Practically all mountains in Eastern Austria can be climbed and skied as a day tour. So in principle there is no need for mountain huts. However, the whole region is scattered by uncountable mountain huts, some even really close to the valleys while others are near or even on top of the summits.
This is due to historical reasons. The mountains around Vienna were a perfect destination for weekend trips when the villages in the mountains were finally connected to the public transport system (train and buses). However the longer travel time by using these early public transport systems made an overnight stay mandatory. People came to the mountain huts at Saturday, slept there and climbed the summits on Sunday and returned to Vienna.
Soon, a network of mountain huts developed. Some of these huts served as a the perfect base camp for longer ski trips. Entire ski vacations were spent for example in the various huts at the Schneeberg, which is probable the most versatile ski mountain of the whole region.
Today, most of this huts are only used as sort of ‘restaurants’, overnight stays are very seldom though it might be quite some fun for a group. Some huts are open virtually all the year round and offer a perfect rest in case of bad winter weather.
Mountain Huts Near Vienna: Fischerhütte (Schneeberg)
Mountain Huts Near Vienna: Graf-Meran-Haus (Hohe Veitsch)
Mountain Huts Near Vienna: Gschwendthuette
Mountain Huts Near Vienna: Karl Ludwig Haus (Rax)
