Colors and tranquility (September – October)
September and October are the months for those who want to avoid the crowds. The forests turn gold and red, the hiking trails are almost empty, and the stubes in Murau serve seasonal dishes. Kreischberg in autumn is quiet, beautiful, and at its best for peace seekers and hikers who prefer not to see queues. The Murau GästeCard is valid until early November.
This is the season of slowing down. Long walks without haste, a book on the balcony, local dishes in one of Murau's stubes. Kreischberg in autumn is not occupied, it is available. And that makes it special.
Why autumn is the most underrated season
In the summer, the hiking trails are sometimes busy. In the autumn, they are not. Most tourists have left, but nature is at its most beautiful: autumn colors, clear skies, and a temperature that makes hiking pleasant without being too hot or too cold.
The Murau GästeCard is valid until early November, so you can still enjoy free swimming pools, cable cars, and attractions in the region in October.
Walking in the autumn
Panoramic walks with autumn colors
The higher routes, Scharfes Eck, Krakauer Höhensteig, Gstoder, are at their most beautiful in September and early October. The autumn colours combined with clear mountain air create vistas that you rarely see so sharply in the summer.
Scharfes Eck in September
In September, the orchids have already disappeared, but the route itself is still fully passable. The autumn colours are beginning in the forests lower down the mountain. A walk early in the morning, with the low sun over the peaks, that is Kreischberg in its autumn element.
Gstoder — view without crowds
The Gstoder in October is one of the most solitary hikes you can take in the region. Virtually no other hikers, a fully panoramic view, and a silence you never encounter on the plains.
Day trips in autumn
Murau and the brewery
Murau in autumn is atmospheric. The Murau brewery (Brauerei der Sinne) offers tours and is open year-round. The terraces on the Stadtplatz are still active in September. A perfect stop after a day of hiking.
Graz in the autumn
Graz in autumn is less crowded than in summer. The colorful parks, the markets on the Hauptplatz, and the Schlossberg under the low autumn sun are well worth a visit. Plan a day trip for a quiet urban experience.
Culinary in autumn
Autumn is the season of the Stubes. Cozy Austrian restaurants with thick walls, a warm atmosphere, and seasonal dishes. In Bodendorf near Kreischberg, you will find, among others, the oldest Stube in Styria. Game dishes, mushrooms, and regionally baked bread are the typical autumn specialties.
Weather and temperatures in September and October
September: 14–20°C during the day, 8–12°C in the evening. Still pleasantly warm for walking. First autumn colours in the lower forests.
October: 8–14°C during the day. Cooler temperatures, but wonderfully clear weather. The higher routes are still easily passable in early October; in the second half of the month, it can quickly get cold at altitude.
Murau GästeCard valid until early November
The Murau GästeCard is valid from May 1 to early November. In September and October, all benefits are fully available, swimming pools, cable cars, and more than 25 attractions and activities.
