Krimml Waterfalls, Austria: How to Visit Europe’s Largest Waterfall

I knew about Krimml Waterfalls for a long time. Yet, I always avoided visiting it, simply because I thought: it’s Europe’s biggest multi-tiered waterfall, it must be crowded.

One summer weekend, we were nearby, so we decided to drive to Krimml, not even sure we would see the falls. Well, just getting near the town, we could hear the waterfalls from many, many kilometres away. When I saw it for the first time, I could not believe my eyes. It was enormous.

It was late afternoon, so we went to our accommodation and decided that the next day, we’d start the day at the Krimml Waterfalls.

It did not disappoint. It was much better than I had imagined. I had never seen a waterfall that huge. To put it into perspective, simply hiking from the bottom of the waterfall to the top takes more than one full hour!

So, in this guide, I’ll share all my tips about Krimml Waterfalls in Austria: which season is best to visit, photography, hiking, where to stay, where to eat, and more!

Krimml Waterfalls Quick Guide

Krimml Falls: Is It Worth Visiting?

The Krimml Waterfalls are absolutely worth visiting, 100%. It´s even great (or better) to visit on a cloudy day, because then the photos look better!

I would recommend visiting it to everyone, it`s perfect for solo travellers (safe!), couples, and also for families. The hike up to the top takes 1-1,5 hours and there are countless viewpoints and a few restaurants to stop on the way.

Entrance Fee (Free for overnight guests)

Entrance to the Krimml Waterfalls costs €9.00 for adults and €4.50 for children. Additionally, you`ll need to pay for parking (around €2/hour, depending on which parking area you choose.)

There is also an automatic ticket machine at the entrance, meaning you can enter the falls outside the staffed opening hours.

My best tip for you: if you stay overnight in the Hohe Tauern National Park region, most accommodations would give you a Nationalpark SommerCard free of charge, which includes free entry to the Krimml Waterfalls. Just check with your hotel/guesthouse in advance.

Further Info: In Austria, many tourist regions have a Guest Card system: you stay overnight at a participating accommodation and get a card with free and discounted attractions. The benefits depend on the region. I love the tourist card system about Austria.

Where to Stay Near Krimml Falls

Around Krimml, there are many little towns you could stay at. The whole area has a pretty good infrastructure with countless hotels and guesthouses.

Here are the best options where to stay nearby:

• Stay directly next to the Krimml Falls: Hotel Krimmlerfälle (one of the closest to the falls), Panoramahotel Burgeck (hotel with waterfall views)
  
• I would stay here: Apartment Kerer (it`s on a hill and has the best views! It´s not too far from Krimml Falls, but you`ll need a car)
  
• Luxury Hotel with Wellness Centre: Hotel Gassner 4-Star Hotel (with 1200qm SPA area!)
  
• For longer stays:
  Achensee: the area around the Achensee is one of my favorites with so many things to do (one hour by car from Krimml). If you stay at the Achensee, don`t miss another waterfall, the Dalfazer Waterfall.
  
  Salzburg: Bit further away, but I would even consider Salzburg for longer stay and plan my day trips from there. (Read my Salzburg Travel Guide here.)

Best time to visit Krimml Falls

The Krimml Falls can be visited year-round, with summer being the best time to visit as the melting snow means the falls get the most water.

All three levels of the waterfall along the waterfall trail are open from May to late October. However, the first tier can be visited all year-round.

I would also love to visit it during autumn, as it’s surrounded by forest and must be beautiful with all the autumn colours.

Arrive early to avoid the crowds

Regardless of what time of year you visit, my best advice is to arrive there before 8:30 AM.

Somehow, people think it’s not open before 9 AM, but in reality, it’s a waterfall and a forest trail next to it. At the entrance, there is a machine where you can purchase your ticket anytime, so there aren’t really opening hours in the traditional sense.

When we arrived at 8:30 AM and parked our car, there was hardly anyone around. There are many huge parking lots, and we were the only ones there.

Don’t worry about cloudy weather

If your forecast says rain or clouds, don’t worry!

The falls look more impressive and photograph better on overcast days. The cloudy weather can make the waterfall look even more dramatic, and you also avoid the harsh sunlight that can make photos more difficult.

Visiting Krimml Falls: Waterfall Trail, Parking & Practical Info

How to get to Krimml Falls

Best visited by car, you need to drive to Krimml in Austria. You can simply add the waterfall to your navigation – but even if you didn`t – it`s so big you can`t miss it.

Parking

There are many huge parking lots at the waterfall. Their prices can differ slightly, but in the end, they are quite similar. Some have a half-hourly fee, some hourly or daily, and some parking lots have toilets.

We parked in this parking lot, which was the closest to the falls, just in front of them. When we arrived around 8:30–8:45 in July, our parking lot was almost empty.

Waterfall Trail

As you enter the falls and get your ticket, there is a house where you can also buy tickets, but we used the ticket machine.

You can go to the left to visit the lower tier. There is a photography spot, so my husband waited for me while I went to the first tier of the waterfall. You will see the photo spot.

At the start, if you go straight, you will find yourself on the waterfall trail. Many times it is a forest or wooden trail with many lookout points. It’s so impressive and beautiful.

Trail difficulty

Easy trail, suitable for kids, dogs, and I think for fit elderly too. Although it is upwards and a bit tiring, there are plenty of stops along the way.

Walking time

Without breaks, the hike to the top takes around 1 hour and 15 minutes.

But with stops, you need around 2 hours. Besides the countless photography stops, we also stopped for coffee and, on the way back, for lunch at the middle tier. There is a restaurant serving mostly fast food, but it’s quite good and not that expensive.

What to Wear at the Krimml Falls

If you are visiting on a not-so-hot day or don’t like to get yourself wet and then need to wear wet clothes the whole hike, I advise you to bring a raincoat.

Especially as you visit the lower tiers and, for the best photo spot, you might want to get close to the fall. Then you’ll get very, very wet.

I did not have a raincoat and it was okay, but it could have been reasonable to have one.

Waterproof Gore-Tex hiking shoes are the best for this, but normal sports shoes will do too.

Dogs at the Krimml Falls

Dogs are allowed with no extra fee and they are also allowed in the restaurant terrace.

We took our 10-year-old labrador with us, and he managed the trail without any difficulty. Once we reached the top of the waterfall, he could even swim in the (freezing- I checked!) river at the top.

Restaurants and food

There is one restaurant right at the beginning, which we did not try, and there is one at the middle tier called Gasthof Schönangerl.

The coffee was good, and we also ate lunch. They always have some more healthy vegan dishes, but it’s mostly the usual hut food like Germknödel (dumpling filled with jam and poppy seed on top, served with vanilla pudding), Currywurst with fries, Schnitzel, etc.

Despite not the best reviews of the restaurant, we found the food to be quite good, the staff was very friendly and the whole place had a very pleasant atmosphere.