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If you’re looking for a waterfall trip that is sure to impress, check out Krimml Waterfalls. The falls are the highest in Austria, located in the Krimmler Achental valley of the Hohe Tauern National Park. They are easily accessible by car or train and are a beautiful sight to behold. Krimml Waterfalls are known for their sparkling water and beautiful setting in the woods.
In this post, we’ll provide you with all the basic information you need about the waterfall – from what they are, to their location, opening hours, admission fees, and more. We also have a guide on how to get there, with tips on where to find the best accommodation near the falls.
It’s possible to view the waterfall from below with minimal effort or explore it for longer by going on a hike to the top of the Krimml Waterfalls. And if you’re looking for a unique tourist experience, you can rent a bike and go downhill with the views of the waterfalls in the background.
What are Krimml Waterfalls
There are three stages of Krimml Waterfalls with an overall waterfall drop of 380 meters.
They’re a popular tourist destination and have been visited by millions of people over the years. In fact, it’s estimated that around 400 000 people visit Krimml Waterfalls each year.
The waterfalls are famous for their misty scenery, which is a result of the perpetual rainbows created by the sun shining on the falls from different angles. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to pack your raincoat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and snacks as the falls can get pretty wet!
The source of the water is an alpine glacier. It melts the fastest in the months of June and July, so the Krimml Waterfalls have the biggest amount of water and are the most impressive then. The glacier also melts faster during the day and it takes around 9 hours for the water to travel from the glacier to the waterfall. After doing calculations, it turns out that the highest amount of water flows through the waterfall from around 9 pm to midnight.
How tall are Krimml Waterfalls?
There are three stages to Krimml Waterfalls. Overall the waterfall is 380 meters high.
The upper stage has around 140 meters of drop, the middle around 100 meters, and the bottom – 140 meters of drop.
How do I get to Kimmel waterfalls?
Krimmel Waterfalls can be easily accessible by car or by train.
If you are traveling by car, there are four parking places near the beginning of the Krimml Waterfall hiking trail and a few additional parking lots available in the village of Krimml.
Krimml Waterfalls are usually reached from:
- Zell am See in 1 hour
- Salzburg in 2 hours 15 minutes
- Innsbruck 1 hour 30 minutes
If you wish to travel by train, Pinzgauer local train is going from Zell am See to Krimml. Check their website for the updated timetables and prices.
Kimmel Waterfall’s opening hours
Krimmel Waterfalls are open continuously from Mid-April to October. There is a trail use fee of Eur 5 for adults and Eur 2 for children which are used for the refurbishment and maintenance of the Waterfall Trail.
The ticket office is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
You can also buy a combined ticket that includes the Krimmler Water Worlds waterfall information center, exhibition, and the parking lot fee.
Hiking Krimml Waterfalls
The Krimml Waterfall trail is 4.15 kilometers long and can be hiked both ways in about 4 hours.
The lowest waterfall can be easily reached in 10-15 minutes from parking lot 4. It is accessible to disabled people, including the toilets. You can also push up a stroller here easily.
The middle waterfall can be reached in another half-hour hike. From here it’s often possible to see a rainbow in the mist of the Krimml Waterfalls.
In 1 hour and 15 minutes of walking from the starting point, you can expect to reach the upper waterfall. The time obviously depends on how many photo stops you make.
Bike ride in Krimml Waterfalls
Here is the Krimml Waterfalls bike ride route that has many viewpoints and overlooks towers. The Krimml Waterfalls bike route takes around 50 minutes if you count in stops for photos.
The best way to bike this route if you are just an average person without much experience in biking is to have your bike delivered to the top and then just slowly drive back down. If you are a more advanced biker, you may go both ways – up and down.
On this trip to Austria, the whole trip was in a form of bike rides supported by a tour guide with a bus that could transport the bikes. We would find a spot in the mountains, load off the bikes, and descend from the mountains on the bikes while enjoying the views. When we got tired or the roads became less scenic we could load the bikes back on the bus and go back to our accommodation. I highly recommend this way of traveling the Alpen region in Austria.
We also went to places like the Grossglockner High Alpine road and the Eagle’s nest during our trip. We actually rode our bikes down from Eagle’s nest in the same way as hee in the Krimml Waterfalls.
Accommodation Near Krimml Falls
There are some nice hotels in Krimml, if you want to stay close to the Krimml Waterfalls start your hike early or late in the day to avoid the crowds:
- Hotel Krimmlerfälle – is just a 20-minute walk away from the waterfall. There is a spa area and an indoor pool and even an outdoor pool with the views of Hohe Tauern Mountains.
- Alpengasthof Filzstein – up in the mountains, 7 kilometers from Krimml, this hotel offers breathtaking views, a restaurant with the regional cuisine, and a great SPA area.
- Hotel Krimml – just 3,5 kilometers from Krimml Waterfalls, this hotel has free parking, a SPA and wellness center, and family rooms if you are traveling with kids.
Frequently asked questions
Krimml Waterfalls – 380 meters high.
No, advance booking is not necessary. You can buy the admission ticket when you arrive.
Krimml Falls is a very safe destination. There are a few things you can do to keep yourself safe while visiting Krimml Falls:<br>Make sure to use caution when walking around the falls: Step carefully and avoid touching the waterfalls.<br>Respect the park’s regulations: Do not deface or damage park property, and obey all posted signs.<br>Stay aware of your surroundings: Be aware of your surroundings and be cautious when hiking or hiking in remote areas.
The best time to go to Krimml Falls is from April to October when the hiking trail is open to the public.
Krimml Falls is located in the Austrian Alps, so visitors should dress accordingly for the colder weather. Appropriate outerwear includes heavy jackets, parkas, and hats. Visitors should also bring water bottles and snacks when planning to go on a hike.