Krimml Waterfalls are in Austria’s Salzburg region, within Hohe Tauern National Park. Their 3 successive falls have a combined height of around 380 m. A maintained trail offers views from several platforms. Choose your visit according to your time and comfort with uphill walking. Allow about 1 hour on site to see the lower falls. Walking up beside all the falls and returning takes half a day with stops. Grand Angle organizes walking holidays in Austria. Treat a waterfall visit and a longer walk into the valley as separate outings.
| The landscape | 3 successive falls, around 380 m in combined height, in Hohe Tauern National Park |
|---|---|
| For a short visit | The foot of the lower waterfall; allow around 1 hour on site, including walking and stops |
| To walk up beside the falls | Allow half a day including the return; the ascent from the lower falls takes around 1 hour 15 minutes without stops |
| Usual season | Spring to late October for the maintained trail; confirm the exact opening date before an April visit |
| Remember | The Tauernhaus is further up the valley: allow 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours' walking one way from Krimml |
Planning a visit to Krimml Waterfalls
- How much time to allow
- The Wasserfallweg
- Season, tickets and access
- Krimmler Achental and the Tauernhaus
For several days of walking in the Austrian mountains, our holidays cover the Salzkammergut lakes and Tyrolean ranges.
Locate the waterfalls and the mountain inn
The 2 points show the distance between the waterfalls and the Tauernhaus. Click a marker to read the relevant explanation. The map provides location markers. It does not plot a walking route or calculate journey times.
Krimml Waterfalls and Tauernhaus: 2 separate places
How long should you allow at the waterfalls?
Your first choice comes at the foot of the falls. Kürsingerplatz, near the lower waterfall, already offers a view of the falling water and spray. Allow 10 to 15 minutes to walk from the car parks to the bottom of the waterfalls. Add the return walk, buying a ticket and time to look around. Around 1 hour on site is a useful planning guide for a short visit.
The full ascent suits a different aim: seeing the water change at each level and watching the village recede below the trees. Allow around 1 hour 15 minutes to reach the top from the lower waterfall. This is not the duration of the whole visit. Including the descent and stops, set aside around 3 hours, or half a day to take your time.
| Time on site | A suitable option | The return to include |
|---|---|---|
| Around 1 hour | Approach the lower waterfall and enjoy the first viewpoint | Return to the car park or bus stop by the same access route |
| Around 3 hours to half a day | Walk up the Wasserfallweg if you are comfortable with a sustained climb | Allow for the descent; photo stops are additional to walking time |
| A full day with a long walk | Consider the Krimmler Achental as a separate outing | Calculate the whole day: reaching the Tauernhaus already takes 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours one way from Krimml |
You can turn back at a viewpoint without reaching the top. With children, time near the water and stops often matter more than completing the whole ascent.
The Wasserfallweg alongside the 3 falls
Krimml’s waterfalls descend in 3 stages with a combined height of around 380 m. This figure describes all 3 falls together. It is distinct from the elevation gain on your walk. The torrent comes from the Krimmler Achental in the Hohe Tauern range before joining the Salzach valley.
The Wasserfallweg zigzags up beside the falls. The panoramic route returns to the waterfall entrance after the ascent. It covers around 5.7 km, 500 m of ascent and 2 hours 30 minutes of walking, at moderate difficulty. These figures include the return but not stops at the viewpoints. Platforms bring you close to the water at different heights. Near the bottom, spray sometimes obscures the rock face. Higher up, the succession of drops is easier to distinguish.
The stops are part of the pleasure. Listen to the sound change between 2 platforms and observe the dark rocks beneath the spray. Then look at the forest along the torrent. Information panels explain the landscape. A few pauses let you follow the same water from different angles.
A maintained uphill trail that calls for good footwear
The width of the trail makes progress easier, but the slope remains. Grippy shoes and a lightweight waterproof jacket are useful even in fine weather. Protect your phone from spray too. Platforms and their approaches can stay wet. Keep children close and respect the barriers.
Access suitable for people with reduced mobility is advertised as far as Kürsingerplatz. This does not apply to the whole climb. For a pushchair or wheelchair, ask about the exact access conditions that day before setting out. The bottom of the waterfalls is worth a visit in its own right.
