The Salzkammergut
This picturesque region of the Austrian Alps, near Salzburg,
features the most beautiful collection of lakes, mountains and valleys in the world!
features the most beautiful collection of lakes, mountains and valleys in the world!
Get that 'on top of the world' feeling here!
As you will see below there's an endless list of exciting local attractions to keep you busy each day of your holiday
HallstattHallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage site and only a few miles away from Gosau. It’s quite small so it takes only a little time to walk through - unless you stop at one of the delightful town square, or lakeside restaurants.
Don’t miss a visit to the Salt Mine. You get special overalls to protect your clothes from the salt, and it's real fun sliding down the chutes.
Bad IschlThis wonderful thermal spa town was much loved by the Kaisers. Many points of interest and a visit to the famous Zauner Konditorei cake shop is a must if you love cake! Apart from that there is good shopping and a market.
WolfgangseeThe Wolfgangsee and ‘The White Horse Inn’ at St Wolfgang have become world-famous thanks to many films. A good way to escape the crowds in the town is to take a delightful trip on a boat. The glacial water is an amazing blue colour and you can explore other resorts on the lake such as Strobl at one end and St Gilgen with its Mozart connection at the other end. There is a combined fare for the boat and train ride up the Schafberg.
SchafbergThe Schafberg Cog Railway, built over 100 years ago, climbs the 5,300ft Schafberg mountain the easy way! A ride on this nostalgic train is a must do - especially for those fans of The Sound of Music tour - recognise it from the film?
There are several beautiful lakes close to Bad Aussee
GrundlseeGrundlsee, below, is the largest lake in the state of Styria. There are public beaches around it, and you can rent an electric boat. It’s fed by two smaller lakes, Toplitzsee and Kammersee. See Daily Photo
Grundlsee - boating and boat trips, swimming - and ice-skating in winter
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The air is 'fresher than a daisy', and the 'top of the world feeling' you get from being on the mountains is amazing! You must spend some time up there even if it is a ride up in the cable car and a snack on an alm terrace!
Hiking in the mountains is one of the most popular activities, along trails marked for easy navigation - from one 'alm' to another for refreshments with stunning views - and Gosau is a marvellous base. The rivers nearby offer exhilarating wet activities like tubing and canyoning - you must give it a try! And the lakes are big enough for sailing, and warm enough for swimming, in the height of summer, and clean enough to drink as you swim! In the winter time, Gosau comes into its own, surrounded by towering peaks and glaciers, with some of the best powder skiing found anywhere, as well as good Intermediate level skiing and snowboarding. LINK: Skiing
ObertraunOver 150,000 people visit yearly the Giant Ice Cave; it’s one of the largest caves in the world, and the most spectacular tourist attraction in the Salzkammergut. Normal shoes can be worn and warm clothing is recommended.
The cable car starts from Obertraun (across the lake from Hallstatt), and has 3 stops. At the first station there is the Ice Cave and Mammoth Cave, and a restaurant (or grass for a picnic) At the 2nd stop, there is a superb walk to the peak at 2100m with its 360 degree view of the whole area, and the ‘5 Fingers’ Look Out with its excellent view over the lake, is a short walk further on.
Bad AusseeBad Aussee is a spa town to the east, beyond Bad Goisern. The spa in the city centre, Vital Bad Aussee, offers medicinal brine baths and the Kneipp Cure therapy, which was invented by the German priest Sebastian Kneipp. A music festival runs for several weeks in the spring of each year, called the Ausseer Jazzfrühling.
Bad Aussee is unique within Austria as its inhabitants wear Tracht, or traditional dress, on a daily basis. For women, this consists of a Dirndl, a type of dress with a fitted bodice and full skirt. Many women choose to wear an Ausseer Dirndl, which has a green bodice, a rose-colored skirt and a purple apron. Traditions and Culture are alive!
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ToplitzseeToplitzsee, below, is where the Nazis both tested weapons and dumped counterfeited British currency. It is unique in that it has two layers of water, an upper one composed of fresh water and one beneath it of salt water. Two waterfalls are passed when crossing on the Three Lakes Boat Tour. A pretty cafe serves meals and drinks here, too. A great place to relax.
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KammerseeKammersee is the source of the River Traun and can actually only be reached per boat from Toplitzsee. Guided tours go to Kammersee in so-called Plätten, a flat bottomed boat unique to the region, that were once used in the salt trade. Convicts chiselled a narrow channel in the rock separating Kammersee from Toplitzsee to help the transportation of timber.
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Salzburg
The charming town of Salzburg, famous for Mozart and its Summer Festival is only about 45 minutes away. Salzburg is a genuine baroque jewel. The Old Town and the Hellbrunn Palace were declared world culture heritage in 1997.
You can visit Salzburg for shopping or for a Mozart trip, to visit Salzburg festivals with its world-famous actors and orchestras or to see the castles, the trick fountains of Hellbrunn, or of course, one of many places associated with ‘The Sound of Music’ that was filmed all around here. Großglockner Twisting turning hairpin bends!
Großglockner is the highest Austrian peak at 3,798 m. The drive over the Großglockner alpine road up to the Emperor Franz Josef Höhe peak (2369 m) and the breathtaking high alpine mountain scenery are an unforgettable experience. This is a wonderful and very worthwhile day out trip.
Click to go to the Availability and Rates page
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BerchtesgadenHitler's ‘Eagle's Nest’ was designed and built for Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday by Martin Bormann, his personal secretary and Head of the Nazi Party Chancellery. Today the Eagle's Nest remains in its original state.
Take a day out to visit this spectacular hide-away above the clouds 
Salzkammergut and Salzburg Discount CardsMake sure you get your discount cards which allow free entry or discounts on hundreds of the most delightful sights and attractions in the region, but please be aware that some 'Family Tickets' may actually be better value!
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