Discover the Austrian pearl in the summer season
The Salzkammergut is one of the most visited areas in Austria. No wonder – alpine peaks, beautiful lakes and charming small towns capture the heart of every traveller.
The Salzkammergut by bike and on foot
The famous Salzkammergut Radweg cycle route runs through the area and measures 352 km. Salzburg is the ideal starting point, but you can join the route practically anywhere. There are fine routes around the local lakes too. Try the one around the Wolfgangsee – its flat terrain is appreciated above all by families with children, older visitors and occasional cyclists. The large number of hiking trails will delight everyone who decides to explore the Salzkammergut in Austria on foot.
Swimming in the lakes and wandering the towns
In summer the crystal-clear lakes invite you in for a swim. Besides the Wolfgangsee, the Attersee, Mondsee and Traunsee are beautiful too. You will find not only good facilities and well-kept beaches, but also a wide choice of sport. Hire a pedalo, try kitesurfing or water skiing.
If you want to see the landscape from a different perspective, take a steamer cruise. After resting by the water, head to Hallstatt – the picturesque village on the shore of the Hallstätter See is rightly part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Combine your visit with a tour of the local salt mines. Salt has been mined here for thousands of years and gave the whole area its name. Around the Dachstein, the ice caves are certainly worth a stop.
The Salzkammergut in winter: 300 km of pistes by the lakes
The region lists 300 km of varied, well-groomed pistes in seven resorts: Familienskigebiet Kasberg, Skigebiet Postalm, Skiregion Dachstein, Freesports Arena Krippenstein, Familienskigebiet Feuerkogel, Die Tauplitz and Loser Altaussee.
The Freesports Arena Dachstein Krippenstein draws visitors with 9 km of powder and the longest descent in Upper Austria, with 1,500 vertical metres and more than 30 km of freeride variants. The Feuerkogel has a cable car, 7 lifts and three restaurants. The Postalm runs from 20 December to the end of March, daily 9.00–16.00.
For cross-country skiing, Gosau offers over 40 km of groomed trails and the Langlaufzentrum Rettenbachalm near Bad Ischl 10.7 km. The region also lists ski touring, snowshoeing, freeriding, winter diving and ice fishing, ice climbing, curling, skating and tobogganing.
Salzkammergut – accommodation
The Salzkammergut draws large numbers of visitors, and the choice of accommodation matches that. You pay more for the more luxurious and best-placed properties, especially in prominent villages such as Hallstatt. There are cheaper options too – look for rooms in private homes with local hosts.
Taste the local specialities in the Salzkammergut
What would a holiday be without tasting the local specialities? In the Salzkammergut you can try fresh fish from the lakes – char and whitefish in particular. For dessert, have “Kaiserschmarrn”, shredded pancake with raisins.