Austria's steepest cog railway has been running from St. Wolfgang up the Schafberg since 1893. The train takes 35 minutes to cover a total distance of 5.85 kilometers, rising 1190 vertical meters. And one thing is for certain: The memorable experiences already begin during the journey to the top.
The SchafbergBahn runs to the Schafbergalm during the Advent season, from November 22 to December 22, 2024, from Wednesday to Sunday
Current departure times and available seats on the SchafbergBahn can be found here.
Café & Restaurant EQ
The Café & Restaurant EQ in the SchafbergBahn's ExperienceQuarterwill be open again from November 22:
10.30 am - 10.00 pm, kitchen 11.30 am - 8.30 pm | Monday and Tuesday: day off
Further information about the restaurant and the opening times can be found here.
The SchafbergBahn is the steepest cog railway in Austria. It was put into operation in 1893. Thanks to its special drive, the SchafbergBahn cog railway is optimally prepared for the gradients of the Schafberg. It runs from the valley station in St. Wolfgang to the summit of the Schafberg.The locomotive can cover large gradients within a very short distance.
At the top of the Schafberg, the former Himmelspforte shelter, the Hotel Schafbergspitze, and a 360° mountain panorama and a view of 11 different lakes await you. The Himmelpforte invites you to linger in an idyllic setting. You can enjoy snacks and drinks on the beautiful panoramic terrace.
On the journey to the summit of the Schafberg with the SchafbergBahn cog railway, you can choose between two exits. You can either get off at the Schafbergalm halt at 1,364 meters (middle station) after a 30-minute ride or you can ride up to the summit to the mountain station at 1,732 meters.
The valley station of the SchafbergBahn cog railway is called ExperienceQuarter. A large and light-flooded guest hall with ticket counter, a souvenir store, a small museum zone with a historic locomotive from the year 1893 as well as the Restaurant EQ await you here.
The restaurant is located on the top floor of the building. It has a unique lakeside terrace with a breathtaking view of lake Wolfgangsee. Whether breakfast, lunch, a snack oder dinner - the restaurant EQ has it all!
After a journey of around 30 minutes and 4.2 km, the SchafbergBahn cog railway reaches the Schafbergalm halt at an altitude of 1,364 meters. If you want to climb the last few meters to the summit yourself, you should get out of the cog railway here.
This stop also marks the tree line of the mountain. From here, you have a beautiful view of the valley and Lake Wolfgangsee.
For the last stretch, the locomotive passes close to nearby rock faces and through two tunnels before reaching the mountain station at an altitude of 1,732 meters. Once here, you can marvel at one of the most beautiful mountain panoramas in Austria.
The timetable of the SchafbergBahn is very flexible: during the busiest times, departures can be increased to every 20 minutes. This means that waiting times can be kept to a minimum.
If you still want to take advantage of a specific departure time, you can conveniently book your ticket online in advance. One-way trips (only ascent or descent) are also possible.
The area around the emerald-green Lake Wolfgangsee has plenty to offer its guests, both on the water and on the shore and in the surrounding mountains:
From April 27, 2024, the SchafbergBahn cog railway will once again run daily to the top of the Schafberg!
The climb was definitely worth it. There is usually quite a lot of hustle and bustle on the Schafberg due to the cog railroad. If you want to climb up on foot and are not so experienced or sure-footed, you should climb up the south side.
Yes, you may bring your dog with you on the SchafbergBahn cog railway. However, your dog must wear a muzzle and be on a leash, or transported in a suitable pet-friendly container. In addition, dogs require a valid ticket, regardless of the breed or size (except for dogs in a suitable pet-friendly container).
No, prams are not permitted on the SchafbergBahn cog railway. Some of the paths from the mountain station are steep and not barrier-free. However, you are welcome to have our employees at the valley station store your pram for you.
Wheelchairs can only be transported in the SchafbergBahn if they can be folded very small and the person can sit independently. We cannot load electric wheelchairs because our carriage doors are too narrow. (approx. 52 cm wide) There are 2 steps to climb to get in or out. (approx. 38 cm from the floor to the 1st step board).
From the mountain station Schafbergspitze (station on the Schafbergspitze) to the panoramic view around the Salzkammergut you still need about 15 minutes on foot. Wheelchair users need some strong "helpers" to be able to push a wheelchair all the way to the top. The steep gravel path from the mountain station to the Schafbergspitze is about 300m long and ascending to the Panoramablick. At both establishments there are still some steps / stairs to climb until you are on the terrace or in the restaurant.
Wheelchair accessible WC facilities are available at the valley station of the SchafbergBahn - unfortunately not at the Schafbergspitze, as the WC's are only accessible via many steps.
The Advent Cog Railway up the Schafberg Mountain opens up a whole new perspective. Built in 1893, the cog railway found worldwide fame in the legendary musical film “The Sound of Music”, when the von Trapp children spent the day in the region of St. Wolfgang.
FestungsBahn
Funicular to the Fortress
MönchsbergAufzug
Mönchsberg lift
WolfgangseeSchifffahrt
Explore Lake Wolfgangsee by ferry
WasserSpiegel
Interactive Water Museum
