Stadtwanderweg 8: Sophienalpe
Up to the Sophienalpe at the western city boundary. Wide meadows lie between the forest — one of the few Vienna trails where you genuinely see sky.
The trail runs about 11 km and takes roughly 3.5 hours on foot. It starts at Kasgraben (Postbus 450) in the 14 (Penzing) district — reachable by public transport, like every Stadtwanderweg. What interests us is less the climb than the doorstep: this is how living looks where the trail runs.
Route geometry: City of Vienna Open Data (CC BY 4.0), length and ascent measured from that line; the City's own figures are rounded. Signposted on site — we have not walked every trail ourselves.
Walk this trail with VLM — live on the map →The route sits on the map and moves with you; chapters tell you which neighbourhood you are crossing. Your location stays on your device. Often without reception out there? Add this page to your home screen — once opened, the trail stays readable offline.
Download the GPX (route with elevation) for your watch or Komoot.
The trail in chapters
- 1Start: Kasgraben (Postbus 450)Up to the Sophienalpe at the western city boundary. Wide meadows lie between the forest — one of the few Vienna trails where you genuinely see sky. The trail runs 9.1 km; the City of Vienna reckons about 3.5 hours.
- 2The highest pointThe summit sits at about 496 m. Across the whole trail some 360 m of ascent add up — which is why it takes longer than the kilometres suggest.
- 3FinishEnd of the official trail. From here it is worth looking at the neighbourhoods you just walked through — each with its own Living Score.
The chapters are the housing lens on the official trail: what is measured for the neighbourhood you are crossing. We have not walked the trail ourselves.
Rather test living on foot? The living walks →Frequently asked
How long is Stadtwanderweg 8?
The City of Vienna states about 11 kilometres and roughly 3.5 hours on foot. Measured from the official route line it comes to 9.09 km with 362 metres of ascent. It is signposted throughout.
How much climbing is there on Stadtwanderweg 8?
About 362 metres of ascent and 375 metres of descent, between 249 and 496 metres above sea level. That is a proper climb — the hours matter more than the kilometres here.
Where does Stadtwanderweg 8 start?
At Kasgraben (Postbus 450) in the 14 (Penzing) district, reachable by public transport — that is the idea behind all the city hiking trails.
Can I follow the trail live on my phone?
Yes. Open the trail in Vienna Living Map and start it — the route sits on the map and shows where you are as you walk. Your location stays on your device and is never sent anywhere.
What is it like to live along this trail?
The trail mostly runs through woodland and open land rather than residential quarters.
All city hikes · Living by the Vienna Woods · Noise & quiet · All districts