?

Water sports & Swimming in Austrian lakes

Austria is great for swimming out in the open, the lakes are clean with a fantastic panorama around as a setting. The Salzburg tourist office gives regular updates of the water temperature and the facilities in and around the lake.

For example at the time of writing the temperature of the lake at Zell am See was given at 20 degrees centigrade, and a water quality of "A" which is a drinking water standard. The site tells you also what facilities beaches, boats etc. are available and open.

For those who are tempted by wilder waters it is possible to go Canyoning, walking up the river the wrong way in a wet suit, and then swimming / walking / floating back down. Sometimes this is done with the benefit of a rubber ring or other flotation ring. For further information on canyoning, rafting and other advanture sports click on the Adventure Sports link. There is also the Rafting Centre at Taxenbach, they not only do rafting, but they will organize "Pirate Rafting" aimed at younger adventuresrs, along with mountain biking, parascending. It is possible to do a session of cycling, canyoning and wild water rafting in one day.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay for your group please consider staying at Austrian holiday apartment in Kaprun, close to Zell am See, with lots to do in and around the area.