Austria Prinzensee, Maria Alm

The Prinzensee sits at around 1,250 meters on the Natrun above Maria Alm and offers a fantastic panorama across the surrounding Hochkönig region. From the air, the small mountain lake becomes a strong focal point surrounded by forest, while the Maria Alm valley and dramatic mountain ranges create several layers in the background.

Sunset is my favorite time to photograph the Prinzensee. The low sun enters the valley from behind the surrounding mountains, creating beautiful layers, long shadows, and warm patches of light across the landscape.

A drone is particularly useful here because the lake itself becomes much more prominent from above. I recommend gaining some altitude and positioning the lake in the lower half of the frame to include as much of the valley and mountain backdrop as possible. Shooting toward the sun can create a huge dynamic range, so slightly underexposing helps retain the highlights around the setting sun.

The easiest option is to take the Natrunbahn from the center of Maria Alm, then walk to the Prinzensee. From the mountain station, it is only around 10–20 minutes on foot to the lake.

If you want to photograph sunset, however, there is one important thing to know: the gondola no longer operates that late. In the 2026 summer season, for example, the Natrunbahn runs only until 17:00. I therefore recommend catching the last gondola up, enjoying the evening and sunset around the Prinzensee, and then hiking back down to Maria Alm afterward.

Missing the last gondola uphill means tackling roughly 430–450 vertical meters on foot, so check the operating hours before your visit. The hike back down after sunset takes around an hour, depending on your pace, so bring proper shoes and pack properly.