It’s a moderate uphill climb from the start, but under a canopy of dense and varied trees. At the top of the hill, you’ll come to a broad lawn, and at the other end is a pleasantly quaint guesthouse. Stop in for cold drinks and typical Austrian cuisine.

From there, the route follows a dirt road and soon comes to the overlook called Franz-Karl Fernsicht. This is near the top of Sophienaple, and the view is quite rewarding. It’s a large field with brilliantly green, soft grass and wildflowers in spring. In winter, it is often snow-covered, and the clear air lets you see many miles. You’ll gaze over hills of the Vienna Woods, toward the city that lies below. A few simple wooden benches line the path at the edge of the field, so you can sit and enjoy the panorama.

At the far end of the field is the Hotel Restaurant Sophienalpe. It’s another place to stop for a drink, at the very least, but also a place to spend the night if you want more time in the Vienna Woods. There’s also a playground and more lawns on which to lounge in the fresh air.

The path then dives back into the forest and heads steeply downhill, entering a narrow valley with farm fields and another restaurant in the bottom. There’s only a small cluster of houses here, at the very edge of Penzing District. It’s still a long walk in the woods to get back to the starting point. Though roads and neighborhoods are not far away, you’ll forget that they’re close because noise is muffled by the leafy forest, and the sounds of nature take over.

Sources: https://www.wien.gv.at/umwelt/wald/freizeit/wandern/wege/wanderweg8.html