At 380 metres of total drop, the Krimmler Waterfalls in the Hohe Tauern National Park are the highest waterfalls in Austria and the fifth highest in Europe, a three-stage cascade formed by the Krimmler Ache, a glacial stream that thunders over the edge of the cliff at 1,470 metres above sea level and plunges into a gorge below with a force that registers on the surrounding mountainside as a constant low vibration. The waterfall is separated into three distinct stages: the upper and lower stages each drop just over 140 metres, while the middle stage falls 100 metres. The flow rate varies dramatically with the seasons, from a modest 500 cubic metres per hour in winter to over 20,000 cubic metres per hour during summer snowmelt. The highest recorded flow, measured in 1987, reached an extraordinary 600,000 cubic metres per hour, a flood of water that transformed the entire valley.

Quick Facts: Krimmler Waterfalls

• Location: The village of Krimml, Salzburg state, Austria, in the Hohe Tauern National Park, approximately 100 km south of Salzburg city and 15 km from the Italian border via the Krimmler Tauernhaus pass road
• Best time to visit: June and July for the most dramatic water flow from snowmelt, when the spray can be felt hundreds of metres away and rainbows form constantly in the mist. September offers lower water volume but beautiful autumn colours in the valley. The path is open from May to October. Winter visits are possible for snowshoeing but the waterfall is partially frozen and the viewing path is closed
• The viewing path: A well-maintained trail with wooden bridges and viewing platforms ascends alongside the waterfall, offering progressively more dramatic views. The complete walk to the upper viewing platform takes approximately 1.5 hours each way and involves 700 metres of vertical ascent on stairs and paths. Several intermediate platforms provide rest stops and photo opportunities
• Entry fee: Approximately €6 for adults, €3 for children (as of 2026). The family ticket offers good value at approximately €15. The path is suitable for fit children but not for wheelchairs or pushchairs due to the steep staircase sections

While there are a number of excellent waterfalls that can be found throughout Austria, the tallest in the nation is none other than that of the Krimml Waterfalls which are formed by the Krimmler Ache river just outside the village of Krimml.

The waterfall itself travels a total distance of 380 meters from its highest point to the pool below. It is separated into three distinct stages of which the upper and lower stages feature a drop of just over 140 meters while the middle stage features a drop of 100 meters. The point at which the Krimmler Ache flows over the edge of the cliff is 1470 meters above sea level.

Krimmler waterfalls, Austria by Manuel Heinrich Emha

The Krimmler Ache which feeds the Krimml Waterfalls is a glacial stream which ranges between 20,000 cubic meters an hour during the summer months to only 500 cubic meters per hour during the winter months. It is also important to point out that back in 1987, the largest ever recorded flow of more than 600,000 cubic meters per hour was recorded; affording anyone who visited at the time one of the most awe-inspiring views imaginable.

After the water has fallen into the pool below, then makes its way out to the Salzach River which then flows into the Inn River before finally meeting up with the famous Danube River. Eventually all the waters that cascade over the edges of the Krimml Waterfalls find their way out into the Black Sea.

Tourism in the area can be dated back several hundred years. A number of password created between the upper and lower portions of the waterfall prior to the 1870s. In 1879, in order to improve panoramic view and access the region, the Austrian Alpine club for forth a lot of effort into developing the area in and around the Krimml Waterfalls. Today, close to a half 1 million people visit the falls every single year.