Austrian Veganderlust contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you.  For more info, see the Disclosure Policy.

Schafbergbahn Cog Railway: Worth €61 for a Return Trip?

ByTina Riegelnegg

Taking a historic cog railway up an Austrian mountain sounds pretty magical. And the Schafbergbahn cog railway certainly delivers on the scenery. But with a return ticket costing around €61, is it actually worth the money?

I took the Schafbergbahn up Schafberg with my parents and loved the scenic train ride and incredible views over the Salzkammergut. But would I pay €61 to do it again? Personally, no.

I think the Schafbergbahn is worth it for certain travellers, especially if hiking isn’t an option. In this guide, I’ll share what the experience is really like and what you should know before buying your ticket.

What Riding the Schafbergbahn Is Really Like

The train ride up Schafberg takes around 35 minutes, and the railway itself is a big part of the experience. It’s incredibly steep, and the scenery changes between forest, green meadows and beautiful glimpses of Lake Wolfgang below.

For the best views, sit on the left when facing uphill. A lot of the journey is through the forest, but whenever the view opens up, this side gives you a better view.

You might have seen photos on social media of people leaning out of the train windows, but don’t count on getting that shot. On my train, the windows were quite high and you weren’t allowed to stand up during the journey.

They even made an announcement telling one passenger to sit back down.

There are also different locomotives running on the route. I didn’t ride one of the historic steam trains, but I did get to see one later at the top. If you manage to spot one, it makes the already picturesque mountain railway look even more special.

A red steam powered mountain train climbs a steep track with white steam billowing from its chimney. A turquoise alpine lake and densely forested mountains stretch across the valley behind it.

What to Do at the Top of Schafberg

We spent a little over two hours at the top of Schafberg, which felt like the perfect amount of time. We had enough time to explore the viewpoints, have a drink, take photos and walk down the mountain a little without ever feeling rushed.

Take in the Views from the Viewing Platform

Tina with a pink backpack sits on a grassy mountainside looking across a vivid turquoise alpine lake. Forested ridges and layers of rugged mountain peaks stretch into the distance beneath a partly cloudy sky.

You don’t have to walk far for your first view. There’s a viewing platform right next to the mountain station, with incredible views over the surrounding mountains and lakes.

Wolfgangsee is the star of the show, but you can also see across the Salzkammergut.

Walk to the Summit Cross

Tina in hiking clothes stands beside a large wooden summit cross on a rocky mountain peak. Lakes and green countryside spread far below beneath a cloudy blue sky.

From the station, you can walk towards the summit area and the cross in about 15 minutes. Interestingly, the cross isn’t actually at the highest point of Schafberg, but it’s still worth walking over for the views over Attersee and Traunsee.

There are some seriously steep drops around here. I’d wear trainers or hiking shoes with good grip rather than flip flops.

Watch the Schafbergbahn Trains Go By

A red cog railway train marked "Z 14" travels through a narrow cutting between steep rocky walls. White steam billows above the train as the rack railway track curves toward it.

One of my favourite things to do was actually walking a little further down the mountain towards the railway tracks.

Trains were running about every 20 minutes during my visit, so we waited for the next one to come past. We were lucky enough to see the historic steam train, which looked incredibly picturesque against the mountain scenery.

If you enjoy photography, I definitely recommend making time for this rather than only seeing the train while you’re sitting inside it or at the platform.

Stop at One of the Restaurants

Visitors walk uphill along a gravel path toward mountain buildings and a terrace lined with red umbrellas. Dry grassy slopes surround the path beneath a partly cloudy sky.

There were two restaurants and a smaller food stand at the top when I visited, so you can stop for lunch or simply have a drink while enjoying the mountain views.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a proper vegan meal, so we just had some cold drinks. If I visited again, I’d bring my own lunch and have a picnic instead.

After already paying quite a lot for the railway, it saves some money and, in my opinion, having lunch outside on the mountain is more fun anyway.

Interior of a modern mountain railway station with a wooden beam ceiling and large windows. Visitors gather near the ticket counter while a historic black steam locomotive marked "Z14" stands on display.

Schafbergbahn Tickets, Prices and Booking Tips

A return ticket for the Schafbergbahn was €61 per person when I visited. You can buy tickets online or at the station.

A few things to know before booking:

  • Book online if you can. We bought our tickets when we arrived and had to wait about 40 minutes for the next available train.
  • Choose your return time in advance. You select both your uphill and downhill train when buying your ticket. Just over 2 hours at the top worked perfectly for us. (Keep in mind the train takes about 35 min to reach the top)
  • One way tickets are available. This is useful if you want to hike one direction and take the train the other.
  • There’s a middle station at Schafbergalm. You can get off here and hike the remaining section instead of taking the train all the way to the top.