Season, tickets and arriving in Krimml
Choosing when to visit
Snowmelt feeds the waterfalls in early summer. Autumn brings different light to the forest and shorter days. In either season, check the weather before setting out. A walk beside a torrent needs particular attention after heavy rain.
The maintained trail generally opens from May to late October, sometimes from mid-April. Before a spring visit, confirm that the trail is actually open and check any restrictions. In winter, ice can change the visiting options. Find out which access routes are permitted that season.
Distinguish the waterfall trail from WasserWelten
Krimmler WasserWelten is a water discovery attraction with a visitor center and an outdoor hands-on park. It complements the waterfalls, especially on a family outing. Its tickets and opening times are separate from those of the trail.
The trail alone costs a little under €10 per adult, with a reduced rate for children aged 6 to 15. The WasserWelten combined ticket costs around €16 per adult. It includes the trail, center and parking in P4 or P5. Have your parking ticket validated at the center’s ticket desk before it closes.
Before visiting, check the waterfall operator’s “Tickets” section and WasserWelten’s “Prices & Opening Hours” for current prices and dates. The combined ticket mainly makes sense if you actually want to visit both attractions.
Visit from a single base
Krimml is in the western part of the Salzburg region. If you are already staying in Pinzgau or the Zillertal, keep your accommodation and make the waterfalls a day outing. To place them within a wider holiday, our Austria page presents the regions covered by Grand Angle.
If driving, identify your car park before calculating the budget. Parking included in the combined ticket applies to P4 and P5, with validation conditions. By public transport, plan arrival and the final return from the stop serving the falls using the ÖBB journey planner or the regional transport planner. Pinzgau rail services have experienced interruptions. Your search should include any replacement buses and the journey to the entrance.
Krimmler Achental and a stay at the Tauernhaus
Above the waterfalls, the Krimmler Achental opens into an alpine valley. The torrent runs beside meadows, alpine farm buildings mark the valley floor and slopes enclose the horizon. Exploring here takes longer than visiting the waterfall viewpoints. Treating it separately avoids turning a visit of a few hours into an unexpectedly long walk.
At 1,631 m, Krimmler Tauernhaus is run by the Geisler family. It has private rooms and dormitories, as well as food service. This mountain inn suits a planned stay in the valley. It is far from the foot of the waterfalls. Allow around 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours' walking one way from Krimml. From the waterfall entrance, the moderate route covers 10.35 km with 555 m of ascent. Walking all the way back therefore makes a long day. Calculate it according to your pace and stops.
The property also offers a summer national park taxi service, booked in advance. It welcomes guests in summer and winter, with a closure between the 2 seasons.
This visit may inspire another walking holiday. For a longer trip in a different part of Europe, Madeira’s trails reveal volcanic scenery and very different vegetation. Our advice on choosing between trekking and hiking (in French) also helps you decide what pace suits you.
Our 8-day walking holiday on Madeira (in French) describes this walking trip.
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Questions about Krimml Waterfalls
Is one hour enough to see the waterfalls?
Around 1 hour allows a visit to the bottom, including access from the car park and the return, if you keep stops short. To reach the upper waterfall and descend again, allow around 3 hours or half a day with stops.
Can children visit Krimml Waterfalls?
The first viewpoint already makes an interesting outing. Adapt the rest to your children’s walking experience and keep time for the return. The upper trail involves a long climb. WasserWelten can complement the visit if you prefer a variety of activities.
Can I reach the Tauernhaus after a quick visit?
The inn is well beyond the waterfalls. Plan a long day’s walking or an overnight stay. For a short visit, the waterfall platforms already offer fine viewpoints.
Do the waterfalls and WasserWelten require the same ticket?
There is a paid ticket for the trail alone and a combined ticket for both attractions. Compare what you intend to visit, your car park and the center’s closing time.
A question about planning your visit?
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Article written by
Passionate about travel and a keen advocate of slow travel, I am fortunate to turn my love of adventure into engaging stories. As editorial lead at Grand Angle Tours, an agency specialising in trekking and cycling… Read more
