Salzkammergut & Surrounding Area
Not far from our hotel lies the start of a landscape that ranks amongst Austria’s most distinctive: the famous Salzkammergut. Mountain ranges, crystal-clear lakes and villages steeped in centuries of history are so close together here that you can often discover more in a single day than you might think possible.
Whether you spend an afternoon at a Salzburg hotel with a pool by the water, hike to a viewpoint or plan a whole day in Hallstatt – the region will enhance your stay with us like a second, wider horizon.
Good to know
- Area: approx. 2,500 km²
- Number of lakes: over 70
- Origin of the name: ‘Kammergut’ – now named after the historic salt mining industry
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Hallstatt (since 1997)
- Highest point: Dachstein (2,995 m)
Hardly any other place epitomises the history of the Salzkammergut quite like Hallstatt. The village on Lake Hallstatt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and lies next to one of the oldest salt mines in the world, which can still be visited today – the very salt mine to which the entire region ultimately owes its name.
Bad Ischl also has its own story to tell: Emperor Franz Joseph I spent many summers at the Kaiservilla with Empress Elisabeth, and the rooms are now open to visitors. It is hardly surprising, then, that Bad Ischl, together with the region, was named European Capital of Culture in 2024.
With more than 70 lakes, the Salzkammergut is one of Austria’s most lake-rich regions – each with its own character and history. Our recommendations for your day out:
- Lake Fuschl: The nearest lake, around 20 kilometres away, surprises visitors with its drinking-water quality and is regarded as one of the clearest bodies of water in the region – not least because motorboats are not permitted here.
- Wolfgangsee: Around 45 kilometres away lies the village of St Wolfgang, whose village scene and the ‘Weißes Rössl’ inn gave their name to the operetta of the same name.
- Mondsee: Around 30 kilometres away, with St Michael’s Basilica on its shore – the very location where a famous wedding scene from *The Sound of Music* was filmed.
- Attersee: The largest lake in the Salzkammergut lies around 50 kilometres away. Gustav Klimt spent many summers here and created a large proportion of his landscape paintings – the Gustav Klimt Theme Trail commemorates this to this day.
- Traunsee: Around 75 kilometres away, near Gmunden, where Ort Castle, a moated castle on a small island, catches the eye.
The hiking and walking trails are also ideal for your next holiday with your dog in the Salzburg region.
If you want to experience the mountains of the Salzkammergut up close, you won’t have to look far: peaks, viewing platforms and historic railways open up the landscape in their own unique ways – sometimes in just a few minutes, sometimes only after a walk that makes the view at the end all the more rewarding.
- From St. Gilgen, a cable car takes you up to the Zwölferhorn, from which summit the view across Lake Wolfgang opens up.
- In St. Wolfgang, the Schafbergbahn, a historic rack-and-pinion railway, takes visitors leisurely up the Schafberg.
- Those who prefer a more high-alpine experience will find the ‘5 Fingers’ viewing platform on the Krippenstein, offering views across Lake Hallstatt.
Whilst the Advent season bathes the city of Salzburg in a sea of lights, just a few kilometres away, around the lakes of the Salzkammergut, a distinct form of that same sense of anticipation unfolds. Here, small villages are transformed into atmospheric Advent markets, whose charm lies not so much in their size as in their enduring tradition spanning generations.
The most beautiful Christmas markets in the area
- In St. Wolfgang, St. Gilgen and Strobl, the Wolfgangsee Advent invites visitors to enjoy crafts and winter delicacies – accompanied by the metre-high Advent candle in St. Gilgen and the illuminated lantern that seems to float on the lake itself in St. Wolfgang. Our recommendation: take a boat from one Advent market to the next.
- At Lake Fuschl, Advent takes on a smaller, more personal feel: the Advent market in Fuschl am See focuses on arts and crafts rather than mass-produced goods, and the new winter market at the Rosewood Schloss Fuschl can be reached by taking a ride on the historic ‘Zille’ boat across the wintry lake.
Advent holiday in Salzburg
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
How far is the Salzkammergut from the Gersberg Alm?
The nearest lake is Lake Fuschl: around 20 kilometres away - about a 30-minute bus journey. Lake Wolfgang and Lake Mondsee are the next closest, each around 30 kilometres away and about a 50-minute bus journey.
If you want to travel as far as Hallstatt, the distance is around 75 kilometres – the journey from the Gersberg Alm takes about two hours by a combination of bus and train.
Can I visit the Salzkammergut without a car?
Yes. From Salzburg Central Station, bus route 150 takes you directly to St. Gilgen and on to Bad Ischl, whilst route 140 goes to Mondsee. To get to Hallstatt, change to the train at Bad Ischl. You can find all journey times in the Salzburg Transport Association’s timetable: fahrplan.salzburg-verkehr.at
What can realistically be achieved in a single day?
Lake Fuschl is ideal for a quick afternoon getaway. Lake Wolfgang and Lake Mondsee can be combined into a day trip featuring a walk and a pleasant stop for refreshments, without the journey time taking over the day. Hallstatt, on the other hand, is best visited as a day trip in its own right due to the longer journey time.