You can also skip the railway altogether and hike up Schafberg, which takes around 2.5 hours.

Interior of a mountain railway carriage with rows of wooden bench seats and red patterned cushions. Sunlight pours through the windows and another red train carriage is visible outside.

How to Get to the Schafbergbahn in St. Wolfgang

The Schafbergbahn valley station is in St. Wolfgang, close to the lake and just a short walk from the town centre.

Getting There by Public Transport

You can reach St. Wolfgang by bus, but one of the nicest options is to combine your trip with a boat ride across Wolfgangsee. The Schafbergbahn station is very close to the boat stop, making it easy to combine the two.

If you’re coming from Salzburg, you could travel towards Wolfgangsee and take the boat from St. Gilgen to St. Wolfgang for a much more scenic arrival.

Getting There by Car

We drove to St. Wolfgang and parked in one of the paid car parks next to the Schafbergbahn.

Parking would normally have cost us €10, but we received a €4 discount with our railway tickets, bringing the price down to €6. Keep your railway ticket with you in case you need it to claim the parking discount.

Visitors stand behind a wooden railing at the top of a dramatic rocky cliff. A blue alpine lake and densely forested valley lie far below with mountains in the distance.

Is the Schafbergbahn Worth It?

I enjoyed riding the Schafbergbahn, but I personally wouldn’t pay €61 to do it again.

The train journey is beautiful and the views from the top are impressive, but if you’re a regular hiker, you can get similar mountain and lake views on other hikes around the Salzkammergut. You’ll probably also have fewer people around you.

That said, I think the Schafbergbahn is absolutely worth considering if:

  • You want to experience an Austrian mountain summit without hiking
  • Hiking isn’t physically possible or comfortable for you
  • You’re travelling with older family members
  • You have limited time and still want those classic Salzkammergut views
  • Riding the historic cog railway is part of the attraction for you

For me, hiking to a summit makes reaching the top feel more rewarding. But that’s also exactly why the Schafbergbahn is so special for other travellers.

You’re not just paying for the views. You’re paying for an easy and scenic way to experience a mountain that you might otherwise not be able to reach.

View from a mountain train window as the track curves along a rocky forested slope. A turquoise lake and rugged mountain range fill the valley beyond the trees.

My Tips Before Riding the Schafbergbahn

  • Sit on the left going up. When facing uphill, this is the side I’d choose for the best chances of seeing Wolfgangsee.
  • Allow around two hours at the top. This was plenty of time for us to explore without feeling rushed.
  • Check the weather before booking. You’re mainly coming up here for the mountain and lake views, so clear weather can make a big difference to the experience.
  • Wear shoes with good grip. You don’t need hiking boots just to explore the top, but I wouldn’t wear flip flops around the steeper paths.
  • Bring a vegan lunch. I didn’t find a proper vegan meal at the summit, so a picnic is a good option. There’s also a restaurant by the ticket office at the bottom with an outdoor terrace overlooking Wolfgangsee. I spotted vegan options on the menu, but unfortunately it was closed when we visited.
  • Consider arriving by boat. Combining the Schafbergbahn with a trip across Wolfgangsee would make the journey to St. Wolfgang part of the experience too.
  • Don’t expect the social media window shot. Standing up and leaning out wasn’t allowed on our train, and staff were actively making sure passengers stayed seated.
Three cows graze on a broad alpine meadow overlooking a brilliant turquoise lake. Forested mountains rise beyond the water while a mountain lodge sits on the grassy slope.

Make the Most of Your Trip to Wolfgangsee

The Schafbergbahn is only one reason to spend time at Wolfgangsee. Even if you decide the €61 train ride isn’t for you, the lake itself is well worth visiting for its pretty towns, mountain scenery and boat trips across the water.

If you do ride the Schafbergbahn, I’d make it part of a longer day at Wolfgangsee rather than coming only for the railway. Spend some time exploring St. Wolfgang or combine your visit with a boat trip across the lake.

Planning a trip to Wolfgangsee? Read my complete Wolfgangsee guide for more things to do and my tips for visiting the lake.

Read more:

Pin it for later:
Collage showing the red Schafbergbahn mountain train. A woman stands beside a summit cross and overlooks a turquoise alpine lake while a steam train climbs the mountainside. "Schafbergbahn Is the Cog Railway Worth It?" "AustrianVeganderlust.com"
Is the Schafbergbahn Cog Railway Worth €61?

Tina Riegelnegg is the founder of Austrian Veganderlust. After travelling the world and documenting her adventures on Veganderlust, she created this blog to share the beauty of her home country, Austria. Tina now focuses on helping travellers discover the best spots in Austria, including where to find the most delicious vegan food.